English Learning Studio
IELTS Scoring · Explained
How Are IELTS Band Scores Calculated?
Your overall IELTS band comes from averaging your four module scores and applying an official rounding rule. Here's exactly how that works, with a worked example and a free calculator.
Official rounding rules
All 4 modules explained
Free calculator included
Written by Bakhtawar Durrani, Founder — CELTA, TESOL & IELTS certified · Last updated Aug 2026
The basics
Your Overall Band Is an Average of 4 Modules
Your IELTS overall band score is simply the average of your four module scores — Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking — each weighted equally at 25%. That average is then rounded using a specific rule, which is where most confusion comes from.
Rounding rule
How Does the Rounding Actually Work?
| Average ends in | Rounds to | Example |
|---|---|---|
| .00, .25 | Rounds down / stays at nearest half band below .5 | 6.25 → 6.0 is incorrect; official rule rounds .25 up — see note below |
| .50 | Stays at the half band | 6.50 → 6.5 |
| .75 | Rounds up to the next whole band | 6.75 → 7.0 |
In practice: averages ending in .25 round up to the next half band, and averages ending in .75 round up to the next whole band. Anything ending in .00 or .50 stays exactly where it is. For example, an average of 6.125 (from 6, 6, 6, 6.5) is rounded to 6.5.
Worked example
A Real Example, Step by Step
7.0
Listening
6.5
Reading
6.0
Writing
6.5
Speaking
(7.0 + 6.5 + 6.0 + 6.5) ÷ 4 = 26 ÷ 4 = 6.5 exactly, so the overall band is 6.5 — no rounding needed in this case.
Targeting a band
Planning Around a Target Band?
If you need a specific overall band for a visa, university, or job application, see our dedicated guides to Band 6 requirements and Band 7 requirements, which break down what each module needs to look like to hit that target.
Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
How is my overall IELTS band score calculated?
Your overall band is the average of your four module scores — Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking — rounded to the nearest whole or half band. If the average ends in .25, it rounds up to the next half band; if it ends in .75, it rounds up to the next whole band.
Are Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking weighted equally?
Yes, for your overall band. Each module contributes 25% regardless of which one you find hardest, which is why a single weak module can pull your overall score down significantly.
How are Listening and Reading scores converted from raw marks?
Each correct answer out of 40 questions is converted to a band score (1–9) using an official conversion table. The exact table shifts slightly between test versions to keep difficulty consistent, but Academic and General Training use different tables for the same reason.
How are Writing and Speaking scored, since there's no 'correct answer' count?
Examiners assess your performance against four detailed band descriptors per module — Task Achievement, Coherence and Cohesion, Lexical Resource, and Grammatical Range and Accuracy for Writing; Fluency, Lexical Resource, Grammatical Range, and Pronunciation for Speaking — then average those four into your module band.
Can I calculate my own overall band score?
Yes — enter your four module scores into our free IELTS Band Score Calculator and it will apply the official rounding rules instantly.
Ready to Get Started?
Book a free assessment call and we'll recommend the right plan for your goals.