IELTS PracticeThe rule
According to the official IELTS website, read on 12 November 2026, the overall band score is the average of the four section band scores, rounded to the nearest half band. If the average ends in .25 it is rounded up to the next half band, and if it ends in .75 it is rounded up to the next whole band.
| Listening | Reading | Writing | Speaking | Average | Overall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6.5 | 6.5 | 5.0 | 7.0 | 6.25 | 6.5 |
| 4.0 | 3.5 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 3.875 | 4.0 |
| 6.5 | 6.5 | 5.5 | 6.0 | 6.125 | 6.0 |
These three are the examples given on the official page. The calculator gives the same results.
One section can lift or lower the overall band
Because of the rounding, half a band in one section can change the overall score. With 6.5, 6.5 and 6.0 in three sections, a 6.0 in the fourth gives an average of 6.25 and an overall 6.5, while a 5.5 gives 6.125 and an overall 6.0. The second part of the calculator shows exactly where that line is for your own scores.
Organisations often ask for more than the overall band
Many universities, professional bodies and immigration programmes set a minimum for each section as well as overall, for example "6.5 overall with no section below 6.0". A high overall band does not make up for one section below the minimum. Read the requirement of the organisation carefully.
Marks and bands in Listening and Reading
Listening and Reading are each marked out of 40 and converted to a band. The official site publishes the average marks for a few bands only: Listening 16, 23, 30 and 35 for bands 5, 6, 7 and 8; Academic Reading 15, 23, 30 and 35 for the same bands; General Training Reading 15, 23, 30 and 35 for bands 4, 5, 6 and 7. It adds that the precise marks vary slightly from one version of the test to another. We do not offer a mark-to-band converter for every mark, because IELTS does not publish one. More on the band scores page.
Questions people ask
How is the overall IELTS band calculated?
It is the average of the four section bands, rounded to the nearest half band. An average ending in .25 is rounded up to the next half band and one ending in .75 to the next whole band.
What is the overall band for 6.5, 6.5, 5.0 and 7.0?
The average is 6.25, which is rounded up to 6.5. This is the official example.
What band is 30 out of 40 in Listening?
The official site gives 30 as the average mark for band 7 in Listening and in Academic Reading, and says the exact mark varies slightly between test versions.
Can this calculator predict my Writing or Speaking band?
No. Those are awarded by examiners against the assessment criteria. Enter the bands you were given, or your target bands.
Independent practice site. IELTS Practice is not connected with, approved by or endorsed by the British Council, IDP IELTS or Cambridge University Press & Assessment, who jointly own IELTS. The practice tasks and sample answers here are our own; they are not official test questions, and we do not award bands. Facts about the test were read on ielts.org on 12 November 2026. For registration, fees, dates and official sample tests, go to ielts.org.