How the IELTS Overall Band Score Is Calculated
Quick answer: Your IELTS overall band is the average of your Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking bands, rounded to the nearest half band. An average ending in .25 rounds up to the next half band, and .75 rounds up to the next whole band. So 6.25 becomes 6.5, 6.75 becomes 7.0, and 6.125 becomes 6.0. All four skills count equally.
Last updated: 29 October 2026
What is the formula for the IELTS overall band score?
The formula has two steps. First, add your four skill bands and divide by four. Second, round that average to the nearest half band.
Overall band = (Listening + Reading + Writing + Speaking) ÷ 4, rounded to the nearest half band.
Each skill is weighted equally. Writing is not worth more than Listening, and Speaking is not worth less than Reading. The official rule is set out on the ielts.org: IELTS scoring in detail page.
How does IELTS rounding work?
Because each skill band is a whole or half band, the average of four bands always ends in .0, .125, .25, .375, .5, .625, .75 or .875. Here is what happens to each ending.
| Average ends in | What happens | Example |
|---|---|---|
| .0 | Stays the same | 6.0 stays 6.0 |
| .125 | Rounds down to the whole band | 6.125 becomes 6.0 |
| .25 | Rounds up to the next half band | 6.25 becomes 6.5 |
| .375 | Rounds up to the half band | 6.375 becomes 6.5 |
| .5 | Stays the same | 6.5 stays 6.5 |
| .625 | Rounds down to the half band | 6.625 becomes 6.5 |
| .75 | Rounds up to the next whole band | 6.75 becomes 7.0 |
| .875 | Rounds up to the next whole band | 6.875 becomes 7.0 |
The two cases people find surprising are .25 and .75. They sit exactly between two possible bands, and IELTS always rounds them up.
Worked examples: calculating an IELTS band score step by step
Example 1: Meera
Listening 7.0, Reading 6.5, Writing 6.0, Speaking 6.5.
Total = 26.0. Average = 26.0 ÷ 4 = 6.5. Overall band 6.5.
Example 2: Rahul
Listening 6.5, Reading 6.5, Writing 6.0, Speaking 6.0.
Total = 25.0. Average = 6.25. This ends in .25, so it rounds up. Overall band 6.5.
Example 3: Sana
Listening 7.5, Reading 7.0, Writing 6.5, Speaking 6.0.
Total = 27.0. Average = 6.75. This ends in .75, so it rounds up to the next whole band. Overall band 7.0.
Example 4: Kabir
Listening 6.5, Reading 6.0, Writing 6.0, Speaking 6.0.
Total = 24.5. Average = 6.125. This ends in .125, so it rounds down. Overall band 6.0.
Kabir is only half a band away, in one skill, from an overall 6.5. If any one of his bands rose by 0.5, his average would be 6.25, which rounds up.
How are the four skill bands worked out?
You need four bands before you can average them. Two come from counting correct answers and two come from examiner marking.
- Listening: 40 questions, one mark each. The raw score is converted to a band. For example, about 30 or 31 correct gives band 7.
- Reading: 40 questions, one mark each. Academic and General Training use different conversions. About 30 correct is band 7 in Academic, while General Training needs about 34 or 35.
- Writing: examiners mark both tasks against four criteria. Task 2 counts for more than Task 1, roughly twice as much.
- Speaking: the examiner marks fluency and coherence, vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation.
Raw score conversions are approximate; the exact conversion can vary slightly between test versions. Our band score chart shows the full tables.
Can one weak skill pull down your overall band?
Yes, because all four skills count equally. A low Writing band lowers the average just as much as a low Listening band. However, a strong skill can also balance a weaker one.
| Listening | Reading | Writing | Speaking | Average | Overall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8.0 | 7.5 | 5.5 | 6.5 | 6.875 | 7.0 |
| 7.0 | 7.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 6.5 | 6.5 |
| 6.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 6.5 | 6.125 | 6.0 |
Be careful, though. Many universities and visa routes ask for a minimum in each skill as well as an overall band. A 7.0 overall with 5.5 in Writing may not meet a "7.0 overall with no band below 6.5" requirement.
Common mistakes when calculating your IELTS score
- Averaging raw scores. Do not average 30/40 and 28/40. Convert each to a band first.
- Rounding .25 down. 6.25 becomes 6.5, not 6.0.
- Using the wrong Reading table. Academic and General Training conversions are different.
- Forgetting minimum skill scores. Check the full requirement, not just the overall band.
To skip the arithmetic, use our IELTS band score calculator. It applies the same rounding rule automatically.
Practise now: Find your real starting bands with a full timed test: Listening Test 1, Academic Reading Test 1 and Academic Writing Test 1. General Training candidates can start with GT Reading Test 1.
Frequently asked questions
How is the IELTS overall band score calculated?
Add your Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking bands, divide by four, and round to the nearest half band. All four skills are weighted equally.
Does 6.25 round up to 6.5 in IELTS?
Yes. An average ending in .25 rounds up to the next half band, so 6.25 becomes an overall band of 6.5.
Does 6.75 round up to 7 in IELTS?
Yes. An average ending in .75 rounds up to the next whole band, so 6.75 becomes an overall band of 7.0.
What overall band is an average of 6.125?
An average of 6.125 rounds down to an overall band of 6.0, because it is closer to 6.0 than to 6.5.
Is Writing worth more than other skills in the overall band?
No. Each of the four skills counts for one quarter of the overall band. Within Writing, Task 2 counts for more than Task 1.
Can I average my raw Listening and Reading marks?
No. Convert each raw mark out of 40 to a band first, then average the four bands. Raw score conversions are approximate and can vary slightly between test versions.