IELTS Academic Reading band score chart
Academic Reading has three passages and 40 questions. Each correct answer is one mark, and your mark out of 40 becomes a band. Academic and General Training Reading use different conversions, so make sure you use the right table.
| Correct answers (of 40) | Band | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 40 | 9.0 | Approximate |
| 38–39 | 8.5 | Approximate |
| 35–37 | 8.0 | Official point |
| 33–34 | 7.5 | Approximate |
| 30–32 | 7.0 | Official point |
| 27–29 | 6.5 | Approximate |
| 23–26 | 6.0 | Official point |
| 19–22 | 5.5 | Approximate |
| 15–18 | 5.0 | Official point |
| 11–14 | 4.5 | Approximate |
| 7–10 | 4.0 | Approximate |
| 3–6 | 3.5 | Approximate |
| 0–2 | 3.0 | Approximate |
How Academic Reading is scored
You have 60 minutes for three long passages from books, journals and magazines. Each question is worth one mark and there is no penalty for wrong answers.
Completion answers must keep to the word limit in the instructions and be spelt correctly.
Reading the table
The official IELTS site publishes four points for Academic Reading. The rows between those points are our straight-line approximation, marked "Approximate".
Frequently asked questions
How many correct answers do I need for band 7 in Academic Reading?
The official IELTS site gives 30 correct answers out of 40 as a band 7 score.
Is Academic Reading scored the same way as General Training Reading?
No. General Training Reading usually needs more correct answers for the same band. See our General Training Reading table.
How long is the Academic Reading test?
60 minutes for three passages and 40 questions. Transfer time is included.
Why are some rows approximate?
Only four points are published officially; we estimate the rows between them and label them clearly.
Which question types appear in Academic Reading?
Common types include True / False / Not Given, matching headings, matching information, summary and note completion, multiple choice and "Choose TWO letters".
Related pages
Sources
- IELTS scoring in detail (IELTS official site) — checked 2026-10-11
English Test Practice is an independent practice site and is not affiliated with IELTS, the British Council, IDP or Cambridge. Results from our tools are estimates, not official scores.