How the IELTS Reading band score works: From 40 questions to a band

The IELTS reading band score is reported on the same 0 to 9 scale as the other skills, but it is produced in a different way from Writing and Speaking. There are no examiner judgments in the Reading paper. Your result depends on how many of the 40 questions you answer correctly, and that raw score is then converted to a band.

This article explains the format of the Reading paper, how raw scores such as 20/40 and 28/40 convert to bands in Academic Reading, how General Training differs, and how to estimate your own result from a practice test.

Format of the IELTS Reading paper

Length and number of questions

The Reading paper has 40 questions across three sections and lasts 60 minutes. Each correct answer earns one mark, and wrong or blank answers do not lose marks.

Academic and General Training content

• Academic Reading: three long texts taken from sources such as books, journals and magazines, written for a general audience but with academic style and vocabulary.
• General Training Reading: shorter everyday texts in Section 1, work-related texts in Section 2, and one longer text in Section 3.

The number of questions is the same in both versions, but the conversion from raw score to band is not.

Common question types

• Multiple choice
• Identifying information (True / False / Not Given)
• Identifying the writer’s views or claims (Yes / No / Not Given)
• Matching headings, information, features or sentence endings
• Sentence, summary, note, table and flow-chart completion
• Diagram label completion and short-answer questions

Each type rewards a slightly different reading skill, so accuracy on one type does not automatically transfer to another.

Academic IELTS reading band score conversion

Approximate conversion table

The table below shows commonly published conversions for academic IELTS reading band score results. It is a reference and may not match every test version exactly.

Note: Each test version is calibrated to the same standard, so the number of correct answers needed for a band can move by a mark or so between versions. A table labelled as an reading band score 2025 reference, or published for any other year, should be treated as a guide for planning, not a fixed rule.

What 28/40 means in the IELTS reading band score

A raw score of 28/40 IELTS reading band score falls in the 27–29 range, which corresponds to about band 6.5 in Academic Reading. That is 70 percent of the questions, yet it sits well above the midpoint of the scale, which shows that band scores are not a simple percentage of correct answers.

What 20/40 means in the IELTS reading band score

A raw score of 20/40 IELTS reading band score falls in the 19–22 range, which corresponds to about band 5.5. Answering half of the questions correctly therefore still corresponds to band 5.5, and a few extra marks can move the result toward band 6.0.

Quick reference for practice tests

General Training conversion

General Training uses a different conversion table. Its texts are shorter and less academic, so a higher number of correct answers is needed to reach the same band. If you plan to take General Training, use a table published for that test type, because applying the Academic table would overestimate your result.

IELTS Reading band score from IDP and British Council

Candidates often search for the IELTS reading band score IDP or IELTS reading band score British Council as if the two organizations scored differently. Both IDP and British Council administer the same test with the same content and the same band scale, so your Reading result is interpreted in the same way whichever one you booked with.

What can differ between them is the booking process, test locations and dates, not the marking standard. If you are checking an IELTS reading band score academic British Council table or an IELTS reading band score academic IDP table, expect the same reference ranges as those above.

Using an IELTS reading band score calculator

How a calculator works?

An reading band score calculator is usually a simple tool that takes the number of correct answers and matches it to a conversion table. It does not mark your answers, and it cannot know which test version your practice paper was based on.

Estimating your band yourself

1. Mark your practice test strictly, checking spelling and word limits.
2. Count the number of correct answers out of 40.
3. Find that number in the conversion table for your test type.
4. Repeat with two or three more papers and compare the results.

Because the conversion may shift slightly between versions, average several practice results before deciding how close you are to your target.

Practical ways to move up a band

Moving from one band to the next in Reading often depends on a few extra correct answers, so small, consistent habits matter.

• Practice each question type separately. Short sets on True / False / Not Given or matching headings show which type costs you marks.
• Read the instructions every time. Word limits and the option to reuse an answer change what counts as correct.
• Build topic vocabulary. Academic texts often paraphrase the wording used in the questions, so recognizing synonyms saves time.
• Train with a timer. Give yourself about twenty minutes per section, then review where you slowed down.
• Review every error. Note whether the cause was vocabulary, misreading the question or a spelling slip, and target that cause in your next session.

Following this routine for several weeks gives a clearer picture of progress than a single practice score.

How the IELTS reading band score affects your overall score?

The Reading band is one of four skill scores that are averaged to produce the overall band. An average ending in .25 rounds up to the next half band, and an average ending in .75 rounds up to the next whole band.

Example: Reading 6.5, Listening 7.0, Writing 6.0 and Speaking 6.0 average 6.375, which rounds to an overall band of 6.5.

Some institutions also set a minimum Reading score, so check whether your target is stated for the overall band, for each skill, or both.

Why marks are lost in Reading?

• Spelling errors: a correct idea written with a spelling mistake is marked wrong.
• Exceeding the word limit: answers that go beyond the allowed number of words can lose the mark.
• Confusing False and Not Given: these two options require different judgments about the text.
• Running out of time: sixty minutes for three sections leaves little room to reread long passages.
• Copying the wrong form of a word: singular, plural or a changed word form may not match the text.

Recording the reason for each lost mark in practice tests helps you decide whether to work on vocabulary, timing or question-type technique.

The IELTS reading band score comes from a straightforward count of correct answers, but the conversion from raw score to band is not proportional, and it differs between Academic and General Training. Use the tables here as planning references, check the version you will take, and treat calculators as estimates that support, not replace, careful review of your own practice results.

See also: Understanding the IELTS band score: How each skill is graded

Frequently asked questions about IELTS reading band score

What band is 28/40 in IELTS Academic Reading?

A raw score of 28/40 usually corresponds to about band 6.5 in Academic Reading. The exact range can shift slightly between test versions, so use this as a planning guide and confirm your level with several timed practice tests.

What band is 20/40 in IELTS Reading?

In Academic Reading, 20 correct answers out of 40 generally falls in the band 5.5 range. General Training uses a different table, so the same raw score would convert to a lower band on that version.

Do IDP and British Council convert Reading scores differently?

No. Both organizations deliver the same IELTS test and report results on the same band scale, so the conversion ranges for Reading are interpreted in the same way regardless of where you register.

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