IELTS Reading Band Score Explained

For students aspiring to study or work abroad in an English-speaking country, achieving an excellent score in the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is crucial. Among the four modules of the IELTS exam—listening, speaking, writing, and reading— the reading module has special significance. It demands not only language proficiency but also thorough reasoning and comprehension skills.  So, getting a good band score for reading is essential to boost your overall band score in IELTS. In this article, we explain IELTS reading band scores and explore tips to improve your IELTS reading test performance.

What is the IELTS Reading Module?

The reading component of the IELTS exam assesses your ability to comprehend and interpret written texts in English. It consists of three lengthy passages of increasing complexity, each followed by a set of questions. There are 40 questions in total.

These questions vary in format and include multiple-choice, true or false, match-the-following, content identification, and fill-up-the-blanks or sentence completions. The questions can also include content summarisation, comprehension, flow-chart writing or completion, short-answer questions, diagram labelling and so on.

Candidates get 60 minutes to complete the entire section.

IELTS Reading Band Score Calculation

As mentioned earlier, the IELTS reading section has 40 questions, and each question is worth one mark. You must answer all the questions. You will get no marks if you leave any question blank. 

The IELTS reading band score is calculated based on how many correct answers (out of 40 questions) you provide in the reading section. The number of correct answers decides your “raw” score for the reading module. The raw score is then converted into a band score using a conversion table provided by IELTS.

Note that the raw score conversion to the band score is slightly different for IELTS Academic Reading & General Training Reading.

However, the band scores range from 0 to 9, with 9 being the highest achievable score. For example, if you answer all 40 questions correctly, you will be in the highest band score of 9. It's important to note that IELTS band scores are rounded to the nearest half or whole band.

Reading Band Score Chart

Academic Reading Band Scores

You will get half bands (decimal scores) for certain raw scores. For example, if you score between 37 and 38 out of 40, your band score will be 8.5. If you score 33-34 out of 40, your band score will be 7.5, and so on.

General Training Reading Band Scores

Check out the raw scores and band scores for general training reading. Note the slight variations in scores that may give you half bands for your overall reading, unlike academic reading. For example, a raw score of 39 puts you in band score at 8.5 (in academic reading, you will be in band 9 for the same score), a score of 36 puts you at 7.5, a score of 32-33 puts you in band 6.5 and so on.

Now that you know what the band scores for IELTS reading are and how they are calculated, discover what they actually mean.

The IELTS reading test is for 60 minutes, and there are three sections in the test. You must manage your time efficiently to answer all the questions. Ideally, you must spend 20 minutes on each section. The types of questions you will get are similar in both IELTS Academic Reading and General Training Reading tests.  Here are some quick tips to get you started:

1. Before you read the passages, make sure you read the questions. Answer each question and review your answers.
2. Familiarize yourself with different text types, as IELTS reading passages include a variety of topics and writing styles, such as academic articles, opinions, or informational content.
3. Cultivate the habit of skimming passages and scanning them to grasp their main ideas swiftly.  Note the introduction, conclusion, and important key words. Ideally, you must skim the passage in two or three minutes max.
4. Actively read and scan through the text by annotating key points, underlining significant details, and summarizing paragraphs. Look for contextual clues in the surrounding text. This may come in handy when answering the question.
5. The questions in the IELTS reading section often involve paraphrased versions of information presented in the passages. Train yourself to identify synonyms and rephrased expressions. Also, practice finding specific information to answer true or false types of questions.
6. For the matching headings question, list all possible headings and then strike off whichever is not relevant. Also, try to read either the question first or the passage first. Don’t waste time going through everything in detail.
7. Enhance and expand your vocabulary whenever possible by incorporating new words into your daily conversations, reading extensively in English, and using other resources.
8. Practice, practice, practice! Practice using IELTS materials, previous exam papers, or study guides to improve your language skills. There are even free practice tests online, which you can take. Go through the IELTS official website for more information.

Learn More About IELTS Reading Band Scores

Note that the difficulty level of the reading passages can vary from test to test, so the conversion table ensures consistency in scoring across different test administrations. Further, each institution or organization specifies its requirement regarding the minimum band score required for admission. Aim to get a balanced score in all modules of IELTS.

To get a good band score for reading or to boost your overall band score, always practice and follow the tips outlined in this article. Several IELTS reading practice tests and progress check materials can help gauge your preparation and performance.

Go through the previous test papers to learn more about the question types for both Academic and General Training reading tests. For more information on IELTS tests or further assistance, contact IELTS expert consultants at IDP. We will guide you through preparing, attempting, and acing the IELTS exam with a great overall band score.