How many questions do you need right for each IELTS band?
Listening and Reading each have 40 questions, and each correct answer is worth one mark. Your raw score out of 40 is then converted to a band from 1 to 9 using a fixed table. Two things surprise people: the table isn't linear, and Academic and General Training Reading use different tables.
Roughly what you need (approximate)
These are approximate guides — the official conversion table is the source of truth and can vary slightly between test versions — but they show the shape:
- Listening (both versions): around 23/40 for band 6, about 30/40 for band 7, and roughly 35/40 for band 8.
- Academic Reading: around 23/40 for band 6, about 30/40 for band 7, and roughly 35/40 for band 8.
- General Training Reading: higher — around 30/40 for band 6 and about 34/40 for band 7 — because the texts are more accessible.
The fastest way to know your real number is to sit a full test. Take a free IELTS mock test — Reading and Listening are marked against verified keys, so your band is exact, not an estimate.
Take a free IELTS mock test →Why this matters for your prep
Because the curve is steep near the top, the last few marks are worth the most: moving from 30 to 34 correct can be a whole band. It also means you don't need a perfect score — you need to know exactly how many marks separate you from your target, and to close that specific gap.
The overall IELTS band is the average of your four skill bands, rounded to the nearest half. So a weak skill drags the average down more than people expect — which is why it pays to measure each skill honestly and train the one that's holding you back.