IELTS Listening Band Score Calculator
The Listening test comprises 4 audio recordings of real-life situations, academic lectures, or societal issues. The 4 parts are as follows:
- Part 1: Conversations between two individuals,
- Part 2: Monologues from everyday social contexts, such as speeches
- Part 3: Group discussions involving up to four people
- Part 4: Monologues from academic settings, like university lectures
The Listening test has 40 questions, and each correct answer earns you 1 mark. These questions are designed to assess your ability to understand, follow up with, and extract relevant information.
All your correct answers (your raw score) are converted to an IELTS equivalent score. For example, to secure a band score of 8 on the Listening test, you typically need to attain a raw score of 35 out of 40 questions.
IELTS Listening Band Score Chart
Here’s a full breakdown of what your IELTS Academic Listening Band Score means. Similarly, for those taking the General Training test, the conversion follows the same IELTS General Listening Band Score parameters.
IELTS Listening Scores
| Raw Score out of 40 | Band Score |
| 39-40 | 9 |
| 37-38 | 8.5 |
| 35-36 | 8 |
| 32-34 | 7.5 |
| 30-31 | 7 |
| 26-29 | 6.5 |
| 23-25 | 6 |
| 18-22 | 5.5 |
| 16-17 | 5 |
| 23-25 | 4.5 |
| 11-12 | 4 |
What Does Your IELTS Listening Band Score Mean?
Each band between 0 and 9 signifies a certain level of proficiency. Have you wondered why most universities ask for a minimum of 6.0 for admissions? 6.0 indicates that your English is good enough for active communication at the university.
To understand the specifics, refer to the band descriptors for listening, which explain how your scores reflect your listening abilities. Whether you are aiming for an IELTS GT Listening Band Score or an academic score, this information will help you prepare effectively.
Here is a full breakdown.
IELTS Band Score Descriptors
| Band | Skill Level | Description |
| 9 | Expert User | Fully commands the language fluently, accurately, and appropriately with complete understanding. |
| 8 | Very Good User | Fully commands the language with occasional minor errors. May misunderstand in unfamiliar situations but handles detailed arguments well. |
| 7 | Good User | Commands the language well, with occasional errors and misunderstandings. Handles complex language and detailed reasoning |
| 6 | Competent User | Generally communicates effectively, with some errors and misunderstandings. Can understand fairly complex language, especially in familiar situations. |
| 5 | Modest User | Can grasp overall meaning in most situations despite making many mistakes. Can manage basic communication within their field |
| 4 | Limited User | Basic competence in familiar situations but often struggles with understanding and expression. Difficulty using complex language. |
| 3 | Extremely Limited User | Understands general meaning in very familiar situations, with frequent communication breakdowns. |
| 2 | Intermittent User | Can communicate basic information using simple words or phrases in familiar situations. Struggles with understanding spoken and written English. |
| 1 | Non-user | Unable to use the language except for isolated words |
| 0 | Did not attempt the test | No information available about the user |
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