IELTS Reading band scores for Academic and General Training
For IELTS Academic Reading you usually need 23 correct answers out of 40 for band 6.0, 27 for 6.5, 30 for 7.0 and 35 for 8.0. General Training Reading needs more because the texts are easier, about 30 for 6.0, 32 for 6.5, 34 for 7.0 and 37 for 8.0.
Reading is the one section where Academic and General Training candidates are scored on different scales. The raw score is out of 40 in both, but the conversion is not the same.
Academic Reading
| Correct answers | Band |
|---|---|
| 39–40 | 9.0 |
| 37–38 | 8.5 |
| 35–36 | 8.0 |
| 33–34 | 7.5 |
| 30–32 | 7.0 |
| 27–29 | 6.5 |
| 23–26 | 6.0 |
| 19–22 | 5.5 |
| 15–18 | 5.0 |
| 13–14 | 4.5 |
| 10–12 | 4.0 |
General Training Reading
| Correct answers | Band |
|---|---|
| 40 | 9.0 |
| 39 | 8.5 |
| 37–38 | 8.0 |
| 36 | 7.5 |
| 34–35 | 7.0 |
| 32–33 | 6.5 |
| 30–31 | 6.0 |
| 27–29 | 5.5 |
| 23–26 | 5.0 |
| 19–22 | 4.5 |
| 15–18 | 4.0 |
As with Listening, these are the commonly published conversions. Individual test versions can shift a cut-off by a mark.
Why General Training needs more correct answers
General Training texts are shorter and more familiar: notices, workplace policies, a feature article. Academic passages are longer and more abstract. To keep a band 6 meaning the same level of reading ability on both tests, General Training candidates need to answer more questions correctly.
The practical point: a GT candidate aiming for 7.0 can only afford to lose about six marks. Careless errors matter a lot more.
Find out where you are todayTry a free 15-minute IELTS practice in any skill, then sit a full timed practice test with band scores in minutes.
Start free practiceHow the 40 questions are spread
Academic Reading has three passages, usually 13, 13 and 14 questions. They get harder, and Passage 3 is often the most abstract. General Training has three sections, and the third is one long text that looks very much like an Academic passage.
In both tests, students who run out of time almost always do so in the final passage. If you regularly leave five or six questions blank, your band is being limited by timing, not by reading level. See our guide to managing the 60 minutes.
The question types that cost the most
- True/False/Not Given and Yes/No/Not Given. The difference between False and Not Given causes more lost marks than any other question type. We have a separate guide on it.
- Matching headings. Students choose a heading that matches one sentence in the paragraph instead of the paragraph's main idea.
- Summary completion with a word list. The right word must fit the grammar of the gap, so check whether you need a noun, verb or adjective before you look at the options.
What counts as correct
Spelling must be correct, and the answer must respect the word limit in the instructions. Words must come from the passage when the instruction says so. For True/False/Not Given, writing "T" or "F" is accepted in the paper test, but on computer you choose from the options, which removes that risk.
Check where you stand
The AIL practice tests come in both Academic and General Training versions and convert your raw score with the correct table for each. Your report shows which passage and which question types cost you marks.
Check one essay freePaste your writing and get an estimated band with corrections in about 30 seconds. No account needed.
Check my writingQuestions people also ask
How many correct answers do I need for band 7 in IELTS Academic Reading?
Usually 30 out of 40.
How many correct answers do I need for band 7 in General Training Reading?
Usually 34 out of 40.
Is General Training Reading easier than Academic?
The texts are easier, but you need more correct answers for the same band, so getting a high score is not necessarily easier.
Is there extra time to transfer Reading answers?
No. Reading is 60 minutes in total, including writing or typing your answers.