How is the IELTS Listening score calculated?
Quick answer
Each of the 40 Listening questions is worth one mark, and your total out of 40 is converted to a band on the nine-band scale, reported in whole or half bands. IELTS.org lists 16 marks for band 5, 23 for band 6, 30 for band 7 and 35 for band 8, the same for Academic and General Training.
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Listening is the most mechanical of the four sections. There is no examiner judging a performance: you answer 40 questions, each answer is right or wrong, and the number of right answers is converted into a band.
From marks to a band
IELTS.org states that the Listening test contains 40 questions, that each correct answer is awarded one mark, and that scores out of 40 are converted to the IELTS nine-band scale. Scores are reported in whole and half bands, for example 5.5 or 7.0.
The points IELTS.org publishes for Listening are these.
| Marks out of 40 | Band |
|---|---|
| 16 | 5 |
| 23 | 6 |
| 30 | 7 |
| 35 | 8 |
IELTS.org describes these as the average number of marks scored at those levels, and states that the precise number of marks needed varies slightly from test version to test version. They are the only conversion points it publishes, so treat any mark-by-mark table you find elsewhere as an estimate.
What the conversion tells you
Read the points as steps. Going from 16 to 23 marks moves you from band 5 to band 6, which is seven more correct answers. Going from 23 to 30 moves you from band 6 to band 7, which is seven more again. Going from 30 to 35 moves you from band 7 to band 8, which is five more. The gaps between the listed points are small enough that one or two questions can matter.
Because the score comes from marks alone, Listening rewards accuracy on details: spelling, numbers, plurals and word limits. An answer that is nearly right is still wrong, and that is where most of the last five marks are lost.
Where it sits in your overall band
Your Listening band is one of four section bands. IELTS.org states that the overall score is the average of the four section band scores rounded to the nearest half band. See how the overall IELTS score is calculated for the rounding rule, or use the band score calculator to test what a change in Listening does to your overall.
Academic and General Training
The Listening test is scored in the same way for both versions, with one mark per correct answer and one published conversion. The difference between Academic and General Training appears in Reading, where the two tests have separate conversions.
What this means for your score
A candidate who answers 31 of the 40 questions correctly is above the 30 marks that IELTS.org lists for band 7, so band 7 is the level that score points to. The marks are added up over all four parts of the test, so a weak Section 4 can be offset by a strong Section 1 and 2.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Listening score the same for IELTS Academic and General Training?
IELTS.org publishes one Listening conversion, and both the Academic and the General Training format pages describe the same scoring: one mark for each correct answer, reported in whole or half bands. Reading is different, with a separate conversion for Academic and for General Training. If you take General Training, only your Reading conversion changes.
Is there negative marking in IELTS Listening?
IELTS.org describes each correct answer as receiving one mark and says nothing about deducting marks for wrong answers. Spelling still matters, because a misspelt answer is not the correct answer. Answer every question rather than leaving gaps, since a blank cannot score.
How many correct answers do I need for band 6.5 or 7.5?
IELTS.org lists conversion points only for bands 5, 6, 7 and 8, so it does not give a mark for the half bands in between. It also states that the marks needed vary slightly from test version to test version. Treat the four published points as guides and aim to clear the next one comfortably rather than land exactly on it.
Does my Listening band affect my overall score?
Yes. Listening is one of four sections, and each counts equally. IELTS.org states that the overall band is the average of the four section bands rounded to the nearest half band. Half a band more in Listening moves your average by 0.125, which may or may not cross a rounding point.
Sources
- IELTS scoring in detail: band scores explained — IELTS.org
- IELTS Academic: Listening test format — IELTS.org
- IELTS General Training: Listening test format — IELTS.org
Last verified 30 Sep 2026
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