What is 27 out of 40 in IELTS Reading?
Quick answer
On IELTS.org's published points, 27 out of 40 lies between band 6 (23 marks) and band 7 (30 marks) in Academic Reading, and between band 5 and band 6 in General Training. IELTS.org lists no half-band marks. Indicative tables used in preparation read 27 as 6.5 in Academic and 5.5 in General Training.
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A score of 27 out of 40 has no single band, because IELTS.org publishes conversion points for the Academic and General Training versions separately and only for some bands. What can be said is where 27 falls against those points, and what the longer tables used in preparation add.
The official points
IELTS.org states that each correct Reading answer earns one mark, that scores out of 40 are converted to the nine-band scale, and that the precise number needed varies slightly from test version to test version. The points it lists are these.
| Band | Academic marks | General Training marks |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | not listed | 15 |
| 5 | 15 | 23 |
| 6 | 23 | 30 |
| 7 | 30 | 35 |
| 8 | 35 | not listed |
Against these, 27 in Academic is 4 marks above the band 6 point and 3 below the band 7 point. In General Training it is 4 above the band 5 point and 3 below the band 6 point. IELTS.org gives nothing for the half bands in between, so the official answer is “between two bands”, not a number.
The indicative tables
The tables used in much preparation go further and give a band for every raw score. In the one the band score calculator uses, 27 to 29 marks is band 6.5 in Academic and 5.5 in General Training. Every official point falls inside those tables, but the rows between the points are estimates, so a raw score at the edge of a row may land on the neighbouring band on your test date. Treat 6.5 and 5.5 as the likely reading, not as something IELTS has published.
Why the same 27 differs
IELTS.org explains the gap: the Academic texts may contain more difficult vocabulary or greater complexity of style, and it is usual for more questions to be answered correctly on General Training to secure a given band. The mechanics are in how the IELTS Reading score is calculated. If you are practising for General Training, use the General Training points to judge a mock.
What to do with a 27
Your Reading band is one of four, and the overall band is their average rounded to the nearest half band, so a 6.5 in Reading counts the same as 6.5 elsewhere. A practice score is also one sample, since IELTS.org states the marks needed vary between test versions. Take two or three timed tests, and note which question types lose you marks. The step from 6 to 7 in Academic is described in the guide on Reading from band 6 to 7.
What this means for your score
Two candidates each answer 27 of 40 Reading questions correctly in a timed practice test. The Academic candidate is above the 23 marks listed for band 6 and short of the 30 listed for band 7. The General Training candidate is above the 23 marks listed for band 5 and short of the 30 listed for band 6.
Frequently asked questions
Is 27 out of 40 a good score in IELTS Reading?
It depends on the test version and the band you need. On Academic it is above the points IELTS.org lists for band 6 and short of band 7. On General Training it is above the points for band 5 and short of band 6. Compare it with the requirement of the organisation you are applying to, which sets its own scores.
Which table is the official one?
IELTS.org publishes points for four bands in each version: 15, 23, 30 and 35 marks, with band 7 at 30 in Academic and 35 in General Training. It states that the exact number varies slightly between test versions. A mark-by-mark table with half bands is an estimate, so use it for practice and not as a promise of what you will receive.
How many more marks do I need for the next band?
On the official points, 3 more marks to 30 for Academic band 7, or 3 more to 30 for General Training band 6. IELTS.org gives no mark for a half band, so a practical aim is to clear the next listed point with a margin, because the marks needed vary slightly between versions.
Sources
- IELTS scoring in detail: band scores explained — IELTS.org
- IELTS Academic: Reading test format — IELTS.org
- IELTS General Training: Reading test format — IELTS.org
Last verified 18 Oct 2026
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