IELTS Reading Band Score - Complete Guide

The International English Language Testing System, or IELTS, is a globally accepted and standardized test that gauges the proficiency of the English language among non-native English-speaking applicants. The IELTS examination consists of four sections: Writing, Reading, Speaking and Listening. IELTS is of two types – Academic and General Training. 

The Reading Section in both types of IELTS exam evaluates the reading skills for main ideas and associated sub-skills such as understanding logical argument, skimming, scanning, analyzing, recognizing writers’ details, opinion, reading for detail, and purpose. Applicants appearing for the IELTS examination receive scores within the band of 0-9.

IELTS reading band score decides the knowledge and proficiency of the English language of the applicants. To prepare well for the Reading Section, applicants need to have good knowledge about the IELTS Reading band score and how it is calculated.

How is the IELTS reading band score calculated? 

The IELTS Reading Section consists of a total of 40 questions. The Reading Section for General Training and Academic will be different. For every right question, the students are awarded a score of 1. There will be no deductions for negative or wrong answers. All the scores in total, out of 40, are converted to the IELTS nine-band scale. The Reading scores are reported in whole bands and half bands. On the same band scale, the IELTS Academic and General Training are marked. The Reading Section will have a variety of questions like multiple choices, Matching, True/False/Not Given, and sentence completion. The answers in the reading section will either be marked correct or incorrect, and it is different as compared to the speaking and writing sections. A score of band 8 is always an ideal score for the Reading Section. 

The Reading score chart for Academic and General Training is different, and it has been provided below for the reference of test-takers. 

IELTS Reading Band Score Table:

The average number of marks required to achieve a particular band score in IELTS Academic Reading and General Training Reading are listed in the below table.

IELTS Academic Reading Band Score Table

General Training Reading Band Score for IELTS

Conclusion

The raw score out of 40 is converted to the 9-band scale of the IELTS score. Applicants need to attempt a total of 40 questions in the Reading section of the IELTS examination. There is no negative marking, and it helps the applicants to score well in the Reading Section. To know more about the score pattern, connect with the counselors of upGrad Abroad.