IELTS Listening band score: how many correct answers you need for band 6, 7 and 8

Your IELTS Listening band score comes from one number: how many of the 40 questions you answer correctly. Each correct answer gets one mark, and a wrong answer does not lose a mark. This guide gives the band for every score out of 40, what IELTS itself publishes, and where most students lose their marks. It also shows how to win back the few answers that make the next half band.

27 October 2026

How the IELTS Listening band score works

The Listening test has four parts, with 10 questions in each part. You hear each recording once only. Parts 1 and 2 are about everyday life, for example a phone call about a booking or a talk about local places. Parts 3 and 4, however, are about study: a discussion between students and then a lecture.

Each correct answer gets one mark, so your raw score is a number out of 40. IELTS then changes that number into a band on the 9-band scale. As a result, your band can be a whole band, such as 6.0, or a half band, such as 6.5.

There is no penalty for a wrong answer. Therefore, never leave a gap empty: a guess may get the mark, but an empty box never will.

On computer you type each answer as you listen, and at the end you get 2 minutes to check. On paper you get 10 minutes at the end to copy your answers onto the answer sheet.

The IELTS Listening band score table

IELTS publishes four numbers for Listening. In fact, they are the average marks for band 5, 6, 7 and 8.

However, the exact number can move a little from one version of the test to another. Each version is a little easier or harder, and this change keeps the band fair. So treat the table as a guide, not a promise.

IELTS does not publish the other rows. For this reason, the full table below adds the usual guide that teachers use, which is also the table in ExamBand's tests and our band score calculator. The four official rows are marked.

Band	Correct answers (out of 40)	Mistakes you can make
9	39–40	1
8.5	37–38	3
8	35–36	5
7.5	32–34	8
7	30–31	10
6.5	26–29	14
6	23–25	17
5.5	18–22	22
5	16–17	24
4.5	13–15	27
4	10–12	30

Every IELTS Listening score out of 40

Find your number of correct answers below. Each line then gives your band from the same table as above, and how many marks you lost.

High scores: 30 to 40 correct answers

40 out of 40 is band 9, so you lost no marks.
39 out of 40 is band 9, so you lost 1 mark.
38 out of 40 is band 8.5, so you lost 2 marks.
37 out of 40 is band 8.5, so you lost 3 marks.
36 out of 40 is band 8, so you lost 4 marks.
35 out of 40 is band 8, so you lost 5 marks.
34 out of 40 is band 7.5, so you lost 6 marks.
33 out of 40 is band 7.5, so you lost 7 marks.
32 out of 40 is band 7.5, so you lost 8 marks.
31 out of 40 is band 7, so you lost 9 marks.
30 out of 40 is band 7, so you lost 10 marks.

Middle scores: 20 to 29 correct answers

29 out of 40 is band 6.5, so you lost 11 marks.
28 out of 40 is band 6.5, so you lost 12 marks.
27 out of 40 is band 6.5, so you lost 13 marks.
26 out of 40 is band 6.5, so you lost 14 marks.
25 out of 40 is band 6, so you lost 15 marks.
24 out of 40 is band 6, so you lost 16 marks.
23 out of 40 is band 6, so you lost 17 marks.
22 out of 40 is band 5.5, so you lost 18 marks.
21 out of 40 is band 5.5, so you lost 19 marks.
20 out of 40 is band 5.5, so you lost 20 marks.

Lower scores: 10 to 19 correct answers

19 out of 40 is band 5.5, so you lost 21 marks.
18 out of 40 is band 5.5, so you lost 22 marks.
17 out of 40 is band 5, so you lost 23 marks.
16 out of 40 is band 5, so you lost 24 marks.
15 out of 40 is band 4.5, so you lost 25 marks.
14 out of 40 is band 4.5, so you lost 26 marks.
13 out of 40 is band 4.5, so you lost 27 marks.
12 out of 40 is band 4, so you lost 28 marks.
11 out of 40 is band 4, so you lost 29 marks.
10 out of 40 is band 4, so you lost 30 marks.

However, fewer than 10 correct answers give about band 3.5 or less.

What each IELTS Listening band score asks of you

Look at the number of mistakes, not only the number of correct answers. For example, a band 7 student can still miss about ten answers in the whole test. That is good news, because you do not need perfect English. Instead, you need fewer lost marks.

Band 9, 39–40 correct: Miss up to 1. One mistake at most, so every spelling and every plural must be right.
Band 8.5, 37–38 correct: Miss up to 3. Three mistakes at most in the whole test.
Band 8, 35–36 correct: Miss up to 5. About five mistakes. At this level, however, careless slips cost more than hard questions.
Band 7.5, 32–34 correct: Miss up to 8. Up to eight mistakes, so Parts 3 and 4 must go well.
Band 7, 30–31 correct: Miss up to 10. About ten mistakes, so you need a strong Part 4, the lecture.
Band 6.5, 26–29 correct: Miss up to 14. Up to 14 mistakes, but Parts 1 and 2 should be nearly perfect.
Band 6, 23–25 correct: Miss up to 17. About 17 mistakes. Most marks are usually lost in Parts 3 and 4.
Band 5.5, 18–22 correct: Miss up to 22. Up to 22 mistakes, so Parts 1 and 2 bring most of your marks.
Band 5, 16–17 correct: Miss up to 24. About 24 mistakes. You follow everyday conversations, but study talks are hard.

Your IELTS Listening band score and your overall band

Your overall IELTS band is the average of your four skill bands, rounded to the nearest half band. If the average ends in .25, it goes up to the next half band. If it ends in .75, it goes up to the next whole band.

In other words, half a band more in Listening can lift your overall band. Try your own numbers in the IELTS band score calculator.

When you get your IELTS Listening band score

You do not see your Listening band on test day. Instead, it comes later on one result, the Test Report Form, with your other three bands and your overall band.

On computer, the result usually comes in 1 to 5 days, but IELTS Online takes 6 to 8 days. You can also see your result online, but you need your passport or ID number and your candidate number.

In our practice tests, by contrast, you see your band the moment you finish. So you know where you are long before test day.

Where students lose the most marks

In ten years of teaching IELTS, I have seen the same six problems cost students most of their lost marks. Surprisingly, only one of them is really about understanding English.

Spelling
A correct word with a wrong spelling is marked wrong. So watch double letters, silent letters, and days and months.
Word limits
If the instructions say NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS, a three-word answer loses the mark, even when it is what you heard.
A word that is already in the question
Do not repeat a word from the sentence around the gap, because the extra word can make the answer wrong.
The tour ends at the main ______ station.
Changed answers
Speakers often give one answer and then correct it. As a result, the first word you hear is not always the answer.
The class is on Tuesday… oh, sorry, no. It moved to Thursday this term.
Numbers
Write thousands with a comma and halves with a full stop, as in English. Otherwise, the number may change.
Losing your place
If you miss one answer, let it go. Because the questions follow the order of the recording, you can simply look at the next question and keep listening.

How to raise your IELTS Listening band score by half a band

From band 6 to 6.5 is 3 more correct answers. Similarly, from 6.5 to 7 is 4 more, and from 7 to 7.5 is only 2 more. These steps can win them back:

Read the instructions first
First, note the word limit for every set of questions before the recording starts.
Predict the answer
Then decide if each gap needs a number, a name, a noun or an adjective.
Stay one question ahead
Because the answers come in the same order as the recording, keep your eyes on the next question too.
Wait for the final answer
When a speaker says “actually” or “sorry, I mean”, the real answer is coming.
Use the 2 minutes well
On computer, check spelling, plurals and word limits. However, do not change answers you were sure about.
Count your score part by part
For example, if Part 4 is always your weakest, practise lectures. If Part 1 loses marks, practise spelling, names and numbers instead.

Quick check: would this answer get the mark?

Each answer below matches what the speaker said. Decide if it gets the mark, then tap to see why.

Visitors can help in the vegetable garden garden.

Please wait at the check-in desk before you board.

The course starts on Wensday.

The hall can seat 3.000 people.

Each group gets 2 large tents for the weekend.

Know your Listening band before test day

Take Listening Practice Test 1 free. Then fix the traps you fall into, one part at a time.

Start the free Listening test Try the band score calculator

IELTS Listening band score: questions students ask

How many correct answers do I need for band 7 in IELTS Listening?

About 30 out of 40. IELTS publishes 30 as the average mark for band 7. However, the exact number can vary slightly from one version of the test to another.

How many mistakes can I make for band 8.5 in IELTS Listening?

About three. Band 8.5 usually needs 37 correct answers out of 40. However, IELTS publishes only the marks for bands 5 to 8, so this number comes from the usual guide.

When will I get my IELTS Listening result?

On computer, usually in 1 to 5 days, together with your other bands and your overall band. IELTS Online, however, takes 6 to 8 days.

Is the Listening band score the same for Academic and General Training?

Yes. Both tests use the same Listening test, so the same number of correct answers gives the same band.

Do I lose marks for wrong answers?

No. A wrong answer scores zero, the same as an empty one. So always write something.

Does spelling count in IELTS Listening?

Yes. In fact, IDP says that an answer with the wrong spelling is marked wrong, even when you heard the right word.

How long is the IELTS Listening test?

About 30 minutes. In addition, on computer you get 2 minutes at the end to check your answers. On paper, by contrast, you get 10 minutes to copy them onto the answer sheet.

Is my ExamBand band the same as a real IELTS band?

It is an estimate. Our tests follow the real format and also use the table above. However, only the real test gives you an official score.

Facts checked on 27 October 2026 with official sources