IELTS General Training Reading score chart
IELTS General Training Reading score chart: correct answers out of 40 for every band, and for CLB 7, 8 and 9. Band 6 is 30–31, band 7 is 35.
IELTS General Training Reading has 40 questions worth one mark each, and it needs more correct answers than Academic for the same band. Band 6 needs 30–31 correct answers, band 6.5 needs 32–34, band 7 needs 35 and band 8 needs 37–38.
| Correct answers (out of 40) | Band |
|---|---|
| 40 | 9.0 |
| 39 | 8.5 |
| 37–38 | 8.0 |
| 36 | 7.5 |
| 35official point | 7.0 |
| 32–34 | 6.5 |
| 30–31official point | 6.0 |
| 27–29 | 5.5 |
| 23–26official point | 5.0 |
| 19–22 | 4.5 |
| 15–18official point | 4.0 |
| 12–14 | 3.5 |
| 9–11 | 3.0 |
| 6–8 | 2.5 |
Correct answers needed for each CLB level
Canadian immigration converts each IELTS General Training band to a Canadian Language Benchmark. These are the General Training Reading bands IRCC sets for each level, and the raw score that reaches them on this chart.
Why the chart is an estimate
IELTS publishes four exact points for General Training Reading: 15 correct answers for band 4, 23 for band 5, 30 for band 6 and 35 for band 7. The rows between them come from past papers, and each test version is equated, so a cut-off can move by about a mark.
Some widely shared charts put band 7 at 34 correct answers. The official anchor is 35, and this chart follows it, so 34 is shown as band 6.5.
Why General Training needs more correct answers
The texts are everyday and workplace English rather than academic articles, so the chart asks for more: 30 correct answers is band 6.0 on General Training but band 7.0 on Academic.
Sit a timed General Training Reading section and see your band on this chart.
Common questions
How many correct answers do I need for band 7 in General Training Reading?
Band 7 needs 35 correct answers out of 40. 35 is an official anchor point; charts that say 34 are out of step with it.
How many correct answers do I need for CLB 9 in Reading?
CLB 9 needs IELTS General Training Reading band 7.0, which is 35 correct answers out of 40 on this chart. CLB 7 needs band 6.0, which is 30–31 correct answers.
Can I use Academic Reading for Canadian immigration?
No. Express Entry and most Canadian immigration programs accept IELTS General Training only, so the General Training chart is the one that matters for CLB.