IELTS Listening Band Score: Calculator, Chart

Overview

Do you know how the IELTS listening score is calculated? If not, this blog will explain it.

The IELTS listening score is determined using a 0–9 scale. The listening test has 40 questions, all related to the audio samples the applicants will receive. Each correct answer earns the candidate one mark, with the total number of marks determining the IELTS band score. Listening band scores are available in half bands (5.5, 6.5) or complete bands (6, 7). The IELTS listening score calculator turns raw values into scaled scores. Academic listening band scores and general listening scores are computed in a similar way. The average IELTS listening band score in India is 6.5. Top colleges require a listening band score of 7 or above.

In this blog, we have included all the necessary details regarding the IELTS listening band score, IELTS general listening, IELTS academic listening, how to calculate the IELTS listening score and much more. So, let’s begin the blog.

Table of Contents

Overview
Listening Band Score Chart
IELTS Listening Score Calculator
IELTS Listening Score in Top Universities
Conclusion
FAQs

Listening Band Score Chart

The overall listening band score is calculated by the IELTS Listening score calculator, which ignores the number of correct attempts. Both the IELTS general listening score and the IELTS academic listening score have no negative marks.

The IELTS listening score chart is entirely dependent on the right amount of responses, which are then translated into a nine-band scale. Accredited professionals with substantial training and teaching experience assess listening and reading band scores. The following list of listening band scores can be used to compute the academic and general listening band scores on the listening band score chart:

RAW SCORE	IELTS BAND SCORE
39- 40	9
37- 38	8.5
35- 36	8
32- 34	7.5
30- 31	7
26- 29	6.5
23- 25	6
18- 22	5.5
16- 17	5
13- 15	4.5
11- 12	4

After looking over the IELTS listening score table above, take note of the following:

The IELTS listening band score chart above shows how a lower raw score results in a lower band score.
In order to gain admission to the best universities, candidates should always aim for higher band scores, such as IELTS 6.5 and above.
After listening to the recording, candidates should focus on utilising good language and spelling in their responses.
In order to enhance their listening score band, candidates should concentrate on time management during the questioning process.
Applicants can refer to the table for the IELTS general training and academic listening score charts.

IELTS Listening Score Calculator

The number of accurate attempts to arrive at the overall listening band chart is ignored by the IELTS listening score calculation. There are forty questions in this area, and each one is worth one mark. On a scale of 0–9, the total number of right answers out of 40 is translated into an IELTS listening band score. Both the IELTS general listening score and the IELTS academic listening score have no negative marks. A list of listening band scores is available in the subsections below:

IELTS Listening Band Score Characteristics

Increasing their IELTS listening score is the main goal for applicants hoping to gain university admission. Candidates can examine the IELTS listening band score chart below to learn more about how they performed:

Band	Skill Level
Band 0	Did not attempt the test
Band 1	Non-user
Band 2	Intermittent user
Band 3	Extremely limited user
Band 4	Limited user
Band 5	Modest user
Band 6	Competent user
Band 7	Good user
Band 8	Very good user
Band 9	Expert user

According to the IELTS listening scorecard shown above, a candidate with a score of seven or more is considered to have good listening skills. As the IELTS general listening score and the academic score are equally scored, applicants can use the table above for any exam type.

Also read: IELTS Speaking test - Most commonly garble words

How is the Listening Section of the IELTS Evaluated?

Understanding the IELTS listening pattern is crucial for achieving high scores in the Academic and General listening bands. The IELTS general reading score and the hearing band score use the exact same marking scheme for listening. The 40 questions in the IELTS listening modules each have a unique audio that is played in the form of many audio dips. You can fill in the question booklet with accurate answers if you notice the conversation.

These responses are to be copied or mimicked on the answer sheet in an additional 10 minutes as transferring time. Ultimately, the number of correct answers is determined by calculating raw scores out of 40 after verification. Similar scoring guidelines apply to the general training IELTS general listening band score. These raw results are then assessed for IELTS Bands, which range from 0 to 9. IELTS bands are applied to specific raw score slabs.

IELTS Listening Score in Top Universities

Universities accept IELTS listening scores between 6.5 to nearly 8.5. The academic list of top universities with IELTS listening band scores helps candidates understand the range of scores they should aim for. The listening and reading band scores overall that are accepted at the best colleges are as follows:

Top Universities	IELTS Listening Score
Harvard University	7.5
MIT	7.0
California Institute of Technology	7 (overall)
Princeton University	7 (overall)
Yale University	7 (overall)
University of Chicago	6
University of Pennsylvania	6.5 minimum
John Hopkins University	7 and above
University of Toronto	6
University of British Columbia	6
McGill University	6.5 (overall
Oxford University	7
University of Edinburgh	7
University College, London	6.5
University of Cambridge	7
Imperial College, London	6.5
King’s College, London	6.5
Brown University	7.0 (Overall)
Carnegie Mellon University	7.5 (Overall)
Columbia University	7.0 (Overall)
Cornell University	7.5 (Overall)
Duke University	7.0 (Overall)
Georgia Institute of Technology	7.5 (Overall)
Johns Hopkins University	7.0 (Overall)
New York University	7.0 (Overall)
Northwestern University	7.5 (Overall)

Most prestigious universities require an IELTS listening score of 7 or higher. Applicants should be ready to use IELTS listening strategies to develop appropriate abilities.

Also, read: IELTS One Skill Retake- Retaking IELTS Exam

Conclusion

To sum up, ensuring good scores in the IELTS listening test and the overall IELTS exam is important for those who want to study abroad. You can quickly determine your total band score on your IELTS listening exam by following the instructions in this blog, and you can then take the appropriate action to raise your score. The IELTS listening exam aims to assess your English language ability; thus, with enough preparation, you can get a good score.

We hope you enjoyed reading the blog. If you want to know more about the topic and about IELTS preparation, we recommend you sign up for our IELTS courses designed by our experts. Please contact Prepare IELTS exam (PI) expert counsellors for further guidance. Our team of education experts is dedicated to assisting you in the best possible way for the IELTS exam. You can also get a one-on-one counselling session online via our platform. Contact us at info@prepareieltsexam.com or call us at +91 9773398388.

FAQs

The duration of the IELTS Listening test is roughly half an hour. You will have time to read the questions and write down your responses while you listen to each of the four recordings. There are four parts to the test, and each area has a single recording in it.

Your IELTS Listening band score is based on how well you did in the listening part of the test. Your rating ranges from 0 to 9. The IELTS listening exam consists of 40 questions., and you will receive one mark for each right response. An IELTS band score is derived from the sum of your scores, also referred to as raw scores.

Practice listening to a range of audio materials on a daily basis to increase your listening speed for the IELTS listening test. While listening, concentrate on grasping the essential concepts and specifics and making an effort to anticipate the speakers next move. Additionally, employ strategies like taking notes and summarising to help you absorb information more quickly while listening.

Each band on the IELTS hearing band score scale, which goes from 0 to 9, corresponds to a particular degree of listening skill. A 9 represents an expert level of listening comprehension, while a score of 0 indicates that the user most likely did not attempt the test. For most universities, scores of 6.0 and higher are deemed sufficient.

No, the IELTS Listening test does not have breaks in between sections. This lesson must be finished in one sitting and takes approximately 30 minutes overall. You are going to hear four recordings, and you will respond to questions based on each one. To finish all the questions in the allotted time, you must effectively manage your time.