How the IELTS Listening score is converted
Each of the 40 questions is worth one mark and there is no penalty for a wrong answer, so never leave a blank. Your raw total is converted to a band from 0 to 9. IELTS publishes the average marks needed for the whole bands, and the precise cut-offs vary slightly from one test version to the next:
- Band 5: 16/40
- Band 6: 23/40
- Band 7: 30/40
- Band 8: 35/40
PTE equivalent
Pearson's July 2025 concordance puts IELTS listening band 6.5 at PTE Academic listening 53–57. See IELTS 6.5 to PTE for the overall and the other skills.
IELTS Listening raw score table
Find the 1 answer you are missing
Take a free, instantly marked listening test and see which question types cost you marks.
Start a free listening test →Frequently asked questions
What band is 29 out of 40 in IELTS Listening?+
29 correct answers out of 40 in IELTS Listening is band 6.5 on the standard conversion table. Band 6.5 covers 26–29 correct answers. The exact cut-off can move by a mark between test versions.
How many correct answers do I need for band 6.5 in IELTS Listening?+
26 out of 40 is the usual minimum for band 6.5. Aim one or two marks above it, because the boundary varies slightly from test to test.
How many more answers do I need for band 7.0?+
1 more correct answer. Band 7.0 usually starts at 30 out of 40.
What score does your university ask for?
Source: IELTS, “IELTS scoring in detail” (ielts.org) for the whole-band averages; half-band rows follow the widely used indicative table. BandLadder is an independent practice platform, not affiliated with IELTS, the British Council or IDP.
© 2026 BandLadder. Written and checked by the BandLadder team. You may quote or cite this page with credit to BandLadder and a link to it; republishing it in full needs our written permission. Content use policy