IELTS Academic Reading Score

Table of contents

1. IELTS Academic Reading Score
2. How is the IELTS academic reading band score calculated?
3. IELTS Band score chart for academic reading
4. IELTS Academic reading score calculator
5. What is a good IELTS academic reading score?
6. How questions are marked in IELTS Academic reading? What is the criteria?
7. IELTS Academic Reading score in top universities
8. How can non-native English speakers score a 9.0 band score in IELTS Academic reading?
9. Practice papers to improve your IELTS Academic Reading score
10. What if I’m not satisfied with my IELTS Academic reading score?
11. Conclusion

Is the IELTS Academic reading score calculated by computer or manually? Let us see now. The IELTS academic reading score is calculated manually by evaluators. Since IELTS has certain assessment criteria for listening, reading, writing, and speaking, evaluators use those criteria to assess a candidate’s English proficiency. For instance, if a candidate’s IELTS academic reading score is 4.0, it reveals that they have difficulty in understanding complex sentences and use them scarcely.

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How is the IELTS academic reading band score calculated?

The IELTS Academic Reading band score is calculated by the number of correct answers out of 40 questions. The IELTS Reading test contains 40 questions each. For each correct answer, one mark is given. Based on the number of correct answers, the IELTS Academic Reading score comes anywhere from 0 to 9. For example, 35 correct answers - a band score of 8.0. To get a band score of 9.0, you must master all the IELTS Academic Reading question types available.

The IELTS Academic band score is calculated based on certain criteria. Once each component score is given, the average of the four component scores will be rounded to the closest whole number or half band. For example, if the average band score comes as .25, it will be rounded up to the next half band.

IELTS Band score chart for academic reading

IELTS Band Score Chart for Academic Reading Test

Band Score	No. of Correct Answers
9	39 - 40
8.5	37 - 38
8	35 - 36
7.5	33 - 34
7	30 - 32
6.5	27 - 29
6	23 - 26
5.5	19 - 22
5	15 - 18
4.5	13 - 14
4	10 - 12
3.5	8 - 9
3	6 - 7
2.5	4 - 5

 

Also read: How to calculate the overall IELTS band score?

IELTS Academic reading score calculator

Test takers can calculate the specific IELTS Academic reading score or the overall band score using an IELTS score calculator. Raw scores obtained from 40 questions are converted to the IELTS nine-band scale. For example: if a candidate obtains 23 out of 40 questions, they will get a band score of 6.

Also read: IELTS academic reading tips.

What is a good IELTS academic reading score?

A good IELTS academic reading score is between 7 and 9. Based on a survey, 80% of IELTS trainers feel that preparing IELTS academic reading exercises for 3 to 4 weeks or 25 days before the exam can guarantee a good score required for study, work or migration. 

How questions are marked in IELTS Academic reading? What is the criteria?

The IELTS Academic Reading test has 40 questions. For each correct answer, one mark is awarded. Each task is assessed based on criteria like coherence and cohesion, lexical resource, grammatical accuracy, etc. Each criteria has equal weightage and the score on the task is average. 

IELTS Academic Reading score in top universities

Top Colleges/Universities accepting IELTS score

Country

College/University

IELTS Academic Score

The United Kingdom (UK)	University of Oxford	7.0 - 7.5
	Glasgow Metropolitan College	8
	West End College London	7.5
	University of Cambridge	7.0
	University College London	6.5
	Imperial College London	7.0
	University of Edinburgh	6.5
	University of Glasgow	6.0 - 7.0
	University of Manchester	6.0 - 7.5
	University of Warwick	6.5
	University of Bristol	6.0
	King’s College London	7.0
The United States of America (USA)	Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)	7.0
	Harvard University	7.0
	Yale University	7.0
	Johns Hopkins University	7.0
	California Institute of Technology	7.0
	Columbia University	7.0
	University of Chicago	7.0
	University of Washington	7.5
	Northwestern University	7.5
	University of Texas at Austin	6.5
	University of California, Berkeley	7.0
	University of Pennsylvania	7.0
	University of California, Los Angeles	7.0
Australia	Australian National University	6.5 - 7.0
	University of Sydney	6.5
	University of Melbourne	7.0
	University of Technology, Sydney	6.0 - 6.5
	University of Western Australia	6.5
	University of New South Wales	6.5
	Monash University	6.5
	University of Adelaide	6.5
	University of Queensland	6.5
Canada	Royal Roads University	5.5
	HEC Montreal	6
	Victoria University	6.5
	McMaster University	6.5
	University of British Columbia	6.5
	Acadia University	6.5
	University of Toronto	6.5 - 7
	University of Alberta	6.5
	McGill University	6.5
New Zealand	Auckland University of Technology	5.5
	Lincoln University	5.5
	Massey University	5.5
	University of Canterbury	5.5
	University of Auckland	5.5
	University of Otago	5.5
	Victoria University of Wellington	5.5
	University of Waikato	5.5

How can non-native English speakers score a 9.0 band score in IELTS Academic reading?

A non-native English speaker can score the highest band score of 9.0 in IELTS Academic Reading following certain tricks like reading the questions first and finding answers in the article. Marking the keywords in the paragraph to recheck the answers;  if they get stuck at a question, they can skip to the next question and come back a little later. Above all, allow 15 minutes to check all the answers, including grammar.

Practice papers to improve your IELTS Academic Reading score

To ace the IELTS Academic Reading test, use the practice/sample questions (below) made simple.

IELTS Academic Reading Question Types - Practice Questions

S No.	Question Types
1	Matching Headings
2	Locating Information
3	True/False/Not Given
4	Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
5	Summary Completion
6	Diagram Labelling
7	Matching Sentences
8	Matching Features
9	Sentence Completion
10	Short Answer Questions
11	Note Completion
12	Flow chat Completion
13	Yes/No/Not Given
14	Table Completion

 

What if I’m not satisfied with my IELTS Academic reading score?

If you’re not happy or satisfied with your IELTS score, you can apply for an ‘Enquiry on Results’ (EOR) by visiting the test centre where you took your test. You must apply for it within six weeks of the test date and pay an enquiry fee. If the band score changes, your enquiry fee will be fully refunded. The procedure for payment is through bank transfer. 

Please remember to mention the following in the explanatory part of your payment:

• Name and surname
• Exam date
• Reference number as per the registration portal

Conclusion 

Hoping you are now familiar with the IELTS Academic Reading band score and how it is calculated. Since each question type requires a certain skill-set, using this information you can start to plan and develop your strategy to score the highest band. To know more about the IELTS test, stay connected with us!