Free General Training Reading tool
IELTS General Training Reading band score calculator.
Turn a raw score out of 40 into an indicative General Training Reading band. Check common conversions such as 34 out of 40 for Band 7.0, then set a target for your next practice test.
Enter the number of correct questions from a General Training Reading practice test.
Indicative band score
Enter a score between 0 and 40 above to see the indicative General Training band.
See how many correct answers you need to reach the next General Training band.
Aim for at least 34 correct answers to secure a Band 7.0 in General Training Reading.
How to use it
Check your General Training Reading band in three steps.
01
Mark your 40-question paper
Count the exact number of correct answers across all three sections of your General Training Reading paper.
02
Enter the raw score
Use the General Training scale to see the matching indicative band — remember it requires higher raw scores than Academic Reading.
03
Target the next threshold
Identify how many extra marks you need for your target band and review the questions that cost you points.
General Training Reading conversion
IELTS General Training Reading score conversion table.
Use this table as an indicative practice reference for a General Training Reading paper. Taking Academic IELTS instead? Use the IELTS Academic Reading band calculator. This table is not an official score report.
| Correct answers | Indicative band |
|---|---|
| 40 / 40 | 9.0 |
| 39 / 40 | 8.5 |
| 37-38 / 40 | 8.0 |
| 36 / 40 | 7.5 |
| 34-35 / 40 | 7.0 |
| 32-33 / 40 | 6.5 |
| 30-31 / 40 | 6.0 |
| 27-29 / 40 | 5.5 |
| 23-26 / 40 | 5.0 |
| 19-22 / 40 | 4.5 |
| 15-18 / 40 | 4.0 |
| 12-14 / 40 | 3.5 |
| 9-11 / 40 | 3.0 |
| 6-8 / 40 | 2.5 |
| 3-5 / 40 | 2.0 |
| 1-2 / 40 | 1.0 |
| 0 / 40 | 0.0 |
Raw score examples
What band is 34 out of 40 in General Training Reading?
Because General Training Sections 1 and 2 use everyday and workplace texts, upper band thresholds require more correct answers out of 40 than Academic Reading.
23/40
23 out of 40 is an indicative General Training Reading Band 5.0 (23-26 correct answers). This is the first score in Band 5.0 on the General Training scale (compared with Band 6.0 in Academic).
27/40
27 out of 40 is an indicative General Training Reading Band 5.5 (27-29 correct answers). This is the first score in Band 5.5 (27–29 correct answers).
30/40
30 out of 40 is an indicative General Training Reading Band 6.0 (30-31 correct answers). This is the first score in Band 6.0 on the General Training scale (compared with Band 7.0 in Academic).
31/40
31 out of 40 is an indicative General Training Reading Band 6.0 (30-31 correct answers). This is the top of Band 6.0. Thirty-two correct answers reaches Band 6.5.
32/40
32 out of 40 is an indicative General Training Reading Band 6.5 (32-33 correct answers). This is the first score in Band 6.5.
33/40
33 out of 40 is an indicative General Training Reading Band 6.5 (32-33 correct answers). This is the top of Band 6.5. One more correct answer reaches Band 7.0.
34/40
34 out of 40 is an indicative General Training Reading Band 7.0 (34-35 correct answers). This is the first score in Band 7.0, a common immigration and work target.
35/40
35 out of 40 is an indicative General Training Reading Band 7.0 (34-35 correct answers). This is the top of Band 7.0. Thirty-six correct answers reaches Band 7.5.
36/40
36 out of 40 is an indicative General Training Reading Band 7.5 (36 correct answers). This is the first score in Band 7.5 (36 correct answers).
37/40
37 out of 40 is an indicative General Training Reading Band 8.0 (37-38 correct answers). This is the first score in Band 8.0 (37–38 correct answers).
38/40
38 out of 40 is an indicative General Training Reading Band 8.0 (37-38 correct answers). This is the top of Band 8.0. Thirty-nine correct reaches Band 8.5.
39/40
39 out of 40 is an indicative General Training Reading Band 8.5 (39 correct answers). This is an indicative Band 8.5 on the General Training Reading scale.
40/40
40 out of 40 is an indicative General Training Reading Band 9.0 (40 correct answers). A full 40 out of 40 is required for an indicative Band 9.0 in General Training Reading.
FAQ
General Training Reading band calculator questions.
Why does General Training Reading require more correct answers than Academic?
Sections 1 and 2 of General Training Reading use shorter everyday and workplace texts, which are generally more accessible than the three long academic passages in Academic Reading. To calibrate the two modules to the same IELTS band descriptors, General Training requires a higher raw score out of 40 at almost every band.
What band is 30 out of 40 in General Training Reading?
On the indicative General Training scale, 30 out of 40 is Band 6.0 (the Band 6.0 range is 30–31 correct answers). By contrast, 30 out of 40 is Band 7.0 in Academic Reading.
How many correct answers do I need for Band 7.0 in General Training Reading?
You typically need 34 or 35 correct answers out of 40 for an indicative Band 7.0 in General Training Reading.
How many correct answers do I need for Band 8.0 in General Training Reading?
On the indicative General Training conversion table, Band 8.0 requires 37 or 38 correct answers out of 40 (CLB 9 in Canadian immigration requires at least Band 7.0 in Reading, while CLB 10 requires Band 8.0).
Is this an official IELTS General Training score?
No. Official IELTS scores come only from an authorised test centre. This calculator is an indicative conversion for practice tests.
How should I improve my General Training Reading score?
Aim to lose almost no marks in Sections 1 and 2 by scanning carefully for qualifying words, and save at least 25 minutes for the longer Section 3 passage where TRUE/FALSE/NOT GIVEN and matching questions are hardest.
Next step after scoring
Turn missed questions into a repeatable rule.
Comparing both modules? Check the Academic Reading band calculator, or read our IELTS Reading mistake review guide to fix the question types costing you marks.