IELTS Band Average Calculator
Average your four IELTS skill bands into an overall band score using the official half-band rounding rule.
How it works
Average = (L + R + W + S) ÷ 4 · Overall = round to nearest half band (.25 rounds up to .5, .75 up to the next whole)
IELTS reports each of the four skills as a band from 0 to 9 in half steps, then averages them for the overall band. The rounding is the part people miss: an average ending in .25 rounds UP to the next half band, and one ending in .75 rounds up to the next whole band, while .125 or .375 endings round down. That means a single half-point in one skill can nudge your whole overall band.
Worked example
Bands of 6.5, 6.5, 5.0 and 7.0 average 6.25. Under the rule, .25 rounds up, so the overall band is 6.5 — not the 6.0 a plain round-down would give.
Sources: IELTS — How IELTS is scored
Frequently asked questions
How is the overall IELTS band rounded?
Take the mean of the four skills. If it ends in .25 it rounds up to the next half band; if it ends in .75 it rounds up to the next whole band. Other fractions round to the nearest half band.
Do all four skills carry equal weight?
Yes. Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking each count for one quarter of the overall band, so improving your weakest skill usually gives the biggest overall lift.
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This calculator is for educational purposes. Double-check important results before acting on them.