Many IELTS candidates ask: "How many questions do I need to get right in Reading to reach my target band score?" Here is a general guide based on the standard IELTS Academic Reading scoring pattern.
How IELTS Reading is scored. The Academic Reading test has 40 questions. Your raw score (number of correct answers) is converted into a band score from 1 to 9 using an official conversion table. This table can vary slightly between test versions, but the general pattern is consistent.
Approximate score guide (Academic Reading). Band 9: 39-40 correct Band 8.5: 37-38 correct Band 8: 35-36 correct Band 7.5: 33-34 correct Band 7: 30-32 correct Band 6.5: 27-29 correct Band 6: 23-26 correct Band 5.5: 19-22 correct Band 5: 15-18 correct
These numbers are approximate and can shift by one or two questions depending on the specific test's difficulty, but they give you a realistic target to aim for.
Why this matters for your practice. If your target is Band 7, you need to consistently answer around 30-32 out of 40 questions correctly — not 40 out of 40. This means you can afford to get some questions wrong and still reach your goal. Understanding this can reduce exam anxiety significantly.
Track your score trend, not just one attempt. A single mock test score can vary due to a harder or easier passage on that day. What matters more is your trend over multiple attempts. If your scores are steadily moving from 24, to 27, to 30 correct answers over several mock tests, you are on track for Band 7.
Use full mock tests to measure your real level. Practicing individual passages is useful for learning, but a Full Mock Test (3 passages, 40 questions, 60 minutes) gives you the most accurate picture of your current band score, since it matches the real exam's length, timing, and pressure. Take one on Readlify every week or two to track your progress honestly.