IELTS Listening Raw Score Conversion
35 Out of 40 in IELTS Listening
Scoring 35 marks out of 40 gives an official Band 8.0 (Very Good User (Band 8.0)) on the IELTS 9-band scale, corresponding to 87.5% accuracy and CEFR C1.
Band Score
8.0
CEFR Level:C1
Very Good User (Band 8.0)
Band 8.0 Performance Description (35 / 40)
Strong performance (Band 7.0 - 7.5). You routinely ace Sections 1 & 2 and capture key concepts in Section 3 & 4, though fast conversational turns or dense academic jargon may cause missed answers.
Recommended Section Accuracy Breakdown for 35/40
To hit 35 marks out of 40 in Listening, aim for this target question distribution:
Section 110 / 10 (100%)Social dialogue & transactional details
Section 210 / 10 (100%)Everyday monologue (maps, guides)
Section 39 / 10 (90%)Academic discussion (2-4 speakers)
Section 46 / 10 (60%)Academic lecture monologue
Next Target Band Roadmap
Want to reach Band 8.5 in IELTS Listening?
You need 2 more correct answers to reach Band 8.5.
Required Raw Score37 / 40+2 correct answers
✓
Strengths at 35/40
- •High accuracy on telephone numbers, names, and booking forms in Section 1
- •Good comprehension of guided tours and map/diagram labeling in Section 2
- •Consistent note-taking ability during monologues
!
Audio Pitfalls & Traps
- •Negative phrasing shifts ("hardly ever", "seldom")
- •Distractor statements where a speaker changes their mind halfway through a sentence
Actionable Drills to Increase Accuracy
1
Lock in 10/10 on Section 1 so you build a strong buffer for Sections 3 & 4
2
Annotate signpost words on the question sheet ("Turning now to...", "In contrast...")
Explore Adjacent Raw Marks
Compare band conversions across neighboring raw scores