IELTS overall band score: does 6.25 become 6.5?

goldenmaple

07 October 2026

For example, Listening 6.5, Reading 6.5, Writing 5 and Speaking 7 average to 6.25. Is the overall score 6 or 6.5?

It becomes 6.5. Overall is the mean of the four section bands rounded to the nearest half band, so 6.25 rounds up.

If a course needs 6.5 overall and no skill below 6, would the Writing 5 still be too low?

Yes, Writing 5 would be below that minimum. Rounding the overall score to 6.5 doesn't change the Writing score.

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