The Reading Section assesses your ability to understand and interpret complex texts. It evaluates your skills in locating specific information, identifying main ideas, understanding details, and drawing inferences.
The texts cover a wide range of academic subjects, so familiarity with diverse topics is essential
The test is divided into three sections and takes 60 minutes to complete.
Academic Reading (3 passages, 40 questions)
General Training Reading (3 sections, 40 questions)
Time Allocation:
Scoring:
The answers are marked by trained examiners, and the final score is reported on a band scale from 1 (non-user) to 9 (expert user).
Question Type | Description |
you are required to complete sentences by filling in the blanks with words or phrases taken directly from the passage. | |
Complete summaries, tables, diagrams, or flowcharts based on text information. May require selecting answers from a list or writing short responses. Typically focuses on one section of the passage. | |
True/False/Not Given | Statements are marked as True if found, False if opposite, and Not Given if absent in the passage. Avoid spending excessive time on absent sentences. |
Yes/No/Not Given | Similar to True/False/Not Given but focuses on the author’s opinions. Requires agreeing or disagreeing with the author’s views. |
Multiple-choice questions | Includes 3-4 options to select the correct answer. Can be a direct question or a sentence completion. Answers are in passage order. |
Matching Features | Match items (e.g., names or places) to related sentences in the passage. Some items may not appear in the text. Read carefully before answering. |
Matching Sentence Endings | Match sentence beginnings with appropriate endings. Ensure grammatical accuracy, logical meaning, and alignment with the passage. |
| Matching Information | Identify which paragraph contains specific information. Information may be paraphrased, so grasp the meaning of the text. |
Matching Headings | Match provided headings to paragraphs in the passage. Read entire paragraphs for accuracy and eliminate unrelated headings. |
Tip | Details |
Learn about the test format | Familiarize yourself with the question types and passages to avoid surprises on test day. |
Learn about different question types | Understand the various question formats and practice answering them to manage time efficiently. |
Implement skimming and scanning | Use skimming for general understanding and scanning for locating specific information quickly. |
Use context clues | Interpret unfamiliar words using the surrounding text to improve comprehension. |
Distribute your time appropriately | Allocate 20 minutes per passage for Academic Reading; focus more time on the third passage in General Reading. |
Build your vocabulary | Enhance your vocabulary to recognize synonyms and paraphrased content in the questions and passage. |
Transfer your answers concurrently | Transfer answers to the answer sheet after completing each passage to avoid last-minute errors. |
Read and practice more often | Regularly practice with sample papers and reliable resources to improve speed and accuracy. |
Step | Details |
Skim the passage | Quickly read to grasp the general idea of the text. |
Read the question and identify the type | Understand the question format to apply the correct strategy. |
Remember the technique behind the question type | Use specific strategies for each question type to find answers efficiently. |
Find the keyword | Locate keywords in the question and match them to the text. |
Read around the keyword | Read sentences before and after the keyword for contextual understanding. |
Learn to guess the meaning | Use context clues to deduce meanings of unfamiliar words. |
Write the answer | Record the answer and move on promptly to save time. |
Issue | Details |
Misinterpretation of questions | Read instructions carefully to avoid wrong answers due to misreading. |
Disregarding instructions | Follow word limits and other instructions to ensure answers are valid. |
Overlooking details | Pay attention to key details while skimming to avoid missing crucial information. |
Ineffective Time Management | Avoid lingering too long on a single question or passage to ensure all sections are completed. |
Technique | Description |
Skimming | Rapid reading to understand the main theme or idea of the passage. |
Scanning | Rapid reading to locate specific details like numbers or names. |
Repetition | Apply the above steps repeatedly for each question to maintain consistency and efficiency. |
The IELTS Academic and General Training Reading tests are graded on the same scale. The Academic Reading test may contain texts which feature more difficult vocabulary or greater complexity of style. It is usual that a greater number of questions must be answered correctly on a General Training Reading test to secure a given band score.
Here are the average number of marks scored at different levels of the IELTS scale in Academic Reading, and General Training Reading sections. The precise number of marks needed to achieve these band scores will vary slightly from test version to test version.
Sample IELTS Reading Tests