The IELTS Academic Reading Test at a Glance
60
Minutes Total
40
Questions
3
Passages
14
Question Types
Key Fact: The IELTS Academic Reading test uses authentic texts from books, journals, magazines, and newspapers. These are written for a non-specialist audience, so you don't need expert knowledge of the topics.
What You Need to Know
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1
No Extra Transfer Time: Unlike Listening, there is NO extra time to transfer answers. Write directly on your answer sheet as you go!
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2
Passages Increase in Difficulty: Passage 1 is easiest, Passage 3 is hardest. Plan your time accordingly.
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3
Each Question = 1 Mark: There's no weighting - every correct answer counts equally.
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4
No Penalty for Wrong Answers: Never leave a blank! Always guess if you don't know.
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5
Word Limits Matter: If a question says "NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS," writing three words means zero marks.
WARNING: Time is your biggest enemy in IELTS Reading. Many students don't finish all 40 questions. Strategic time management is essential - we'll cover this in Tab 5.
Understanding the Three Passages
The test consists of three passages of increasing difficulty. Each passage has approximately 13-14 questions, totaling 40 questions across the entire test.
Passage 1
EASIER
15 min
Descriptive/factual content
Most straightforward questions
Build confidence here!
Passage 2
MODERATE
20 min
More complex arguments
Mix of question types
Requires careful reading
Passage 3
CHALLENGING
25 min
Abstract/analytical content
Most challenging questions
Don't panic - take your time!
Passage Characteristics
Total Word Count: The three passages combined contain approximately 2,500-3,000 words. This means you need to read efficiently - not every word carefully, but strategically.
Types of Text You'll Encounter
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1
Descriptive Texts: Explain how something works, historical accounts, descriptions of processes
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2
Factual Texts: Present information, data, and research findings objectively
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3
Discursive Texts: Present arguments, discuss viewpoints, analyze issues
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4
Analytical Texts: Examine causes and effects, compare and contrast, evaluate evidence
Strategy Tip: Don't read passages in detail before looking at questions. Skim the passage quickly (60-90 seconds) to get the general idea, then let the questions guide your detailed reading.
The 14 Question Types
Click on each card to learn more about the question type. You'll practice each type in detail in future lessons.
Group 1: True/False Questions
True/False/Not Given Type 1
Determine if statements about facts agree with, contradict, or are not mentioned in the text.
Key Strategy: TRUE = matches the text, FALSE = contradicts the text, NOT GIVEN = information not present. Focus on MEANING, not exact words. Watch out for qualifiers like "all," "some," "always," "never."
Covered in: Lesson 4
Covered in: Lesson 4
Yes/No/Not Given Type 2
Similar to T/F/NG but tests the writer's opinions and claims rather than facts.
Key Strategy: Look for opinion language: "I believe," "it seems," "arguably." YES = writer agrees, NO = writer disagrees, NOT GIVEN = writer doesn't express an opinion on this.
Covered in: Lesson 5
Covered in: Lesson 5
Group 2: Matching Questions
Matching Headings Type 3
Match headings to paragraphs based on main ideas.
Key Strategy: Focus on main idea, not details. Read first and last sentences. Create YOUR OWN heading first, then match. More headings than paragraphs - some won't be used.
Covered in: Lesson 6
Covered in: Lesson 6
Matching Information Type 4
Match statements to specific paragraphs where the information is found.
Key Strategy: Answers NOT in order. Some paragraphs may not be used; others may be used more than once. Scan for keywords, then verify meaning.
Covered in: Lesson 7
Covered in: Lesson 7
Matching Features Type 5
Match items to categories, people, dates, or places.
Key Strategy: Names and dates are easy to scan for - use them as landmarks. Read all options first. An option may be used more than once.
Covered in: Lesson 7
Covered in: Lesson 7
Matching Sentence Endings Type 6
Match the beginning of sentences with appropriate endings.
Key Strategy: Answers usually in order. Check both grammar AND meaning. More endings than beginnings - some won't be used. Predict the ending before looking at options.
Covered in: Lesson 8
Covered in: Lesson 8
Group 3: Completion Questions
Sentence Completion Type 7
Complete sentences using words from the passage.
Key Strategy: Follow word limits strictly! Check grammar fits. Answers in order. Use exact words from the text - no paraphrasing. Hyphenated words = one word.
Covered in: Lesson 9
Covered in: Lesson 9
Summary Completion Type 8
Complete a summary with words from text or a word bank.
Key Strategy: Summary may cover part of the passage, not all. With word bank: check grammar and meaning. Without: use exact words from text. Answers usually in order.
Covered in: Lesson 9
Covered in: Lesson 9
Note/Table/Flow-chart Type 9
Complete notes, tables, or flow charts with information from the passage.
Key Strategy: Use the structure to predict what type of information is needed. Notes may not be complete sentences. Follow word limits. Look for parallel structures.
Covered in: Lesson 10
Covered in: Lesson 10
Diagram Label Completion Type 10
Label parts of a diagram using information from the passage.
Key Strategy: Understand the diagram first - what does it show? Labels may not be in order. Look for descriptive language in the text that matches diagram positions.
Covered in: Lesson 10
Covered in: Lesson 10
Group 4: Choice Questions
Multiple Choice (Single) Type 11
Choose ONE correct answer from A, B, C, or D.
Key Strategy: Read the stem carefully. Predict answer before looking at options. Eliminate obviously wrong answers. Options contain paraphrasing - don't look for exact matches.
Covered in: Lesson 11
Covered in: Lesson 11
Multiple Choice (Multiple) Type 12
Choose TWO or more correct answers from a longer list.
Key Strategy: Check how many answers required. Options may be in random order. You must get ALL correct answers - partial credit not given. Use elimination.
Covered in: Lesson 11
Covered in: Lesson 11
List Selection Type 13
Select correct items from a given list.
Key Strategy: Similar to multiple choice with multiple answers. Read the question carefully to know how many to select. Items may be in different order than in text.
Covered in: Lesson 11
Covered in: Lesson 11
Group 5: Short Answer
Short Answer Questions Type 14
Answer questions briefly using words from the passage.
Key Strategy: Note the question word (Who? What? When? Where? Why? How?). Follow word limits. Use words from the text. Answers usually in order. Check spelling!
Covered in: Lesson 12
Covered in: Lesson 12
Remember: Each passage typically contains 3-4 different question types. You won't see all 14 types in one test, but you need to be prepared for any of them!
Understanding IELTS Reading Scores
Band Score Explorer
Move the slider to see what each band score means and how many correct answers you need.
7.0
Band Score
Band 7.0 - Good User
You need approximately 30-32 correct answers out of 40.
At this level, you have operational command of the language, though with occasional inaccuracies. You generally handle complex language well and understand detailed reasoning.
You need approximately 30-32 correct answers out of 40.
At this level, you have operational command of the language, though with occasional inaccuracies. You generally handle complex language well and understand detailed reasoning.
Raw Score to Band Score Conversion
| Raw Score (out of 40) | Band Score | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| 39-40 | 9.0 | 97.5-100% |
| 37-38 | 8.5 | 92.5-95% |
| 35-36 | 8.0 | 87.5-90% |
| 33-34 | 7.5 | 82.5-85% |
| 30-32 | 7.0 | 75-80% |
| 27-29 | 6.5 | 67.5-72.5% |
| 23-26 | 6.0 | 57.5-65% |
| 19-22 | 5.5 | 47.5-55% |
| 15-18 | 5.0 | 37.5-45% |
Important: This table shows approximate conversions. The exact conversion may vary slightly between test versions, but these ranges give you a reliable target.
Scoring Rules to Remember
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1
Spelling Counts: Misspelled answers are marked wrong. British and American spellings are both accepted.
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2
Word Limits are Strict: "NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS" means 1 or 2 words only. Three words = zero marks.
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3
Hyphenated Words: Words like "well-known" or "check-in" count as ONE word.
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4
Numbers: Can be written as words or figures (e.g., "5" or "five").
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5
Capital Letters: You can write answers in capitals or lowercase - both are accepted.
Pro Tip: If your target is Band 7.0, you can afford to get 8-10 questions wrong. Don't panic if you find some questions difficult - focus on getting the easier ones right first!
Time Management Strategies
The Math: 60 minutes / 40 questions = 1.5 minutes per question. But this doesn't account for reading time! Strategic allocation is essential.
The 15-20-25 Strategy
Passage 1
15 min
Easiest passage
Get through quickly
Save time for later
Passage 2
20 min
Medium difficulty
Standard pace
Don't rush
Passage 3
25 min
Most challenging
Take your time
Use extra minutes
Time Management Rules
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1
Maximum 90 Seconds per Question: If you can't find the answer after 90 seconds, mark it and move on. Return later if time permits.
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2
Write Answers Directly: There's no transfer time! Write on your answer sheet as you go, not on the question paper.
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3
Check Your Watch: At 20 minutes, you should be starting Passage 2. At 40 minutes, you should be starting Passage 3.
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4
Never Leave Blanks: With 5 minutes left, if you have unanswered questions, guess! There's no penalty for wrong answers.
Time Check Calculator
Enter your times to see if you're on track:
Time Remaining for Passage 3:
25 minutes
Perfect! You're right on track.
What to Do If You're Running Out of Time
Emergency Strategy:
- Stop what you're doing
- Count how many questions are unanswered
- For Multiple Choice: guess B or C (statistically most common)
- For T/F/NG: guess TRUE (slightly more common)
- For completion: write any reasonable word from the passage
- NEVER leave blanks!
Knowledge Check
Test your understanding of the IELTS Reading format. Select the correct answer for each question.