Time: 60 minutes
- 40 questions total
- No extra time to transfer answers (write directly on the answer sheet)
1. IELTS Academic Reading
Format:
- 3 long passages (taken from books, journals, newspapers, or magazines)
- Topics are academic, but no specialist knowledge is required
- Texts may include diagrams, charts, or graphs
Text Types:
- Descriptive
- Analytical
- Discursive
- Argumentative
2. IELTS General Training Reading
Format:
- Section 1: 2–3 short texts (everyday topics like notices, ads, or schedules)
- Section 2: 2 short texts (workplace-related, like company policies, instructions)
- Section 3: 1 longer text (general topic, often from a magazine or book)
Easier language than Academic, but questions follow the same pattern.
Question Types (Same for Both)
You will face a variety of questions like:
- Multiple choice
- Matching headings
- True / False / Not Given
- Yes / No / Not Given
- Sentence completion
- Summary completion
- Matching information
- Matching features
- Matching sentence endings
- Diagram label completion
- Short-answer questions
IELTS Reading Scoring
- 40 questions = 40 raw marks
- Band scores are calculated based on how many answers you get right
Approximate Raw Score to Band (Academic):
| Band Score | Correct Answers |
|---|---|
| 9.0 | 39–40 |
| 8.5 | 37–38 |
| 8.0 | 35–36 |
| 7.5 | 33–34 |
| 7.0 | 30–32 |
| 6.5 | 27–29 |
| 6.0 | 23–26 |
(General Training scoring is slightly easier)
Key Tips for IELTS Reading
Before the Test:
- Build reading speed and accuracy
- Practice skimming and scanning
- Learn to identify keywords
- Familiarize yourself with all question types
During the Test:
- Don’t spend too long on one question
- Look for keywords or synonyms
- Read the instructions carefully
- Write answers directly on the answer sheet
- Spelling matters – incorrect spellings are marked wrong
