IELTS Reading — Overview & Practice

Test at a glance

Duration: 60 minutes — 40 questions. No extra time to transfer answers.

Academic vs General Training

Common question types

• Multiple-choice
• True/False/Not Given or Yes/No/Not Given
• Matching headings / features / information
• Sentence completion, summary/table/note/diagram completion
• Short-answer questions

Many questions test paraphrasing and recognition of the writer's opinion/attitude. Watch synonyms and grammatical changes.

Scoring (quick guide)

Each correct answer = 1 mark. Raw score (0–40) is converted to a band (0–9). Conversion varies slightly by test type and year.

Strategies that work

1. Skim for gist (first 1–2 minutes): read first sentence of paragraphs and topic sentences.
2. Scan for keywords from the question (names, numbers, dates, nouns).
3. Underline or circle synonyms; don’t expect identical wording.
4. Answer easier questions first — build confidence & save time.
5. Keep an eye on word limits in completion questions (e.g., "NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS").
6. If unsure, make an educated guess — no penalty for wrong answers.

Practice tools

Use the 20‑minute timer for individual passages or sections; use the 60‑minute timer for full-tests.

Sample practice schedule

1. Warm-up: 5 minutes skim-reading a short article.
2. Timed practice: 20 minutes on a passage + 5 minutes review.
3. Focus review: 10 minutes — check mistakes and note vocabulary.
4. Weekly: 1 full timed test (60 minutes) + review session.