IELTS Reading (Academic & General Training)

The IELTS Reading test lasts 60 minutes. Academic and General Training use different text types but the same question formats. This page outlines format, strategies, and common pitfalls.

On this page

Format at a Glance

You have 60 minutes to read the texts and answer all questions. There are three sections; text length and complexity vary by module. You answer 40 questions in total.

Academic vs General Training

Academic Reading uses texts from books, journals, magazines, and research — descriptive, analytical, or argumentative. General Training uses everyday materials: notices, advertisements, workplace documents, and extracts from books or magazines. Both modules use the same question types.

Common Question Types

  • Multiple choice
  • Identifying information (True / False / Not Given)
  • Identifying writer's views/claims (Yes / No / Not Given)
  • Matching headings, features, or sentence endings
  • Summary, note, table, or flow-chart completion
  • Sentence completion
  • Short-answer questions

Time Management

Allocate time across sections. Many candidates aim for roughly 15–20 minutes per section, but adjust based on passage difficulty and question types. If a question is taking too long, move on and return if time allows. There is no extra time to transfer answers in Reading.

Scoring Basics

Each correct answer earns one mark. Raw scores are converted to a band score from 0 to 9. For details on band descriptors and how scores are reported, see the Band Scores & Descriptors page.

Common Mistakes

  • Confusing False with Not Given — False means the text states the opposite; Not Given means the text does not say one way or the other
  • Matching wording instead of meaning — answers are usually paraphrased, not copied from the text
  • Spending too long on one passage and running out of time
  • Not reading instructions (word limit, format)
  • Over-interpreting or guessing when the answer is Not Given
  • Writing too many words when a limit is specified
  • Copying spelling errors from the passage instead of using correct spelling
  • Skipping skimming and scanning — a quick overview saves time finding answers
  • Relying on prior knowledge instead of what the text says
  • Not checking answers against the question (e.g. singular/plural, tense)

Simple Improvement Plan

  1. Practise under timed conditions — Do full 60-minute tests. Build awareness of your pace and where you lose time.
  2. Analyse errors — Review wrong answers. Note whether you misread, misparaphrased, or misunderstood True/False/Not Given.
  3. Develop skimming and scanning — Practise quickly finding main ideas and locating specific information before answering.

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