📖 IELTS Academic Reading
Reading — Complete Question Type Guide 3 passages · 40 questions · 60 minutes. Passages increase in difficulty. Master every question type to avoid losing marks on format rather than comprehension.
• 3 Passages
• 40 Questions
• 60 minutes
• 10 Question Types
Key Rules for ALL Passages
✓ Skim the passage first (90 seconds) — get the gist before answering
✓ Answers appear in the same order as the text (except Matching Headings)
✓ TRUE/FALSE/NOT GIVEN ≠ YES/NO/NOT GIVEN — read question type carefully
✓ Transfer answers to sheet as you go — there is no extra transfer time
✓ Do not spend more than 20 minutes per passage
✓ If unsure between TRUE and NOT GIVEN, choose NOT GIVEN if no direct support
🗺️ General Reading Strategies
5 strategies to maximise your score
🔍 Scanning for Specific Information
🔑 Keyword Matching and Paraphrase Detection
⚖️ True / False / Not Given vs Yes / No / Not Given
Question Types
🔘 Multiple Choice
Intermediate–Advanced Very common — appears in almost every IELTS Academic Reading paper Locating specific information and distinguishing correct from plausible-but-wrong options · Allow 1.5–2 minutes per question
✅ True / False / Not Given
Intermediate — but NOT GIVEN is very challenging Very common — appears in most IELTS Academic Reading papers Distinguishing between what the passage says, what it contradicts, and what it simply does not address · Allow 1 minute per question
💬 Yes / No / Not Given
Advanced Common — often paired with passage 2 or 3 which contain argument or opinion Identifying the writer's stance, argument, and opinion — distinct from factual claims · Allow 1–1.5 minutes per question
🏷️ Matching Headings
Advanced — requires understanding the main idea of each paragraph Very common — one of the most frequently mishandled question types Identifying the central idea of a paragraph and distinguishing it from supporting details · Allow 10–12 minutes for a full set of matching headings (typically 7–9 questions)
🔎 Matching Information
Intermediate Common — typically 4–6 questions in a paper Locating specific types of information (examples, explanations, arguments, statistics) within paragraphs · Allow 8–10 minutes for a full set
🔗 Matching Features
Intermediate–Advanced Moderately common — often appears with biographical or scientific comparison passages Accurately attributing opinions, findings, or descriptions to specific named entities · Allow 8–10 minutes
✏️ Matching Sentence Endings
Intermediate Moderately common Understanding the full meaning and grammar of a sentence across question and passage · Allow 1–1.5 minutes per question
📝 Sentence Completion
Intermediate Very common Locating specific information and extracting exact words from the passage · Allow 1 minute per question
📑 Summary / Note / Table / Flow-chart Completion
Intermediate–Advanced Very common — appears in most papers in one of its formats Identifying where in the passage each gap's answer is located and extracting precise words · Allow 10–12 minutes for a full summary/table task
❓ Short Answer Questions
Intermediate Moderately common Locating exact factual details and expressing them concisely within the word limit · Allow 1 minute per question