IELTS reading tests come in two formats- paper based and computer based. The Academic and General Training IELTS reading tests both take around 45 minutes to complete. It consists of 40 questions designed to test a candidate’s reading abilities, such as comprehension and understanding the writer’s purpose. The test has three sections that increase in difficulty.
Test timing: You’ll have 60 minutes to complete the test. There will be no bonus time permitted for transferring answers from the test onto an answer sheet
Academic
The test includes three texts about a general topic for which you’ll need to answer questions about the content. The writing styles of these texts vary from factual and analytical to descriptive or narrative to discursive. A glossary may contain explanations for tables, diagrams, graphs and technical terms that are found in this text.
General Training
The test includes three sections and the first section might have two or the other short passages. The second section contains two passages and the final section includes one long passage. The first section usually consists of tasks on basic linguistic survival in English. You might be asked to find the main idea in an ad or a notice. The second section centers on the workplace context. We provide job descriptions, workplace rules, training and safety materials. The third section focuses on descriptive texts, with a general context like information from newspapers, novels and magazines.
Types of Questions
Type 1: Multiple choice (MCQs)
Test takers need to pick the best answer from a choice. All four options may seem like right choices, but spend some time to find correct answer. The questions are comes in the order as they appear in the passage, from the very first one to the final answer. Multiple choice tests a variety of reading abilities including an understanding of certain points or understanding the main ideas in a passage.
Type 2: Identifying information
The test taker needs to evaluate the given statements and provide feedback about if those statements agree with the accompanying text. Test taker need to answer with “true“, “false” or “not given.” A “true” statement agrees with the information in text. “False” means that the statement contradicts what is written in the passage. “Not given” means statement neither agrees nor contradicts the information in the passage.
Type 3: Fill in the blanks
To answer a question you’ll need to fill in some blanks that will be given with statements containing information from the passage or a particular section of the passage. Carefully read instructions on how many words/numbers should be used in their answers, e.g., ‘NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER’.
Type 4: Matching information
The test takers are given a few statements in the questions and they’re expected to find the information in the paragraphs of the passage and write the letter of that paragraph on their answer sheet. These statements are not in order. Matching information assesses reading skills such as being able to identify detail and find definitions or summaries.
Type 5: Matching headings
Test takers are asked to match headings with paragraphs in the passage. A headline usually signifies the main idea of a paragraph. The matching headings test tests your ability to identify the main theme in each paragraph and distinguish them from supporting ideas.
Type 6: Matching features
Test takers are needed to match the given statements to the list of options. The options are labeled by letters, and they are a subset of features from the passage. Test takers are provided instructions on how many times you are able to use each option. Matching features is a form of matching exercises which tests your ability to understand relationships between information in a passage and produce an opinion/theory.
Type 7: Matching sentence endings
Test takers complete a sentence about words and phrases from the passage by choosing them from possible answers. There will be more questions than there are options. The questions are in the same order as what’s in the passage. Matching sentence endings is a test of understanding the ideas sentences and use of correct grammar.
Type 8: Sentence completion
Students are requested to complete questions written in a set number of words. Follow Instructions such as ‘NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER’. The questions are in the same order as what’s in the passage. Sentence ending tests evaluate an individual’s ability to find information.
Type 9: Summary, note, table, flow-chart completion
Test takers are given with a passage and are required to complete it by giving the answers that best fit in the passage. Summaries are usually in just one paragraph of the passage. Be careful about the instructions provided such as ‘NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER’.
Type 10: Short-answer questions
Test takers need to answer questions, which usually connect with factual information in the passage. If a passage contains a lot of factual information, this is the type of question that can be used. Test takers need to use words from the passage and write their answers on the answer sheet. Short answer questions are about identifying and understanding information from the passage.
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