The format at a glance
| Academic | General Training | |
|---|---|---|
| Time | 60 minutes | 60 minutes |
| Questions | 40, one mark each | 40, one mark each |
| Texts | 3 long texts | 5 or so shorter texts in 3 sections |
| Where the texts come from | Books, journals, magazines and newspapers, for a general reader | Notices, adverts, workplace documents, and one longer general-interest text |
| Scoring | Its own conversion table | A stricter table for the same number of correct answers |
The texts get harder as you go, and there are more words to read than most people expect: about 2,150 to 2,750 words in Academic Reading. Your raw score out of 40 is converted to a band; see the band score calculator for the tables.
No transfer time
In the paper test you write your answers on the answer sheet within the 60 minutes. Unlike Listening, there are no extra minutes at the end. On computer, you type your answers directly.
The question types
Each set of questions uses one type, and the instructions tell you which. Learn to recognise them at a glance:
- True / False / Not Given: does the passage agree with a statement of fact, contradict it, or not say?
- Yes / No / Not Given: the same idea, but about the writer's views and claims.
- Matching headings: choose the heading that sums up each paragraph.
- Matching information: which paragraph contains a given detail.
- Matching features: match statements to people, places, dates or theories.
- Matching sentence endings: complete each sentence with the right ending from a list.
- Completion: sentence, summary, note, table and flow-chart, and diagram labels, filled in with words from the text.
- Multiple choice and short answer questions.
The answer rules that cost marks
- Word limits are strict. If the instructions say “NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS”, a three-word answer is wrong even if it is correct in meaning.
- Spelling counts. Copy words from the passage exactly; a misspelt answer scores zero.
- Use the passage's words in completion questions. A synonym of your own is marked wrong.
- Answer every question. There is no penalty for a wrong answer, so never leave a blank.
How to spend the hour
A simple plan is 20 minutes per text, but because the third text is usually the hardest, many strong candidates aim for about 17, 20 and 23 minutes. Whatever the split, decide it before the test and keep to it.
- Read the questions for a text first, so you know what to look for.
- Skim the text in a minute or two for its structure: what each paragraph is about.
- Answer the questions, scanning for the parts you need. Most question types follow the order of the text.
- If a question takes more than a minute or so, mark your best guess and move on. Come back if time allows.
Practise the clock, not just the questions
Knowing the method is not enough if you run out of time on the third text. Practise with a timer from the start, first one question type at a time and then full timed tests.
Questions
How long is the IELTS Reading test?+
60 minutes, for 40 questions across three sections. There is no extra time to transfer answers.
Is IELTS Reading the same for Academic and General Training?+
No. Both have 40 questions in 60 minutes, but the texts are different (academic sources versus everyday and workplace texts) and General Training uses a stricter conversion to bands.
Do capital letters matter in IELTS Reading answers?+
No. You can write answers in capitals or lower case. Spelling and word limits do matter.
What is the hardest IELTS Reading question type?+
Most learners find True / False / Not Given (and its cousin Yes / No / Not Given) and matching headings the hardest, because they test careful reading of meaning rather than finding words.