IELTS Reading Guide: Format, Timing and Academic vs General Training

Format and timing

Both Academic and General Training Reading have 40 questions and last 60 minutes. That time includes entering your answers. On paper there is no extra answer-transfer period. Familiarise yourself with your chosen delivery format using your test provider’s official materials.

Academic vs General Training

Academic Reading contains three longer texts with descriptive, explanatory or argumentative material. General Training has three sections covering everyday information, workplace material and a longer general-interest text. Confirm which test your receiving organisation requires before choosing materials.

Question types and the skill behind them

• True/False/Not Given: agreement, contradiction or missing information about a factual statement.
• Yes/No/Not Given: agreement, contradiction or missing information about views or claims.
• Matching headings: the main idea of a paragraph or section.
• Matching information/features: locate details or associate information with people or categories.
• Completion and short answers: supply specific information in the required format.
• Multiple choice: select the option or options supported by the passage.

Skimming, scanning and careful reading

Skim to understand the topic and structure. Scan for likely evidence using names, numbers and related concepts. Read the relevant sentence carefully before answering. None of these skills works alone: scanning finds a location, but only close reading establishes the answer.

Not all question types follow passage order. Matching information can move between paragraphs. Use task instructions and evidence rather than treating order as a universal rule.

Worked example: missing information is not contradiction

Original text: “The museum opened a new gallery in May. Admission prices stayed the same.” The statement “Admission became more expensive” is False because it conflicts with the text. “Visitor numbers increased” is Not Given because the text gives no visitor figures. These are illustrative examples, not official test questions.

Scoring and realistic targets

Each correct answer earns one mark, producing a raw score out of 40. Official typical Band 7 reference points are about 30 correct answers for Academic Reading and about 35 for General Training Reading. Exact thresholds may vary between test versions; use the relevant official scoring guidance instead of treating one conversion table as universal.

A focused study and review routine

• Complete an official task without a dictionary before checking the key.
• For each answer, locate the smallest relevant passage extract.
• Classify mistakes as meaning, instruction, spelling or timing.
• Repeat the weak question type on a fresh text.
• Practise under the full time limit periodically, including entering answers.

Connect reading to your own English

Collect a few useful phrases in context, then write or speak original sentences with them. The app’s Vocabulary, Writing and Speaking tools support that productive practice; they do not mark Reading answer sheets.