IELTS Reading
IELTS Reading practice tests
Test day at a glance
- Time
- 60 min
- Questions
- 40
- Passages
- 3
- Versions
- AC & GT
The IELTS Reading test format
Academic Reading
Three long texts from books, journals, magazines and newspapers, written for a general audience on academic topics – science, history, the environment, psychology. One text usually presents an argument.
General Training Reading
Section 1 has short everyday texts such as notices and adverts; Section 2 covers work-related texts like job descriptions and policies; Section 3 is one longer text on a topic of general interest.
On computer
The passage is on the left and the questions on the right. You can highlight and add notes, and your answers are saved as you go.
IELTS Reading question types
- True / False / Not Given
- Yes / No / Not Given
- Matching headings
- Matching information and features
- Matching sentence endings
- Summary, note, table and flow-chart completion
- Sentence completion
- Diagram labelling
- Multiple choice
- Short-answer questions
How IELTS Reading is scored
| Correct answers (out of 40) | Band |
|---|---|
| 39–40 | 9.0 |
| 37–38 | 8.5 |
| 35–36 | 8.0 |
| 33–34 | 7.5 |
| 30–32 | 7.0 |
| 27–29 | 6.5 |
| 23–26 | 6.0 |
| 19–22 | 5.5 |
| 15–18 | 5.0 |
| 13–14 | 4.5 |
| 10–12 | 4.0 |
| 8–9 | 3.5 |
| 6–7 | 3.0 |
| 4–5 | 2.5 |
| 2–3 | 2.0 |
| 1 | 1.0 |
| Correct answers (out of 40) | Band |
|---|---|
| 40 | 9.0 |
| 39 | 8.5 |
| 37–38 | 8.0 |
| 36 | 7.5 |
| 34–35 | 7.0 |
| 32–33 | 6.5 |
| 30–31 | 6.0 |
| 27–29 | 5.5 |
| 23–26 | 5.0 |
| 19–22 | 4.5 |
| 15–18 | 4.0 |
| 12–14 | 3.5 |
| 9–11 | 3.0 |
| 6–8 | 2.5 |
| 3–5 | 2.0 |
| 1–2 | 1.0 |
Want to work out a band from your own score? Use the IELTS band score calculator.
All IELTS Reading practice tests
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IELTS Reading tips
Skim first, then scan
Spend a minute getting the main idea of each paragraph, then scan for names, dates and key words when you answer.
Know False from Not Given
False means the text says the opposite. Not Given means the text doesn’t say it at all. Don’t use your own knowledge – only the passage.
Watch for paraphrasing
Questions rarely use the passage’s exact words. Look for synonyms and the same idea expressed differently.
Matching headings: read the paragraph, not the first line
The heading sums up the whole paragraph. Cross off headings as you use them.
Move on when stuck
Every question is worth one mark. Flag a hard one, answer the rest, and come back if time allows.
No transfer time
On paper and on computer you must finish within the hour – practise with the timer on so pacing becomes automatic.
IELTS Reading FAQ
How many correct answers do I need for band 7 in Academic Reading?
Around 30 out of 40 for band 7 and 35 for band 8. General Training needs more – about 34 for band 7.
What is the difference between Academic and General Training Reading?
Academic uses three long, academic-style texts. General Training uses everyday and workplace texts in the first two sections and one longer text in the third.
Do I get extra time to transfer answers in Reading?
No. Unlike Listening, Reading has no transfer time – your 60 minutes include writing your answers.
Which Reading version should I practise?
Choose the one you will take: Academic for university study and professional registration, General Training for work, training and most migration routes.
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