The IELTS reading section is 40 questions in 60 minutes. All questions are worth one point.
The section has three readings, so you should plan for about 20 minutes per passage.
IELTS Reading Question Types
The IELTS has several types of questions:
- Multiple Choice
- True/False/Not Given
- Yes/No/Not Given (Writer’s Claims)
- Short-Answer Questions
- Matching
- Headings
- Features
- Sentence Endings
- Completion
- Sentence
- Summary
- Note
- Table
- Flowchart
- Diagram/Label
Here are some strategies for the main question types:
Multiple Choice
Limit your choices to 1-2 options. One is usually very wrong. One is usually the opposite of the correct answer. Then you have two options that are close. Choose between those two.
True/False/Not Given
You only have three options for these questions. Understand the difference between these three options. Here’s an example:
In the reading, you see this sentence:
- Paul likes pizza.
You have three options: True, False, or Not Given.
True is directly in the passage:
- Paul likes pizza.
- Paul enjoys pizza.
False says the opposite in the passage. It must be mentioned in the passage.
- Paul doesn’t like pizza.
Not given means the idea is not mentioned in the passage. These are some examples:
- Paul likes sushi.
- Paul often cooks pizza.
Completion
Any time you need to fill in the blank, pay attention to the words before the blank. Watch out for grammar that impacts the words in the blank.
Take a look at this example:
Paul enjoys __________.
In this example, you know the word in the blank must be a noun or a verb plus ING. It can’t be an infinitive because that doesn’t follow “enjoy”.
Here is another example:
Paul arrived at ______________.
The preposition “at” tells you this is a time. It is not a day because you can’t say “at Monday”.
Use these words before the blanks as clues to the answer.
IELTS Reading Strategies
Before the Test
1. Read as much as possible.
Reading is the best way to practice for the test. Read anything you can. Newspapers, Internet articles, books,
magazines are all great sources.
2. Learn the question types.
The lesson above shows you the types of questions. As you take practice tests, recognize these questions and develop your strategies appropriately.
During the Test
1. The questions are in chronological order.
Most of the time, the question numbers follow the order of the reading passage. So you will find the answer to question 1 before the answer to question 2, etc.
2. Synonyms connect the questions with the reading passage.
Synonyms are words that have the same meaning, for example “like” and “enjoy”. The reading passage usually has one word, while the question has the synonym. This is an example:
- Reading Passage: Paul likes pizza.
- Question: Paul enjoys pizza. (True)
3. Grammar affects possible choices.
Look at the word before the blank space to see how grammar can restrict answer options.
4. Restrictive words can eliminate options.
These are words that mean 100% or 0%. Some examples are never, always, every, none, and all. These will limit the answer options.
5. You only have 60 minutes.
The reading section is the most common area where people lose track of time. Manage your time so you have about 20 minutes for each reading.
6. Active reading strategies are crucial.
Use the three key active reading strategies: survey, skim, scan.
Survey the text before you start reading. You should get a quick idea of everything included.
Skim the text quickly. You don’t want to spend too much time reading before you look at the questions.
Scan to find answers after you have read the questions.
With these strategies, you are ready to succeed on the IELTS reading section.
Good luck!