IELTS Academic – READING Section

Overview

 60 minutes duration (no extra time)

 3 reading passages
 Overall 40 questions
 Spend about 20 minutes to answer questions from each passage
 Transfer answers to the answer sheet within the 60 minutes allotted

Tasks Passage Types Topics Sources

Read 3 passages and Narrative, General Books,

answer 40 questions descriptive, and/or interest magazines,
argumentative newspapers

Marking Scheme

 One point for each correct answer

 No negative marking for incorrect answers (Make sure you attend all
questions)
 Total marks out of 40 are converted to band scores

Question Types

 Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ)

You have to see a question with four possible answer choices. You have to
choose the correct answer from the four choices.

 True/ False/ Not Given

You have to read some statements and identify each one as ‘True’, ‘False’,
or ‘Not Given’ based on the information in the passage. ‘Not Given’ means
the passage does not mention this information.
 Yes/ No/ Not Given
You have to read some statements and mark each one as ‘YES’, ‘No’, or
‘Not Given’ based on the opinions by the writer in the passage. ‘Not
Given’ means the passage does not mention this information.

 Matching Information
You have to locate specific information in the text and identify its location
(paragraph or section).

 Classifying Information
You have to match information to the correct category or description,
based on the information in the passage.

 Matching Headings
You have to match headings to the correct paragraph or section of the
text.

 Sentence/ Summary/ Note/ Chart Completion

You have to complete sentences, notes, a chart, or a summary of the text
choosing words from the text or from a list of options.

 Matching Sentence Endings

You will see the first part of a sentence and choose the appropriate
ending from a list of sentence endings

 Diagram Label Completion

You have to complete labels on a diagram based on a description given in
the text.

 Short Answer
You have to write short answers to questions choosing words from the
text.
 Tips for Reading Section
When reading a passage:

 Read the titles and headings to make predictions about what the passage
is about.
 Circle keywords, underline evidences.
 Choose when to skim (read quickly), to scan (look mainly for names or
dates), or to read closely (slowly and carefully).
 If you have trouble finding an answer, move on. Return to it at the very
end, or guess it.
 Spend about 20 minutes for each passage. Since passage 3 is usually more
complex and lengthy than the other two, remember to save time for it.

When answering:

 Look for synonyms or paraphrases.

 Check references
(References are words that refer back to a longer idea. Most of these are
usually pronouns.
Example: “Most people believe that spending time with family is
important. It strengthens bonds, and helps them relax.”
Here ‘it’ refers to ‘spending time with family’ and ‘them’ refers to
‘most people’.
 Understand connotations – whether a concept or a writer’s opinion is
positive or negative.
 Understand inferences.
 Note a shift in focus.
Often a question focuses on one idea first with another second, while the
information in the passage puts the second idea first.

When writing answers on your answer sheet:

 Copy all answers correctly from the passages. Make sure not to make
spelling mistakes.
 If the instruction asks you to use no more than two/three words, make
sure you do not use more.
 Answer every question, even if you have to guess.