The IELTS Reading test assesses your ability to understand and analyze a variety of written texts. Here’s a breakdown of the format and duration:
Format:
- Three passages: You will encounter three long reading passages (around 700-800 words each) taken from academic journals, magazines, newspapers, or books.
- Academic vs. General Training: The content of the passages differs depending on whether you’re taking the Academic or General Training module.
- Academic: Focuses on topics relevant to undergraduate or postgraduate studies.
- General Training: Deals with everyday situations you might encounter in an English-speaking environment.
Duration
- Approximately 60 minutes: This includes time to read the passages and answer the questions, as well as transferring your answers from the question booklet to the answer sheet.
- Time management is crucial: Aim to spend around 20 minutes on each passage. This allows enough time to read and answer questions for each section.
Question Types
Question Type 1 – Multiple Choice
You will be given a part of the sentence and will be asked to complete it. You may also be given a question for which you are supposed to select the best suitable answer from the given options. You are required to choose either:
- One answer from four alternatives (A, B, C or D)
- Two answers from five alternatives (A, B, C, D or E)
- Three answers from seven alternatives (A, B, C, D, E, F or G)
The questions asked are in the same order as the information provided in the passage.
Skills Assessed
Ability to understand particular points or overall ideas of the passage
Question Type 2 – Identifying Information [True/False/Not Given]
In this question type, you will be given a set of statements. The question will be: ‘Do the following statements agree with the information in the text?’. Then, you need to write your answer as ‘True’, ‘False’ or ‘Not Given’.
Be clear about the difference between ‘False’ and ‘Not Given’.
- ‘False’ – Passage states the opposite of the statement.
- ‘Not Given’ – The information in the statement is not mentioned in the passage.
Skills Assessed
Ability to recognize the information conveyed in the passage
Question Type 3 – Identifying Writer’s Claims/Views
You will be given a number of statements. The question will be: ‘Do the following statements agree with the views/claims of the writer?’. You are required to answer in ‘Yes’, ‘No’ or ‘Not Given’.
Be clear about the difference between ‘No’ and ‘Not Given’.
- ‘No’ – Passage does not agree with the statement.
- ‘Not Given’ – The information in the statement is not mentioned in the passage.
Skills Assessed
Ability to identify the ideas and opinions of the writer
Question Type 4 – Matching Information
In this question type, there are various paragraphs labeled with different letters (A, B, C, …). You are supposed to match the information given in the question with the information found in one of the paragraphs. The task requirement is to write the letter of the correct paragraph on the answer sheet.
Skills Assessed
Ability to scan a text to find specific information
Question Type 5 – Matching Headings
A list of headings marked with (i, ii, iii, …) and a passage with lettered paragraphs (A, B, C, …) are given. You must match the heading to the correct paragraph and write the appropriate number on the answer sheet. To make the task tricky, there will be more headings than the number of paragraphs.
Skills Assessed
Ability to recognize the main idea or theme of a particular paragraph
Question Type 6 – Matching Features
In this question type, you need to match a set of statements or a piece of information to the list of options given. The options are a group of features from the passage. For example, you need to match different events to historical periods. It might be possible that some options will not be used while some may be used more than once.
Skills Assessed
Ability to determine relationships and connections between facts
Question Type 7 – Match Sentence Endings
The first half of the sentence will be provided. You need to complete the sentence by choosing the best answer from a list of possible options. The number of options will be more than the number of sentences. The questions are will be in the same order as the information that appears in the text.
Skills Assessed
Ability to understand the main idea within the sentence
Question Type 8 – Sentence Completion
In this question type, you are asked to complete the sentence with a specific number of words. The instructions give you a clear idea about the number of words you need to write. It may be ‘one word’, ‘two/three words’, ‘no more than three words/a number’, and so on. Read the instructions carefully before noting down your answers. If you write more than the required words, you will lose marks.
Skills Assessed
Ability to locate specific information from the passage
Question Type 9 – Summary, Note, Table, Flowchart Completion
In this question type, you need to fill in the gap in the summary, note, table, or flowchart in context to the passage. You either have to select your answer from a list of options or choose words from the passage. The answers don’t need to appear in the same order as given in the passage.
Skills Assessed
Ability to identify the main idea of the passage and the type of words that fits into the gap
Question Type 10 – Diagram Label Completion
This question type shows a labelled diagram with a description in the text that will be given. You are supposed to complete those labels. The diagram may be some type of machine, parts of a building, or other objects that can be easily represented pictorially.
Skills Assessed
Ability to relate the information in the text to the labels in the diagram
Question Type 11 – Short Answers Questions
In this question type, you need to answer questions regarding the details mentioned in the passage. The details mainly relate to some factual information. You must write your answers on the sheet in words/numbers as per the given instructions.
Skills Assessed
Ability to understand and locate the information given in the passage
Tips for Success:
- Practice makes perfect: Familiarize yourself with the IELTS Reading format by completing practice tests under timed conditions.
- Skimming and scanning: Learn to skim for the main ideas and scan for specific details.
- Read the instructions carefully: Understand what each question is asking before attempting an answer.
- Don’t get stuck: If you’re unsure about a question, move on and come back to it later if time allows.
- Transfer your answers carefully: Double-check your answers before transferring them to the answer sheet.
For more details:
https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-reading-question-types/
https://ieltstutorials.online/reading
