IELTS Reading: Question Types, True/False/Not Given Worked Examples and Time Management

By the Go IELTS Editorial Team. Updated 2 November 2026. Information reflects the official IELTS test format; always confirm details with your test centre.

How the Reading test is organised

IELTS Reading lasts 60 minutes and contains 40 questions based on three passages. There is no extra time to transfer answers, so you write directly on the answer sheet. Academic Reading uses long texts taken from books, journals, magazines and newspapers on general academic subjects; the passages increase in difficulty. General Training Reading uses shorter texts from advertisements, notices and workplace documents in the first sections, followed by a longer text on a general topic.

Each question is worth one mark. For Academic Reading, about 30 to 32 correct answers corresponds to Band 7 and about 23 to 26 to Band 6; General Training uses a different conversion, so use the table that matches your test type.

Understanding how passages are built

Most Academic passages follow a logical structure. The first paragraph introduces the topic or a problem; middle paragraphs develop a point, give examples, compare views or describe causes and effects; the final paragraph concludes or looks ahead. Each paragraph usually has one main idea, often stated in the first or second sentence, followed by support. Recognising this structure lets you locate information quickly and answer matching headings questions with confidence.

Texts also contain signal words. 'However', 'although' and 'in contrast' introduce a change of direction; 'for instance' introduces an example; 'therefore' and 'as a result' introduce a consequence. Authors often attribute ideas ('researchers believe', 'critics argue'), which is important for Yes/No/Not Given questions about the writer's own view.

Skimming and scanning

Skimming means reading quickly to understand the general idea. Before answering any questions, spend about a minute on the title, any subheadings and the first sentence of each paragraph. Scanning means moving your eyes quickly over the text to find a specific item, such as a name, a date or a keyword. Once you have found it, read the sentences around it carefully, because the answer is usually in the sentence or two that surround the keyword.

The most reliable keywords are proper nouns, numbers and unusual terms. Common words are poor keywords because they appear everywhere. Remember that the passage often paraphrases the question, so search for synonyms and related ideas as well as exact words.

True/False/Not Given with worked examples

These questions test whether you can compare a statement with the passage and decide whether the passage agrees, disagrees or does not provide enough information. Read this extract: 'The bridge, completed in 1932, carries about 150,000 vehicles daily. Engineers have proposed adding a third lane.' Statement one: 'The bridge was opened in the 1930s.' The passage says completed in 1932, so this is True. Statement two: 'The bridge carries fewer than 100,000 vehicles a day.' The passage gives about 150,000, so this is False. Statement three: 'The proposal to add a lane has been approved.' The passage says only that engineers have proposed it. Approval is not mentioned, so the answer is Not Given.

The most common error is using background knowledge. Even if you know that a statement is true in real life, you must base your answer solely on the text. A second error is confusing False with Not Given. A statement is False only when the passage contradicts it directly. If the text neither supports nor contradicts it, choose Not Given. Pay close attention to qualifiers: 'may', 'some' and 'often' are weaker than 'will', 'all' and 'always', and changing the strength of a claim can turn a True statement into a False one.

Matching headings and other question types

For matching headings, read each paragraph quickly and write a short note of its main idea in your own words, then choose the heading that covers the whole paragraph. Wrong headings often match a detail from the paragraph or use the same words but express a different idea. Do the easier paragraphs first, because every heading you use is one fewer option for the rest.

For sentence, summary and note completion, check the word limit and the grammar of the gap. Words must be copied exactly from the passage, including spelling. For multiple choice, eliminate options that contradict the text and be careful with options that are true in the passage but do not answer the question. For matching information, the answer is a paragraph letter and the same paragraph may be used more than once if the instructions allow it.

Managing the 60 minutes

A sensible plan is 15 to 17 minutes for the first passage, 20 minutes for the second and 23 to 25 minutes for the third, because the later passages are harder. Answer questions in order for most task types, but if a single question takes more than about 90 seconds, mark it, make an educated guess and move on. You can return if time remains. Reserve the last two minutes to make sure that every answer is written on the answer sheet and that no gaps are empty.

Building vocabulary and speed

Reading skill depends on how much English you read. Read long articles from sources such as science and economics magazines, quality newspapers and university websites for at least thirty minutes a day. Keep a notebook of academic words and record their word families and collocations, for example 'significant', 'significance' and 'significantly', or 'conduct research'. After each practice test, review every wrong answer and write why the correct answer is right, using evidence from the text. Over four weeks, alternate untimed practice to build accuracy with timed tests to build speed.

Frequently asked questions

How many questions are there in Reading?

There are 40 questions in 60 minutes across three passages.

Is Academic Reading harder than General Training Reading?

Academic texts are generally longer and more complex, and the band conversion tables differ, so practise with materials designed for your test type.

Should I read the whole passage before answering?

No. Skim for structure first, then locate answers by keywords and read the surrounding sentences carefully.

Can I write answers in capital letters?

Yes. Capital letters are accepted, provided that spelling is correct.

Continue your IELTS preparation

IELTS Listening guide and practice, IELTS Writing guide and practice, IELTS Speaking guide and practice.