?> IELTS Reading Practice: Skills, Question Types, Strategies | Competence Area

IELTS Reading

IELTS Reading is a 60-minute test with 40 questions. The question types are the same in Academic and General Training, but the reading sources differ (Academic passages are more scholarly; General Training texts are more workplace and everyday). Use the skill cards below to practise the exact sub-skills IELTS tests: locating answers fast, matching meaning through paraphrase, handling matching tasks, reading for writer’s meaning, and completing summaries, tables, and flow-charts.

Test partners: British Council, IDP, Cambridge Credential: IELTS Academic & General Training Reading Exam: IELTS-R Modules: Academic & General Training
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IELTS-R exam syllabus coverage (Learning Outcomes, Practices and Processes)

Build exam-ready competence for IELTS Reading with targeted practice by skill set. IELTS Reading questions test whether you can locate information quickly, track paraphrases, and interpret the writer’s meaning under time pressure - not just recognize vocabulary.

  • Focus your practice on the skills IELTS Reading actually tests: locating information quickly, recognizing paraphrase, and understanding the writer’s meaning
  • Train skimming for main ideas and scanning for names, dates, and key terms so you can move confidently under time pressure
  • Master common question types such as Matching Headings, True/False/Not Given, Matching Information, and Summary/Table completion
  • Use the practice links below as a checklist: practise each skill area, then do full timed sets to consolidate

Use the Practice this section button on each card to open targeted IELTS Reading drills for that skill area in a new tab.

Skimming, Scanning & Fast Location Skills

S01

What you will practice:

Time management and locating answers efficiently across long texts

  • 1 Skimming for Global Meaning
  • Identifying topic and overall purpose of a passage
  • Understanding paragraph focus quickly (topic sentence recognition)
  • Recognizing the passage’s “shape” (intro → development → conclusion)
  • 2 Scanning for Specific Information
  • Locating names, dates, numbers, places, measurements
  • Finding key terms and their paraphrases
  • Recognizing signpost language (e.g., “in contrast,” “as a result”)
  • 3 Navigating the Passage Under Time Pressure
  • Using headings and paragraph starts to locate content
  • Mapping paragraphs to subtopics (mental outline)
  • Avoiding time traps (over-reading early questions)
  • 4 Recognizing Where Answers Typically Hide
  • Definitions often near first mention
  • Examples often after a claim
  • Causes often near “because/due to”
  • Conclusions often near end of paragraph/passage
Practice this section ↗

Tip: After topic practice, do mixed sets under time pressure and review missed questions immediately.

Literal Comprehension, Detail & Paraphrase Matching

S02

What you will practice:

Understanding what the text directly says and how it is reworded

  • 1 Factual Detail Comprehension
  • Stated facts, definitions, descriptions
  • Processes and sequences (steps, stages)
  • Comparisons explicitly stated
  • Evidence provided (data, examples, cited findings)
  • 2 Paraphrase Recognition (Core IELTS Skill)
  • Same idea expressed using different vocabulary/grammar
  • Matching question wording to passage meaning (not words)
  • Avoiding distractors using “near-synonyms” with altered meaning
  • 3 Common Detail Question Formats
  • Short-answer questions (precise information extraction)
  • Multiple choice (detail-based)
  • 4 “EXCEPT/NOT GIVEN”-style Literal Checks
  • Distinguishing:
  • stated vs not stated
  • implied vs not stated
  • contradictory vs not stated
Practice this section ↗

Tip: After topic practice, do mixed sets under time pressure and review missed questions immediately.

Matching & Classification Tasks

S03

What you will practice:

Linking ideas, locating where information sits, and grouping correctly

  • IELTS frequently tests matching tasks that require searching + verifying.
  • 1 Matching Headings to Paragraphs/Sections
  • Identifying paragraph main idea
  • Distinguishing topic vs example
  • Detecting “best fit” heading among close distractors
  • 2 Matching Information to Paragraphs
  • Locating where a specific statement appears
  • Tracking multiple statements across the passage
  • Handling paraphrase and rewording
  • 3 Matching Features
  • Matching people → opinions
  • Places → characteristics
  • Time periods → events
  • Theories → outcomes
  • 4 Matching Sentence Endings
  • Grammar cohesion (subject-verb logic)
  • Meaning cohesion (cause-effect, contrast, continuation)
  • Avoiding endings that are true generally but not in the text
  • 5 Classification Questions
  • Categorizing statements into groups (e.g., A/B/C)
  • Distinguishing similar categories using defining properties
  • Tracking category scope (some apply once, some multiple times)
Practice this section ↗

Tip: After topic practice, do mixed sets under time pressure and review missed questions immediately.

Inference, Writer’s Meaning & Critical Reading

S04

What you will practice:

What the writer suggests, believes, or argues, beyond literal statements

  • 1 Inference Questions
  • Logical conclusions supported by text evidence
  • Implications of facts (what follows if the statements are true)
  • Recognizing limits: inference vs speculation
  • 2 Writer’s Views / Claims Identification
  • Distinguishing:
  • writer’s viewpoint vs reported viewpoints
  • facts vs opinions vs hypotheses
  • Detecting hedging language:
  • “may,” “might,” “tends to,” “suggests”
  • Recognizing strength of claims:
  • “proves” vs “indicates” vs “raises the possibility”
  • 3 Yes / No / Not Given vs True / False / Not Given
  • True/False/Not Given: factual claims about information
  • Yes/No/Not Given: writer’s opinions/claims Core subskills:
  • Identifying contradiction vs absence
  • Avoiding “world knowledge” and sticking to passage evidence
  • 4 Purpose & Function
  • Why an example is included (illustrate, challenge, explain)
  • Why a paragraph is placed (develop argument, provide counterpoint)
  • Recognizing rhetorical structure:
  • claim → evidence → evaluation
  • problem → solution
  • theory → critique
Practice this section ↗

Tip: After topic practice, do mixed sets under time pressure and review missed questions immediately.

Completion Tasks & Information Transfer

S05

What you will practice:

Filling gaps accurately using exact text-based answers

  • These tasks test precise extraction and correct grammatical fit.
  • 1 Sentence Completion
  • Locating specific detail and fitting into sentence grammar
  • Keeping word limits (if specified)
  • Avoiding changing word forms incorrectly
  • 2 Summary / Note Completion
  • Understanding a summarized chunk of text
  • Selecting correct missing words from the passage
  • Identifying key ideas vs minor details
  • Managing paraphrase and synonyms
  • 3 Table Completion
  • Extracting structured information (categories, features, metrics)
  • Matching rows/columns to correct part of text
  • Avoiding wrong-column errors
  • 4 Flow-chart Completion
  • Recognizing process stages
  • Using correct sequence markers
  • Capturing cause-effect steps correctly
  • 5 Diagram Label Completion
  • Labeling parts using words from the text
  • Understanding descriptive paragraphs that map to components
Practice this section ↗

Tip: After topic practice, do mixed sets under time pressure and review missed questions immediately.

FAQ

How is IELTS Academic Reading different from General Training Reading?

Both versions are 60 minutes and contain 40 questions. Academic uses three long texts with an academic tone, while General Training includes texts drawn from everyday and workplace contexts with a gradual increase in difficulty.

How many passages and questions are in IELTS Reading?

There are 3 reading passages and a total of 40 questions. Question types vary by test version and can include matching headings, True/False/Not Given, multiple choice, sentence completion, and diagram or table completion.

Do I get extra time to transfer answers to the answer sheet?

No. In the paper-based test, the 60 minutes includes time to write your final answers on the answer sheet, so build transfer time into your pacing.

What is the best time strategy for the three passages?

A practical approach is to aim for roughly 20 minutes per passage, but adjust based on difficulty. Secure quick marks early, then return to tougher items if time remains.

What’s the difference between True/False/Not Given and Yes/No/Not Given?

They test the same logic. True/False/Not Given is used for factual statements, while Yes/No/Not Given is used for the writer’s views or claims. The key is deciding whether the text confirms, contradicts, or does not mention the statement.

How can I improve speed without losing accuracy?

Train skimming for structure (topic sentences and headings), scanning for keywords and numbers, and paraphrase recognition. Timed practice with review of wrong answers is usually more effective than unlimited reading.

Should I read the whole passage first or the questions first?

For many candidates, a quick skim of the passage (purpose, sections, and main ideas) followed by questions works best. For matching headings, map the passage first; for detail questions, go straight to scanning.

What should I do if I cannot find an answer quickly?

Make an informed choice, flag the question, and move on. IELTS Reading is time-pressured; spending too long on one item can cost easier marks later.