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IELTS - General Reading Task

This section will show a detail of the IELTS General Training Reading test. It will explore the format of the test.
Reading Test takes 60 minutes.

  • 3 parts of the test (sections)
  • Section 1 contains 14 questions.(Easy)
  • Section 2 contains 13 questions.(Intermediate)
  • Section 3 contains 13 questions.(Hard)

Note: - No extra time will be given to transfer answers to answer sheet (extra 10 minutes are available for *Listening test only)

Usually total number of words range of passages from 2000 to 2,500.

Questions may appear before or after the sections.

2,000 - 2,500 words + 40 Questions in 60 minutes.

Section 1: Topics are about common, everyday activities. It contains 14 questions.

Section2: Topics are about training contexts. It contains 13 questions.

Section3:Topics are general reading. It contains 13 questions.

  • Passages increase in difficult as it is in progress.
  • Answer the question as Yes / No or True/False or Not Given.
  • A False or No answer means the question is the opposite of the information presented.
  • Not Given is the same as saying there is nothing written in the passage about a statement.
  • The questions generally follow the order of the information presented in the passage.

Short Answer

  • Answer the question in the required number of words or less.
  • Do not use more words than required.
  • Questions generally follow the order of the information given in the passage.

Complete the Sentence

  • Find the answer that belongs in the blank space.
  • Sometimes the answer choices are listed in a box.
  • Often cover large sections of a passage.

Multiple Choices

  • Select the right answer from the choices given more than one answer can be correct.
  • Questions generally follow the order of information given in the passage.

Match the Answer

  • Match the answer from the list given.
  • Tests ability to identify relationships and discern different opinions.
  • There are usually more choices provided than needed.
  • List is not in any set order.

Locate the Information

  • Find where information is located in the reading passage.
  • Tests your ability to follow the writer's train of thought.
  • Questions do not follow the order of information as presented in the passage.
  • Remember where key words and ideas are located throughout the passage.

Mange your time:

Managing your time involves:

  • Time discipline
  • Time efficiency

Running out of time is main cause of a low score.

  • The need for time discipline.
  • You must manage your time strictly.
  • Maximum of 1/2 minute per question or 20 minutes per passage.
  • You must Force yourself to move on, do not stuck to any question.
  • Make allowance for increasing difficulty

Suggested time is

  1. 15 minutes for passage 1
  2. 20 minutes for passage 2
  3. 25 minutes for passage 3

Remember stick to a passage 'time plan'
The need for time efficiency.
Tip: Reading a passage over and over is not good practice.
Best Time efficiency involves:

  1. Approaching the test in a consistent manner.
  2. Learning a set method for reading each passage.
  3. Practicing that method until it becomes habit.

A 4 step approach to each passage.

  1. Do a quick overview of the passage.
  2. Read through the questions.
  3. Read the passage.
  4. Start answering the questions.

Do a quick overview of the passage: the aim is to broadly find out what the passage of text is about.

  1. Read the title and any subtitles.
  2. Read the first sentence in each paragraph.
  3. Do not start reading the entire passage.
  4. Take note of any pictures or charts.

Read through the questions:

  1. Read each question carefully.
  2. Do not try and answer them immediately.
  3. Underline or mark key words in the questions.

Read the passage of text.

  1. Read through the entire passage.
  2. Do not worry about words you don't understand.
  3. Highlight key words.
  4. Mark any answers that you notice.
  5. Write paragraph summary notes in the test booklet.

Start answering the questions

  1. Answer two questions at a time.
  2. Locate the area in the passage which contains the answer.
  3. Before 'locking in' your answers, read the question again.
  4. Write your answers directly on the answer sheet. (No extra time to transfer your answers to answer sheet)
  5. If you are unsure about an answer, write down your most likely choice and return to it later if you have time.

Locating answers quickly
It is really difficult to locate answer quickly.
Tip: Do not use random and inefficient ways of locating answers.
To answers a question quickly you must:

  1. Know clearly what you are looking for.
  2. Search the text in an efficient way.
  3. You must clear before write answer that what to look for.
  4. Read the question carefully;
  5. Understand exactly what you are being asked.
  6. Identify the key words or distinctive words.
  7. Highlight these words & focus your attention on them.
  8. It is a big mistake to start searching the text without completely understanding what is you are looking for.

Before start looking for the answer to a question you must be very clear on what you are looking for. It is a common mistake to start searching for text without fully understanding what is required to give an answer. Once you finish reading a question the next thing is to identify the keywords in the question. Key words are typically nouns, adjectives or adverbs. Each question has at least one key word which can be identified. Identifying the key words in the questions is only half the job. The other half is locate areas in the reading passage which use these same key words. These areas of the passage will probably hold the answer to the question. There may be more than one location using these words, sol you need to do this quickly. Sometimes the key words in the questions can be expressed in other ways, as synonyms of words in the reading passage.

When you find a key word match, stop and then carefully read the sentence before and after. It is here where your answer may be contained. If the passage is not relevant, then keep scanning.

Start scanning by focusing on the middle of the first line of text and start moving your eyes straight down the page.

  • Inefficient reading skills cost you time.
  • Follow proven techniques to use your time efficiently:
    1. Locate key words quickly.
    2. Build the skill of scanning for key words.

Remember 2,000 - 2,500 words + 40 Questions in 60 minutes.

So, time management is the most important thing to get good grade in reading section.