How to prepare for IELTS – Reading
Contents
Page
Details of the reading test 2
The Question Types
1. Multiple choice 4
2. Short answer questions 6
3. Sentence completion questions 8
4. Notes/ table/ form/ summary/ flow chart/diagram
completion questions 11
5. Yes, no, not given or True, false, not given 15
6. Classification questions 17
7. Matching 19
8. Choosing headings 21
9. Scanning & identifying location of information 23
10. Labelling a diagram which has numbered parts 25
General tips for reading 27
Make sure you have a copy of the How to prepare for IELTS – FAQs booklet in
addition to this booklet.
1
,How to prepare for IELTS – Reading
Details of the Reading Test
Procedure of the test
The reading module is the second test you do on the test day.
You are given a question booklet and an answer sheet. There is no
time, unlike in the listening test, at the end to transfer answers so you
have to write your answers directly onto the answer sheet.
You are given 60 minutes for the test.
The test instructions indicate how much time you should spend on
each section of the test.
Structure of the test
The test is divided into three sections.
You are given a reading passage with questions in each section. The
questions can be both before and after the passages.
The topics of the passages are of general interest and come from
magazines, journals, books and newspapers. At least one of the
passages will present a logical argument.
The texts increase in difficulty as the test progresses. There may be a
glossary of technical words.
Question types*
The types of tasks are:
1. Multiple Choice
2. Short-answer questions
3. Sentence completion
4. Notes/table/summary flow-chart/diagram completion
5. Yes, no, not given or True, false, not given
6. Classification
7. Matching lists/phrases
8. Choosing headings for paragraphs/sections of a text
9. Scanning and identifying location of information
10. Labelling a diagram which has numbered parts
There are 40 questions in total. Each of the three sections has around
10-15 questions and there are at least two types of questions in each
section.
*See the page 3 onwards for details on the task types, suggested
strategies for doing them and suggestions on how to get practice.
2
, How to prepare for IELTS – Reading
Marking
You are given a mark for each of the 40 questions. Your result is
converted into a score which corresponds to one of the bands from 1-9.
You will see the band on your result sheet. You can be awarded a whole
band or a half band for the reading section. (See IELTS Handbook: p.20
or Focus on IELTS: p.7 for details.)
3
Contents
Page
Details of the reading test 2
The Question Types
1. Multiple choice 4
2. Short answer questions 6
3. Sentence completion questions 8
4. Notes/ table/ form/ summary/ flow chart/diagram
completion questions 11
5. Yes, no, not given or True, false, not given 15
6. Classification questions 17
7. Matching 19
8. Choosing headings 21
9. Scanning & identifying location of information 23
10. Labelling a diagram which has numbered parts 25
General tips for reading 27
Make sure you have a copy of the How to prepare for IELTS – FAQs booklet in
addition to this booklet.
1
,How to prepare for IELTS – Reading
Details of the Reading Test
Procedure of the test
The reading module is the second test you do on the test day.
You are given a question booklet and an answer sheet. There is no
time, unlike in the listening test, at the end to transfer answers so you
have to write your answers directly onto the answer sheet.
You are given 60 minutes for the test.
The test instructions indicate how much time you should spend on
each section of the test.
Structure of the test
The test is divided into three sections.
You are given a reading passage with questions in each section. The
questions can be both before and after the passages.
The topics of the passages are of general interest and come from
magazines, journals, books and newspapers. At least one of the
passages will present a logical argument.
The texts increase in difficulty as the test progresses. There may be a
glossary of technical words.
Question types*
The types of tasks are:
1. Multiple Choice
2. Short-answer questions
3. Sentence completion
4. Notes/table/summary flow-chart/diagram completion
5. Yes, no, not given or True, false, not given
6. Classification
7. Matching lists/phrases
8. Choosing headings for paragraphs/sections of a text
9. Scanning and identifying location of information
10. Labelling a diagram which has numbered parts
There are 40 questions in total. Each of the three sections has around
10-15 questions and there are at least two types of questions in each
section.
*See the page 3 onwards for details on the task types, suggested
strategies for doing them and suggestions on how to get practice.
2
, How to prepare for IELTS – Reading
Marking
You are given a mark for each of the 40 questions. Your result is
converted into a score which corresponds to one of the bands from 1-9.
You will see the band on your result sheet. You can be awarded a whole
band or a half band for the reading section. (See IELTS Handbook: p.20
or Focus on IELTS: p.7 for details.)
3
