Content Writer - Study Abroad | Updated On - Mar 9, 2024
The IELTS Reading test for academic and general candidates is different.The IELTS reading exam consists of three passages, for which candidates must answer 40 questions within a 60-minute time frame. These IELTS passages are typically taken from a variety of sources such as books, journals, magazines, and newspapers, and cover topics that highlight descriptive facts, main ideas, logical arguments, writers’ opinions, purposes, and attitudes.
The IELTS Academic Reading section is divided into three sections, each with a large paragraph text. From part 1 to part 3, the difficulty level increases. These texts are related to areas such as physics, sociology, and even illustration. IELTS General Training is likewise broken into three sections. Parts 1 and 2 will feature one or two texts, while Part 3 will contain a lengthy difficult chapter on a general topic of interest. The IELTS Academic Reading section is more difficult than the General Training Reading section, hence the scores also differ in that aspect. To receive the same score as an Academic Reading section, more questions on a General Training section must be answered correctly.
Both the IELTS general reading and IELTS academic reading tests are scored on a IELTS score of 1 to 9. There are several question types dependent on the provided text, including multiple-choice, matching facts, matching sentences, flow chart completion, table completion, and so forth. There will be 40 questions and 1 mark will be awarded for each correct response. Scores out of 40 are divided into 9 bands, which are presented as full or half bands. Achieving a band score of 7 or higher in this section is often necessary for candidates seeking admission to top universities.
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IELTS Reading Practice Paper
To be proficient in the reading section, the IELTS reading practice test is a great way to prepare. The IELTS Reading practice test with answers helps candidates to get a better understanding of the questions. Candidates can consider preparing for their IELTS exam by undertaking the IELTS reading practice test given in the following table.
Check: IELTS General Reading Practice Test
- SJH Maintenance Policy Reading Answers
- Reviews of The Calgary Hotel Reading Answers
- Stainless Steel Reading Answers
- The Role of The Swiss Postbus Reading Answers
- Wind Power in the US Reading Answers
- Richmond College List Of Courses Reading Answers
- The Power Of Nothing Reading Answers
- How To Reduce Employee Turnover Reading Answers
- History Of Salt Reading Answers
- Some Facts And Theories About Flu Reading Answers
- The Development of Travel under the Ocean Reading Answers
- Distance Learning Reading Answers
- Biomimetic Design Reading Answers
- Discover Hidden Island Reading Answers
- Multitasking Debate Reading Answers
Check: IELTS Reading Test Practice for General- IELTS General Reading Practice Test 1
- IELTS General Reading Practice Test 2
- IELTS General Reading Practice Test 3
- IELTS General Reading Practice Test 4
- IELTS General Reading Practice Test 5
- IELTS General Reading Practice Test 6
- IELTS General Reading Practice Test 7
- IELTS General Reading Practice Test 8
- IELTS General Reading Practice Test 9
- IELTS General Reading Practice Test 10
- IELTS General Reading Practice Test 11
- IELTS General Reading Practice Test 12
- IELTS General Reading Practice Test 13
- IELTS General Reading Practice Test 14
- IELTS General Reading Practice Test 15
IELTS Reading Band Score
The IELTS reading band score is credited based on the number of correct attempts made by the candidates. This section includes a total of 40 questions. Answering a total of 40 questions correctly can help score band 9. Candidates can use IELTS Reading score calculator to calculate their scores. Provided below is a table that highlights the IELTS reading band score. A separate column for each test type of IELTS Reading score band has been denoted.
| Correct Answers | IELTS Academic band score | Correct Answers | IELTS General Training Band score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 40-39 | 9 | 40 | 9 |
| 38-37 | 8.5 | 39 | 8.5 |
| 36-35 | 8 | 37-38 | 8 |
| 34-33 | 7.5 | 36 | 7.5 |
| 32-30 | 7 | 34-35 | 7 |
| 29-27 | 6.5 | 32-33 | 6.5 |
| 26-23 | 6 | 30-31 | 6 |
| 22-19 | 5.5 | 27-29 | 5.5 |
| 18-15 | 5 | 23-26 | 5 |
| 14-13 | 4.5 | 19-22 | 4.5 |
| 12-10 | 4 | 15-18 | 4 |
| 9-8 | 3.5 | 12-14 | 3.5 |
| 7-6 | 3 | 9-11 | 3 |
| 5-4 | 2.5 | 6-8 | 2.5 |
IELTS Reading Marking Criteria
Candidates' IELTS reading scores are determined using a band scale ranging from 0 to 9, with points awarded for each correct answer provided. An IELTS Band Score of 9 indicates that all 40 questions were answered correctly, whereas a low score suggests a lower level of proficiency. The IELTS reading assessment assigns one mark per question. Generally, the IELTS academic reading test is considered more challenging than the IELTS general training reading test. By meeting the IELTS reading marking criteria, candidates can achieve a higher band score.
| Task Achievement (Task 1) | To present accurate information To provide an overview To highlight key features or stages Supporting detail with appropriate data |
| Task Response (Task 2) | To address the task accurately To provide relevant points that support the answer To present an opinion when necessary To provide a conclusion |
| Coherence and Cohesion | To organise information into paragraphs To present a central idea in each paragraph To apply range of linking devices |
| Lexical Resources | Use collocations Avoid errors and spelling mistakes Use good vocabulary and paraphrase |
| Grammar Range and Accuracy | Use a wide range of sentence structures Proper use grammar tenses Proper use of punctuation Avoid errors |
IELTS Reading Academic Samples
Vocabulary for IELTS Reading can be enhanced with the help of IELTS reading books. Here are the list of IELTS samples with answers to increase IELTS Reading score.
Check IELTS Reading Samples for Academic
- The Impact of Environment to Children Reading Answers
- Have Teenagers Always Existed Reading Answers
- Changes in Male Body Image Reading Answers
- Bioluminescence Reading Answers
- Greying Population Stays in the Pink Reading Answers
- The Dams that Changed Australia Reading Answers
- The Secret of Staying Young Reading Answers
- Computer Provides More Questions Than Answers Reading Answers
- Glass capturing the dance of light Reading Answers
- Surgical Mask Reading Answers
- The Canals of De Lesseps Reading Answers
- Food Stream Market Reading Answers
- Museums of Fine Art and Their Public Reading Answers
- The Construction of Roads and Bridges Reading Answers
- Stars Without the Stripes Reading Answers
Check: IELTS Practice Tests for Academic
- IELTS Academic Reading Practice Test 1
- IELTS Academic Reading Practice Test 2
- IELTS Academic Reading Practice Test 3
- IELTS Academic Reading Practice Test 4
- IELTS Academic Reading Practice Test 5
- IELTS Academic Reading Practice Test 6
- IELTS Academic Reading Practice Test 7
- IELTS Academic Reading Practice Test 8
- IELTS Academic Reading Practice Test 9
- IELTS Academic Reading Practice Test 10
- IELTS Academic Reading Practice Test 11
- IELTS Academic Reading Practice Test 12
- IELTS Academic Reading Practice Test 13
- IELTS Academic Reading Practice Test 14
- IELTS Academic Reading Practice Test 15
IELTS Reading Questions Types (General and Academic)
The table below portrays question types in IELTS reading test:
| Task Type | Task Description | Skills Assessed |
|---|---|---|
| Matching Headings Question | To choose a heading from the list that matches a paragraph or a section in the passage. | To understand the aim of the section, to identify between supporting points and the main idea. |
| True, False, Not Given/ Yes, No, Not Given | To decide whether the writer’s opinion or the information is in the question statements or not. | To identify and understand the information for true, false, not given questions and to understand the opinion of the writer for yes, no, not given questions. |
| Matching Paragraph Information Questions | To match the information given in question with the information given in the passage. | To scan and find out specific information. |
| Summary Completion Questions | To complete the summary by filling the blanks with the words taken from the passage. | To select appropriate words and understand supporting ideas. |
| Sentence Completion Questions | To complete the sentence with the words taken from the passage. | To select appropriate words and understand supporting ideas. |
| Multiple Choice Questions | To choose the correct answer from three or four possible options. | To scan and understand specific information in the passage. |
| List Selection | Choose the correct option from a list of words. It is different from multiple choice because all questions are related to only one long list of possible answers. | To scan and understand specific information in the passage. |
| Choosing a Title | To choose the correct title from a given list. | To identify the main aim of the passage and to distinguish between details. |
| Classification Questions | To decide which information belongs to which specific category from the given list. | To locate and categorize the information in the passage. |
| Matching Sentence Endings | To complete the sentence by matching its start and ending given from the list. | To locate and understand the information. |
| Table Completion | To complete a table by using the words from the passage. | To choose and locate appropriate words and information from the passage. |
| Flow-Chart Completion Questions | To complete the flowchart by using the words from the passage. | To choose and locate appropriate words and information from the passage. |
| Diagram Completion Questions | To label a diagram. | To locate and relate any information regarding the diagram. |
| Short Answer Questions | To answer questions by taking details from the passage. | To locate and understand the detailing of the information. |
IELTS Reading Topics
IELTS reading topics are unpredictable in nature.IELTS Reading includes a pool of topics. To prepare for IELTS reading topics you can include reading books, magazines, newspapers and journals in your daily life.
IELTS Academic Reading Topics
The IELTS Academic Reading test is 60 minutes long. There will be 3 sections and each section will have a long text which will be up to 150-750 words. The texts which are given in the exam are taken from journals, newspapers, magazines. These topic reading IELTS will be of general interest and are given for non-specialist audiences.
IELTS General Reading Topics
The IELTS General Reading Test is 60 minutes long. Candidates will be given a particular topic to read and answer. In the General training also there will be 3 sections and different topics will be given for each section.
| IELTS General Reading Topics | Sample Topics |
|---|---|
| Space science | An Asteroid |
| News | Latest management model adopted by LCP technologies |
| Pedagogy | How to advertise a product |
| Child growth and learning | Learning By Examples |
| Movies | The History of Cinema |
| Places of tourist attraction | History of Shimla in India |
| Employee benefits | Hiking on snow in Australia paternity leave |
| Organizational management | Types of vacation activities |
| Domestic and international travel | Hiking on snow in Australia Bart train schedules |
| Travel restrictions | A cave and hiking in the cave with essentials |
| Working hours | Safety instructions for workers on a construction site |
| Employee-employer relation | Workspace Survival |
| Managerial theory | How The Other Half Thinks: Adventures In Mathematical Reasoning |
| Clarity in HR policies | Social Survival |
| Job satisfaction | Office air quality |
| Work-life balance | Stress of Workplace |
| Business deals | Eco-Resort Management |
| Social issues | Dirty River But Clean Water |
| Economic status of the company | Job opportunities in the diving industry |
| Risk management plan | Applying for a work exchange program |
| Issues in leadership | Literate Women Make Better Mothers? |
IELTS Academic Reading vs. IELTS General Reading
The question types and number of questions remain the same for IELTS academic reading and IELTS general reading. However, there are certain points that are different when compared, these are mentioned below:
IELTS Reading Preparation
The preparation for IELTS requires candidates to practise and account for IELTS preparation. Candidates can prepare a definitive schedule and ensure a IELTS preparation time. A candidate that requires to account for an appropriate level of preparation requires to undertake IELTS reading materials and IELTS reading passages. Undertaking practice with the help of IELTS reading material and IELTS reading test online can help candidates develop proficiency in language aspects. You must read newspapers daily and learn the meanings of new words. For this, candidates need to prepare a defined schedule that portrays appropriate IELTS preparation time. The next step to secure a high IELTS reading score is applying the knowledge you acquire every day. Take IELTS practice speaking and IELTS practice reading tests online. Below mentioned are some of the IELTS reading preparation tips:
- Test your skill with a diagnostic test before starting your preparation.
- Candidates can frame suitable study time followed by a proper schedule.
- Prepare from IELTS general training books such as Cambridge IELTS general training book, Barron’s, and many more.
- Account for a number of IELTS reading practice tests to check your time management skills.
- Improve and speed up your reading skills.
- Focus on vocabulary development.
- Devote a timeline of 6-8 weeks for IELTS preparation time.
IELTS Reading Tips and Tricks
Candidates have to attempt passages from a wide array of IELTS reading topics. Few essential IELTS reading tips will help the aspirants to understand the techniques required for better scores. Here are IELTS Reading tips and tricks are as follows:
- Before attempting to answer the questions, thoroughly read and comprehend the instructions.
- Spend some time and make a note of any significant terms or phrases that you come across in the text because you never know when you'll need them for multiple-choice questions.
- Plan ahead what you will read first and what you will skim through to make the most of the time allotted for each segment.
- Keep an eye out for terms like "not," "except," and other such words that might help you spot the wrong responses to multiple-choice questions.
- Don't overlook minute elements that will aid you in performing well on the test.
- Make sure to tackle every question by marking the answers directly on the exam paper.
- At the conclusion, go over your responses to make sure no questions were left out or were submitted in the wrong manner.
- Try to anticipate what might happen next after reading each paragraph since this can help you feel more eager to read subsequent passages.
IELTS Reading Materials
Candidates can develop their understanding of the IELTS exam pattern by following several books. Below mentioned are some books and websites that can help candidates to prepare for the IELTS reading test. These books can also account for IELTS reading practice.
IELTS Reading Websites
Below are some websites that can be considered by candidates for IELTS reading preparation:
- IELTS Liz
- IELTS Buddy
- IELTS Mentor
- IELTS Test Preparation Course (Magoosh)
- British Council
- IELTS Band 7+ Complete Prep Course (Udemy)
IELTS Reading Books
Below mentioned are some books that can be considered by candidates to prepare for IELTS reading tests:
- The Official Cambridge Guide to IELTS- Check PDF (INR 1,170)
- Cambridge IELTS’ Book 14 for Academic with Answers – Check PDF (INR 2,820)
- Official IELTS Practice Materials – Check PDF (INR 1,240)
- Barron’s IELTS Superpack – Check PDF (INR 3,129)
- Target Band 7 – Check PDF (INR 2081)
IELTS reading consists of 40 questions. IELTS reading passages check the reading skill of the candidates. Free online IELTS reading practice tests help candidates in scoring well.
FAQ
Ques. How can I score a band of 8.5 in IELTS reading?
Answer: In order to score a band of 8.5 in IELTS reading, candidates are required to answer a minimum of 36 questions out of the total of 40 questions.
Ques. Is IELTS reading difficult?
Answer: IELTS reading difficulty level depends on the preparation of an individual. The more you practice, the better you ace the exams.
Ques. How many reading passages are there?
Answer: There are a total of three reading passages for the academic paper and three different sections for the general training paper with each section having one or two texts.
Ques. Is the reading test the same for everyone?
Answer: No, there are two different tests for IELTS reading; IELTS academic and IELTS general training. Candidates will get to decide which IELTS test they would like to appear for. Make a note that the test candidates are appearing for will impact both their reading and writing papers.
Ques. What kind of reading passages are there in the IELTS academic test?
Answer: Each of the passages in the academic reading paper are long. These passages are excerpts from books, magazines, and newspapers. It might contain complicated language, academic vocabulary, and at times diagrams, maps or other kinds of illustrations.
Ques. Do I lose a point if my answer is wrong?
Answer: No, there are no point deductions for a wrong answer. Thus, never leave an empty space in the answer sheet, always write something and have a guess for an answer.
Ques. How long should I spend on each passage?
Answer: It is recommended that a candidate shouldn’t spend more than 20 minutes on each passage. Ensure that you are effectively managing your time while attempting the questions.
Ques. Am I allowed to write or take notes on the reading question paper?
Answer: Yes you are allowed to do so. You can make notes, underline words, and write on any part of the question paper. This will help you later to get the impoortant points that can answer the question.
Ques. Should I use a pen or a pencil during IELTS Reading?
Answer: For the reading and listening test, you must use a pencil. This is because you can unmark the answer if you have marked it incorrectly. Thus, do remember to carry an eraser with you. However, for writing test, you can use pen.
Ques: What is the difference between the Academic and General Training Reading modules?
Ques: What to expect in the IELTS reading passages?
Ques: What types of questions are asked in IELTS Reading?
Ques: How many questions are there in IELTS Reading?
Ques: Can I write or takes notes on the reading passage?
Ques: How are the Reading scores calculated?
Ques: How important is spelling in the test?
Ques: How much time should I spend on each passage and question?
Ques: What if I don't know the answer?
*The article might have information for the previous academic years, which will be updated soon subject to the notification issued by the University/College.
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