IELTS Reading

• Academic: three long texts from books, journals and newspapers.
• General Training: shorter everyday and work texts, with a longer text at the end.
• There is no extra time to copy answers, so write them on the answer sheet as you go.

Check current details on ielts.org before relying on them.

Do not use one strategy for every question type. Skimming finds the overall structure of a text, scanning locates specific information, and intensive reading gives you the precise answer.

1. Route by question type

   Matching Headings needs a different approach from Sentence Completion.

   Three routesCompletion: question → keywords → scan → find the paragraph → read it closely
   Matching Headings: paragraph → understand its main idea → summarise it → choose the heading
   True / False / Not Given: statement → find the relevant part → compare the meaning precisely

   Switching approach by question type is worth much more than the general advice to “read faster”.

2. Compress every paragraph

   For difficult passages, give each paragraph a label of 3 to 6 words.

   ExampleA → history of electric cars
   B → battery limitations
   C → government incentives
   D → future improvements

   This gives you a mental map of the text and makes it easier to place answers and choose headings.

3. Matching Headings: headings first or paragraph first?

   There are two approaches. You can read the headings first and look for their meaning and synonyms, or you can understand the paragraph first and then choose. IDP says both are valid, so choose the one that suits you.

   We recommend paragraph first. If you read ten similar headings before understanding the paragraph, they can push you to hunt for matching words. The headings test the main idea, not identical vocabulary, and the task is about telling main ideas from supporting details.

4. The strict True / False / Not Given test

   • True: the text confirms the statement.
   • False: the text clearly contradicts it.
   • Not Given: the text does not give enough information either way.

   Do not use your outside knowledge when deciding. Silence in the text means Not Given, and False needs a contradiction.

   RuleYou are not a detective. You are a lawyer. Do not ask “What is probably true?” Ask: “Can I point to words in the text that prove or contradict every important part of this statement?” If not, Not Given is a real possibility.

5. Search for paraphrases, not keywords

   A question says:

   Example“The project was abandoned because it became too expensive.”

   The passage may say:

   Example“Escalating costs eventually forced researchers to discontinue the programme.”

   If you scan only for abandoned or expensive, you can miss it. IELTS Reading is partly a test of recognising paraphrase.

6. Use a two-round system

   Round 1: answer everything you can solve quickly and confidently, and flag the uncertain questions. Round 2: return to the questions that need deeper reasoning.

   A three-minute battle over one Matching Headings question can cost you more than leaving it for later. This is a time-management strategy, not an official IELTS rule.

Reading practice does not always mean completing 40 questions. Most students improve faster when they isolate the question type that causes them problems.

1. Paragraph map 5 min

   Take one IELTS passage and do not answer any questions. Read it and give every paragraph a label of no more than six words.

   ExampleA — history of electric vehicles
   B — early battery problems
   C — government support
   D — recent improvements
   E — future obstacles

   Then look back at the passage and check whether each label really represents the paragraph's main idea.

   GoalSee the structure of a passage instead of treating it as one large block of text.

2. Paraphrase hunt 10 min

   Take five Reading questions. For each one, find the part of the text that contains the answer, then connect the language in the question to the language in the passage.

   ExampleQuestion: “The researchers abandoned the project because of its cost.”
   Text: “Escalating expenses eventually forced the team to discontinue the programme.”
   abandoned → discontinue
   cost → expenses
   researchers → team

   Create five pairs like this after every Reading session.

   GoalSearch for meaning instead of identical words.

3. True / False / Not Given evidence test

   For every answer, force yourself to show evidence:

   • True: underline the sentence that confirms the statement.
   • False: underline the sentence that contradicts it and explain the contradiction.
   • Not Given: write exactly which piece of information is missing.
   ExampleStatement: “All students preferred online classes.”
   Text: “Many students said online classes were more convenient.”
   Answer: Not Given. The text tells us what many students thought, not what all students thought.
   RuleNever choose True or False without evidence.

4. Matching Headings drill

   Read one paragraph without looking at the headings and write your own heading of 3 to 6 words. Only then look at the options and compare their meaning with your heading.

   This stops attractive keywords in the options from controlling how you read the paragraph.

5. Twenty-minute passage 20 min

   Once question-type practice feels comfortable, complete one full passage in about 20 minutes. Mark any question that takes too long and move on. When you finish, record:

   RecordQuestions correct: __ / __
   Questions guessed: __
   Questions that took too long: __
   Main error type: __

   Repeat this with single passages before moving on to a full 60-minute Reading test.

6. Keep an error log

   Do not record only the number of wrong answers. Classify each mistake:

   • vocabulary
   • missed paraphrase
   • misunderstood question
   • True / False / Not Given logic
   • wrong paragraph
   • word-limit mistake
   • spelling
   • time pressure
   • careless reading

   After several tests, your most common category becomes your next training priority.