Introduction
The IELTS Reading test is a crucial part of the exam, assessing your ability to read, understand, and interpret texts. It consists of 40 questions and lasts for 60 minutes, requiring strong comprehension skills and effective time management.
Understanding the IELTS Reading test format and scoring system can help you prepare strategically and maximize your score. This guide provides a detailed breakdown of the IELTS Reading test, including its format, types of questions, and how scoring works.
IELTS Reading Test Format
The IELTS Reading section differs based on whether you take the Academic or General Training version of the test.
1. IELTS Academic Reading
- Designed for students applying for higher education or professional registration.
- Includes three long passages taken from books, journals, newspapers, or research articles.
- Texts are more complex, requiring analytical thinking and strong vocabulary.
2. IELTS General Training Reading
- Suitable for individuals applying for work, immigration, or non-academic training programs.
- Includes three sections, with texts from advertisements, company handbooks, newspapers, and magazines.
- Passages are easier and focus on everyday English usage.
Key Difference: The Academic Reading test has more difficult vocabulary and content, while the General Training Reading test includes practical, real-world texts.
Question Types in IELTS Reading
The IELTS Reading test includes various question formats to evaluate different reading skills. Here are the most common ones:
- Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) – Choose the correct answer from a list of options.
- True/False/Not Given – Determine whether the statement is true, false, or if the information is not provided.
- Matching Information – Find specific details in different paragraphs.
- Matching Headings – Identify the main idea of each paragraph and match it with the correct heading.
- Sentence Completion – Fill in missing words based on information from the passage.
- Summary, Note, Table, or Flowchart Completion – Complete a given summary using words from the passage.
- Diagram Label Completion – Label diagrams with words from the passage.
- Short Answer Questions – Provide brief answers based on passage details.
Scoring in IELTS Reading
Your Reading score is calculated based on the number of correct answers. There is no negative marking, so it’s best to attempt all questions.
IELTS Academic and General Training Scoring Differences
The Academic Reading test is slightly more difficult, so the band scores are adjusted accordingly.
| Raw Score (Out of 40) | Academic Band Score | General Training Band Score |
|---|---|---|
| 39-40 | 9.0 | 9.0 |
| 37-38 | 8.5 | 8.5 |
| 35-36 | 8.0 | 8.0 |
| 33-34 | 7.5 | 7.5 |
| 30-32 | 7.0 | 7.0 |
| 27-29 | 6.5 | 6.0 |
| 23-26 | 6.0 | 5.5 |
| 19-22 | 5.5 | 5.0 |
| 15-18 | 5.0 | 4.5 |
| 13-14 | 4.5 | 4.0 |
Since the General Training Reading passages are easier, a higher number of correct answers is required to achieve the same band score as the Academic Reading test.
How to Improve Your IELTS Reading Score
1. Develop Skimming and Scanning Skills
- Skimming helps you get a general idea of the passage quickly.
- Scanning allows you to locate specific information without reading everything.
2. Improve Your Time Management
- You have 60 minutes for 40 questions, which means about 90 seconds per question.
- Don’t spend too much time on a single question—move on and return later if needed.
3. Expand Your Vocabulary
- Read a variety of texts, including newspapers, magazines, and academic articles.
- Learn synonyms and paraphrasing as IELTS questions often use different wording from the passage.
4. Practice with IELTS Sample Tests
- Use official IELTS practice tests to get familiar with the test format.
- Take timed practice tests to improve speed and accuracy.
5. Focus on Accuracy Instead of Guesswork
- While there’s no negative marking, accuracy is key to a high band score.
- Carefully read instructions—word limits matter in completion-type questions.
How Kandor Can Help
Preparing for the IELTS Reading test requires practice, strategy, and expert guidance. Kandor offers personalized study plans and AI-driven feedback to help you improve efficiently.
- Free IELTS Reading practice tests to familiarize yourself with the format.
- Detailed answer explanations to help you understand mistakes.
- Time management strategies to help you complete the test efficiently.
- Real-time performance tracking to monitor progress and focus on weak areas.
With Kandor’s IELTS preparation resources, you can build confidence and achieve your target IELTS Reading score.
Conclusion
The IELTS Reading test requires strong comprehension skills, time management, and strategy-based answering techniques. Understanding the test format, question types, and scoring system can significantly improve your performance.
By following effective preparation strategies and using Kandor’s expert guidance, you can maximize your IELTS Reading score and achieve success.
