IELTS guide
IELTS Reading rewards targeted evidence search, not slow line-by-line reading. Strong test takers skim for structure, scan for keywords, and then read the exact evidence sentence carefully before choosing an answer.
What this guide covers
Efficient readers don't read the passage once slowly — they use three different reading speeds at different stages.
Skim (2 min) · Before answering ANY questions
How: Read title + first sentence of each paragraph + last paragraph. Build a mental map.
Why: Saves time later because you know WHERE in the text answers are likely to be.
Scan (fast) · When finding keywords from a question
How: Run your eye down the page looking ONLY for the specific word/name/number. Ignore everything else.
Why: Finds the relevant section without re-reading the whole passage.
Read carefully (slow)
Only the 2–3 sentences around the found keyword
How: Read every word. Look for synonyms of the question's wording.
Why: IELTS questions usually paraphrase the passage — expect different words from the question.
| Question Type | Difficulty | Strategy | Target Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| True / False / Not Given | Hard | NOT GIVEN means totally absent — don't mark FALSE because you think it's wrong. | ~30 sec each |
| Matching Headings | Hard | Match paragraph's main idea to heading — ignore distractors with matching keywords. | ~45 sec each |
| Multiple Choice | Medium | Eliminate clearly wrong options first. The answer is always in the text — don't use outside knowledge. | ~40 sec each |
| Sentence Completion | Medium | Use words from the passage and follow the word limit in the instructions (for example, NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS). | ~25 sec each |
| Matching Information | Medium | Paragraphs can be used more than once. Scan each paragraph for each question. | ~30 sec each |
| Short Answer Questions | Easy | Use exact words from the text. Answers appear in order — search progressively through the passage. | ~20 sec each |
Full-length IELTS Academic Reading tests with all question types, timed conditions, and detailed explanations for every answer.
Practice IELTS Reading Free: Full practice tests with AI scoring
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IELTS Writing Task 2 Guide: Essay structure & band 7+ tips
IELTS Band Score Guide: Score requirements by country
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Use three speeds: skim the passage to understand the map, scan for names, numbers, and keywords, then read carefully around the answer sentence. This saves time and reduces guessing.
For True/False/Not Given, ask whether the passage says the same thing, the opposite, or nothing (full True/False/Not Given method). For Matching Headings, match the whole paragraph idea, not one repeated word (Matching Headings worked example).
A practical target is about 18 minutes for Passage 1, 20 minutes for Passage 2, and 22 minutes for Passage 3. If one question takes more than 90 seconds, make a best guess and keep moving.
IELTS Academic Reading has three sections and 40 questions to complete in 60 minutes. It uses texts from books, journals, magazines, newspapers, and online resources for a non-specialist audience. There is no extra transfer time.
TRUE means the passage supports the statement, FALSE means it contradicts it, and NOT GIVEN means the passage does not provide enough information. Decide from the relevant context, not outside knowledge.
Practise mapping paragraph purpose, scanning for distinctive terms, and then reading the relevant context carefully. Compare timed attempts; there is no universal minute saving or eye-span formula.
Match each heading to the main purpose of the whole paragraph, not one repeated keyword or detail. Read enough context to distinguish the central idea and return to uncertain items after clearer matches.
True/False/Not Given concerns information in the passage; Yes/No/Not Given concerns a writer's views or claims. In both, use the text to decide whether the statement agrees, contradicts, or is not stated.
Use an adjustable budget across all three sections, move on when one item threatens the rest, and refine the split from several timed attempts. IELTS does not prescribe an 18/20/22-minute formula.
Skim first for structure, scan for keywords from the questions, then read the nearby sentences carefully to confirm the answer with evidence.
For Academic Reading, about 30 correct answers out of 40 usually corresponds to band 7, though exact conversion can vary slightly by test.