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IELTS Reading · 2026

60 minutes, 40 questions, no extra transfer time.

Academic Reading has 3 long passages from books, journals and newspapers. General Training has shorter everyday and workplace texts plus one longer passage. Both are 60 minutes for 40 questions with NO extra transfer time — pacing is everything. The answer is almost never worded the same as the question; you're hunting synonyms and paraphrase.

Time
60 min (no transfer time)
Questions
40 across 3 sections
Academic
3 academic passages
General
Everyday + workplace + 1 long text

How to push your Reading band up

  • Budget ~20 min per passage; flag a hard question and return rather than sinking time.
  • Most types are in passage order — use that to locate the next answer quickly.
  • Scan for keywords and their synonyms, not the exact words in the question.
  • Transfer answers as you go — there is no extra minute at the end.

Question types

True / False / Not Given (and Yes / No / Not Given)

Decide whether a statement agrees with (TRUE), contradicts (FALSE), or is absent from (NOT GIVEN) the text. YNNG is identical but tests the writer's opinion.

How to answer

  1. 1Identify the exact claim the statement makes.
  2. 2Locate the matching part of the text with keywords/synonyms (statements are in order).
  3. 3TRUE = confirmed; FALSE = actively contradicted; NOT GIVEN = neither confirmed nor denied.

Do

  • Answer only from the passage, never your own knowledge.
  • Treat FALSE as a genuine contradiction.

Don't

  • Don't confuse FALSE with NOT GIVEN — the No.1 band-killer.
  • Don't over-infer: if it isn't stated either way, it's NOT GIVEN.

Worked example

Passage: "The 1959 expedition was the first to reach the summit in winter. Earlier attempts had all been made in summer."

Statement: The 1959 expedition was the first to reach the summit at any time of year.

Answer

FALSE

  • The text says it was the first to reach it IN WINTER — and mentions earlier (summer) attempts, so it was NOT the first ever.
  • The statement contradicts the passage → FALSE (not NOT GIVEN, because the text gives us enough to disprove it).

Matching headings

Match a heading to each paragraph/section. Headings capture the MAIN idea, not a single detail. There are always extra headings you won't use.

How to answer

  1. 1Do this type first if it covers the whole passage — it forces gist reading.
  2. 2Read the first and last sentence of a paragraph, then skim the middle for the central point.
  3. 3Match to the main idea; reject headings that fit only one detail.

Do

  • Cross off headings as you use them.
  • Beware one or two headings that are never used.

Don't

  • Don't choose a heading just because it shares a word with the paragraph.

Worked example

Paragraph: "While early critics dismissed the technique, later studies repeatedly confirmed its accuracy, and it is now standard practice in most laboratories."

Choose a heading: i) Early doubts about a method ii) From scepticism to acceptance iii) The cost of new equipment

Answer

ii — From scepticism to acceptance

  • The paragraph's whole arc is doubt → confirmation → standard practice. (i) matches only the first clause; (ii) captures the main idea.

Matching information / features / sentence endings

Match statements, features or sentence-endings to paragraphs, people or categories. These are usually NOT in passage order.

How to answer

  1. 1Expect to scan the whole text — order isn't guaranteed.
  2. 2Underline the specific detail each item needs, then locate it.
  3. 3For matching features (e.g. researchers), map each name to its claim first.

Do

  • Check whether options can be used more than once (read the instruction).

Don't

  • Don't assume top-to-bottom order — answers jump around.

Worked example

Passage names three scientists: "Lee argued cost was the barrier; Okoro blamed poor training; Silva saw no single cause."

Who believed there was no single reason? A Lee B Okoro C Silva

Answer

C — Silva

  • 'no single cause' paraphrases 'no single reason'. Map each name to its claim, then match the item.

Multiple choice

Choose the correct option (A–D) on a detail or main idea. Wrong options are often true-but-irrelevant, partly wrong, or overstated.

How to answer

  1. 1Read the stem first, then locate the relevant lines.
  2. 2Predict the answer before reading the options.
  3. 3Eliminate options that overstate, are irrelevant, or only half-match.

Do

  • Match meaning, not vocabulary.

Don't

  • Don't pick the option with the most words copied from the text — often the trap.

Worked example

Passage: "The scheme reduced traffic, though critics note the improvement was smaller than the council claimed."

The scheme… A failed completely B reduced traffic, but less than claimed C had no critics D was abandoned

Answer

B

  • A and D overstate; C is contradicted ('critics note'). B matches the qualified success the text describes.

Sentence / summary / note / table completion

Fill gaps with words taken FROM the passage, within a strict word limit (unless a box of options is provided).

How to answer

  1. 1Predict the part of speech and likely meaning of each gap.
  2. 2Find the relevant lines; lift the exact word(s).
  3. 3Make the completed sentence grammatical and within the limit.

Do

  • Copy words exactly — spelling counts.
  • Count your words.

Don't

  • Don't paraphrase when told to use words from the passage.

Worked example

Passage: "The bridge is supported by two enormous steel cables anchored deep in the bedrock."

The bridge is held up by two steel ______. (NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS)

Answer

cables

  • 'held up by' = 'supported by'; the gap needs the noun 'cables' (one word, within the limit). Take the exact word from the text.

Short-answer questions

Answer direct questions with words from the passage, within a word limit.

How to answer

  1. 1Turn the question into what you're scanning for (who/what/where/how many).
  2. 2Locate it and lift the exact words within the limit.

Do

  • Keep answers concise and grammatical.

Don't

  • Don't write a full sentence when a phrase is asked for.

Worked example

Passage: "Construction was funded entirely by private donations from local businesses."

Who funded the construction? (NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS)

Answer

local businesses

  • Scan for 'funded'; the answer 'local businesses' is two words, within the limit, lifted from the text.

References & further reading

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