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3 Passages
Increasing in difficulty, with a mix of question types across each — not evenly split by type.
IELTS Reading · Preparation Guide
IELTS Reading Preparation: Format, Timing & Strategy
A complete guide to preparing for IELTS Reading — how the 3-passage, 60-minute test is structured, which strategies actually save time, and how to avoid the mistakes that cost most students easy marks.
3 passages, 40 questions
Academic & General Training
Skimming & scanning strategy
Timed practice
Written by Bakhtawar Durrani, Founder — CELTA, TESOL & IELTS certified · Last updated Aug 2026
Format
How Is the IELTS Reading Test Structured?
40 Questions
Including multiple choice, matching headings, True/False/Not Given, sentence completion, and short-answer questions.
60 Minutes
No extra transfer time — answers go directly on the answer sheet as you work.
1 Mark Per Question
Every question is worth the same, so skipping a hard one to secure easier marks elsewhere is a valid strategy.
Strategy
What Actually Moves Your Reading Band?
01
Skim first, then scan
Spend 1–2 minutes getting the overall structure and main idea of each passage before diving into questions — this makes scanning for specific answers much faster.
02
Read the question type carefully
True/False/Not Given, Yes/No/Not Given, and matching headings each need a different reading approach. Misreading the question type is one of the most common ways students lose easy marks.
03
Don't get stuck on one question
If a question is taking too long, mark it, move on, and come back with time remaining. One unanswered question costs the same as one wrong answer — but getting stuck can cost you several answers.
04
Practice under real time pressure
60 minutes feels short the first few times. Timed practice, not just untimed reading comprehension, is what builds real exam-day speed.
Deeper strategy
Where Can I Go Deeper on Reading Technique?
For a detailed, question-type-by-question-type breakdown of skimming, scanning, and time allocation, see our full IELTS Reading strategies guide. If you want to know exactly where your current Reading level sits before building a study plan, our free mock test includes a full timed Reading module scored against real exam difficulty.
Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Is IELTS Reading the same for Academic and General Training?
No. Academic Reading uses three long passages from academic texts (journals, books, articles). General Training Reading uses shorter, more varied texts — notices, advertisements, and workplace materials in the first two sections, and one longer, more complex passage in the third.
How much time do I get for IELTS Reading?
60 minutes total for 3 passages and 40 questions, with no extra transfer time — unlike Listening, you write your answers directly on the answer sheet during the 60 minutes.
How many questions do I need to get right for a Band 7 in Reading?
This varies slightly by test version, but Academic Reading typically requires around 30 out of 40 correct for a Band 7, while General Training usually requires a couple more correct answers for the same band, since its texts are considered slightly less difficult overall.
Should I read the whole passage before answering questions?
Not usually. Skimming for the overall structure first, then scanning for specific answers as you work through the questions, is faster and more accurate than reading every word — especially under the 60-minute time limit.
Why do I run out of time on IELTS Reading?
Most students spend too long on one difficult question instead of moving on and returning to it later. Time management strategy — not just vocabulary — is usually the biggest lever for improving your Reading band quickly.
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