Reading

In IELTS Academic Reading, how many passages are there and how long is the test?

• A2 passages, 45 minutes
• B3 passages, 60 minutes✓
• C4 passages, 75 minutes
• D3 passages, 90 minutes

Answer: The IELTS Academic Reading test contains 3 passages and lasts 60 minutes in total, with 40 questions to answer.

Which question type requires you to select words directly from the reading passage to complete gaps?

• AMultiple choice
• BMatching headings
• CSummary completion✓
• DSentence completion

Answer: Summary completion tasks require candidates to fill gaps using words taken directly from the reading passage, staying within a specified word limit.

In a True/False/Not Given task, what does 'Not Given' mean?

• AThe statement is false according to the passage
• BThe information is not mentioned in the passage✓
• CThe statement contradicts the passage
• DThe answer cannot be determined from English alone

Answer: 'Not Given' means the passage neither confirms nor contradicts the statement — the information simply does not appear in the text.

When answering a 'Matching Headings' question, which strategy is most effective?

• ARead every heading carefully, then read the full passage word by word
• BMatch headings to paragraphs by identifying the main idea of each paragraph✓
• CLook only at the first sentence of the passage
• DUse headings that contain the most keywords from the question

Answer: The most effective strategy is to identify the main idea of each paragraph and match it to the heading that best summarises that idea, rather than matching keywords mechanically.

A reading passage states: 'While solar energy has grown significantly, critics argue it remains too expensive for widespread adoption.' A student writes: 'Solar energy is cheap and widely used.' This answer would be marked as:

• ATrue
• BFalse✓
• CNot Given
• DPartially true

Answer: The passage explicitly states critics argue solar energy is too expensive for widespread adoption, which directly contradicts the student's statement, making it False.

In IELTS Reading, you are told to answer using 'NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS'. Which answer would be acceptable for a gap-fill question if the passage reads 'the ancient stone bridge'?

• Athe ancient stone bridge
• Bancient stone bridge
• Cstone bridge✓
• Dthe bridge

Answer: 'Stone bridge' uses exactly two words and captures the specific noun phrase needed. 'Ancient stone bridge' would exceed two words if combined with an article, and articles typically do not count as a separate answer word in this context unless required.

Which reading question type asks you to match a list of statements to a list of researchers, theories, or categories provided?

• ASentence completion
• BMatching features✓
• CMatching information
• DShort answer questions

Answer: Matching features tasks require candidates to match a set of statements or descriptions to a list of options (such as researchers, dates, or categories) given in the question.

A passage discusses the causes of deforestation across five paragraphs. A heading reads 'Government policies that accelerate forest loss.' This heading would best match a paragraph that:

• ADescribes the ecological impact of losing tree cover
• BExplains how logging subsidies and weak land-use laws encourage clearing✓
• CDiscusses the history of rainforest exploration
• DCompares deforestation rates across continents

Answer: The heading refers to government policies causing forest loss, so the matching paragraph must describe specific policy mechanisms — such as subsidies or weak regulation — that drive deforestation.

In IELTS General Training Reading, Section 3 typically contains:

• AAdvertisements and notices
• BWorkplace-related texts such as staff handbooks
• CA longer, more complex text on a topic of general interest✓
• DTwo short texts on a social topic

Answer: Section 3 of the General Training Reading test contains a longer, more demanding text on a topic of general interest, similar in style to Academic Reading passages.

Read the following sentence from a passage: 'The report unequivocally demonstrated that the new drug had no measurable therapeutic benefit.' A Yes/No/Not Given question states: 'The drug showed some positive outcomes in the trial.' The correct answer is:

• AYes
• BNo✓
• CNot Given
• DTrue

Answer: The passage states 'no measurable therapeutic benefit', which directly contradicts the claim that the drug showed positive outcomes, making the answer 'No'.

Which of the following is the best approach when you cannot find the answer to a reading question?

• ALeave it blank to avoid guessing penalties
• BAttempt an educated guess based on context, as there is no penalty for wrong answers✓
• CWrite 'Not Given' for all uncertain answers
• DCopy a long phrase from the passage as your answer

Answer: IELTS does not penalise wrong answers, so candidates should always attempt every question. An educated guess based on understanding of the text is better than leaving a blank.

A passage uses the word 'ameliorate'. Based on context clues in the sentence 'The new policy was designed to ameliorate the living conditions of low-income families', what does 'ameliorate' most likely mean?

• AWorsen
• BInvestigate
• CImprove✓
• DDocument

Answer: 'Ameliorate' means to make something bad or unsatisfactory better. The sentence context — designing a policy to benefit low-income families — confirms the meaning is 'improve'.