IELTS Reading Tips and Tricks (Academic and General)
Quick answer: To raise your IELTS Reading score, skim each text quickly for its main ideas, then scan for key words from the questions. Expect paraphrase rather than identical wording, learn the difference between FALSE and NOT GIVEN, keep to the word limit, spell correctly and give each section about 20 minutes. You have 60 minutes for 40 questions, so pace matters.
Last updated: 29 October 2026
How is the IELTS Reading test organised?
| Academic Reading | General Training Reading | |
|---|---|---|
| Time | 60 minutes | 60 minutes |
| Questions | 40 | 40 |
| Sections | 3 long passages | 3 sections, about 5 texts in total |
| Text types | Texts from books, journals, magazines, newspapers and online sources, written for a non-specialist reader | Section 1: short everyday texts such as notices and timetables. Section 2: two work-related texts. Section 3: one long general-interest text |
| Total length | 2,150 to 2,750 words | 2,150 to 2,375 words |
The ielts.org Academic Reading format page and the General Training Reading format page give the text types and total lengths shown above. That is a lot of reading in an hour, which is why technique matters as much as vocabulary.
General Training needs more correct answers for the same band, because the texts are generally less academically demanding. See why GT Reading needs more correct answers.
Tip 1: Skim first, then scan
Skimming means reading quickly for the general idea. Read the title, any subheadings, and the first sentence of each paragraph. This takes one or two minutes per passage and gives you a mental map.
Scanning means searching for a specific detail, such as a name, date or number. Once you know roughly where things are, you can scan the right paragraph instead of the whole text.
Tip 2: Expect paraphrase
Questions rarely copy the passage word for word. They express the same idea in different words. Train yourself to recognise synonyms and changes in grammar.
Passage (original): "Fewer young people now choose to learn to drive before the age of twenty."
Question: "The number of teenagers taking driving lessons has decreased."
"Fewer" matches "has decreased", and "before the age of twenty" matches "teenagers". The meaning is the same, even though almost no words match.
Tip 3: Know the difference between FALSE and NOT GIVEN
Many candidates find this question type confusing. In simple terms, FALSE means the passage says the opposite, while NOT GIVEN means the passage has no information either way. The ielts.org format page highlights this difference. YES, NO and NOT GIVEN work the same way, but for the writer's views or claims.
Ask yourself: does the passage say the opposite? If yes, it is FALSE. Is the information simply missing? Then it is NOT GIVEN. Our page of 10 worked True False Not Given examples practises exactly this.
Tip 4: Use the question order
For many question types, the answers follow the order of the passage. The ielts.org format page says this for multiple choice, for example. Once you find answer 3, answer 4 is probably later in the text, not earlier.
Some types do not follow passage order, such as matching headings or matching information to paragraphs. For those, read the instructions carefully and work paragraph by paragraph. See our matching headings practice.
Tip 5: Follow the word limit and copy spelling exactly
In completion tasks you take words from the passage. ielts.org says you lose the mark if you write more than the word limit, and IDP's guide to common spelling mistakes says misspelled answers in Reading are marked as incorrect. Copy the word exactly as it appears in the text.
Check that your answer fits the sentence grammatically, including singular and plural. Our guide to word limit rules has worked examples.
Tip 6: Do not read every word
You do not need to understand everything. Many questions can be answered from one or two sentences. If a word is unknown, read the sentence around it and keep going. Spending three minutes on one difficult word costs you time for easier questions later.
Tip 7: Manage your 60 minutes
A simple plan is about 20 minutes per Academic passage, but later passages can take longer, so many candidates aim for 17, 20 and 23 minutes. If a question takes more than about a minute and a half, mark your best guess and move on. Each correct answer is worth one mark, so never leave a blank.
For a detailed plan for both Academic and General Training, see how to split 60 minutes in IELTS Reading.
Tips for General Training Reading
- Section 1 texts are often short and practical, such as adverts or timetables. Scanning works well here.
- Do not spend too long on early sections because they feel easy. The longer text in Section 3 needs time.
- Watch for small details such as days, prices and conditions ("only on weekdays", "except for members").
Practise now: Try these tips on a full timed test: Academic Reading Test 1, Test 2, Test 3, Test 4, or General Training Reading Test 1 and Test 2.
Frequently asked questions
How can I finish IELTS Reading in time?
Plan about 20 minutes per section, skim each passage before answering, and move on from any question that takes too long. Practise with full 60-minute tests so the pace becomes natural.
Is there extra time to transfer answers in IELTS Reading?
No. ielts.org lists 60 minutes for Reading with no separate transfer time. In the computer test you type answers directly, so build your checking time into the hour.
Should I read the questions or the passage first?
Many candidates skim the passage briefly first to see its structure, then read the questions and scan for answers. Try both in practice and keep the method that gives you a higher score.
Are IELTS Reading answers in order?
For many question types, yes. ielts.org says multiple choice questions follow the order of the text. Matching tasks such as matching headings usually do not.
What is the difference between FALSE and NOT GIVEN?
FALSE means the passage says the opposite of the statement. NOT GIVEN means the passage does not give that information at all.
How many correct answers do I need for Band 7 in Academic Reading?
About 30 to 32 correct answers out of 40 give Band 7 in Academic Reading. This is approximate; the exact conversion can vary slightly between test versions.