IELTS Reading Practice
Improve your IELTS General Training Reading score with expert strategies and practice materials.
Test Structure
The IELTS General Training Reading test lasts 60 minutes and contains 40 questions across 3 sections. Section 1 contains 2–3 short texts related to everyday life (notices, advertisements, timetables). Section 2 contains 2 texts related to workplace contexts. Section 3 contains 1 longer, more complex text on a topic of general interest.
Question Types
Common question types include: True/False/Not Given, Yes/No/Not Given, matching headings, matching information, multiple choice, sentence completion, summary completion, and diagram labelling. Each question type tests different reading sub-skills.
Time Management
With 60 minutes for 40 questions, time management is critical. Spend about 15 minutes on Section 1, 20 minutes on Section 2, and 25 minutes on Section 3 (it's the longest and most difficult). Don't spend too long on any single question — if you're stuck, make your best guess and move on.
Reading Techniques
Use skimming (reading quickly for the main idea) and scanning (looking for specific information) rather than reading every word. Read the questions first, then find the answers in the text. Pay close attention to qualifying words like 'always', 'never', 'sometimes', 'most' — they can change the meaning entirely.
Key Tips
- Practice True/False/Not Given — it's the most common and tricky question type
- Build your vocabulary by reading English newspapers and magazines daily
- Always check if the instruction says 'TRUE/FALSE' or 'YES/NO' — don't mix them
- Transfer answers carefully — a simple copying error can cost you marks
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