# IELTS Reading: Format, Question Types and Tips | topin IELTS guidesIELTS Reading ![](/mountains/reading.webp) IELTS Academic # IELTS Academic Reading: format, question types and how to score higher IELTS Academic Reading gives you 60 minutes for three long passages and 40 questions. Scoring well takes careful timing, fast scanning and a clear grasp of True/False/Not Given. [Take a free IELTS mock ](/ielts/login) Updated 29 September 2026 ยท 5 min read ## At a glance Time 60 minutes, with no extra time to transfer answers Passages 3 long texts from books, journals, magazines and newspapers Length About 2,150 to 2,750 words in total Questions 40, one mark each Difficulty Passages usually get harder from 1 to 3 Score Raw score out of 40, converted to a band from 0 to 9 in half bands ## IELTS Reading question types ### Multiple choice Choose the best answer from four options, or several answers from a longer list. Tip: Find the part of the passage the question is about first, then test each option against it. Options that repeat the passage's exact words are often traps. ### True/False/Not Given Decide whether statements agree with the information in the passage, contradict it, or are not covered. Tip: False means the passage says the opposite. Not Given means the passage does not say either way. Never use your own knowledge of the topic. ### Yes/No/Not Given Decide whether statements agree with the writer's views or claims, contradict them, or are not covered. Tip: These questions are about opinion, not fact. Look for the writer's attitude words, such as surprisingly, unfortunately or it is clear that. ### Matching headings Choose the heading that best sums up each paragraph or section from a list with more headings than paragraphs. Tip: Read the first and last sentences of each paragraph, then decide on its main idea before looking at the list. A heading that matches one detail is usually wrong. ### Matching information Find which paragraph contains a specific piece of information, such as an example, a reason or a comparison. Tip: Paragraphs can be used more than once, and some not at all. Leave these until after the other question sets on the passage, when you know the text better. ### Matching features Match statements or findings to a list of people, places, dates or theories. Tip: Scan for each name in the passage and mark every mention, because one person's views can be spread across several paragraphs. ### Matching sentence endings Complete the first half of a sentence with the correct ending from a list. Tip: Check grammar first to rule out endings that cannot fit, then check meaning against the passage. There are always more endings than you need. ### Sentence completion Complete sentences with words taken from the passage, within a word limit. Tip: Copy words exactly as spelt in the passage, and make sure the finished sentence is grammatical. ### Summary, note, table and flow-chart completion Fill gaps in a summary, notes, table or flow chart, with words from the passage or from a list. Tip: The summary usually covers one section of the passage in order. Find where it starts, then work through the gaps in sequence. ### Diagram label completion Label a diagram of a process, machine or structure described in the passage. Tip: Diagram descriptions are usually in one or two paragraphs. Find them, then match the labels to the order the text describes. ### Short-answer questions Answer factual questions about the passage in a limited number of words. Tip: Answers come in passage order. Use the words in the question to scan, and keep your answer within the word limit. ## How IELTS Reading is scored Each of the 40 questions is worth one mark, and your raw score is converted to a band from 0 to 9 in half bands. The Academic table varies slightly between papers, but 30 out of 40 is usually about 7.0, 27 is about 6.5 and 23 is about 6.0\. Spelling counts, and answers that break the word limit score nothing. The IELTS band score calculator at /ielts/band-score-calculator converts any raw score to a band. [IELTS band score calculatorTurn Listening and Reading raw scores into bands, and work out your overall band.](/ielts/band-score-calculator) ## How to prepare for IELTS Reading 1. 1 ### Give each passage 20 minutes Set a hard limit of about 20 minutes per passage and move on when it runs out. Passage 3 is usually the hardest, so if you finish Passage 1 early, bank the time for later. Running out of time on the last passage is the most common way to lose easy marks. 2. 2 ### Skim first, then answer by question set Spend two or three minutes skimming the passage for its structure: what each paragraph is about. Then work through one question set at a time, scanning for the exact place each answer sits. 3. 3 ### Master True/False/Not Given Most wrong answers here are a mix-up between False and Not Given. For each statement, ask whether the passage directly contradicts it or simply does not mention it. Practise explaining each answer to yourself in one sentence. 4. 4 ### Build vocabulary through paraphrase Questions almost never use the passage's own words. After each practice set, list the pairs you missed, such as 'rose sharply' and 'increased dramatically'. Reading academic articles every day builds the range the test expects. 5. 5 ### Review by question type Track your accuracy for each question type, not just your total. topin breaks every practice set and mock down by type, so you can see whether matching headings or summary completion is costing you the most. ## Common IELTS Reading mistakes * Spending too long on one hard question and running out of time on Passage 3. * Choosing False when the passage simply does not mention the idea, which is Not Given. * Answering from background knowledge instead of what the passage actually says. * Copying words from the passage with a spelling mistake, or going over the word limit. * On the paper test, leaving no time to write answers on the answer sheet, since no extra transfer time is given. ## IELTS Reading questions, answered What band is 30 out of 40 in IELTS Reading? In IELTS Academic Reading, 30 out of 40 is usually a band 7.0\. The table varies slightly between papers; you can convert any raw score with the IELTS band score calculator at /ielts/band-score-calculator. How many questions are in IELTS Academic Reading? There are 40 questions across three passages, usually 13 or 14 per passage. Every question is worth one mark. What is the difference between False and Not Given? False means the passage states the opposite of the statement. Not Given means the passage gives no information either way. Is there extra time to transfer answers in IELTS Reading? No. Unlike Listening, the 60 minutes include writing your answers on the answer sheet in the paper test. Is IELTS Academic Reading harder than General Training? The Academic passages are longer and more academic in style, so the same raw score gives a higher band in Academic than in General Training. ## See where you stand in IELTS Reading Your first full-length IELTS mock is free, with every section included. [Take the free mock ](/ielts/login)