IELTS Reading question types
IELTS Reading uses about a dozen question types across 40 questions in 60 minutes. The ones that cost most marks are True/False/Not Given and matching headings, because they test exact meaning rather than finding words.
True/False/Not Given and Yes/No/Not Given
- True / Yes: the text says the same thing as the statement.
- False / No: the text says the opposite.
- Not Given: the text doesn't say either way.
True/False/Not Given is about facts in the text; Yes/No/Not Given is about the writer's opinions or claims. The most common mistake is choosing False when the text simply doesn't mention something: that is Not Given.
Matching headings
Choose the heading that sums up each paragraph's main idea. Read the first and last sentences of the paragraph, then decide what the whole paragraph is about. Headings that repeat a word from the paragraph are often traps.
Other question types
| Type | What to do |
|---|---|
| Matching information | Find which paragraph contains a detail |
| Matching features | Match statements to people, dates or places |
| Matching sentence endings | Complete a sentence with the correct ending |
| Sentence, summary, note, table, flow-chart completion | Copy words from the text within the word limit |
| Multiple choice | Choose the correct option |
| Diagram label completion | Label a diagram with words from the text |
| Short-answer questions | Answer with words from the text |
Timing
Aim for about 20 minutes per section. On the computer-delivered test there is no extra time to transfer answers, so answer as you go.