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IELTS Reading tips and tricks

The Reading test is a race against the clock. You don't need to understand every word: you need to find the right information fast and read it carefully.

Time
60 minutes
Questions
40, one mark each
Texts
3 passages
Extra time
None to transfer answers

⭐ Top 5 tips if you only read one thing

  1. 1.Spend no more than 20 minutes on each passage. Move on when time is up.
  2. 2.Don't read the whole passage first. Read the questions, then scan for the answers.
  3. 3.NOT GIVEN means the passage says nothing about it, not that it's false.
  4. 4.Copy words exactly from the passage and follow the word limit.
  5. 5.Never leave a blank. There's no penalty for guessing.

Managing your time

  1. Use a 20 : 20 : 20 plan

    Give each passage about 20 minutes. Passage 3 is the hardest, so if you finish Passage 1 early, bank the time for later.

  2. Don't get stuck

    If a question takes more than 2 minutes, mark a guess and come back if you have time.

  3. Transfer answers as you go

    On paper there's no extra time to copy answers onto the answer sheet. Write them in as you finish each passage.

Skimming and scanning

  1. Skim first, for 2 minutes

    Read the title, the first sentence of each paragraph and the last paragraph. You'll know where each topic is.

  2. Scan for easy-to-spot words

    Names, numbers, dates and capital letters are quick to find. Use them to jump to the right place.

  3. Then read closely

    Once you find the right sentence, read it and the sentence before and after it slowly. That's where the answer is.

  4. Expect paraphrase

    The question and the passage use different words for the same idea.

    Question: the number of visitors increased

    Passage: more people came than ever before

Tricks for each question type

  1. True / False / Not Given

    TRUE: the passage says the same thing. FALSE: the passage says the opposite. NOT GIVEN: the passage doesn't say.

    Passage: The museum opened in 1990.

    "The museum opened in 1990." → TRUE

    "The museum opened in 2005." → FALSE

    "The museum is popular with tourists." → NOT GIVEN

  2. Yes / No / Not Given

    The same idea, but about the writer's opinions and claims, not facts. Look for words like I believe, clearly, unfortunately.

  3. Watch small words

    Words like all, some, only, never, always and most often decide between TRUE and FALSE.

  4. Matching headings: summarise first

    Read each paragraph and sum it up in a few words of your own, then choose the heading. The heading describes the main idea, not one detail.

  5. Matching headings: cross them off

    Each heading is usually used once. Cross off the ones you've used, and do the easiest paragraphs first.

  6. Completion questions: grammar helps

    The missing word must fit the sentence. After "a" you need a singular noun; after "to" often a verb.

  7. Multiple choice: prove it

    Find the exact sentence that supports your answer. Wrong options often use words from the passage but change the meaning.

Writing your answers

  1. Copy words exactly

    Take the words from the passage and spell them exactly as they appear.

  2. Follow the word limit

    NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS means one or two words. Three words is wrong, even if the meaning is right.

  3. Use only the passage

    Don't use your own knowledge. If the passage doesn't say it, the answer is NOT GIVEN, even if it's true in real life.

Common mistakes to avoid

  • Reading the whole passage word by word before looking at the questions
  • Confusing FALSE and NOT GIVEN
  • Spending 30 minutes on Passage 1 and rushing Passage 3
  • Choosing an answer just because the same word appears in the passage
  • Writing more words than the limit allows

Now put these tips into practice

Tips work best when you use them under real test conditions.

Take a free Reading test