IELTS General Reading: Mastering the Basics

Understanding the IELTS General Reading Test

The IELTS General Reading test has three sections, each with increasing difficulty. Passages of the test are usually taken from books, magazines, newspapers, advertisements, etc. It mainly assesses your ability to read and understand the texts, analyze them, and arrive at a conclusion of picking the right answer!

Hence, if you are someone looking to kickstart an exciting new career abroad, mastering the skill of IELTS General reading is your ticket to success that lasts a lifetime!

In this article, we provide you with all essential information related to IELTS General reading, tricks to crack it, and the latest practice tests with answers as well.

So why wait? Start reading!

Components of the IELTS General Reading Test

The IELTS General Reading Test provides a proper assessment of the candidates' reading proficiency across a range of real-life situations, preparing them for success in professional and everyday contexts.

Have a look at the table below to know more precisely about the sections of the test!

Duration: 1 hour

No. of Questions: 40

Types of IELTS General Reading Questions

The IELTS General Reading test has a variety of question types. Make sure to get a thorough knowledge of them before starting your preparation!

The question types are:

• Multiple-choice
• Short-answer questions
• Matching Information
• Matching headings
• Sentence Completion
• Table Completion
• Summary Completion
• Diagram Labelling
• True/False/Not Given 
• Yes, No, Not Given 

Given below are the details about the task expected out of you and the skills assessed based on the IELTS General Reading question types.

Multiple-Choice Questions

Work item: Choosing the correct answer from the options given.

Skills assessed: 

• Basic understanding of the passage given.
• Paraphrasing skills

Short Answer Questions

Work item: Ability to answer the questions using the information provided.

Skills assessed:

• Ability to skim the passage for information
• Ability to answer questions with the correct number of words.

Matching Information 

Work item: Identifying which section of the passage contains the information given in the question statement.

Skills assessed:

• Paraphrasing abilities
• Ability to find information from the passage

Matching Heading

Work item: You will be given a list of headings and asked to choose the right heading for paragraphs in a given passage.

Skills assessed: 

• Basic understanding of the content of each paragraph.
• Understanding of the central idea of the passage as well as the paragraphs.

True/False/Not given 

Work item: Identify if the question statements are TRUE, FALSE or NOT GIVEN from the information in the passage.

Skills assessed:

• Ability to pick out specific information from the passage
• Understanding whether the question statement matches or contradicts the information given in the passage.

Summary/Sentence Completion 

Work item: Completing the summary by filling in the correct words from the passage.

Skills assessed: 

• Ability to scan the passage for the right words.
• Ability to understand ideas.

Matching Sentence Endings

Work item: Ability to complete the given sentences by choosing the correct endings from a given list.

Skills assessed:

• Ability to predict endings by reading the sentences
• Grammar

Table Completion

Work item: Completing the table by choosing appropriate words from a given passage.

Skills assessed:

• Ability to comprehend details from the passage.
• Ability to locate the right words

Flowchart Completion 

Work item: Completing the flow chart by choosing appropriate words from a given passage.

Skills assessed:

• Ability to complete the flowchart from the information in the passage
• Ability to scan the passage for information

Diagram Completion 

Work item: Completing the diagram by choosing appropriate words from a given passage.

Skills assessed:

• Ability to locate information in the passage
• Ability to choose the right words

Scoring in the IELTS General Reading Test

As there are 40 questions in the IELTS General Reading test, each question is worth 1 mark. So, the total score for this section is 40 marks. Your score out of 40 will be converted into a band score ranging from 0 to 9, with increments of 0.5. This means you can get scores like 6, 6.5, 7, 7.5, and so on.

Have a look at the table below to understand the IELTS General Reading scores and the criteria better!

Top 5 Effective Strategies for IELTS General Reading

Have a look at our top 5 tips to be followed to grab your desired IELTS General Reading score effortlessly!

1. Scan faster

First, quickly read through the passage to understand the main idea. Then, scan the text for keywords related to the questions to find specific information faster.

2. Understand Question Types

Take time to learn the different question types of the IELTS General test because knowing these types thoroughly helps you approach each question effectively.

3. Guess Smartly

If you're unsure about an answer, use context clues from the passage and eliminate wrong choices to increase your chances of guessing correctly.

4. Time Management

Keep track of time during the test and allocate a specific amount for each section to practice finishing it within the allotted 1 hour without rushing.

5. Practice Regularly

Remember, consistent practice with authentic IELTS General Reading practice sample tests is the key to a band 9!

Advanced Techniques for a Higher IELTS General Reading Score

To grab your desired IELTS General Reading score, make sure to take the following advanced techniques to crack it from our band 9 seriously!

1. Skimming and Scanning Techniques

• Skimming is quickly reading through a passage to get the main idea without focusing on every detail.
• Scanning is looking for specific information in a passage by quickly scanning the text for keywords or phrases.
• These techniques help you find answers faster during the test.

2. Time Management Strategies

• Allocate a specific amount of time for each passage and question.
• If you get stuck on a question, move on and come back to it later.
• Don't spend too much time on one question; it's better to answer as many questions as you can.

3. Developing Vocabulary Skills

• Read regularly to learn new words and understand their meanings.
• Use vocabulary books and apps to practice and memorize new words.
• Pay attention to synonyms to improve your vocabulary.

4. Misunderstanding Questions

• Read each question carefully and make sure you understand what it's asking.
• Look out for keywords or instructions that indicate what the question is about.
• If you're not sure about a question, read it again and try to understand it before answering.

5. Skipping Instructions

• Always read the instructions carefully before starting the test.
• Skipping instructions can lead to reduced band scores, so it's important to pay attention to them.

5 Latest IELTS General Reading Practice Tests of 2024

Boost your preparations with our hand-picked IELTS General Reading practice tests! Start practising from the following.

• Practice Test 1 
• Practice Test 2
• Practice Test 3 
• Practice Test 4 
• Practice Test 5