The content of the reading test varies, depending on whether you are taking the IELTs general qualification or the IELTs academic qualification. The IELTS academic test is more difficult than the general.
Both the academic and general IELTS reading tests are divided into 3 parts
The test consists of 40 questions. The questions get progressively harder.
You have 60 minutes in which to complete the test.
IELTS reading test part 1
The test material is taken from real such as journals, magazines, newspapers, websites
The reading material is between 2150 – 2750 words in length.
Types of questions
Questions 1- 7: True / False / Not stated – The candidate must choose
Teacher’s tip: Looking through previous tests the distribution of correct answers is not True 1/3, False 1/3, Not stated 1/3, as one might expect. The answer “true” is over represented. If the pattern holds for future tests, then if you can’t determine the answer select “True”.
Questions 8 – 13: Multiple choice –
Teacher’s tip: Read all the answers before choosing. If you are not sure, elimate the ones you can and then guess.
Short answer –
Blank Fill (Sentence completion)
Classification / Diagram completion /
Paragraph matching –
Teacher’s tip: Paragraph matching is
Scoring
Each correctly answered question is worth one point, out of a maximum score of 40 points. The score is banded as follows:
| Score (Out of 40) | Band |
|---|---|
| 4 -5 | 2.5 |
| 6 – 7 | 3 |
| 8 – 9 | 3.5 |
| 10 – 12 | 4 |
| 13 – 14 | 4.5 |
| 15 – 18 | 5 |
| 19 – 22 | 5.5 |
| 23 – 26 | 6 |
| 27 – 29 | 6.5 |
| 30 – 32 | 7 |
| 33 – 34 | 7.5 |
| 35 – 36 | 8 |
| 37 – 38 | 8.5 |
| 39 – 40 | 9 |