IELTS Reading Strategies
Master every question type with proven techniques used by Band 8+ students. Reading is the most trainable section of IELTS — the right strategies make the difference between Band 6 and Band 8.
Book a Session →About the IELTS Reading Test
The IELTS Reading test is 60 minutes long with 40 questions across three passages. Academic Reading uses complex texts from journals, books, and magazines. General Training Reading uses notices, advertisements, workplace documents, and longer descriptive passages. Both formats test the same question types and are marked on the same 40-point raw score scale.
Unlike Writing and Speaking, Reading is entirely objective — every answer is either right or wrong. This means strategy and technique, not just English level, determines your band score. A Band 6 speaker can score Band 8 in Reading with the right approach.
AI Reading Analyser
NewPractise with 10 Academic and General Training passages. Answer 10 questions, get your band score instantly, and unlock AI feedback on every mistake.
Strategy Guides
Each guide covers the technique in full, with worked examples and the most common mistakes to avoid.
Skimming & Scanning
The foundation of fast, accurate reading. Learn when to skim for gist and when to scan for specific information — and why confusing the two costs you time.
True / False / Not Given
The question type most students get wrong. Master the critical distinction between False and Not Given — two answers that look similar but require completely different reasoning.
Matching Headings
Match paragraphs to headings without re-reading everything. Learn how to identify the main idea of a paragraph quickly and avoid distractor headings that reference details.
Multiple Choice
Eliminate distractors and find the exact answer. Understand why wrong options are written to mislead — and how to spot them before they cost you marks.
Sentence Completion
Complete sentences accurately using passage clues. Learn the word limit rule, how to predict the grammar type needed, and why copying the passage exactly is essential.
Raw Score to Band Score
Understanding how raw scores convert to band scores helps you set a realistic target number of correct answers for your exam day.
Band 9
39–40 correct
Band 8
35–38 correct
Band 7
30–34 correct
Band 6
23–29 correct
* Approximate values for Academic Reading. General Training conversions differ slightly.
Struggling with Reading timing?
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