Scorify.uzIELTS Reading format at a glance
3 passages
Texts from books, journals and newspapers, written for a general audience. They get harder from Passage 1 to Passage 3.
40 questions
One mark each. A mix of the question types below, often several types per passage.
60 minutes
About 20 minutes per passage. There is no extra time to transfer answers on the paper test.
IELTS Reading question types and how to approach them
| Question type | What you do | Quick tip |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple choice | Pick the best answer (or answers) from A–D. | Read the question first, then find the paragraph. Wrong options are often half true. |
| True / False / Not Given | Decide if a statement agrees with, contradicts or is not covered by the text. | "Not Given" means the text says nothing about it, not that you disagree. |
| Yes / No / Not Given | The same idea, but about the writer's opinion or claims. | Look for opinion words (should, believes, unlikely) and do not use your own view. |
| Matching headings | Choose a heading for each paragraph. | Match the main idea of the whole paragraph, not one keyword. Do the easy ones first. |
| Matching information | Say which paragraph contains a detail. | The details are paraphrased; paragraphs can be used more than once. |
| Matching features | Match statements to people, places or theories. | Underline the names in the text first. |
| Matching sentence endings | Finish each sentence with the right ending. | Check grammar first, then meaning. |
| Sentence / summary / note / table completion | Fill gaps using words from the text. | Obey the word limit exactly and copy the spelling from the passage. |
| Diagram label completion | Label a diagram using words from the text. | Find the part of the text that describes the process, then follow it step by step. |
| Short-answer questions | Answer with a few words from the text. | Questions follow the order of the text, so use that to find the answer faster. |
Step-by-step methods: True / False / Not Given and Matching headings.
IELTS Reading band score table (estimate)
Use this table to estimate your band from the number of correct answers out of 40. Official conversion tables vary slightly from test to test, so treat the result as a guide, not a prediction.
| Correct answers (out of 40) | Estimated band |
|---|---|
| 39–40 | 9 |
| 37–38 | 8.5 |
| 35–36 | 8 |
| 33–34 | 7.5 |
| 30–32 | 7 |
| 27–29 | 6.5 |
| 23–26 | 6 |
| 19–22 | 5.5 |
| 15–18 | 5 |
| 13–14 | 4.5 |
| 10–12 | 4 |
Want the overall score? Use the IELTS band score calculator with all four skills.
How to practise IELTS Reading well
- Time yourself. Do one full test under exam conditions, then practise single passages with a 20-minute timer.
- Review every wrong answer. Find the sentence that proves the answer and note why you missed it: vocabulary, paraphrase or timing.
- Track question types. If you lose most marks on one type, practise that type alone for a week.
- Build topic vocabulary. Read about science, history, society and the environment; see IELTS vocabulary by topic.
IELTS Reading FAQ
How many questions and how much time are there in IELTS Reading?
There are 3 passages and 40 questions, and you have 60 minutes. On the paper test there is no extra time to copy answers, so write them on the answer sheet as you go.
Is there negative marking in IELTS Reading?
No. A wrong answer does not lose marks, so answer every question, even if you have to guess.
How is the IELTS Reading band score calculated?
Each correct answer is one raw mark out of 40. The raw score is converted to a band from 1 to 9 with a table that differs a little between tests, and between Academic and General Training. The table on this page is an estimate for practice.
What raw score do I need for Band 7 in IELTS Reading?
In the Academic estimate used here, about 30 correct answers out of 40 give Band 7. Real tests can differ by a mark or so.
Are the Scorify Reading tests free?
Tests 1 to 3 are free with a free account. The IELTS plan unlocks all tests with unlimited practice. Every test has 3 passages, 40 questions, a 60-minute timer, an estimated band and a review of each answer.