What the Reading test looks like
You have 60 minutes for 40 questions across three sections. There is no extra time to transfer answers on the paper test, so you write directly on the answer sheet as you go.
- Academic Reading uses three long passages from books, journals, magazines and newspapers, written for a general but educated audience.
- General Training Reading starts with short everyday texts such as notices and advertisements, moves to workplace texts like job descriptions or training material, and ends with one longer general-interest passage.
Band 7 in Academic Reading typically needs around 30 correct answers out of 40. General Training needs more correct answers for the same band, because the early texts are easier.
The question types you will meet
Our 52 practice sets cover every common type, with explanations for each answer:
- TRUE / FALSE / NOT GIVEN (and YES / NO / NOT GIVEN for opinions)
- Matching Headings to paragraphs
- Matching Information (which paragraph contains a detail)
- Matching Features (people, dates or places to statements)
- Summary, note, table and flow-chart completion, with or without a word box
- Multiple choice, single and multiple answers
- Sentence completion and short-answer questions
Two traps that cost the most marks
NOT GIVEN
The most common mistake is choosing FALSE when the answer is NOT GIVEN. FALSE means the passage says the opposite. NOT GIVEN means the passage simply does not say. If you need to make an assumption to choose TRUE or FALSE, the answer is probably NOT GIVEN.
Students who read a great deal of news in Arabic, Malayalam or Tagalog sometimes bring in their own background knowledge here. Answer only from the text in front of you.
Matching Headings
Headings describe the main idea of a paragraph, not a detail. Read the first two sentences and the last sentence of the paragraph, decide its purpose in your own words, then look at the list. Be careful with headings that repeat a word from the paragraph: they are often distractors.
A timing strategy that works
- Aim for 20 minutes per passage, but give the third Academic passage slightly more, as it is usually the hardest.
- Read the questions first, then skim the passage for structure (about two minutes).
- Most question types follow passage order, so use one answer to find the next. Matching Headings and Matching Information do not.
- Do not stay on one question for more than a minute. Flag it and move on. On the computer test, the flag-for-review tool helps.
- Never leave a blank. There is no penalty for a wrong answer.
Practising Reading around life in Kuwait City
Reading practice fits neatly into small gaps: one passage takes about 20 minutes, which suits a lunch break at the office in Sharq or a free period between lectures at Kuwait University's Shadadiya campus. If you work in a hospital, try a passage after your shift but before you sleep; it trains you to read accurately when tired, which is exactly what happens in the third passage on test day.
For wider reading, many students here benefit from reading English news about the Gulf and the energy industry, science features, and long-form articles about health or education. The vocabulary overlaps strongly with Academic passages. Arabic speakers, who read right to left at home, often find that regular English skimming practice improves speed noticeably within a few weeks.
How to use our Reading sets
- Start untimed. In your first week, do sets without the timer and read every explanation, even for answers you got right.
- Then add the timer. Move to 20 minutes per passage, then a full 60-minute test.
- Use the highlighter. Our screens let you highlight and take notes on the passage, just like the computer-delivered test.
- Review your Mistake Notebook. Wrong answers are saved automatically. Group them by question type and you will see your pattern quickly.
- Build vocabulary daily. Five new words a day from Daily Vocabulary plus our spaced-repetition flashcards adds up to hundreds of words over a preparation period.
Charged sets for band 7 and above
When you are consistently scoring 30 or more out of 40, move on to our Charged Reading sets. These use denser passages, closer distractors and more difficult paraphrasing. They are designed for students aiming at band 7, 7.5 or 8, including nurses and doctors who need a high minimum in every module.
Try IELTS Reading practice free
You can try a free sample Reading set and a full sample mock without a card. Create your free account or view the practice tests. Full Access unlocks all 52 sets and the Charged sets for 2 months at $12.