IELTS Reading
About
the IELTS Reading test
The reading test is different for IELTS Academic and
IELTS General Candidates 3
sections, 40 questions, 60 minutes
General Reading
- Section 1 contains two or three short factual
texts, one of which may be composite (consisting of 6-8 short texts
related by topic, e.g. hotel advertisements). Topics are relevant to
everyday life in an English-speaking country
- Section 2 contains two short factual texts
focusing on work-related issues (e.g. applying for jobs, company policies,
pay and conditions, workplace facilities, staff development and training)
- Section 3 contains one longer, more complex text
on a topic of general interest
Texts are authentic and are taken from notices,
advertisements, company handbooks, official documents, books, magazines and
newspapers.
Academic
Reading
Each section contains
one long text. Texts are authentic and are taken from books, journals,
magazines and newspapers. They have been written for a non-specialist audience
and are on academic topics of general interest. Texts are appropriate to, and
accessible to, candidates entering undergraduate or postgraduate courses or
seeking professional registration. Texts range from the descriptive and factual
to the discursive and analytical. Texts may contain non-verbal materials such
as diagrams, graphs or illustrations. If texts contain technical terms, then a
simple glossary is provided. There are three texts and 40 questions.
