Question types

There are 14 different questions types used in the IELTS academic reading test.
Your test will not contain all the question types, but it is a good idea to be familiar
with all of them as you cannot predict which will be in your test.

There are usually 2 – 3 question types used with each reading passage. This means
that the whole reading test may use around 9 different question types.

Question types

 Multiple choice  Sentence completion

 Identifying information (True / False / Not  Summary completion
Given)  Note completion
 Identifying writer’s views/claims (Yes / No /  Table completion
Not Given)  Flow-chart completion
 Matching information  Diagram label completion
 Matching headings  Short-answer questions
 Matching features
 Matching sentence endings

.
Recording your answers
When you have to select words or numbers from the passage, the instructions will
make it clear how many words/numbers you should use in your answer. For
example, the instructions may say to use NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS or NO
MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER. If you use too many words or
numbers, your answer will be marked wrong.

Please note:

 Numbers can be written using figures or words (e.g. 12 or twelve).

 Contracted words are not tested, i.e. you will never need to
write doesn’t, couldn’t, etc. in an answer.
 Hyphenated words count as single words, i.e. self-assessment is considered
one word.
 Care should be taken when recording your answers as poor spelling and
grammar are penalised.
Timing
There are 3 passages in the reading test, which you must complete in 60 minutes.
Therefore, you should spend about 20 minutes on each passage. The passages get
progressively more difficult. Passage 1 is the least challenging and passage 3 is the
most challenging. Therefore, if possible, you should try to complete passage 1 quite
quickly.

The recommended times for each passage are shown in the table below:

Passage Time

1 15 minutes

2 20 minutes

3 25 minutes

The main idea of this paragraph is that each culture has its own distinctive
convention regarding learning, and this can be found in the first sentence (1) of the
paragraph; that is, the topic sentence. All the other sentences (2-5) are supporting
ideas.

Culture and Learning

(1) Every culture has its own distinctive conventions regarding what should be learned and
how learning should take place. (2) These conventions form a largely unquestioned base to
the culture’s systems of primary, secondary and tertiary education. (3) In one culture, students
may be encouraged to collaborate with their fellow students, while in another culture this
activity may be prohibited. (4) In some societies, students are discouraged from asking
questions, while in others they may be required to do so as part of their formal
assessment. (5) In some countries, a university lecturer provides students with all the
information that they are required to learn; in others, students are required to collect data
independently.
Guessing Unknown Vocabulary
The reading passages in the IELTS reading test can contain a large amount of
vocabulary that may be unfamiliar to you. However, by guessing the meaning of
unknown words, you should be able do the reading test more effectively. Below are
four strategies which you can use to guess unknown vocabulary.

Using context
One way to guess the meaning of an unknown word is by reading the words and
phrases around it. This is called the context.

Consider the words in bold used in context in the sentence below:

The everyday use of mild tranquillisers for their relaxing and calming effect has
reached unprecedented proportions in the United States. In fact, a recent survey showed that over
75% of those interviewed admitted to using tranquillisers on a regular basis

The word 'tranquillisers' may be new to you, but by reading the words before and
after it, you can guess that they are something that people use to make them feel
relaxed and calm. It may not be the exact meaning, but it is enough to understand
the passage.

Now guess the meaning of the words 'unprecedented proportions' by reading

the words and sentences around them.
Check your answer

If you read the verb group ‘has reached’ in the first sentence, you can see that
that ‘unprecedented proportions’ must be something that can be reached; maybe
something high. Then, after reading the second sentence, it would be logical to
guess that ‘unprecedented proportions’ probably means a large or high amount (i.e.
over 75%). This is enough to gain a sufficient understanding of the meaning.

Using definitions
In some readings, a definition or explanation of a technical word is given within the
reading passage. Some writers use commas to indicate a definition. For example:

 Certain medical disorders involve the myocardium, the muscular tissue of the heart.
 Philately, the collecting of stamps, has always been a popular hobby for the young
and old alike.
 The feeling of strangeness and discomfort, or culture shock as it is sometimes
called, can be quite stressful.
 There are also some common phrases to introduce definitions, which can help you
identify them. Look at how the term 'culture shock' is defined using these phrases:

also known as

The feeling of strangeness and sometimes called

discomfort, culture shock, can be quite stressfu
also referred to as

that is

Using contrast words

Another way to guess the meaning of words is to look for opposites. Some readings
contain contrast words like although, even though and while. Sometimes it is possible
to guess the meaning of a word if the opposite meaning is mentioned in the same
sentence or in surrounding sentences.

Read the following sentence and guess the meaning of the words in bold.

The report argued that although the positive economic effects may not be significant, immigration
did not have any detrimental effects on the economy.

Check your answer

This sentence uses the contrast word ‘although’. Reading the sentence carefully, you
can guess that ‘detrimental effects’ must have the opposite meaning to ‘positive
effects’.

Using prefixes
Another method for guessing the meaning of words is by understanding prefixes.
Prefixes are a group of letters that come at the beginning of some words. They have
specific meanings that you should learn because they will help you to understand the
words they are attached to.

Read the following sentences and guess the meaning of the words in bold
based on the underlined prefix.

 Previous methods of investigation were found to be substandard in many areas.

 An increase in rural populations has also played a role in the renewed spread of Malaria in Africa.
 The inquiry concluded that antidepressant drugs were most commonly prescribed for patients between the ages of
20-25.
Check your answer

 The prefix sub- means below. From this, you can guess
that ‘substandard’ means below standard or inadequate or inferior.
 The prefix re- means make again or do again. From this, you can
guess ‘renew’ means make new again.
 The prefix anti- means against. From this, you can guess
that ‘antidepressant’ means work against or stop people feeling depressed.

Identifying Opinions
Another important skill required in the IELTS reading test is the ability to identify how
writers present opinions. This is because many IELTS reading tasks test your ability
to recognise various points of view.

Opinions vs Facts
It is important for IELTS candidates to be able to distinguish facts from opinions.

Facts Facts often contain names or data such as numbers or time periods. They
are collected from scientific research that can be measured and tested. For
example, 'Humans drink water' is a fact and can be checked scientifically.

Opinions Opinions, on the other hand, are points of view that someone has about a
particular issue. Other people can agree or disagree with this point of view.
Unlike facts, opinions contain information that cannot be measured or tested.
For instance, 'Playing computer games is not an appropriate use of free
time' is an opinion.

Writers can express their opinion either directly or indirectly:

Direct opinions

When a writer presents his or her opinion in a direct way, it is obvious and clear to
the reader. For example:

In my opinion, skydiving is one of the most dangerous sports.

Direct opinions are easy to identify because they have a signpost. Here are some
common opinion signposts used by writers:

 I think that…
 In my opinion…
 It is my belief that…
 I (do not) hold the view that…
However, direct opinions are not very common in IELTS reading passages. Instead,
you are more likely to find opinions presented in an indirect way.

Indirect opinions

Indirect opinions are implied or suggested and are often presented as though they
are facts. For instance, ‘Playing computer games is not an appropriate use of free
time’ is an indirect opinion. People can agree or disagree with it, but it seems like a
fact when you read it.

Indirect opinions do not have a signpost, but you can recognise them because they
contain words that express opinion or attitude. Let’s look at an example of an indirect
opinion:

Sky diving, now classified as an ‘extreme sport’, is one of the most dangerous
recreational activities available today.

In this sentence, there is no signpost, but you can still see that the writer thinks that
sky diving is a ‘dangerous activity’. Although it seems like a fact, someone else could
disagree and point out the various safety equipment checks that skydivers do.

Identifying Opinions Using Contrast Words

Another way to identify different opinions in a reading passage is to look for contrast
words such as however, although, while, whereas or but. These are often used to
present an opposite or contrasting opinion.

Consider the following paragraph and see how the opinions are expressed.

Some chief executives find it better to employ a more senior professional on a part-
time basis than a less experienced person full-time. However, a junior employee is
more likely to be up to date with current work practices and theories, which may be
lacking in employees with less recent qualifications.

The first sentence expresses an opinion of a group of people (i.e. some chief
executives). After that, the writer introduces his or her own opinion (i.e. second
sentence) with the contrast word 'However'.

Now consider the paragraph below. Identify the two contrast words used to
show differing opinions and who holds the opinion that follows each contrast
word.

The Impact of Wind Stations

Wind stations have been introduced as an environmentally friendly source of energy.

However, environmentalists are concerned about the visual impact wind stations
have on the landscape. In order to generate commercially viable quantities of
electricity it is necessary to install an extremely large number of wind towers. In the
Los Remos scheme alone there are more than 150 steel wind towers, each around
30 metres high, covering a total area of 80 hectares. Although they are silent and
safe, they make the majestic Los Remos Range look like a dense concrete jungle
emerging from the peaceful countryside.

The contrast words are shown in bold.

The opinion of environmentalists is introduced after However (i.e. they are

concerned about the visual impact wind stations have on the landscape) and the
opinion of the writer is introduced after Although (i.e. they are silent and safe, they
make the majestic Los Remos Range look like a dense concrete jungle emerging
from the peaceful countryside).

You can see that the writer has both a positive and negative opinion towards wind
stations.

The Impact of Wind Stations

Wind stations have been introduced as an environmentally friendly source of

energy. However, environmentalists are concerned about the visual impact wind
stations have on the landscape. In order to generate commercially viable quantities
of electricity it is necessary to install an extremely large number of wind towers. In the
Los Remos scheme alone there are more than 150 steel wind towers, each around
30 metres high, covering a total area of 80 hectares. Although they are silent and
safe, they make the majestic Los Remos Range look like a dense concrete jungle
emerging from the peaceful countryside.

Presenting Opinions of Other People

Sometimes writers not only express their own opinions, but also include the opinions
of others in their text. For example, the text you just read above contained the
opinion of environmentalists.

Let’s take a look at three common ways writers present opinions of other people
including signposts, reporting verbs and quotation marks.

One way that writers often introduce other people’s opinions in their text is by using
signposts.

The example below shows how a writer used the signpost ‘According to’ to present
an opinion of another person (i.e. Frank Holloway).

According to Frank Holloway, the first child is often less open to innovation, more
conforming and traditional, and often has a closer relationship with his or her parents
than other children within the family.

Reporting verbs

Another way to present the opinions of others is by using reporting verbs. These
verbs report what someone else thinks or believes. They are usually used in the
present simple tense. It is useful to be able to recognise these verbs when you are
doing an IELTS reading test because an opinion is likely to follow. Here is a list of
some common reporting verbs.

says that

finds that

claims that

believes that
Frank Holloway the first child is often less open to…
argues that

concludes that

The paragraph below shows how the writer used two reporting verbs to present the
opinion of other people (i.e. opponents of the wood-chipping operations).

Opponents of the wood-chipping operations argue that the flora and fauna of the
forests would suffer irreparable damage as a result of the wood-chipping itself and
the construction of roads. They claim that the clear-cutting would lead to soil erosion
and conditions of increased salinity.

Using quotation marks (“…“) is another way to show the opinion of others, or more
specifically, the exact words of others. Read the following example:

In a major article on crime in suburban areas, Dickson states that “the increasing
incidences of burglary, robbery and assault can be directly attributed to a lack of
unemployment opportunities in those areas.“

You can see that the writer has presented Dickson’s opinion using the reporting
verb ‘states that’ and quotation marks to do this. Looking for quotation marks in the
reading test can help you locate the opinion of another person.

Read the sentences below and identify which person or group of people the
opinion belongs to.

1 Those students who had worked with a private tutor after class remarkably
improved their academic performance, according to their teachers.
Check your answer

The opinion belongs to the teachers.

2 “Those people who refuse to take part in compulsory voting are simply exercising
their right to make that choice”, said Peter Nile during an interview by BSSTV.

Check your answer

The opinion belongs to Peter Nile.

3 It has been claimed by a large percentage of Americans that they have the most
successful movie industry in the world.

Check your answer

The opinion belongs to a large number of Americans.

Positive vs Negative Opinions

Sometimes IELTS reading exams have global questions. These usually come at the
end of a series of questions and they test your ability to identify the main idea of a
text or section of text. To do this, you need to identify the word choices that the writer
has made to present a positive or negative attitude. These words can appear many
times in a text and are usually adjectives, but they can be verbs, nouns or adverbs,
too.

Consider the following sentences and the words marked in bold. Notice how the word
choices made by the writer clearly show a generally negative opinion towards the
campaign against cats.

The campaign against cats has become so exaggerated it has lost its focus. Much
energy that could be put to good use is being wasted on futile campaigns that do
little more than aggravate cat owners.

Read the sentences below and decide if the word(s) in bold show a positive or
negative opinion.

1 The article shows irrelevant information.

Check your answer

The word irrelevant shows a negative opinion.

2 The merits of printed newspapers are obvious.

Check your answer

The word merits shows a positive opinion.

3 Vegetables benefit health.

Check your answer

The word benefit shows a positive opinion.

4 There are many adverse effects of climate change.

Check your answer

The word adverse shows a negative opinion.

5 The high temperatures are a detriment to human and animal life.

Check your answer

The word detrmient shows a negative opinion.