IELTS Academic Reading Syllabus

Reading syllabus — full chapter and topic list

Expand any chapter to see its topics and sub-topics. This is the whole examinable outline for Reading in IELTS Academic, not a summary of it.

1. 1

   Academic Reading Format

   2 topics

   • Three Passages Overview
   • Timing and 40 Questions
2. 2

   Question Types

   8 topics

   • Multiple Choice
   • Identifying Information (True/False/Not Given)
   • Identifying Writer's Views (Yes/No/Not Given)
   • Matching Headings
   • Matching Information and Features
   • Sentence, Summary, Note, Table and Flow-chart Completion
   • Diagram Label Completion
   • Short-answer Questions
3. 3

   Reading Techniques

   4 topics

   • Skimming for Gist
   • Scanning for Specific Detail
   • Reading for Detailed Understanding
   • Locating and Paraphrasing Keywords
4. 4

   Mastering True/False/Not Given

   2 topics

   • Distinguishing False from Not Given
   • Handling Qualifiers and Absolutes
5. 5

   Vocabulary and Inference

   3 topics

   • Academic Vocabulary in Context
   • Guessing Meaning from Context
   • Understanding Cohesion and Reference
6. 6

   Time Management and Strategy

   3 topics

   • Order of Attempting Questions
   • Avoiding Over-reading
   • Guessing and Eliminating Options

Reading flashcards for IELTS Academic

21 of 50 cards from the Reading deck — real questions with worked answers.

1. How many passages does the IELTS Academic Reading test contain, and what kinds of sources are they taken from?

   Three long passages, taken from authentic sources such as books, journals, magazines and newspapers. They are on academic topics but written for a non-specialist audience.

2. What is the total combined length of the three IELTS Academic Reading passages?

   Between roughly 2,150 and 2,750 words across the three passages.

3. How does difficulty progress across the three passages in IELTS Academic Reading?

   Difficulty increases: Passage 1 is the easiest, Passage 3 is the hardest — typically more abstract, argumentative or opinion-based.

4. How much time is given for IELTS Academic Reading, and is extra transfer time provided?

   60 minutes total, which INCLUDES transferring answers to the answer sheet. Unlike the paper Listening test, there is no extra 10 minutes for transfer.

5. How many questions are in the IELTS Reading test, and how is it marked?

   40 questions, each worth 1 mark. There is no penalty for wrong answers, so you should never leave a question blank — always guess.

6. What is the recommended time allocation per passage in IELTS Reading?

   About 20 minutes per passage; many teachers advise slightly less on Passage 1 (about 17–18 min) and more on Passage 3 (about 23–25 min) because difficulty increases.

7. Approximately how many correct answers out of 40 are needed for Bands 5, 6, 7 and 8 in IELTS Academic Reading?

   Approximately: 15 correct → Band 5, 23 correct → Band 6, 30 correct → Band 7, 35 correct → Band 8 (exact conversions vary slightly by test version).

8. Do spelling and grammar matter when writing answers in IELTS Reading?

   Yes. A misspelled answer is marked wrong, and completion answers must fit the sentence grammatically. Both US and UK spellings are accepted.

9. In IELTS Reading multiple-choice tasks, do the questions follow the order of information in the passage?

   Yes — multiple-choice questions appear in the same order as the relevant information in the passage.

10. What formats can IELTS Reading multiple-choice questions take?

    Choose one answer from four options (A–D), or choose two answers from five options, etc. They may complete a sentence or answer a question, and can test details or the main idea.

11. How do multiple-choice distractors typically trick candidates in IELTS Reading?

    Distractors often copy exact words from the passage but distort the meaning; the correct option is usually a paraphrase. Strategy: read the stem first, locate the section, then eliminate options that contradict or are not stated.

12. In True/False/Not Given questions, when is the answer 'True'?

    When the statement agrees with (matches) the factual information given in the passage.

13. In True/False/Not Given questions, when is the answer 'False'?

    When the statement contradicts the information in the passage — the passage says the opposite or an incompatible fact.

14. In True/False/Not Given questions, when is the answer 'Not Given'?

    When there is no information on the point in the passage — you cannot tell from the text whether the statement is true or false.

15. What is the key difference between True/False/Not Given and Yes/No/Not Given tasks?

    True/False/Not Given tests factual information in the passage; Yes/No/Not Given tests the writer's views, claims or opinions (used with argumentative texts).

16. In Yes/No/Not Given questions, what do 'Yes' and 'No' mean?

    'Yes' = the statement agrees with the writer's views or claims; 'No' = the statement contradicts the writer's views or claims; 'Not Given' = the writer's view on it is impossible to determine.

17. With which type of passage do Yes/No/Not Given questions usually appear?

    Discursive or argumentative passages that present the writer's opinions — most often Passage 3, the hardest passage.

18. Are the answers to True/False/Not Given and Yes/No/Not Given questions in the same order as the passage?

    Yes — these statement-based questions follow the order of information in the passage, which helps you locate each answer.

19. What quick test distinguishes 'False' from 'Not Given'?

    Ask: does the passage actively contradict the statement? If the text states the opposite, it is False. If the text simply says nothing that confirms or denies it (the statement could be true or false), it is Not Given.

20. Should you use your own background knowledge to answer True/False/Not Given questions?

    No. Judge each statement only against what the passage says. A statement that is true in real life is still 'Not Given' if the passage does not state it.

21. In T/F/NG questions, what usually happens when a statement uses an absolute word (all, always, never, only, every) but the passage uses a softer word (most, usually, some)?

    The statement overstates the claim, so it usually contradicts the passage and the answer is False — e.g., passage: 'most birds migrate'; statement: 'all birds migrate' → False.

See more Reading flashcards →

Planning Reading for IELTS Academic

Reading (IELTS Academic) FAQ