IELTS General Training Reading Format Task Types

IELTS General Training Format

Section 1:

It may consist of two or more short texts. These texts usually contain factual information. For example, an advertisement for a restaurant or sports center facilities.

Section 2:

It may consist of two texts of more complex language than Section 1. These texts are based on 'workplace survival'. For example, pay schemes, work conditions, or contracts.

Section 3:

Types of Questions asked in the IELTS Reading Test include:

• Question Type 1 – Multiple Choice
• Question Type 2 – Identifying Information [True/False/Not Given]
• Question Type 3 – Identifying Writer's Claims/Views
• Question Type 4 – Matching Information
• Question Type 5 – Matching Headings
• Question Type 6 – Matching Features
• Question Type 7 – Match Sentence Endings
• Question Type 8 – Sentence Completion
• Question Type 9 – Summary, Note, Table, Flowchart Completion
• Question Type 10 – Diagram Label Completion
• Question Type 11 – Short Answers Questions

IELTS General Training Reading in detail

• Question Type 1 – Multiple Choice

You will be given a part of the sentence and will be asked to complete it. You may also be given a question for which you are supposed to select the best suitable answer from the given options. You are required to choose either:

One answer from four alternatives (A, B, C or D)

Three answers from seven alternatives (A, B, C, D, E, F or G)

The questions asked are in the same order as the information provided in the passage.

Skills Assessed

This task type tests a wide range of reading skills including detailed understanding of specific points or an overall understanding of the main points of the text.

Task focus

This task type tests a wide range of reading skills including detailed understanding of specific points or an overall understanding of the main points of the text.

• Question Type 2 – Identifying Information [True/False/Not Given]

In this question type, you will be given a set of statements. The question will be: 'Do the following statements agree with the information in the text?'. Then, you need to write your answer as 'True', 'False' or 'Not Given'.

Skills Assessed

'False' – Passage states the opposite of the statement.

'Not Given' – The information in the statement is not mentioned in the passage.

Task focus

This task type assesses the test takers’ ability to recognize particular points of information conveyed in the text. It can thus be used with more factual texts.

• Question Type 3 – Identifying Writer's Claims/Views

You will be given a number of statements. The question will be: 'Do the following statements agree with the views/claims of the writer?'. You are required to answer in 'Yes', 'No' or 'Not Given'.

'No' – Passage does not agree with the statement.

'Not Given' – The information in the statement is not mentioned in the passage.

Task focus

This task type assesses the test takers’ ability to recognize opinions or ideas, and is thus often used with discursive or argumentative texts.

• Question Type 4 – Matching Information

In this question type, there are various paragraphs labeled with different letters (A, B, C, …). You are supposed to match the information given in the question with the information found in one of the paragraphs. The task requirement is to write the letter of the correct paragraph on the answer sheet.

Skills Assessed

This task type assesses the test takers’ ability to scan for specific information. Unlike task type 5 (Matching headings), it is concerned with specific information rather than with the main idea.

Ability to scan a text to find specific information

• Question Type 5 – Matching Headings

A list of headings marked with (i, ii, iii, …) and a passage with lettered paragraphs (A, B, C, …) are given. You must match the heading to the correct paragraph and write the appropriate number on the answer sheet. To make the task tricky, there will be more headings than the number of paragraphs.

Skills Assessed

Ability to recognize the main idea or theme of a particular para

• Question Type 6 – Matching Features

In this question type, you need to match a set of statements or a piece of information to the list of options given. The options are a group of features from the passage. For example, you need to match different events to historical periods. It might be possible that some options will not be used while some may be used more than once.

Skills Assessed

This task assesses the ability to recognize relationships and connections between facts in the text and to recognize opinions and theories. It may be used both with texts dealing with factual information, description or narrative. Test takers need to be able to skim and scan the text in order to locate the required information and to read for detail.

• Question Type 7 – Match Sentence Endings

The first half of the sentence will be provided. You need to complete the sentence by choosing the best answer from a list of possible options. The number of options will be more than the number of sentences. The questions are will be in the same order as the information that appears in the text.

Skills Assessed

Ability to understand the main idea within the sentence

• Question Type 8 – Sentence Completion

In this question type, you are asked to complete the sentence with a specific number of words. The instructions give you a clear idea about the number of words you need to write. It may be 'one word', 'two/three words', 'no more than three words/a number', and so on. Read the instructions carefully before noting down your answers. If you write more than the required words, you will lose marks.

Skills Assessed

This task type assesses the test takers’ ability to locate detail/specific information.

• Question Type 9 – Summary, Note, Table, Flowchart Completion

In this question type, you need to fill in the gap in the summary, note, table, or flowchart in context to the passage. You either have to select your answer from a list of options or choose words from the passage. The answers don’t need to appear in the same order as given in the passage

Skills Assessed

This task type assesses the test takers’ ability to understand details and/or the main ideas of a section of the text. In the variations involving a summary or notes, they need to be aware of the type of word(s) that will fit into a given gap (for example, whether a noun is needed, or a verb, etc.).

• Question Type 10 – Diagram Label Completion

This question type shows a labeled diagram with a description in the text that will be given. You are supposed to complete those labels. The diagram may be some type of machine, parts of a building, or other objects that can be easily represented pictorially.

Skills Assessed

This task type assesses the ability to understand a detailed description, and to relate it to information presented in the form of a diagram.

• Question Type 11 – Short Answers Questions

In this question type, you need to answer questions regarding the details mentioned in the passage. The details mainly relate to some factual information. You must write your answers on the sheet in words/numbers as per the given instructions.

Skills Assessed

Ability to understand and locate the information given in the passage

General Tips

1-Pay attention to the number of words you can use in your answer

2-Skimming and Scanning is a must-have skill to score well in IELTS General and Academic Training Reading

3-Grab keywords to spot the right

answer

5-Make correct use of Grammar & Spelling while noting down the answers on the answer sheet

IELTS General Training Reading – How it’s marked

The General Training Reading test is marked by certificated markers, who are regularly monitored to ensure reliability. After being marked, all answer sheets, are further analyzed by Cambridge Assessment English.

Band score conversion

A band score conversion table is produced for each version of the General Training Reading test which translates scores out of 40 into the IELTS 9-band scale. Scores are reported in whole bands and half bands.