1.

Matching Heading Questions:

 Task: Choose a heading from the list which matches a section or paragraph in the
passage
 Skills:
o Understanding the aim of a section
o Identifying the difference between a main idea and supporting points
o Understanding aims of paragraphs and sections
o Understanding general content of paragraphs or sections
 Tips:
o read the headings before you read the passage
o there are often more headings than you need
o analyses the headings before trying to match them to sections or paragraphs
o answers are often numerals(i,ii,iii,iv etc)- read instruction carefully to check
o answers do not come in order
2. True False Not Given / Yes No Not Given Questions:
 Task: Decide if the information or writer's opinion in the question statements can be
found in the passage
 Skills:
o identifying specific information in the passage
o scanning and understanding information (T/F/NG questions)
o understanding the opinions of the writer (Y/N/NG questions)
 Tips:
 Understand the meaning of each answer
o yes/true= the same information is found in the passage
o no/false= the opposite information is found in the passage
o no given= the information is not found in the passage
 paraphrase the statements before trying to locate the answers
 answers come in order
3. Matching Paragraph Information Questions:
 Task: Matching the information given in the question with information found in one of
the paragraphs in the passage
 Skills:
o identifying specific information
o scanning for information
 Tips:
o paraphrase the information in the question
o find the information in the passage
o answers do not come in order
o the answer is often a letter (A,D,C,D...)- read instructions carefully to check
o not all paragraphs may be used
4. Summary Completion Questions:
 Task: Completing a summary by filling in the gaps using words from the passage or
words given in a box
 Skills:
o scanning for specific information in the passage
o understanding ideas and supporting points
o selecting appropriate words
 Tips:
o Identify the type of words needed for each gap(noun/verb/adjective etc)
o locate the information in the passage in order to choose the right word
o if you choose words from the passage, check how many words can be used for
each answer
o Answer usually come in order
o the summary must be grammatically correct which can help you in choosing the
right word for the gap
5. Sentence Completion Questions:
 Task: Completing sentences by filling in the gap with words from the passage
 Skills:
o scanning for specific information
o selecting appropriate words
o understanding information in the passage
 Tips:
o identify the type of word needed for each gap(noun/verb/adjective etc)
o locate the information in the passage in order to choose the right word
o the sentences must be grammatically correct which can help you in choosing
the right word for the gap
o check how many words can be used for each answer
o answers usually come in order

6. Multiple Choice Questions:

 Task: Choose the correct answer to a question or the correct ending to a sentense from
usually 3 or 4 possible options
 Skills:
o scanning for specific Information
o understanding information in the passage
 Tips:
o paraphrase the information in the question and options
o locate the precise information in the passage
o answers come in order
 o answers are usually letters(A,B,C or D)- read the instructions carefully to check

7. List Selection:
 Task: Choose the correct option from a list of words, information or names.This differs
from multiple choice because the questions all relate to only one long list of possible
answers.
 Skills:
o scanning for information
o understanding information in the passage
o identifying ideas relating to others
 Tips:
o read through the list and prepare paraphrases
o read through the questions and identify key words
o locate the information in the passage
o answers come in order
o answers are usyally letters(A-G)- read the instruction carefully to check
8. Choosing a Title:
 Task: Choosing the most appropriate title from the list
 Skills:
o identifying aims of a passage
o distinguishing between detail and main aims
 Tips:
o Look at the differences between the possible titles
o Pay attention to the opening paragraphs and closing paragraphs of the passage
o Don’t spend too much time on this question – it is only worth one point

9. Categorization Questions :
 Task: Decide which category the information belongs to from a list
  Skills:
o locating information in the passage
o categorizing information
 Tips:
o find information in the passage
o decide which category the information belongs to
o look out for paraphrases

10. Matching Sentence Endings:

 Task: Completing sentences by matching the start of the sentence with the correct
ending given in a list
 Skills:
o locating information in the passage
o understanding information
 Tips:
o read through the sentences and then read through the possible endings
o prepare paraphrases
o find information in the passage
 o choose the best ending to match the information in the passage
o the completed sentence must be grammatically correct
o sentence beginnings follow the order of information the passage
o answers are usually letter(A-G)-read instruction carefully to check
o there are usually more endings given than you need

11. Table Completion:

 Task Completing the table using the correct word from the passage
 Skills:
o locaing specific information in the passage
o choosing appropriate words
o understanding details
 Tips:
o read the column headings in the table
o identify the type of word needed for each part if the table
o scan the passage for information
o answers are often located in a specific part of the passage
o check how many words you can use for the answer
12. Flow Chart Completion Questions:
 Task: Completing the flow chart the correct words from the passage
 Skills:
o locating specific information in the passage
o choosing appropriate words
o understanding details and order of information
 Tips:
o identify the type of word needed for each part of the flow chart
o scan the passage for information
o answers do not always come in order
o use the direction of the arrows and boxes to follow the order of information in
the chart
o select the appropriate words from the passage
o check the number of words that can be used for each answer
13. Matching Paragraph Information Questions:
 Task: Matching the information given in the question with information found in one of
the paragraphs in the passage
 Skills:
o identifying specific information
o scanning for information
 Tips:
o paraphrase the information in the question
o find the information in the passage
o answers do not come in order
o the answer is often a letter (A,D,C,D...)- read instructions carefully to check
o not all paragraphs may be used
14. Matching Paragraph Information Questions:
 Task: Matching the information given in the question with information found in one of
the paragraphs in the passage
 Skills:
o identifying specific information
o scanning for information
 Tips:
o paraphrase the information in the question
o find the information in the passage
o answers do not come in order
o the answer is often a letter (A,D,C,D...)- read instructions carefully to check
o not all paragraphs may be used
These are the types of question you can expect to see in the test: 

1. short-answer questions
2. multiple choice
3. sentence completion
4. notes/summary/diagram/flow chart/table completion
5. choosing a heading for a paragraph
6. identification of writer's views/claims - yes, no or not given
7. identification of information - true, false or not given
8. classification
9. matching lists/phrases.

IELTS Reading Practice Lessons

(Academic)

 Lesson 1: Paragraph Headings

 Lesson 2: Multiple Choice & Scanning
 Lesson 3: True, False, Not Given
 Lesson 4: Matching Paragraph Headings
 Lesson 5: Sentence Completion
 Lesson 6: Multiple Choice / Skimming and Scanning
 Lesson 7: Guessing meaning from context
 Lesson 8: The difference between false and not given
 Lesson 9: IELTS Reading Strategies
 Lesson 10: IELTS Short Answer Questions
 Lesson 11: IELTS Gapped Summary
 Lesson 12: Understanding Not Given Questions

Academic Reading Test Question types:

1. Multiple Choice.
2. Short-answer questions.
3. Sentence completion.
4. Notes/table/summary/ flowchart/diagram completion.
5. Yes, No, Not Given or True, False, Not given.
6. Classification.
7. Matching lists /phrases.
8. Choosing headings for paragraphs/ sections of a text.
9. Scanning and identifying the location of information.
10. Labelling a diagram which has numbered parts.