IELTS READING

Ielts Reading Test format

The IELTS Reading test is designed to assess a wide range of reading skills, including how well
you
• read for the general sense of a passage
• read for the main ideas
• read for detail
• understand inferences and implied meaning
• recognise a writer’s opinions, attitudes and purpose
• follow the development of an argument
 Format Three long texts which range from the descriptive and factual to the discursive
and analytical. These are taken from books, journals, magazines and
newspapers.  They have been selected for a non-specialist audience but are
appropriate for people entering university courses or seeking professional
registration.

Timing 60 minutes including the transfer time

Number of questions 40 questions

Task types Fill gaps in a passage of written text or in a table, match headings to written text
to diagrams or charts, complete sentences, give short answers to open
questions, answer multiple choice questions

Marks Each correct answer receives one mark. Scores out of 40 are converted to the
IELTS 9-band scale. Scores are reported in whole and half bands.

Academic Reading Test

Format
How do you feel
when you are in
a traffic jam?
Why?
1. Congestion a. Air pollution in a city that is a mixture of smoke, gases and
chemicals

2. Smog b. Situation when something is full or blocked, especially with traffic

3. Developed c. Describes a country or area of the world which is poorer and has
less-advanced industries
4. Developing d. Describes a country with advanced level of technology, industry,
etc.
5. Commuter e. Money that you pay to use a bridge, road, etc.
6. Toll f. Not at the most popular and expensive time

7. Rush Hour g. someone who travels regularly between work and home

h. The time when a lot of people are travelling to or from work sand
8. off-peak
so roads and trains are very busy
 Read the title of the passage.

Read the headings before you read the passage.

Spend time paraphrasing and underlining keywords in the possible

headings, try to remember the keywords of the headings.
How to “defeat”
matching heading Skim through the paragraphs to find the main idea.

questions??? Try to match the best heading choices

Make it a habit to cross out those headings that you’ve already chosen.

Go back and quickly read the sections again and re-evaluate your
guesses, make changes if neccesary.
 There are more headings Do not be misled by
than you need. However, headings that include
there can only ever be only specific details
one possible heading for rather than a general
each paragraph. idea.

OOPS – A – DAISY!
Do not try to match the The passage is too long
HOW CAN YOU BE keywords. to read.
DEFEATED?

Never leave blanks Topic sentences can be

unanswered everywhere.
List of Headings
i. A solution which is no solution
ii. Changing working practices
iii. Closing city centers to traffic
iv. Making cars more environmentally friendly
v. Not doing enough
vi. Paying to get in
vii. A global problem
List of Headings

i. A solution which is no solution

ii. Changing working practices
iii. Closing city centers to traffic
iv. Making cars more environmentally friendly
v. Not doing enough
vi. Paying to get in
vii. A global problem
 Paragraph A
There are no easy answers to the problems of traffic
congestion. Traffic congestion affects people throughout the
world. Traffic jams cause smog in dozens of cities across both
the developed and developing world. In the U.S., commuters
spend an average of a full work week each year sitting in
traffic, according to the Texas Transportation Institute. While
alternative ways of getting around are available, most people
still choose their cars because they are looking for
convenience, comfort and privacy.
 Vii. A global problem
Paragraph B
The most promising technique for reducing city traffic is
called congestion pricing, whereby cities charge a toll to enter
certain parts of town at certain times of day. In theory, if the toll is
high enough, some drivers will cancel their trips or go by bus or
train. And in practice it seems to work: Singapore, London and
Stockholm have reduced traffic and pollution in city centers thanks
to congestion pricing.
 vi. Pay to get in
Paragraph C

Another way to reduce rush hour traffic is for employers

to implement flextime, which lets employees travel to and from work
at off-peak traffic times to avoid the rush hour. Those who have to
travel during busy times can do their part by sharing cars. Employers
can also allow more staff to telecommute (work from home) so as to
keep more cars off the road altogether.
 ii. Changing working pratice
Paragraph D

Some urban planners still believe that the best way to ease traffic
congestion is to build more roads, especially roads that can take
drivers around or over crowded city streets. But such techniques do
not really keep cars off the road; they only accommodate more of
them.
 i. A solution which is no solution
Paragraph E
Other, more forward-thinking, planners know that more and more
drivers and cars are taking to the roads every day, and they are
unwilling to encourage more private automobiles when public
transport is so much better both for people and the environment.
For this reason, the American government has decided to spend
some $7 billion on helping to increase capacity on public transport
systems and upgrade them with more efficient technologies. But
environmentalists complain that such funding is tiny compared
with the $50 billion being spent on roads and bridges. 
 v. Not doing enough
Speaking Time

Describe a journey you made which took

longer than normal

You should say:

- how you were travelling
- where you were going
- why you were going there
- and how you spent the time on the
journey