IELTS Reading – contains three separate reading passages

IELTS Reading Test contains three separate reading passages. The reading section is different for the Academic Reading Test takers and the General Reading Test takers.

IELTS Academic Reading Test passage texts are taken from magazines, journals, research papers, books, and newspapers. Texts have been written for a non-specialist audience. All the topics are of general interest. They deal with issues which are interesting, recognizably appropriate and accessible to candidates entering undergraduate or postgraduate courses or seeking professional registration.

IELTS General Reading Test texts are taken from notices, advertisements, official documents, booklets, newspapers, instruction manuals, leaflets, timetables, books and magazines. The first section, ‘social survival’, contains texts relevant to basic linguistic survival in English with tasks mainly about retrieving and providing general factual information. ‘Training survival’, the second section, focuses on the training context, for example on the training program itself or on welfare needs. Section 2 of the General Training reading paper focuses on the work context (e.g. applying for jobs, company policies, pay and conditions, workplace facilities, staff development etc).

NB: Try to do the reading tests within the time limit suggested. This will give you realistic practice in working under time pressure.

IELTS Reading Test Samples