IELTS Reading – How to identify and answer different question types
In this article, we present an overview of the most common question types found in the IELTS Reading section, along with examples. Understanding what to expect will help you approach this part of the test more effectively and boost your confidence on exam day.
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Question types in IELTS Reading
The IELTS Reading test includes a variety of question formats. It’s a good idea to get familiar with them in advance, so nothing catches you off guard during the exam.
1. Identifying Information
a) True / False / Not Given
In this task, you decide whether the statement:
- agrees with the information in the passage (TRUE),
- contradicts the information (FALSE),
- or if there isn’t enough information to decide (NOT GIVEN).
The questions usually follow the order of the passage.
Example: Questions 1-5
Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage 1?
In boxes 1-5 on your answer sheet, write:
TRUE – if the statement agrees with the text
FALSE – if the statement contradicts the text
NOT GIVEN – if the text doesn’t say
- The project was initially funded by private investors.
- Remote regions received more support than urban ones.
- The program’s outcomes were made public immediately.
- The media had limited access to progress reports.
- Participants were selected based on academic results.
b) Yes / No / Not Given
This format is very similar but focuses on the author’s opinions, not facts. The questions are also usually presented in the same order as the text.
Example: Questions 6-10
Do the following statements agree with the writer’s claims in Reading Passage 1?
In boxes 6-10 on your answer sheet, write:
YES – if the statement agrees with the writer’s views
NO – if the statement contradicts the writer’s views
NOT GIVEN – if it’s unclear what the writer thinks
6. Investing in eco-tourism brings long-term economic benefits.
7. The researcher believes traditional farming methods are outdated.
8. Public transportation should be subsidized more heavily.
9. Environmental policies have improved significantly in recent years.
10. The author supports limiting tourist numbers in national parks.
2. Multiple Choice
a) One correct answer
Choose one correct option (A–D) to answer a question or complete a sentence.
Example: Questions 11–13, Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.
11. Why did the wildlife preservation plan fail in the early stages?
A. There were conflicts with local communities
B. The funding was withdrawn unexpectedly
C. Environmental damage had already occurred
D. The team lacked scientific data
b) Multiple correct answers
You are usually asked to choose two or three correct answers from five options.
Example: Questions 14–15, Choose TWO letters, A–E.
14. Which TWO of the following were reasons for declining interest in the program?
A. Limited access to online resources
B. A change in leadership
C. Unclear communication of objectives
D. Poor attendance at training sessions
E. Lack of technical support
3. Matching tasks
a) Matching headings
Match headings to specific paragraphs or sections of a text. Some headings will not be used.
Example: Questions 16–20,
Reading Passage 2 has 5 paragraphs, A–E.
Choose the correct heading for each paragraph from the list below.
List of Headings
I. Growing concern over youth unemployment
II. Shifts in global work patterns
III. Education systems struggling to adapt
IV. Unexpected trends in the job market
V. The role of automation
VI. Government initiatives under scrutiny
VII. Positive outlook from economists
Paragraph A
Paragraph B
Paragraph C
Paragraph D
Paragraph E
b) Matching information to paragraphs
Match each piece of information to the paragraph where it appears. The order of questions is random.
Example: Questions 21–25,
Which paragraph (from A to E) contains the following information?
Write the correct letter (A–E) in boxes 21–25.
21. A description of how digital tools support remote learning
22. Reference to a failed educational reform
23. An explanation of students’ resistance to change
24. A discussion on the impact of class size
25. Mention of plans for future investment in education
c) Matching statements to people / things
Match statements to specific individuals, places, etc. Options can be used more than once
Example:
Questions 26–29
Match each statement with the correct person, A–C.
NB: You may use any letter more than once.
26. Claims student motivation is linked to class atmosphere
27. Argues that exams don’t reflect real-world skills
28. Found a correlation between sleep and academic performance
29. Warns about over-reliance on online learning
List of researchers
A. Dr. James Patel
B. Prof. Linda Ng
C. Dr. Maria Leone
4. Sentence completion
Complete each sentence with the correct ending from a list of options.
Example:
Questions 30–33
Complete the sentences with the correct ending, A–D.
30. Students who participated in the pilot project
31. The government’s revised curriculum
32. One key benefit of the blended learning approach
33. Critics of the project argued that it
Answer choices
A. did not address students’ individual needs
B. helped improve student engagement
C. received widespread support from educators
D. showed significant progress in test results
5. Classification
Match statements to categories, such as age groups, countries, or types of institutions. Options may be used more than once.
Example:
Questions 34–37
Classify the following statements as referring to:
A. Online-only courses
B. Traditional classroom settings
C. Hybrid (blended) learning models
34. Students had the most flexibility in scheduling
35. Teachers were able to provide more immediate feedback
36. Required a strong internet connection
37. Encouraged more collaboration among peers
Summary
The IELTS Reading section tests your ability to quickly and effectively process information from a range of texts. It includes 40 questions based on three increasingly complex passages, typically taken from books, journals, magazines, or newspapers.
Since the test includes a wide variety of task types, it’s essential to not only understand the meaning of the texts, but also be able to identify exactly what each question is asking. Developing skills like scanning, skimming, recognizing paraphrasing, and time management will significantly improve your performance and confidence.
