IELTS Reading gives you 60 minutes to answer 40 questions. The Academic and General Training versions differ in their texts — Academic uses longer, more formal passages; General Training uses everyday and workplace materials — but the question types and timing are similar. Time management is the whole game.
The short version
•60 minutes, 40 questions; no extra transfer time, so write answers as you go.
•Academic uses long formal passages; General Training uses everyday texts.
•Skim and scan — there's no time to read every word.
•'Not given' ≠ 'false'; never leave a blank (no wrong-answer penalty).
Academic vs General Training
Academic Reading uses three long passages from books, journals, and newspapers — the kind of texts you'd meet at university. General Training Reading uses shorter, practical texts (notices, advertisements, workplace documents) plus one longer passage. Both have 40 questions in 60 minutes.
Question types include matching headings, true/false/not given, sentence and summary completion, and multiple choice.
How to study for it
Practice skimming for the gist and scanning for specific information rather than reading every word — there isn't time to read deeply. Learn the difference between 'false' and 'not given', which trips up many test-takers. And watch your pace: roughly 20 minutes per passage, and don't leave blanks (there's no penalty for a wrong answer).
Build reading speed and vocabulary with daily practice, and review every question you miss by type.
Frequently asked
How long is the IELTS Reading test?
60 minutes for 40 questions. Unlike Listening, there's no extra time to transfer answers, so write them directly as you work.
What's the difference between Academic and General Training Reading?
Academic Reading uses three long, formal passages; General Training uses shorter everyday and workplace texts plus one longer passage. Both have 40 questions in 60 minutes.
What does 'not given' mean in IELTS Reading?
'Not given' means the passage neither confirms nor contradicts the statement — different from 'false', which means the passage contradicts it. Distinguishing the two is a common stumbling block.