This guide compiles everything you need to know about official IELTS Reading question types to support your effective IELTS exam reading practice. We’ll explore each question type in a clean way so you know exactly what the test expects and how to train for it. Every section follows the same layout: a short explanation of what the question type involves, the skill it assesses, and a sample taken from our free IELTS Reading simulations. |
💬 Note that both IELTS Academic and General Training use the same question types. The distinction lies in the content and difficulty of the passages.
Learn more about IELTS Reading modules here.
IELTS Exam Reading Practice → Question Type 1
Multiple Choice
ℹ️ You may be asked to choose the correct answer from four options, or complete the first half of a sentence by selecting the most accurate ending.
Sometimes you must choose more than one answer, so always check the instructions carefully.
The questions follow the same order as the information in the passage, which helps you locate answers efficiently.
🧩 Skill: This format evaluates your ability to understand key ideas and precise details throughout a passage.
How it looks like
Choose TWO letters, A-E. Which TWO mentioned problems affect mental health in developing countries? A- Lack of access to therapy B- Lack of sanitation and hygiene C- Lack of medical equipment D- Effects of stress and pressure shapes E- Presence of negative attitudes and prejudices when facing challenges |
IELTS Exam Reading Practice → Question Type 2
Identifying Information (True, False, Not Given)
ℹ️ You are given statements and must decide whether they match the information in the text. Write True if the statement agrees with the passage, False if it contradicts it, and Not Given when the text does not confirm or deny it.
Answers must be based solely on what appears in the passage, not on background knowledge.
🧩 Skill: This task checks how accurately you can locate and verify specific information.
How it looks like
Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage 2? TRUE if the statement agrees with the information 22- Martin Luther King Jr. was the sole leader of the American Civil Rights Movement. |
IELTS Exam Reading Practice → Question Type 3
Identifying Writer’s Views or Claims (Yes, No, Not Given)
ℹ️ These questions ask whether statements reflect the writer’s opinions or claims. Write Yes if the views match, No if they oppose, and Not Given if the passage does not express a clear stance.
Personal assumptions or external knowledge should not influence your choices.
🧩 Skill: This task focuses on identifying viewpoints, attitudes, and claims made by the writer.
How it looks like
Do the following statements agree with the claims of the writer in Reading Passage 3? YES if the statement agrees with the claims of the writer 36 - Happiness is an easy feeling that doesn’t rely on any factors. |
Learn more about (Writer's Opinion)
IELTS Exam Reading Practice → Question Type 4
Matching Information
ℹ️ You must locate specific pieces of information in the labelled paragraphs or sections of the passage. Some paragraphs may not be used, while others may be used more than once if the instructions allow. You match the information by writing the correct paragraph letter.
🧩 Skill: This task measures your ability to scan for concrete details such as examples, explanations, comparisons, or reasons rather than main ideas.
How it looks like
Reading Passage 1 has nine paragraphs, A-I. 1- A reference to characteristics that only apply to meditation |
IELTS Exam Reading Practice → Question Type 5
Matching Headings
ℹ️ You are provided with a list of headings and must match each one to the paragraph or section whose main idea it represents. There are more headings than paragraphs, and some paragraphs may not be used. Paragraph letters (A, B, C, etc.) and heading Roman numerals (i, ii, iii, etc.) must be paired accurately.
🧩 Skill: This task tests your ability to understand the general topic of a paragraph and distinguish it from supporting ideas.
How it looks like
Learn more about (Matching Headings)
IELTS Exam Reading Practice → Question Type 6
Matching Features
ℹ️ This task requires you to match statements or pieces of information to a set of options, each represented by a letter. Some options may be used multiple times while others may not be used at all, depending on the instructions. The key is to identify which feature, person, group, or concept each statement refers to.
🧩 Skill: This assesses your ability to recognise relationships, connections, and categories within the text.
How it looks like
IELTS Exam Reading Practice → Question Type 7
Matching Sentence Endings
ℹ️ You are given the first half of several sentences drawn from the passage and must choose the correct ending from a list. The endings are labeled with letters, and only one will complete each sentence logically. Sentence beginnings appear in the same sequence as the passage’s information.
🧩 Skill: This task evaluates your understanding of core ideas and how they connect within the text.
How it looks like
Complete each sentence with the correct ending, A-G, below. 31- People who feel unhappy when they earn less than their co-workers List of EndingsA- learn social skills. B- show their social identity. C- ... |
IELTS Exam Reading Practice → Question Type 8
Sentence Completion
ℹ️ You fill in missing words in sentences using vocabulary taken directly from the text. Instructions specify the exact word limit; writing more than allowed will result in losing the mark. Questions follow the order of the text, and hyphenated words count as a single word.
🧩 Skill: This format tests your skill in locating precise information and identifying specific details in the passage.
How it looks like
Complete the sentences below. 1- Some ___________, including self-driving cars, have already been tested before. |
Learn more about (Context Clues)
IELTS Exam Reading Practice → Question Type 9
Summary, Note, Table, or Flow Chart Completion
ℹ️ You complete a partial summary or visual outline of part of the text by choosing words from either the passage or a provided list, depending on the version of the task. Word limits apply. Although answers generally come from one section of the passage, they may not follow the original sequence.
🧩 Skill: This task assesses your ability to understand essential ideas and detailed information, as well as your awareness of word forms needed to complete a structured summary.
💡 To practise any of these question types, select it from the filter menu in Test & Score Practice Hub
IELTS Exam Reading Practice → Question Type 10
Diagram Label Completion
ℹ️ You label parts of a diagram based on descriptions found in the text. You must observe the word limit closely. The diagram may illustrate a process, a structure, a machine, or another visual representation described in the passage. Answers usually come from one section of the text.
🧩 Skill: This task evaluates your understanding of descriptive details and your ability to match textual information to visual elements.
How it looks like
| Label the diagrams below. Choose ONE WORD ONLY from the passage for each answer. Write your answers in boxes 1-3. |
IELTS Exam Reading Practice → Question Type 11
Short Answer Questions
ℹ️ You respond to questions using words or numbers taken directly from the passage. Word limit applies. Answers follow the order of the text, which helps you locate relevant parts quickly. Numbers may be written as words or figures.
🧩 Skill: This type measures your ability to extract and interpret specific factual details from the text.
How it looks like
Answer the questions below. Choose ONE WORD ONLY from the passage for each answer. 6- Which part of some skyscrapers greeted visitors with grandeur? |
What's Next?
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