Reading
IELTS Reading: question types and common mistakes
True/False/Not Given, matching headings, summary completion, and the mistakes that keep candidates below Band 7.
Question-type methods and the mistakes that keep Academic and General Training candidates below Band 7.
1. True / False / Not Given (and Yes / No / Not Given)
Overview: You are given a list of statements and must evaluate them based strictly on the text. True/False/Not Given tests factual information; Yes/No/Not Given tests the writer's opinion or claim.
Strategies:
- Treat "True" as matches, "False" as directly contradicts, and "Not Given" as unsupported.
- Look for controlling words (e.g. always, only, impossible, main, usually). A sentence saying "X often happens" makes the statement "X always happens" False, not Not Given.
- These questions almost always follow the sequential order of the passage.
Common mistakes:
- Using outside knowledge or assuming something is True because it makes real-world sense.
- Confusing False (the text explicitly says the opposite) with Not Given (the text simply doesn't mention or confirm it).
- Writing "True" on a "Yes/No/Not Given" task sheet (or vice versa), which can cost you marks if instructions are strict.
2. Matching Headings
Overview: You are given a list of paragraph headings (labelled i, ii, iii, etc.) and must assign the correct heading to each paragraph or section.
Strategies:
- Do this set first before other questions; it forces you to understand the overall structure.
- Focus on paragraph logic rather than just the first/last sentence — sometimes main ideas sit in the middle.
- Cross off headings as you use them, but keep in mind there are always extra distractor headings.
Common mistakes:
- Matching a heading based on a single word found in both the text and the heading. Headings test the main idea of the whole paragraph, not a supporting detail.
- Failing to note that these questions do not follow the order of the passage.
3. Matching Paragraph Information
Overview: You must find which paragraph contains a specific detail, reason, description, or example (e.g. "Which paragraph contains a reference to early 19th-century farming techniques?").
Strategies:
- Save this for last in a passage set. By the time you finish other questions, you'll already know where specific details sit.
- Pay close attention to plural/singular instructions (e.g. "You may use any letter more than once").
Common mistakes:
- Looking for main ideas instead of specific details.
- Assuming every paragraph must be used once. Some paragraphs won't be used at all, and others might be used twice.
4. Summary / Note / Table / Flow-Chart Completion
Overview: You are given a short summary or structured diagram with blank spaces. You fill them using either exact words from the passage or options from a provided word box.
Strategies:
- Identify the part of speech required (noun, verb, adjective) before reading the text to narrow down possibilities.
- Ensure the finished sentence is grammatically correct.
- If taking words directly from the passage, do not alter them (don't change plural to singular).
Common mistakes:
- Exceeding the word count specified in the instructions (e.g. "NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS").
- Spelling errors when copying words directly from the text.
5. Multiple Choice
Overview: Choose the correct option (A, B, C, or D) to answer a question or complete a sentence.
Strategies:
- Locate the relevant passage area using keywords, then read those few lines carefully before looking closely at the options.
- Use the process of elimination to remove options that contain incorrect details or present a claim not supported by the passage.
- These questions follow sequential order.
Common mistakes:
- Falling for "distractor" options that match exact words from the passage but twist the meaning.
- Selecting an option because it contains true real-world facts that aren't mentioned in the passage.
6. Matching Features / Names
Overview: Match a list of statements, theories, or discoveries to a list of options (e.g. researchers, historical periods, or locations).
Strategies:
- Scan the text and highlight all occurrences of the features (e.g. names of scientists) first.
- Read what the passage says around every mention of a person/feature before matching, as a person might be quoted in multiple locations.
Common mistakes:
- Matching a name to the first place it appears without scanning the rest of the passage for subsequent mentions.
- Spending too much time on a single name rather than tackling the most obvious matches first.
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