Academic Reading: format and time management
Know exactly what you face in the 60-minute Academic Reading test (three passages, 40 questions, no transfer time) and build a time plan that turns your reading level into the highest possible band.
By the end of this lesson you will be able to:
- Describe the Academic Reading format: 3 passages, 40 questions, 60 minutes, and how difficulty rises
- Use a 17 / 20 / 23-minute time plan with checkpoints, a 90-second rule and a 'fill every box' finish
- Recognise every Academic Reading question type and know which ones follow the order of the text
- Choose between skim-first, questions-first and hybrid approaches
- Convert raw scores to bands and set a realistic target for each passage
The Academic Reading test at a glance
| Feature | What you need to know |
|---|---|
Sections | 3 passages (also called sections), each followed by 2–4 groups of questions |
Questions | 40 in total, usually split 13 + 13 + 14 |
Time | 60 minutes, and that includes writing your answers |
Transfer time | None. On the paper test you must write answers on the answer sheet within the 60 minutes. (Listening on paper gives 10 extra minutes; Reading does not.) |
Length | About 2,150–2,750 words in total, so each passage is roughly 700–950 words |
Sources | Authentic texts from books, journals, magazines and newspapers, written for a non-specialist audience |
Extras | Passages may include diagrams, graphs or illustrations; technical terms may be explained in a short glossary |
Marking | 1 mark per correct answer; no negative marking; a misspelt word or a word over the limit is marked wrong |
Result | Raw score out of 40 → band score from 1 to 9 (half bands possible) |
How the three passages differ
The passages are arranged so that difficulty rises from Passage 1 to Passage 3. Texts range from descriptive and factual to discursive and analytical, and at least one passage contains a detailed logical argument.
Typical topics: the history of an invention, animal behaviour, archaeology, psychology, urban planning, climate science, linguistics, agriculture, technology, education research. You do not need any background knowledge. Every answer is in the text, and the passages are written for intelligent non-specialists, which is exactly what you are.
In fact, background knowledge can hurt you. If you studied biology for HSC and the passage is about bees, you may 'know' something the passage never says and choose an answer from memory. IELTS tests what this text says, nothing more.
Why Passage 3 feels so hard
- Ideas are abstract (theories, debates, implications) rather than concrete facts.
- Sentences are longer, with several clauses and pronouns that point back to earlier ideas.
- Questions often test the writer's views (Yes / No / Not Given) or the purpose of a paragraph.
- Vocabulary is denser and more academic.
This is why you need more time for Passage 3, not the same 20 minutes for every passage.
The table below shows typical patterns, not rules. Any question type can appear with any passage; you might meet matching headings in Passage 1 or True/False/Not Given in Passage 3. The one thing you can rely on is the rising difficulty. You may answer the passages in any order, but most candidates do best going 1 → 2 → 3 and banking the easier marks first.
Passage by passage: what to expect
| Passage | Typical text | Common question types | Suggested time |
|---|---|---|---|
Passage 1 (Q1–13) | Factual and descriptive: a history, a process, a profile of a place or species. Clear structure, concrete details, names and dates. | True/False/Not Given, note/table/flow-chart completion, sentence completion, short answers | ≈ 17 minutes |
Passage 2 (Q14–26) | Discursive: several viewpoints or a research project, often with lettered paragraphs A–G. | Matching headings, matching information, matching features, summary completion, multiple choice | ≈ 20 minutes |
Passage 3 (Q27–40) | Analytical: an argument, a debate between theories, the writer's own position. Dense vocabulary and long sentences. | Yes/No/Not Given, multiple choice (including main purpose), matching sentence endings, summary with a word box | ≈ 23 minutes |
Paper-based vs computer-delivered Reading
Paper-based test
- Question booklet plus a separate answer sheet; write in pencil
- You can underline and make notes on the question booklet
- Every answer must be on the answer sheet before time ends: no extra transfer time
- Upper case or lower case are both accepted, but spelling must be correct
- Check that each answer is in the correctly numbered box
Computer-delivered test
- Passage on one side of the screen, questions on the other; each side scrolls
- You can highlight text and add notes on screen
- Answers are typed or clicked directly, so there is nothing to transfer
- An on-screen clock counts down, and the navigation bar shows unanswered questions
- A typing mistake counts as a spelling mistake
Same passages, same question types, same difficulty, same band conversion. Choose one format and practise in it. On paper, transfer answers after every question group or passage, never all at the end.
Every Academic Reading question type
| Question type | What you do | In text order? | You write |
|---|---|---|---|
Multiple choice | Choose one answer from A–D, or two/three from a longer list | Yes | Letter(s) |
True / False / Not Given | Decide whether statements agree with the information in the passage | Yes | TRUE / FALSE / NOT GIVEN |
Yes / No / Not Given | Decide whether statements agree with the writer's views or claims | Yes | YES / NO / NOT GIVEN |
Matching information | Find which paragraph contains a specific piece of information | No, answers can be anywhere | Paragraph letter |
Matching headings | Choose the best heading for each paragraph or section | Questions go paragraph by paragraph; the headings list is jumbled | Roman numeral (i, ii, iii…) |
Matching features | Match statements to people, theories, places or dates | No | Letter |
Matching sentence endings | Join each sentence beginning to the correct ending | Usually (the beginnings) | Letter |
Sentence completion | Complete sentences using words from the passage | Yes | Words/numbers from the text |
Summary completion | Complete a summary with words from the passage or from a box | Usually, within one part of the text | Words, or a letter from the box |
Note / table / flow-chart completion | Complete notes, a table or a flow-chart covering part of the passage | Usually | Words/numbers from the text |
Diagram label completion | Label a diagram using a description in the passage | Not necessarily | Words/numbers from the text |
Short-answer questions | Answer factual questions (who, what, when, how many…) | Yes | Words/numbers from the text |
Your 60-minute time plan
- 1
Minutes 0–17: Passage 1
The easiest passage. Aim to finish 13 questions in 15–17 minutes and bank these marks, but don't rush into careless errors. Transfer answers as you go (paper test).
- 2
Minute 17: checkpoint
Look at the clock. If you are still on Passage 1, make your best guesses for the remaining questions and move on. Every question is worth one mark; minutes stolen from Passage 3 are the most expensive minutes in the test.
- 3
Minutes 17–37: Passage 2
20 minutes. With lettered paragraphs, do the in-order groups first and matching information last. Checkpoint at minute 37.
- 4
Minutes 37–60: Passage 3
23 minutes for the hardest text. Read questions about the writer's views slowly and read long sentences to the end, because the meaning often turns on a word like however, only or not.
- 5
The 90-second rule (all the time)
If a single question has taken 90 seconds and you are still unsure, write your best guess, mark it with a star, and continue. Return only if time remains. One stubborn question must never cost you three easier ones.
- 6
Last 1–2 minutes: fill every box
There is no negative marking. A blank always scores zero; a guess sometimes scores. On a True/False/Not Given question, even a blind guess has a one-in-three chance.
Two approaches, and the one most band 7+ readers use
Skim-first
How: read the title, the first sentence of each paragraph and the last paragraph (2–3 minutes), then go to the questions.
Strengths: you build a mental map of the passage. Ideal for matching headings, matching information and 'main purpose' questions.
Risk: slow readers spend 6–8 minutes 'skimming' that is really careful reading.
Questions-first
How: read the instructions and the first question group, underline keywords (names, numbers, key nouns), then find each answer in order.
Strengths: purposeful reading. Ideal for True/False/Not Given, completion and short answers.
Risk: you never see the passage's structure, so headings and matching tasks become slow.
Most band 7+ readers use a hybrid: glance at the question types (30 seconds) → skim the passage (2 minutes maximum) → work group by group, scanning for keywords and then reading the located sentences carefully. Test both pure methods in timed practice and keep whatever gives you more correct answers, not whatever feels faster.
Raw score → band (Academic Reading, approximate)
| Correct answers (out of 40) | Band |
|---|---|
39–40 | 9 |
37–38 | 8.5 |
35–36 | 8 |
33–34 | 7.5 |
30–32 | 7 |
27–29 | 6.5 |
23–26 | 6 |
19–22 | 5.5 |
15–18 | 5 |
13–14 | 4.5 |
10–12 | 4 |
Turn your target band into a mark plan
These conversions are the commonly published figures; exact cut-offs can shift slightly from one test version to another, so treat them as a guide. (General Training Reading uses a different, stricter conversion. Academic texts are harder, so fewer correct answers are needed for the same band.)
Work backwards from your target:
| Target band | You need | You can miss | A realistic split |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6.0 | 23/40 | 17 | P1: 10/13, P2: 7/13, P3: 6/14 |
| 6.5 | 27/40 | 13 | P1: 11/13, P2: 9/13, P3: 7/14 |
| 7.0 | 30/40 | 10 | P1: 12/13, P2: 10/13, P3: 8/14 |
| 8.0 | 35/40 | 5 | P1: 13/13, P2: 12/13, P3: 10/14 |
Even a band 7 candidate can get six questions wrong in Passage 3. You don't need to be perfect. You need to be strong on Passage 1, solid on Passage 2, and to keep enough time to collect the easier marks in Passage 3.
Check your understanding
7 questions- 1
In the paper-based Academic Reading test, how much extra time do you get to transfer your answers to the answer sheet?
- 2
Approximately how many correct answers out of 40 do you need for band 7 in Academic Reading?
- 3
Which TWO question types usually do NOT follow the order of the text?
Select 2.
- 4
Passage is normally the most difficult, often containing an abstract argument and the writer's views.
- 5
It is minute 18. You are on question 10 of Passage 1 and feel stuck. What is the best action?
- 6
Match each passage to its most typical style.
Passage 1Passage 2Passage 3 - 7
Put the steps of the hybrid approach in the correct order.
Drag the cards (or use the arrows) into the correct order.
- 1Read the first question group and underline keywords
- 2Scan the text to locate each keyword
- 3Glance at the question types for the passage
- 4Read the located sentences carefully and decide the answer
- 5Skim the passage for about two minutes
Answer every question to check.
Mixed practice: four question types, one passage
Work at exam pace. The timer is a guide — it won't stop you.
Review like an examiner, not like a student
Checking your score is only half the job. For every wrong answer, write one line in an error log and label the cause:
| Cause | Example from this practice | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Paraphrase missed | Didn't connect 'less likely to be damaged' with 'far less vulnerable' | Lesson 3: paraphrase |
| Logic error | Chose FALSE for Q2 because 'families' was mentioned | Lesson 4: TFNG logic |
| Instruction error | Wrote 'wealthier landowners' when the limit was ONE WORD | Read limits in bold first |
| Time | Ran out before Q7–8 | Use checkpoints and the 90-second rule |
After five or six practice tests, your log will show a pattern. Most students discover that two causes produce most of their lost marks. Fix those two causes first.
Final quiz: Academic Reading format and timing
10 questions- 1
How are the 40 questions usually distributed across the three passages?
- 2
Who are Academic Reading passages written for?
- 3
If a passage contains technical terms, a short may be provided to explain them.
- 4
Choose TWO statements that are correct about the computer-delivered Reading test.
Select 2.
- 5
A candidate answers 27 questions correctly. What is the most likely band?
- 6
In a True/False/Not Given group, you have found the answers to questions 3 and 5 but not 4. Where should you look for question 4?
- 7
Match each approach to the task it suits best.
Skim-firstQuestions-firstHybrid (quick skim, then group by group) - 8
One minute remains. Four True/False/Not Given answers are still blank. What should you do?
- 9
In the paper-based Reading test, candidates must write all their answers on the answer sheet within the 60-minute time limit. No additional time is given for this.
Paper-based candidates receive ten minutes at the end of the Reading test to transfer their answers.
- 10
Because difficulty rises through the test, a sensible time split is about 17, 20 and minutes for Passages 1, 2 and 3.
Answer every question to check.
Key takeaways
Words from this lesson
Saved as flashcards with a free accountwaterlogged
adjective/ˈwɔːtəlɒɡd/
(of land) so full of water that it cannot absorb any more
জলাবদ্ধ
After the monsoon, many fields in the south remain waterlogged for months.
invasive
adjective/ɪnˈveɪsɪv/
(of a plant or animal) spreading quickly into a new area and harming the species that already live there
আগ্রাসী (বহিরাগত প্রজাতি)
Water hyacinth is an invasive plant that blocks rivers and ponds.
buoyant
adjective/ˈbɔɪənt/
able to float on water or keep something floating
ভাসমান; ভেসে থাকতে সক্ষম
Layers of pressed hyacinth create a buoyant bed for crops.
decompose
verb/ˌdiːkəmˈpəʊz/
to break down slowly through natural processes; to rot
পচে যাওয়া
As the plants decompose, they release nutrients into the soil.
vulnerable
adjective/ˈvʌlnərəbl/
easily harmed or damaged
ঝুঁকিপূর্ণ; সহজে ক্ষতিগ্রস্ত হয় এমন
Low-lying farmland is highly vulnerable to sudden floods.
non-specialist
adjective / noun/ˌnɒnˈspeʃəlɪst/
(a person) without expert knowledge of a particular subject
অ-বিশেষজ্ঞ; সাধারণ পাঠক
IELTS passages are written for a non-specialist audience, so no background knowledge is needed.
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