IELTS Academic Reading Question Types

IELTS Academic assesses English for higher education and is taken by millions each year. Its Reading paper uses 11 well-defined question types — the focus for practice with a study tool.

Format

Reading paper: 40 questions in 60 minutes across 3 sections, using 11 question types.

Sections

Reading

3 sections, 40 questions in 60 minutes. Eleven question types, including True/False/Not Given, Yes/No/Not Given, matching headings/features, sentence and summary completion, diagram labelling, and short-answer.

Signature question types

True/False/Not Given & Yes/No/Not Given
Matching headings / information / features
Summary, note, table & flow-chart completion
Multiple choice & sentence completion

New to these formats? See the question-type glossary for how each one works.

Is it adaptive?

IELTS is a fixed, linear test — it does not adapt to your answers.

Practice IELTS Academic with AI Solve Quiz

AI Solve Quiz explains how each IELTS Reading question type works — for example why an answer is "Not Given" rather than "False" — so practice sessions build real understanding.

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Frequently asked questions

How many question types are in IELTS Reading? ▼

IELTS Academic Reading uses 11 official answerable question types, from multiple choice and matching to True/False/Not Given and summary completion.

What is the difference between "False" and "Not Given"? ▼

"False" means the passage contradicts the statement; "Not Given" means the passage neither confirms nor contradicts it — a distinction worth practicing.

Related exams

TOEFL iBT The TOEFL iBT measures academic English for university admission. A major format update takes effect on 21 January 2026, making the test shorter and adaptive. This guide covers the Reading section — the part built from selectable, answerable question types. TOEIC Reading The TOEIC Reading test measures everyday workplace English. It is entirely multiple choice — 100 questions across Parts 5 to 7 in 75 minutes. Cambridge English The Cambridge English qualifications run from A2 Key (KET) up to C2 Proficiency (CPE). Across levels they reuse a recognizable set of Reading and Use of English question types — the answerable parts of each exam. PTE Academic PTE Academic is a fully computer-scored English test known for integrated items that assess more than one skill at once. Its Reading section contains the selectable, answerable formats covered here.

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