AOTEAROA NZCHE
A CATHOLIC COLLEGE OF HIGHER EDUCATION

IELTS Academic Reading assesses your ability to understand and analyze complex academic texts. It tests a wide range of reading skills important for success in university studies. Here's a breakdown of what to expect:

The Test Format:

• You'll be given one hour to complete the Reading section.

• There are three passages, each focusing on a different academic topic.

• The passages come from various sources like journals, books, and newspapers.

• You'll answer 40 questions in total, with a variety of question formats used across the three passages.

Question Types:

• There are different question types designed to test your comprehension, analysis, and critical thinking skills. Some common formats include:

  • Multiple choice: Choose the answer that best matches the information in the passage.

  • Identifying information: True/False/Not Given questions based on details in the text.

  • Matching headings/features/sentence endings: Link information from the questions to relevant parts of the passage.

  • Short answer questions: Briefly answer questions based on factual information in the text.

  • Summary/note/table/diagram completion: Fill in the blanks with missing information from the passage.

Tips for Success:

• Practice reading academic texts beforehand. Familiarize yourself with the writing style and vocabulary used in academic contexts.

• Develop strong skimming and scanning skills. Skimming allows you to grasp the overall meaning of a passage,while scanning helps you locate specific details to answer questions.

• Learn to identify key points and supporting arguments. Pay attention to the main ideas, evidence, and conclusions presented in the text.

• Manage your time effectively. Allocate sufficient time to each passage and question type based on difficulty.

• Don't get stuck on one question. If you're struggling, move on and come back later if you have time.