IELTS Academic · Reading · R2

IELTS Academic Reading Passage 2: Discursive Academic Text

IELTS Academic Reading Passage 2 is the middle text of the 60-minute Reading test. It usually discusses an issue or presents several points of view, for example a debate in education or technology. Typical tasks include matching headings to paragraphs, matching information or features, multiple choice and completion questions.

Section: Passage 2 of 3; 40 questions across all three
Time: Shares the single 60-minute Reading timer
Text type: Discursive: an issue, argument or several viewpoints
Common task types: Matching headings, matching information, matching features, multiple choice, 'Choose TWO'

How it works

1You open Passage 2 from the passage tabs; paragraphs are usually labelled with letters.
2The questions appear beside the passage, grouped by task type with their own instructions.
3For matching tasks, you choose a heading, paragraph letter or name from a list.
4You can return to any earlier answer until the Reading timer ends.

Sample question

Original sample · not from an official test

Choose the correct heading for Paragraph C from the list below. Paragraph C: Supporters of shorter school terms point to lower staff absence, but the evidence is mixed. In two districts that shortened terms, teacher sick days fell by a fifth; in a third, they did not change at all. Researchers note that the districts differed in pay and class size, which makes a direct comparison difficult.

Ai Why teachers prefer longer holidays
Bii Uncertain results from districts that tried the change
Ciii The cost of reorganising the school year
Div Parents' views on term length

Show answer

Answer: ii Uncertain results from districts that tried the change

The paragraph reports different outcomes in different districts and says a comparison is difficult, so its main idea is uncertain evidence. Heading i picks up the word 'teachers' but not the point; costs and parents are not discussed.

Tips that work

For headings, read the first two sentences and the last sentence of each paragraph, then decide its main idea before looking at the list.
Ignore headings that match a single word or detail; a heading must fit the whole paragraph.
Matching information questions are not in text order. Underline the key idea and scan every paragraph for it.
For 'Choose TWO' questions, check that both of your choices are separately supported in the text.

Common mistakes

Choosing a heading because it repeats a word from the paragraph.
Assuming matching information questions follow paragraph order.
Leaving answers blank; there is no penalty for a wrong answer, so always answer.

Questions candidates ask

How many questions are in Passage 2?

The number varies between tests. The three passages together always have 40 questions, usually split fairly evenly. Look at the question numbers on screen to see how many belong to this passage.

Can the same heading be used twice?

No, in matching headings each heading is used once at most, and there are more headings than paragraphs. In other matching tasks, such as matching features, the instructions may say you can use a letter more than once. Read each instruction.

How should I practise Passage 2?

Work on one task type at a time, then do full timed passages. Our practice sets use the real question formats for this passage, and a full mock test puts all three passages under one 60-minute timer.