IELTS General Training · Reading
IELTS General Training Reading
IELTS General Training Reading has three sections, 40 questions and 60 minutes. Section 1 uses short everyday texts, Section 2 uses workplace texts, and Section 3 is one longer text on a general-interest topic. The texts total about 2,150 to 2,375 words.
- Sections
- 3 (Section 1 to Section 3)
- Questions
- 40
- Time
- 60 minutes, one timer for all sections
- Texts
- Everyday texts, workplace texts, one longer general-interest text
- Total length
- About 2,150 to 2,375 words
- Score
- Band 0 to 9 from your raw score out of 40
How IELTS General Training Reading works
General Training Reading tests the kind of English you meet living and working in an English-speaking country. Section 1 has two or three short texts such as notices and timetables. Section 2 has two work-related texts such as job adverts and staff policies. Section 3 is one longer article-style text, and it is the most demanding.
Question types include TRUE/FALSE/NOT GIVEN, YES/NO/NOT GIVEN, matching, multiple choice, and sentence, note or summary completion. Each correct answer earns one mark, and the total out of 40 is converted to a band score. Check the official IELTS site for the current conversion.
IELTS General Training Reading tasks
Tips that work
- Plan your 60 minutes: move faster through Section 1 to leave 20 minutes or more for Section 3.
- Read the question first, then scan for the matching detail.
- Copy completion answers exactly from the text and keep to the word limit.
- Answer every question; a blank cannot score.
Questions candidates ask
How is General Training Reading different from Academic Reading?
Academic Reading uses three long academic passages. General Training uses everyday and workplace texts in Sections 1 and 2, then one longer general-interest text. The question types are similar.
Can I move between sections?
Yes. One 60-minute timer covers all three sections, and you can move between them freely, so you decide how to divide your time. Most candidates keep the largest share for Section 3.
How much Reading practice is there?
Each exam has 200 practice sets, with exam-style practice for every Reading section, plus 50 full mock tests that include a complete 60-minute Reading test. The first mock is free.
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