IELTS Reading Question Types: Information & Tips

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In IELTS Reading, there are 14 different types of questions that you can be given. In
IELTS reading, you will have only one hour to read 3 passages and answer 40 questions.
These questions are always divided into different types of questions which you must
complete. Each passage usually has about 3 or 4 different types of questions to answer.
In order to prepare well for your test, you must make sure that you practice each type of
question. Below is a list of the question types  you can get in IELTS reading with
information and tips to help you.

1. Matching Headings Questions

 Task: Choose a heading from the list which matches a section or paragraph in
the passage
 Skills:
o understanding the aim of a section
o identifying the difference between a main idea and supporting points
o understanding aims of paragraphs and sections
o understanding general content of paragraphs or sections
 Tips
o read the headings before you read the passage
o there are often more headings than you need
o analyse the headings before trying to match them to sections or
paragraphs
o answers are often numerals (i, ii, iii, iv etc) – read instructions carefully to
check
o answers do not come in order
 Click to practice a matching heading question.

2. True False Not Given / Yes No Not Given Questions

 Task: Decide if the information or writer’s opinion in the question statements can
be found in the passage
 Skills:
o identifying specific information in the passage
o scanning and understanding information (T/F/NG questions)
 o understanding the opinions of the writer (Y/N/NG questions)
 Tips
o Understand the meaning of each answer
 yes / true = the same information is found in the passage
 no / false = the opposite information is found in the passage
 not given = the information is not found in the passage
o paraphrase the statements before trying to locate the answers
o answers come in order
 Click to practice some true, false not given questions and some yes, no, not given
questions.

3. Matching Paragraph Information Questions

 Task: Matching the information given in the question with information found in
one of the paragraphs in the passage.
 Skills:
o identifying specific information
o scanning for information
  Tips:
o paraphrase the information in the question
o find the information in the passage
o answers do not come in order
o the answer is often a letter (A, D, C, D…) – read instructions carefully to
check
o not all paragraphs may be used
 Click to practice matching paragraph information questions.

4. Summary Completion Question

 Task: Completing a summary by filling in the gaps using words from the passage
or words given in a box
 Skills:
o scanning for specific information in the passage
o understanding ideas and supporting points
o selecting appropriate words
 Tips:
o identify the type of word needed for each gap (noun/verb/adjective etc)
o locate the information in the passage in order to choose the right word
 o if you choose words from the passage, check how many words can be
used for each answer
o answers usually come in order
o the summary must be grammatically CORRECT which can help you in
choosing the right word for the gap
 Click to practice a summary completion question.

5. Sentence Completion Questions

 Task: Completing sentences by filling in the gap with words from the passage
 Skills:
o scanning for specific information
o selecting appropriate words
o understanding information in the passage
 Tips:
o identify the type of word needed for each gap (noun/verb/adjective etc)
o locate the information in the passage in order to choose the right word
o the sentences must be grammatically correct which can help you in
choosing the right word for the gap
o check how many words can be used for each answer
o answers usually come in order
 Click to practice a sentence completion question.

6. Multiple Choice Questions

 Task: Choose the correct answer to a question or the correct ending to a

sentence from usually 3 or 4 possible options.
 Skills:
o scanning for specific Information
o understanding information in the passage
 Tips:
o paraphrase the information in the question and options
o locate the precise information in the passage
o answers come in order
o answers are usually letters (A,B,C or D) – read the instructions carefully to
check
 Click to practice a multiple choice questions
7. List Selection

 Task: Choose the correct option from a list of words, information or names. This
differs from multiple choice because the questions all relate to only one long list
of possible answers.
 Skills:
o scanning for information
o understanding information in the passage
o identifying ideas relating to others
 Tips:
o read through the list and prepare paraphrases
o read through the questions and identify key words
o locate the information in the passage
o answers come in order
o answers are usually letters (A-G) – read the instructions carefully to check

8. Choosing a Title

 Task: Choosing the most appropriate title from a list

 Skills:
o identifying aims of a passage
o distinguishing between detail and main aims
 Tips
o look at the differences between the possible titles
o pay attention to the opening paragraphs and closing paragraphs of the
passage
o don’t spend too much time on this question – it is only worth one point
 Click to practice choosing a title

9. Classification Questions

 Task: Decide which category the information belongs to from a list.

 Skills:
o locating information in the passage
o categorising information
 Tips:
o find information in the passage
o decide which category the information belongs to
 o  look out for paraphrases

10. Matching Sentence Endings

 Task: Completing sentences by matching the start of the sentence with the
correct ending given in a list.
 Skills:
o locating information in the passage
o understanding information
 Tips:
o read through the sentences and then read through the possible endings
o prepare paraphrases
o find information in the passage
o choose the best ending to match the information in the passage
o the completed sentence must be grammatically correct
o sentence beginnings follow the order of information the passage
o answers are usually letters (A-G) – read instructions carefully to check
o there are usually more endings given than you need
 Click to practice matching sentence endings to improve your reading skills.
Answers do not always come in order.

11. Table Completion

 Task: Completing the table using the correct word from the passage.
 Skills:
o locating specific information in the passage
o choosing appropriate words
o understanding details
 Tips:
o read the column headings in the table
o identify the type of word needed for each part of the table
o scan the passage for information
o answers are often located in a specific part of the passage
o check how many words you can use for the answer

12. Flow Chart Completion Questions

 Task: Completing the flow chart using the correct words from the passage.
  Skills:
o locating specific information in the passage
o choosing appropriate words
o understanding details and order of information
 Tips:
o identify the type of word needed for each part of the flow chart
o scan the passage for information
o answers do not always come in order
o use the direction of the arrows and boxes to follow the order of
information in the chart
o select the appropriate words from the passage
o check the number of words that can be used for each answer

13. Diagram Completion Questions

 Task: Labelling a diagram

 Skills:
o locating information in the passage
o relating the information to the diagram
o choosing appropriate words
 Tips
o identify the type of word needed for the answer (noun / verb etc)
o find the information in the passage
o the information is usually located in one specific paragraph or two in the
passage
o check how many words you can use for the answer
o answer do not always come in order

14. Short Answer Questions

 Task: Answering questions regarding details in the passage.

 Skills:
o locating information in the passage
o understanding detail and specific information
 Tips:
o identify the type of words you need for each answer (noun,verb etc)
o paraphrase vocabulary in the questions
o scan the passage to locate information
o check how many words you can use for the answers
o answers come in order