GrowSkills | IELTS Reading Question Types: Information & Tips

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:
- 1- understanding the aim of a section
- 2- identifying the difference between a main idea and supporting points
- 3 - understanding aims of paragraphs and sections
- 4 - understanding general content of paragraphs or sections
Tips
- 1 - read the headings before you read the passage
- 2 - there are often more headings than you need
- 3 - analyse the headings before trying to match them to sections or paragraphs
- 4- answers are often numerals (i, ii, iii, iv etc) – read instructions carefully to check
- 5 - answers do not come in order

** Click to practice a matching heading question
Academic Reading sample task – Matching headings

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:
- 1 - identifying specific information in the passage
- 2 - scanning and understanding information (T/F/NG questions)
- 3 - understanding the opinions of the writer (Y/N/NG questions)

Tips :
- 1 - 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

- 2 - paraphrase the statements before trying to locate the answers
- 3 - answers come in order

Click to practice some , true, false not given questions , yes, no, not given questions

For more Practices http://www.growskills.co.uk/Blog/read_single/38

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:
- 1 - identifying specific information
- 2 - scanning for information
Tips:
- 1 - paraphrase the information in the question
- 2 - find the information in the passage
- 3 - answers do not come in order
- 4 - the answer is often a letter (A, D, C, D…) – read instructions carefully to check
- 5 - not all paragraphs may be used

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:
- 1 - scanning for specific information in the passage
- 2 - understanding ideas and supporting points
- 3 - selecting appropriate words
Tips:
- 1 - identify the type of word needed for each gap (noun/verb/adjective etc)
- 2 - locate the information in the passage in order to choose the right word
- 3 - if you choose words from the passage, check how many words can be used for each answer
- 4 - answers usually come in order
- 5 - the summary must be grammatically correct which can help you in choosing the right word for the gap

5. Sentence Completion Questions

Task: Completing sentences by filling in the gap with words from the passage
Skills:
-1 - scanning for specific information
- 2 - selecting appropriate words
- 3 - understanding information in the passage
Tips:
- 1 - identify the type of word needed for each gap (noun/verb/adjective etc)
- 2 - locate the information in the passage in order to choose the right word
- 3 - the sentences must be grammatically correct which can help you in choosing the right word for the gap
- 4 - check how many words can be used for each answer
- 5 - answers usually come in order

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:
- 1 - scanning for specific Information
- 2 - understanding information in the passage
Tips:
- 1 - paraphrase the information in the question and options
- 2 - locate the precise information in the passage
- 3 - answers come in order
- 4 - answers are usually letters (A,B,C or D) – read the instructions carefully to check

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:
- 1 - scanning for information
- 2 - understanding information in the passage
- 3 - identifying ideas relating to others
Tips:
- 1 - read through the list and prepare paraphrases
- 2 - read through the questions and identify key words
- 3 - locate the information in the passage
- 4 - answers come in order
- 5 - 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:
- 1 - identifying aims of a passage
- 2 - distinguishing between detail and main aims
Tips :
- 1 - look at the differences between the possible titles
- 2 - pay attention to the opening paragraphs and closing paragraphs of the passage
- 3 - don’t spend too much time on this question – it is only worth one point

9. Categorisation Questions

Task: Decide which category the information belongs to from a list.
Skills:
- 1 - locating information in the passage
- 2 - categorising information
Tips:
- 1 - find information in the passage
- 2 - decide which category the information belongs to
- 3 - 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:
- 1 - locating information in the passage
- 2 - understanding information
Tips:
- 1 - read through the sentences and then read through the possible endings
- 2 - prepare paraphrases
- 3 - find information in the passage
- 4 - choose the best ending to match the information in the passage
- 5 - the completed sentence must be grammatically correct
- 6 - sentence beginnings follow the order of information the passage
- 7 - answers are usually letters (A-G) – read instructions carefully to check
- 8 - there are usually more endings given than you need

11. Table Completion

Task: Completing the table using the correct word from the passage.
Skills:
- 1 - locating specific information in the passage
- 2 - choosing appropriate words
- 3 - understanding details
Tips:
- 1 - read the column headings in the table
- 2 - identify the type of word needed for each part of the table
- 3 - scan the passage for information
- 4 - answers are often located in a specific part of the passage
- 5 - 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:
- 1 - locating specific information in the passage
- 2 - choosing appropriate words
- 3 - understanding details and order of information
Tips:
- 1 - identify the type of word needed for each part of the flow chart
- 2 - scan the passage for information
- 3 - answers do not always come in order
- 4 - use the direction of the arrows and boxes to follow the order of information in the chart
- 5 - select the appropriate words from the passage
- 6 - check the number of words that can be used for each answer

13. Diagram Completion Questions

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

14. Short Answer Questions

Task: Answering questions regarding details in the passage.
Skills:
- 1 - locating information in the passage
- 2 - understanding detail and specific information
Tips:
- 1 - identify the type of words you need for each answer (noun,verb etc)
- 2 - paraphrase vocabulary in the questions
- 3 - scan the passage to locate information
- 4 - check how many words you can use for the answers
- 5 - answers come in order

For more Practices and More Resources Please WhatsApp our Admission staff and Publishing Booklet Stores on ( 01157488111 )

Or E-mail us info@growskills.net

Share Exp. and Success Stories on Social :)
www.facebook.com/groups/Way2IELTSTOEFL