AC Reading Practice Test
Test format – Academic Reading
60 minutes
The Reading section consists of 40 questions, designed to test a wide range of reading skills. These include reading for gist, reading for main ideas, reading for detail, skimming, understanding logical argument and recognising writers’ opinions, attitudes and purpose.
IELTS Academic test – this includes three long texts which range from the descriptive and factual to the discursive and analytical. These are taken from books, journals, magazines and newspapers. They have been selected for a non-specialist audience but are appropriate for people entering university courses or seeking professional registration.
IELTS Academic Reading description
Paper format | Three reading passages with a variety of questions using a number of task types |
Timing | 60 minutes |
No. of questions | 40 |
Task types | A variety of question types are used, chosen from the following; multiple choice, identifying information, identifying the writer’s views/claims, matching information, matching headings, matching features, matching sentence endings, sentence completion, summary completion, note completion, table completion, flow-chart completion, diagram label completion and short-answer questions. |
Sources | Texts are taken from books, journals, magazines and newspapers, and have been written for a non-specialist audience. All the topics are of general interest. They deal with issues which are interesting, recognisably appropriate and accessible to test takers entering undergraduate or postgraduate courses or seeking professional registration. The passages may be written in a variety of styles, for example narrative, descriptive or discursive/argumentative. At least one text contains detailed logical argument. Texts may contain non-verbal materials such as diagrams, graphs or illustrations. If texts contain technical terms a simple glossary is provided. |
Answering | Test takers are required to transfer their answers to an answer sheet during the time allowed for the test. No extra time is allowed for transfer. Care should be taken when writing answers on the answer sheet as poor spelling and grammar are penalised. |
Marks | Each question is worth 1 mark. |
- Read through sample papers to familiarise yourself with the different types of tasks/questions and the level of difficulty in the texts that you will come across in the test.
- Practising sample tests/practice tests will enable you to learn to manage time efficiently in the real test.
- Develop the habit of writing answers aligned in the middle of the space provided to you on the OMR, so that your answers are clear and easily readable.
- When reading texts, get into the habit of identifying the introduction, main points or arguments and the conclusions. This will help you organize your thoughts and look for relevant information easily.
- The test gets more difficult as it progresses so you will probably need more time for the questions at the end than for those at the start. Time management is important.
- You must make note of the time allowed in the IELTS test. Completing sample tests in real time will help you build on your speed in reading and understanding of the paper.
- You should use the keys of the Reading practice tests to identify your errors.
- Keep a record of the different types of errors that you may make, such as misspellings, copying numbers or letters incorrectly, or misunderstanding of the opinion of the writer.
- Work on improving your errors and check again to be sure the errors you made earlier are now no longer there.
- Pay attention to any special features in a text: title, headings, sub-headings, underlining, italics, figures, graphs and tables. These will help you understand the text easily.
- You should also pay attention to any examples that are included in the passage.
- You don’t have to read and understand every word in a given passage. You should read for a purpose and find answers to the questions. It doesn’t matter if you do not understand some parts of the text.
- In case any technical words are used in the text their definitions are provided at the bottom of the passage. You must read these definitions to help you understand unfamiliar words.
- Read the questions before reading the text. This will give you a purpose for reading and you will know what parts of the text to focus on to be able to find the right answers.
- It will help you if you begin with getting an idea about the topic of the given passage and how it is developed. So, skim through (read quickly and pick up the main/key words of the text to get a general idea) the text to get an understanding of the text structure, which will be helpful to you when answering the questions.
- One way to manage time according to the increasing difficulty of the test can be to divide it in chunks of, say, 15 minutes for Section 1, 16 minutes for Section 2, 17 minutes for Section 3 and 12 minutes for revision. This will allow you to not only divide time logically for solving the paper, but also give the much-needed time for revision and filling in the answer sheet at the end.
- Keep track of the relationship between questions to be able to link the text for better understanding. For example, when solving a gap fill task, also keep in mind what the next gap is asking for because the two answers will be found in the text in a sequence. If you find one of them, the other one would be around the same part of the text.
- If you have completed all questions and have time to spare, check what you have done. If you have time after the check, check again.
- Check your answer sheet for any grammar, spelling and common mistakes such as if there should be an ‘s’ at the end of a noun or verb or not, or if you have used singular and plural correctly.
- You must write your answers in pencil in the answer sheet. This will allow you the opportunity to make changes.
- While solving a question, do not give any answers based on your knowledge of the topic or what you assume to be right. You must respond based on what is available to you in the text.
- There is a difference between the questions True/False/Not Given and Yes/No/Not Given. T/F/NG requires you to check whether the statements given to you are facts (T) or not (F) or if they are mentioned at all (NG) based on what you read. In Y/N/NG, you need to check whether the statements match the author’s views and claims (Y) or not (N) or, again, if they are mentioned at all (NG). Do not assume that they are the same while writing down answers on the answer sheet.
- Do not write more than one answer in the reading answer sheet for one question. Even if one of them is correct, it will not get you any marks.
- Do not make the mistake of writing extra words for an answer. For example, if you are asked to fill in the gap ‘on ………..’ and the correct answer is ‘Friday’, you must not write ‘on Friday’ as that would be incorrect.
- Getting nervous or confused during the test can be unfavorable for both your efficiency and time management. Pick up a good pace right at the start of the test and maintain the pace throughout the test.
- Write your answers as it is from the text and do not paraphrase them unless asked to.
- Remember that what you write on the question paper will not be marked. You should check your answers and fill them into the OMR at the end of every passage.
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