IELTS General Reading: Free, Authentic Practice Tests Online & Proven Tips & Strategies (2026)
Prepare to boost your band score with reliable, exam-accurate IELTS General Reading practice tests, step-by-step strategies, and practical tips you can apply today. Practice online with authentic papers that mirror the real test, ideal for beginners and advanced candidates alike.
Why these resources work:
- Authentic exam papers: practice sets closely match the real IELTS General Reading format and question types.
- Clear, proven strategies: learn skimming, scanning, time management, and question-type tactics that raise accuracy and speed.
- Beginner to advanced: structured practice and tips for all levels, from foundation skills to advanced inference and reasoning.
- online tests: online practice with answers for self-assessment and targeted review.
- Latest practice: updated reading tests to reflect current test patterns and real past exam material.
How to use them for maximum improvement:
- Start with level-appropriate tests to build confidence.
- Time yourself to simulate test conditions and improve pacing.
- Review answers and error patterns; focus on weak question types.
- Apply targeted strategy drills: skimming for gist, scanning for facts, and deductions for inference questions.
Get started now
Practice online with real exam papers, and follow proven Tips & strategies to confidently improve your reading band score.
Note: Find IELTS General Training Reading tips and strategies at the bottom of this page.
IELTS General Training Reading Test: Practice Materials & Expert Tips & Strategies
Are you preparing for the IELTS General Training (GT) Reading module? Achieving a high band score requires not just language proficiency, but a strategic understanding of the test format.
Whether you are aiming for migration, secondary education, or work experience in an English-speaking environment, our comprehensive guide and practice tests will put you in the driving seat.
Featured Practice Test Collections
Our latest practice materials mirror the diversity of real IELTS exams. Explore our curated reading passages designed to test your comprehension of everyday English and workplace survival skills.
IELTS GT Reading Facts
Time Limit: 60 Minutes
Questions: 40
Format: 3 Sections (gradually increasing in difficulty)
Unlike the Academic module, the General Training Reading test focuses on “survival English.” You will encounter materials you’d expect to see on a daily basis in an English-speaking country such as advertisements, handbooks, notices, and company policies.
Pro Tip: Understanding the “big picture” (gist) as well as spotting minor factual details are crucial skills. Use our IELTS General Reading Band Calculator to track your progress and set realistic goals.
Types of IELTS GT Reading Questions & Tips (And How to Solve Them)
To score Band 7.0 or higher, you must learn and practice all 14 question formats. Below is your cheat sheet for tackling them.
1. Matching Headings
The Task: Choose the correct heading for a paragraph from a list.
- Strategy: Do this first! Read the headings before the text. Analyze the main idea of each paragraph rather than looking for identical words.
- Alert: There are always more headings than paragraphs.
2. True / False / Not Given (Identical to Yes / No / Not Given)
The Task: Verify facts or the writer’s opinion.
- True/Yes: The text confirms the statement.
- False/No: The text says the opposite of the statement.
- Not Given: The information is simply not there (don’t guess!).
- Sequence: Answers usually come in order.
3. Matching Paragraph Information
The Task: Find which paragraph contains specific details.
- Strategy: Paraphrase the question first. You are looking for specific info, not the main idea.
- Sequence: Answers do not come in order.
4. Summary Completion
The Task: Fill in the blanks of a summary text.
- Strategy: Check for grammatical fit (noun, verb, adjective?). Identify keywords in the summary and scan the text for synonyms.
- Sequence: Generally follows the order of the text.
5. Sentence Completion
The Task: Finish a sentence using words from the text.
- Strategy: Read the sentence context carefully. Ensure your chosen word fits grammatically and logically.
- Sequence: Answers typically appear in order.
6. Multiple Choice (MCQs)
The Task: Choose the correct option (A, B, C, or D).
- Strategy: Watch out for distractors, options that look correct but are factually wrong or only partially true.
- Sequence: Answers usually follow the passage order.
7. Diagram Completion
The Task: Label a machine, process, or object.
- Strategy: carefully study the diagram first. Use the labels already provided to orient yourself in the text.
- Sequence: Answers may not follow the text order.
8. Short Answer Questions
The Task: Answer with words or numbers from the text.
- Strategy: Strict word count! If the instruction says “NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS,” writing three is incorrect.
- Sequence: Answers follow the text order.
9. List Selection
The Task: Select the correct options from a long list.
- Strategy: Scan the text for the specific criteria mentioned in the question.
- Sequence: The answers in the key follow the order of the text.
10. Choosing a Title
The Task: Select the best title for the whole passage.
- Strategy: Leave this for last. It requires a holistic understanding of the author’s main purpose or theme.
11. Classification
The Task: Sort statements into categories (e.g., Which person said what?).
- Strategy: Locate the categories (e.g., names of people) in the text first, then read what is associated with them.
12. Matching Sentence Endings
The Task: Match the first half of a sentence with the correct ending.
- Strategy: The complete sentence must make grammatical sense and match the meaning in the text.
13. Table Completion
The Task: Fill in missing data in a table.
- Strategy: Read the column and row headers to understand what specific detail you are hunting for.
14. Flow Chart Completion
The Task: Fill in the steps of a process.
- Strategy: Follow the arrows! Identify where the process starts and ends in the text.
- Sequence: Answers do not always follow the text order.
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