IELTS Reading Practice against the clock, with the proof line
134 standalone IELTS Reading passages plus 60 full mock tests, across Academic and General Training, timed like the real test, with answer explanations that point at the line in the passage that proves the answer and name the trap that was set for you.
Written by Manish Sharma · CELTA and DELTA qualified · 8 years teaching IELTS
Practise reading freeAcademic and General Training
Academic passages and General Training workplace notices, adverts and handbooks, marked with the right paper's rules.
Real 60 minute timing
40 questions, 3 sections, one clock. Reading is a speed test, so we make you practise it as one.
The proof line
Explanations show why the answer is right, which trap was set, and the technique that catches that trap next time.
Every question type
True, False, Not Given, matching headings, sentence and summary completion, matching information and multiple choice.
How IELTS reading practice works
You pick an Academic or General Training passage, the clock starts, and you answer in the same layout as the computer based test. When you finish, the questions open up: the sentence in the passage that carries the answer, the trap the question was built around, and the technique that would have caught it. That is the difference between checking answers and building the skill.
Why candidates run out of time
Most people do not fail Reading on English, they fail it on the clock. 40 questions in 60 minutes leaves about 20 minutes a section, including transferring answers. The fix is reading the questions first, scanning for keywords instead of reading end to end, and refusing to spend more than about 90 seconds on any single question. Timed practice is the only way that becomes a habit.
True, False, Not Given, and the rest
True, False, Not Given is the question type that costs the most marks, because False and Not Given feel the same under pressure. False means the passage contradicts the statement. Not Given means the passage is silent on it. The bank drills that difference, plus matching headings, summary and sentence completion, matching information, and multiple choice.
Academic Reading and General Training Reading are not the same paper
Academic Reading uses three long passages from journals, books and periodicals. General Training uses shorter workplace and everyday texts in sections 1 and 2, then one longer passage in section 3, and it is marked on a more generous band table. Practising the wrong paper wastes your preparation, so pick the one your visa or university actually asks for.
Frequently asked questions
How many reading practice tests are there?+
134 standalone passages plus 60 full timed mock tests, so 194 in total, covering both Academic and General Training.
Is IELTS Reading practice free?+
Yes. You can work through reading practice free before you create an account.
What is the difference between False and Not Given?+
False means the passage says the opposite of the statement. Not Given means the passage never addresses it. If you have to reason or assume to decide, the answer is almost always Not Given.
How do I finish all 40 questions in 60 minutes?+
Read the questions before the passage, scan for keywords rather than reading every word, give each section about 20 minutes, and never leave a blank. There is no penalty for a wrong guess.
Does it cover General Training reading?+
Yes. General Training passages use the workplace notices, adverts and handbooks the real GT paper uses, and are marked against the GT band table.
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Practise reading freeReading guides to read next
How to Improve IELTS Reading: Read the Questions First, Not the Passage
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IELTS True/False/Not Given: The Complete Strategy Guide
Not Given is the answer that confuses everyone. If the passage does not mention it, it is Not Given, even if you know the fact is true in real life.
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IELTS Matching Headings: What to Do When Two Headings Both Fit
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Skimming vs Scanning in IELTS Reading: When Each One Is the Wrong Choice
Both techniques are real and both are oversold. Here is when scanning walks you into the trap, when skimming misses the heading, the third gear nobody teaches, and the timing arithmetic across all three passages.
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