IELTS Reading: The Basics

 Academic
 General Training
IELTS Reading Practice Tests and Resources
IELTS Reading Tips: Keys to Success
 Pacing
 Scoring
 Vocabulary
 Focus on the Directions
IELTS Reading Tips: Strategy
 Strategy 1
 Strategies 2 and 3
 Strategy 4
IELTS Reading: Question Types and IELTS Reading Samples
 Multiple Choice
 True/False/Not Given
 Yes/No/Not Given
 Matching
 Sentence Completion and Short Answer
 Note, Table, Diagram, or Summary Completion

IELTS Reading: The Basics

There are two versions of the IELTS exam: Academic and General Training. If you don’t know already
which version you need to take, check with the institution(s) to which you plan to apply. The Reading
and Writing sections (but not Speaking and Listening) are quite different between the two formats.
You don’t want to prepare for the wrong one!

The Academic and General Training Reading papers do share some features. For example, both take
60 minutes and contain 40 questions. Also, even though the Reading passages are quite different
between the two exams, the strategy for answering questions is actually very similar. This is because
the question types are generally the same on both versions.

However, the Academic and General Training Reading exams differ in some important ways. Let’s
take a look at their unique features, along with some official IELTS questions for both versions of the
test, so you can get a sense of what to expect.

IELTS Reading: Academic

Academic IELTS Reading passages cover a wide range of subjects, such as science, history, the
environment, etc. You do not need to be an expert in any of these fields. However, test-takers with a

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 large vocabulary have a huge advantage. Academic IELTS Reading passages may contain some
technical terms and even visual materials such as charts and graphs. IELTS commonly uses passages
from professional and academic journals, textbooks, reports, and newspapers.

The Academic Reading paper consists of three passages. For each one, you will answer 10-14
questions. Here are some sample Reading passages and questions from the British Council (the
makers of the IELTS exam) so you can see what Academic Reading passages and questions look like.
Try to answer the questions and see how you do!

 Reading passage 1: Making Time for Science

 Reading passage 2: The Triune Brain
 Reading passage 3: Helium’s Future up in the Air

IELTS Reading: General Training

Like Academic Reading, General Training Reading also includes articles from journals, newspapers
and magazines. However, the majority of the passages are much shorter, with simpler vocabulary.
Additionally, the topics tend to relate to daily life. Some passages, especially towards the beginning of
the General Training Reading paper, are taken from advertisements, guidebooks, magazines, notices,
or employee manuals.

While each version of General Training IELTS Reading can be slightly different, you can generally
expect that the exam will get more and more challenging from beginning to end. In Section 1, there
will be 2 to 3 very short (and relatively simple) articles related to everyday life topics. In Section 2,
there will be two short texts. These are often related to work in some way, such as a job application
or company handbook. Finally, Section 3 will contain a longer text discussing a more academic or
abstract topic. This is the toughest article on the General Training Reading exam.

IELTS Reading Tips: Keys to Success

All of the information in this section applies to both the Academic and General Training IELTS Reading
exams. Let’s start with some important keys to success:

Pacing
Pacing is critical in order to do well on the IELTS Reading paper. This is especially true for the
Academic IELTS, but it also applies to the General Training Reading exam. Sixty minutes is not a lot
of time get through all of the passages and answer 40 questions. Since each question is worth the
same amount of points (1), it makes most sense to divide the 3 sections equally—spending 20

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minutes per section.

Instead of reading each passage carefully, it works much better for most people to “skim” the
Reading passages. This is something we will discuss in detail in the “Strategy” section of this post
below. I advise my students to spend 3 to 5 minutes quickly skimming the passage before looking at
the questions. That leaves 15 to 17 minutes to study the questions and find answers in the text.

Note: Unlike the Listening exam, you do not have an extra 10 minutes to transfer answers from your
Test Booklet to your Answer Sheet. On the Reading paper, you need to record all of your final
answers on the Answer Sheet within 60 minutes.

Scoring
Scoring is fairly simple on the Reading section. Each question is worth 1 point, so you can achieve a
“raw” score of up to 40 points. From there, IELTS converts your “raw” score into your Band score.
You can find a basic band score conversion table on the official IELTS website. However, keep in mind
that each version of the IELTS is slightly different. The tables can give you a general idea about how
“raw” Reading scores are converted to band scores.

It is also important to keep in mind that the hardest questions and the easiest questions count
equally towards your final Reading score. Therefore, if you’re struggling to finish all of the questions
within 60 minutes, make sure you’re not losing out on easier points because you get stuck on hard
questions. Sometimes, you simply won’t understand a question or a segment within a passage fully.
Other times, no matter how hard you try, you won’t find an answer in the text. If this happens, just
make your best guess and move on so you don’t miss out on easier points later in the test! You can
always return to a difficult question later if you have spare time at the end.

Vocabulary
The more vocabulary you know, the easier the IELTS Reading exam will be for you. Vocabulary is
very, very important if you’re aiming for a high Band score. As you prepare for the exam, make sure
to study new words regularly. Your goal should be to learn 15 to 20 new words each day.

Also, try to read in English regularly (15 to 20 minutes per day at least!). It’s an excellent idea to
keep a vocabulary journal as you read. Record new and unfamiliar words, and then define each one

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with a synonym or short definition. Keep it simple. You should return to your list a few times each
week to review, focusing attention on terms you have difficulty remembering.

Focus on the Directions

Attention to detail is very important on the IELTS Reading paper. Unfortunately, too many test-takers
lose points unnecessarily because they don’t pay close attention to the directions. The directions
for each task will tell you how to mark answers on your Answer Sheet. For example, some questions
require numerals (i, ii, iii, iv, v, etc), while others require letters (A, B, C, etc). Short Answer
questions are even more complicated. The directions may say something like, “Choose NO MORE
THAN THREE WORDS from the passage.”
Each set of questions will have its own instructions telling you how to mark your answers. As you
practice, get into the habit of looking at these instructions every time. You don’t want to miss points
because you didn’t notice a key detail in the directions.

IELTS Reading Tips: Strategy

The IELTS Reading exam is probably different than the English reading tests you’ve taken in school.
Most of the time, reading exams involve carefully reading a passage from beginning to end, and then
answering comprehension questions about it. In theory, this is also what you should do on the IELTS
Reading paper.

In practice, this approach doesn’t work very well for most people. The reason is simple—there simply
isn’t enough time on the IELTS Reading paper to read each passage slowly and carefully AND answer
all of the questions. This is especially true on the Academic IELTS, where you only have 60 minutes
to read 3 long and complex passages. On the General Training IELTS, it may be possible to read each
passage carefully if you are a proficient reader. Nevertheless, I still recommend a different approach.
Try these strategies as you practice:

Strategy 1: Skim each passage for 3 to 5 minutes before looking at the

questions.
Learning to skim a passage effectively can save you a lot of time. To skim, simply look over each
paragraph quickly, but in a strategic way. You should read the first line or two of each paragraph
normally, but then you should go over the rest much faster. As you skim, you’re trying to notice

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 words that stand out because they seem important. This helps you to get the “gist,” or the basic
sense of each paragraph.

The ultimate goal of skimming is to notice things in the text that will help you answer questions. You
may find people’s names, or important dates. You may also figure out how a passage is organized.

For example, imagine you are reading a historical text. Often, historical passages are organized
chronologically, from the beginning of a time period to the end. Skimming effectively will help you to
notice this organizational pattern, and this knowledge will most likely help you to find answers to
questions more quickly. Any time you get a question that includes a date or time reference, you’ll
know where to look because you’ve skimmed the passage effectively.

Here is a summary of the key skimming techniques you should master:

1. Notice the title of the passage. It often gives you a general idea about the main idea of the text.
2. Read the first sentence or two of each paragraph. Often, this is where the main idea of each
paragraph is located.
3. Underline words that stand out to you as important. This will help you get a general idea of what is
being talked about.
4. Pick out words that have something in common (i.e., airports, passengers, lounge, fly).
5. Ignore words that you do not know. Focusing on words that are unfamiliar to you will slow you down.
6. At all times, try not to get caught up in the detail when you skim!

Below is an extract from an IELTS Reading passage. Some of the words are in bold after applying the
techniques above. This can help you see how the key information jumps off the page when you
incorporate skimming.
Now try it yourself! Just read the bold parts and ignore everything else. Can you tell what the
passage is mainly about? Could you take a guess at the main idea of each paragraph?

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Strategies 2 and 3: As you skim, underline keywords in the text and write
short notes as reminders in the text.
Strategies 2 and 3 work together with the skimming strategy above. Basically, the goal of
“underlining” and taking “notes” as you skim is that this helps you remember what you learned when
you go to answer questions. It’s very simple. Here’s what you should do:

As you skim, quickly underline each word that seems important in your Question Booklet (which
contains your Reading passage). In other words, don’t just skim with your eyes. Use your pencil to
underline things that stand out as you skim the passage.

Secondly, as you skim, quickly write very short notes (2-5 words) next to each paragraph with

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your best guess about the main idea of that paragraph. You don’t have to be comprehensive or even
100% right about your “guess” in order for it to be [Link] be sure, if you had time to read the
paragraph carefully, you could almost certainly come up with very good and accurate summary notes.
But you might be surprised how close you can come to the main idea of each paragraph just from
skimming.

For example, take another look at the IELTS Reading passage from Strategy 1:

Just by focusing on the words in bold, could you write a few notes next to both paragraphs with your
best guess about each one’s main idea? Try it, and then look at the examples provided immediately
below.

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 Here are some example notes:

 For paragraph B: Amount of helium in Atmosphere

 For paragraph C: Uses of Helium

These simple notes can be incredibly valuable. Many questions ask you to find the main idea of a
paragraph, like you must do for “Matching Headings” questions (which we’ll look at closely later in
this post). Your underlined words and notes can even help you with detail questions by providing
clues about where to search for answers in the text.

Strategy 4: Study the questions, noting keywords, and SCAN the text
strategically for answers
After you’ve thoroughly skimmed the text, you’re ready to turn to the questions. Each question type
is slightly different, so you’ll have to vary your approach in some ways for each new set of questions.
However, the strategy discussed in this section applies to them all. The basic concept is simple: First,
read the questions carefully and look for keywords. Then, you scan the passage for answers.

When you look for keywords in the questions, you should underline the most important ones. This
may sound like a lot of extra work, but it really shouldn’t require a lot of time. As you read, simply
use your pencil to mark up the questions.

These keywords provide the concepts for which you’ll need to search in the passage. As you’re
probably aware, IELTS questions almost never use the same language as the actual reading passage
(except for incorrect answer choices!). Instead, the questions will be paraphrases of information
found in the article. This is one way the IELTS tests your vocabulary.
Paraphrases will be synonyms or different forms of words found in the text. A paraphrase could also
be an entire sentence that conveys the same meaning as a sentence in the passage, while using
different words and sentence structures. When you underline keywords in the questions, you’re
identifying the IDEAS you need to search for in the passage.

Use a strategic approach when you scan the reading passage for answers. It’s best to begin with
questions that have keywords you think you can find easily in the text. When you answer questions
that are “easy” to locate, you will learn a little more about what is contained in the Reading passage
because you had to read some segments closely to confirm your answers. This process continues with

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each question you answer. It is possible (and fairly common!) to find an answer to a different
question than the one you’re searching for at that moment.

What makes one question easier to scan for in the text than another? Perhaps a question stands out
to you because you remember seeing the topic in the text when you skimmed, underlined, and took
notes at the very beginning. But there are some other things that can make an answer easier to find
by scanning. For example, numbers and proper nouns like names or locations often stand out visually
in a text. A date like 1950, and the names Jane Smith and New York City would be very easy to
locate among other words. Once you find the words you’re looking for, read the surrounding
sentences carefully to find the answer to your question.

IELTS Reading: Question Types and IELTS Reading Samples

There are several types of questions you may encounter on the IELTS Reading paper. The
descriptions and tips below will help you understand each one. Make sure to study the official practice
questions as well! Wherever possible, both Academic IELTS and General Training IELTS examples are
included.

Multiple Choice
This is a traditional question type with which you are probably very familiar. You will be asked to
select the correct answer to a question from a set of choices. IELTS Reading Multiple Choice questions
can test a variety of things. Some will focus on details, while others focus on main ideas. As with
other question types, you should look for keywords in the questions and the answer choices before
you scan the passage for answers.

True/False/Not Given
True/False/Not Given questions can be very tricky. These questions consist of several statements.
You need to decide whether each one is TRUE according to the passage. This means that the
information in the question statement agrees with information in the text. However, if the question
statement contradicts something found in the passage, you must mark the answer FALSE.

A third option is also possible. If the information in the question statement cannot be found in the
article (the article does not say whether the statement is true or false), you must mark NOT GIVEN.
This is tough! It is very easy to waste a lot of time searching for something that is, in fact, not there.

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Try your best not to spend excessive time on these questions. If you can’t find an answer after you’ve
searched for it thoroughly in the article, mark NOT GIVEN and move on. You don’t want to lose easier
points because you spent too much time looking for an answer that might not be there at all.

Yes/No/Not Given
Yes/No/Not Given questions are almost exactly the same as True/False/Not Given questions. The
difference is that they focus on ideas, not facts. Yes/No/Not Given questions are common for reading
passages that present an author’s opinions or perspectives. Your job will be to say whether the
statements in the questions agree (YES) or disagree (NO) with what the author states in the essay. If
the information isn’t discussed directly, you must answer NOT GIVEN.

Matching
There are a few types of Matching questions on the IELTS Reading paper. Each one has its own
unique features.

Matching Headings

This type of question asks you to match a list of “headings” to each paragraph in the passage. A
correct heading captures the main idea of one paragraph in the text. Usually, there are some extra
headings in your list which do not work with any of the paragraphs. These extra headings typically do
not represent the text accurately, or (commonly!) they represent a minor idea found within one of the
paragraphs.

To get a headings question correct, you must find the heading that articulates the main idea of a
paragraph. Sometimes, you can find the main idea in the first sentence or two. This is definitely a
good place to look first. But don’t stop reading after the first two sentences as you try to answer
these questions. Scan the remainder of each paragraph to confirm that the heading represents
everything contained in the paragraph in a general way.

Matching Information

This type of question asks you to match information from a list with one of the paragraphs in the
passage. Matching Information questions can be very tricky because you need to search for details.

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 To answer them correctly, you need to find the paragraph that contains the information presented in
the question. As always, this information will be paraphrased, so don’t look for the exact wording in
the text. Search for the same idea.

Matching Features

This type of matching question presents you with a list of items in a box. These items will be
categorized in some way. For example, they may be the names of people or cities. Of course, each
item will be mentioned in the reading passage as well. Your job is to match phrases or sentences in
the questions with the appropriate items listed in the box. If the box includes a list of people
mentioned in the article, then the questions may ask you to match statements with the person who
said them.

Frequently, some choices in the box will not relate to any of the questions, and some choices will be
used more than once. The directions will always tell you whether you may use an answer choice more
than one time.

Try to scan the passage for answers to each question, rather than using the items in the box to direct
your scanning. This is because some answer choices in the box may not relate to any of the
questions, you might waste a lot of time scanning for information that doesn’t answer any of your
questions.

Matching Sentence Endings

For these questions, you will have to match two halves of a sentence. The question will provide the
first part of the sentence. You will have to select an appropriate ending to the sentence from a list of
options. Like other matching questions, it is common to have extra answer choices that do not
answer any of the questions. Keep in mind, correct answers must:

1. be grammatically correct.
2. make sense logically.
3. agree with the information in the reading passage.
Sometimes, you can easily determine that a few answer choices won’t work with some of the
questions because they create ungrammatical or illogical sentences when combined. However, this
only works to eliminate a few combinations. To get the correct answer, you will have to search for
information in the text to confirm that your combined sentence agrees with the passage.

An important feature of these questions is that the answers will come in order in the passage. In
other words, if you find an answer to question 3 first, you will know that the answers to questions 1

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and 2 will be found somewhere before the information for question 3 in the passage. This can be
incredibly helpful if you’re confident you’ve found correct answers to a few questions! It can help you
locate more difficult answers.

IELTS Academic Reading Sample: Matching Sentence Endings

Sentence Completion and Short Answer

Sentence Completion questions and Short Answer questions are very similar. Sentence Completion
questions ask you to fill in a blank at the end of a sentence with some words taken from the text.
Short Answer questions also require you to choose some words from the text for your answer, but the
words you need to fill in aren’t located at the end of a sentence. Typically, you simply need to answer
a question about the text for regular Short Answer questions.

It is very important to read the directions carefully each time. The directions will state a word limit.
For example, they will say you should write “NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS and/or a NUMBER” for
your answer. Some questions limit you to ONE or TWO words. If you exceed the limit, you will miss
the question, so pay close attention to word limits.

On these questions, the answers will come in order in the passage. When you find a correct answer,
you’ll know that the answer to the next question will come later in the text.

Note, Table, Diagram, or Summary Completion

This type of question asks you to complete a set of notes, a table, a diagram, or a summary with
information from the text. Sometimes, this will be a Short Answer question. Other times, you will
choose from a set of answers in a box or from a list.

Very often, the answers to these questions can be found in one portion of the reading passage, so it
is very likely you won’t have to scan the entire text to fill in the necessary information.

Diagram label completion questions are usually associated with hard sciences, especially biology. On
the exam, you’ll often label the body parts of an animal, a diagram of an ecosystem, or other biology-
related infographics.

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 SKIMMING
IELTS Reading Techniques
So what can you do to get faster? Learning strategies that are specific to IELTS Reading is key. It is
essential to master these skills through repeated practice. Importantly, it’s essential to master
skimming and scanning. When you skim, you strategically read different parts of the text to get the
gist of the passage. Scanning, on the other hand, involves strategically looking for key words. The
following method helps many students succeed, but takes some time to master!

1. Spend about 3-4 minutes carefully skimming the text.

 Read the first sentence(s) of each paragraph.

 Skim the remainder of the paragraph, underlining key words as you go. What key words should you focus
on? Look for the names of people, dates, concepts, terminology, and/or steps in a process.
 Overall, try to get the gist of the passage as you skim.
 Try to label each paragraph (2-3 words only), identifying the main topic it contains. This helps you to
locate that paragraph quickly when you answer questions. It is also a good mental exercise because finding
enough information to apply a basic label to a paragraph shows that you are skimming purposefully and
effectively.

2. After scanning, answer questions by scanning. This is challenging. It can be very time consuming
to scan for answers in a text of more than 800 words (that you haven’t read carefully).
The solution: Don’t answer questions in order. In each question set, some answers will be easier to
find in the passage than others:

 As you look over the questions, you might remember where a topic is discussed in the passage. Start with
that question!
 Capitalized names, dates, numbers, etc. stand out among other text when you scan. That information might
be easier to find than other information.
 When you skimmed the text, perhaps you found that the text (or a part of the text) was organized in some
kind of sequence (chronological, steps in a process, etc). This can be a critical clue about where to search
for an answer.
 One of the major benefits of scanning for answers by starting with the easiest (to find) answers in the text
is that it is very likely that you will find answers to other questions in the process of searching for these
easy-to-find answers

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Signal Words in IELTS Reading
An important way to improve your reading skills is to understand the signal words in IELTS reading.
Signal words help the writer to get their ideas into shape. Therefore, they can help us to understand
the structure of an article and identify writers’ views. Besides, they are essential for quickly locating
key information for a question because sometimes the answers are just around these words. Here is
a list of frequently used signal words in IELTS reading articles.

Proper Nouns
Proper nouns refer to particular names, things, places or ideas such as Mary and London. They begin
with capital letters, so they are quite easy to locate in the article.

Try to find the proper noun in the following sentence!

A report published in 1992 by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) emphasized the health
dangers, especially from side-stream smoke.

Key: US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Compare/Contrast Signal words

Compare/contrast signal words can show the likenesses or differences between two or more views or
facts. You will find key information right before or after these words. Here are some
examples: however, but, different from, similar to, although, despite and while.

Try to find the signal word in the following sentence!

Evenings are important for winding down before sleep; however, dietician Geraldine Georgeou warns
that an after-five carbohydrate-fast is more cultural myth than chronobiological demand.

Key: however

Sequence/addition Signals

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Sequence signal words are used to show a certain order between ideas or examples. The common
signal words you will see in the IELTS reading
are first, firstly, second,secondly, third, thirdly, next, in
addition, besides, moreover, furthermore andat last.
Try to find the signal words in the paragraph below!

A number of steps need to be taken in order to avert a costly predicament in the coming
decades. Firstly, all existing supplies of helium ought to be conserved and released only by permit,
with medical uses receiving precedence over other commercial or recreational demands. Secondly,
conservation should be obligatory and enforced by a regulatory agency. At the moment some users,
such as hospitals, tend to recycle diligently while others, such as NASA, squander massive amounts of
helium. Lastly, research into alternatives to helium must begin in earnest.

Key: Firstly, Secondly, Lastly

Cause and Result Signal words

Some signal words can indicate the cause and result relationship such as because, since, for the
reason that, due to, so, therefore, result from and the result of. You can find out the reason or
the effect by locating these words.
Can you find the signal word in this sentence?

Our unique abilities are the result of an expansive third brain – the neocortex – which engages with
logic, reason and ideas.

Key: the result of

Exemplification/illustration Signal words

Exemplification/illustration signals are for giving examples and supporting facts. You can see for
example, for instance, specifically and such as in the IELTS reading passages.
Can you find the signal words in this sentence?

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Recent therapeutic developments for humans such as artificial light machines and melatonin
administration can reset our circadian rhythms, for example, but our bodies can tell the difference
and health suffers when we breach these natural rhythms for extended periods of time.

Key: such as, for example

Clarification signal words

Clarification signal words tell you that the writer is going to further explain an idea. Here are some
examples: that is to say, that is, in other words and to put it another way.
Can you find the signal word in the following sentence?

Numerous creatures, humans included, are largely diurnal – that is, they like to come out during the
hours of sunlight.

Key: that is

Signal Words are useful tools for you to understand an article better. You can circle these words when
you scan or skim the passage, which will help you to quickly locate information when answering the
questions.

Matching Headings to Paragraphs Question Format

These questions test your ability to understand general information. The screenshot below is an
example of a Matching Headings to Paragraphs question taken from one of the IELTS sample reading
tests. In this sample test, you are asked to choose the correct heading for sections A-D and F from
the list of headings provided and write the correct number i-ix in boxes 1-5 on your answer sheet.
Note that in this example there are 9 headings listed but only 6 letters, including the example
provided. Therefore, not all headings will be used.

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 How to Tackle
Below I have provided a step-by-step process to work through these questions. Hopefully by following
these steps, you can learn to tackle these types of questions with ease and quickly move on to the
next section:
 First, you should fully read the entire first sentence of paragraph A slowly and in detail. Often, the
first sentence will give a summary of what the rest of the paragraph will discuss and will usually
correlate exactly to one of the headings listed.
 When reading the first sentence of each paragraph, look for the nouns and adjectives that qualify the
nouns.
Example: In the sample test mentioned above, the first sentence of paragraph A reads: “The role
of governments in environmental management is difficult but inescapable.” I have put the
nouns in bold.

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 Once you have located the key nouns, go back to the headings list and skim through each to see if
any of the headings have the same nouns or synonyms of those nouns.
Example: When I skimmed through the list, I noticed that heading v had similar words that
corresponded to the nouns in the first sentence of paragraph A –
“Governments and management of the environment”
 Next, skim the paragraph to obtain the general information of the paragraph. Remember think about
the general information and not the detail. This should only take a few seconds. (See our tips and
techniques for skimming IELTS Reading passages.) Does the heading that you choose cover all
aspects of the paragraph? Hopefully yes!
 Finally, reread all the other headings listed to double check that none of the others mentioned seem
like they would also work.
 Follow this step by step process for each paragraph.
Additional Tips
 If you have several question types for the same passage, always do the matching headings questions
first, as the headings summarize the text and can help you scan the answers for other questions.
 Look at the example, if there is one. Don’t just cross it out. It may be the introduction, which
organizes other headings.
 The example may be of the second or another paragraph – like above. Still use the heading to predict
the headings next to it.
 Read the instructions! Check to see if you can use a heading more than once.
 Sometimes, there are more paragraphs than headings, so you will need to skim quickly.
 Once you have matched the headings, read them in order and see if the sequence makes sense.

How to Tackle IELTS Reading Questions Yes/No/Not

Given
Yes/No/Not Given Question Format
The screenshot below is an example of a Yes/No/Not Given question taken from one of the British
Council’s Academic Reading Practice Tests. These questions ask you if the given statement agrees or
disagrees with what the writer said in the passage or if the statement was not mentioned in the
passage. These types of questions are used to analyze the claims or opinions of the writer.

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 How to Tackle
These types of questions can be really difficult to answer. First, you must find the correlating
information in the question statement to that of the words the reading passage. Then you must
decide if the reading passage text of the writer agrees or disagrees with the question statement or if
the information was not given at all. Even I find these types of questions hard, and I’m a native
English speaker that used to score high marks on school exams! Hopefully by following these tips
you can learn to tackle these types of questions with ease:
 Read the all of the question statements so that you know what information that you will need to look
for in the reading passage. Note mentally or on a scrap piece of paper any proper nouns, nouns, or
adjectives mentioned.
 Skim and scan the reading passages to find the words that are or relate to the proper nouns, nouns
or adjectives in the question statements. Tackle the statement questions that have proper nouns in
the statements first, as this information is easier to find through scanning. (You can learn how to
skim and scan here.) Then move on to the other questions.
Example: In Question 35 above, you see the proper noun ‘US Congress’. You can quickly scan the
text and find the following sentence: “Although intended to settle the original cost of the reserve by
a U.S. Congress ignorant of its ramifications, the result of this fire sale is that global helium
prices are so artificially deflated that few can be bothered recycling the substance or using it
judiciously.” The bolded text includes both the proper noun US Congress and the information that will
help you answer question 35. (Answer to Question 35: No. The question statement contradicts the
statement of the writer.)

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 Be aware that the words used in the statement questions will often be synonyms or have similar
meanings to the relevant words in the reading passage, so don’t always look for the exact word.
Example: In Question 32 above, you have the statement. “Helium chooses to be on its own.” The
Yes/No/Not Given answer for this statement can be found in the sentence “Helium is even cheerfully
derided as a “loner” element since it does not adhere to other molecules like its cousin,
hydrogen.” See that Helium is described as a ‘loner element’, which is another way of saying that
Helium likes to be ‘on its own’. Therefore the answer to Q32 is Yes. This statement agrees with the
writers.
 If you are finding it very difficult to find the information, there is a high probability that the
information is not given. If you are pushed for time and need to make a guess then go for Not
Given. If you have some more time you can again scan the reading passage for the section where
the statement might appear and check to see if the statement is given.
Example: In Question 33 above you have the statement. ‘Helium is a cold substance.’ I skimmed
the text for the passage that talked about what helium is. The only relevant passage was: ‘ Helium –
an inert, odourless, monatomic element known to lay people as the substance that makes balloons
float and voices squeak when inhaled – could be gone from this planet within a generation.’ I
continued to scan for other adjectives that appeared around the noun Helium, but none mentioned
anything about it being a cold substance. Therefore the answer to Q33 is Not Given.
 Finally, be careful to fully read the corresponding sentence once you find it, as often the reading
passage can be very similar to the statement question so you might think that the answer is Yes, but
if you read carefully, you might find that there is one additional word that makes the answer No.
Example: In a different IELTS Reading sample there was the question statement: “Thirty per cent
of deaths in the United States are caused by smoking-related diseases.” The correlating reading
passage was: “Smoking, it is believed, is responsible for 30 per cent of all deaths from
cancer and clearly represents the most important preventable cause of cancer in countries like
the United States today.” Note the bolded words. If you just scanned the passage you might have
quickly answered this question as a Yes. However, the correct answer is ‘No’, as only 30 percent of
all deaths from CANCER (not all types of deaths) are caused by smoking.

However, many students feel the answer should actually be “NOT GIVEN.” This is because the
passage doesn’t say anything one way or another about the percentage of all deaths caused by
cigarettes. Based strictly on what is said in the passage, it is certainly not impossible that cigarettes
cause both 30% of all cancer deaths and 30% of all deaths as a whole.
In spite of this, “NO” is still the best answer. If a piece of information has not been stated, you need
to judge whether or not it is likely to be true. To judge whether or not a statement is likely to be
true, you can use “common knowledge”– general things we all know about the world.
Think about it this way: If 30% of all deaths are caused by cigarettes, that would mean that about
1/3 of deaths happen due to cigarette use. If you consider the many ways people can die– old age,

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car accidents, war, fever, etc… it just doesn’t seem true that 1/3 of all deaths would be caused by
cigarettes. It also would seem like a very strange coincidence if the percentage of cancer deaths
caused by cigarettes is the exact same as the percentage of all deaths caused by cigarettes.
So while very strict logic within the passage says that it’s “not given” whether or not 30% of all
deaths are caused by cigarettes, common sense and common knowledge would say that “NO,” it’s
unlikely– and probably impossible– that such a figure would be correct. And in yes/no/not give
questions on the IELTS, you will sometimes be expected to use both the information in the passage
and common knowledge.

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