Academic & General Training · Every question type · Free
IELTS Reading Practice Tests with Instant Explanations
Academic and General Training tests under real 60-minute timing, covering every question type. Each one is graded the moment you submit, with an explanation for every answer.
What reading practice tests are available?
The library covers both Academic and General Training, with each test made up of three passages and 40 questions. Difficulty runs from a gentle band 5.5 all the way up to a genuinely hard band 9.0, so you can start where you are and climb as you improve.
Start at your current band, confirm you can hold 30+ correct answers, then step up. Reading speed built on progressively harder passages transfers directly to test day.
Which question types does IELTS Reading use?
Every question type in the real exam is here, weighted the way the exam weights them: heavy on True/False/Not Given, multiple choice and matching headings.
Try a sample reading question
True / False / Not Given. The passage says: “The factory reduced its energy use by installing solar panels in 2019.” The statement reads: “The factory installed solar panels to cut costs.”
Answer: Not Given. The passage gives the result (less energy) but never the motive (costs). A plausible inference is still Not Given. False requires direct contradiction. That single distinction decides several marks on almost every test.
How does instant grading make practice faster?
- Graded on submit with the Academic or GT conversion applied automatically
- Every question links to the exact sentence in the passage that justifies the answer
- Question-type analytics show where your marks leak (e.g. headings vs T/F/NG)
- Timed skimming and scanning drills build speed separately from accuracy
- Progress history tracks band trend across attempts
Frequently asked questions
How can I practice IELTS Reading online for free?
IELTSLab’s Free plan includes unlimited full Reading tests (three passages, 40 questions, real 60-minute timing), graded instantly with per-question explanations. No card is needed.
Does IELTSLab cover both Academic and General Training Reading?
Yes, both: a full library of Academic tests and General Training tests, always growing. Academic uses three long journal-style texts; General Training mixes everyday notices, workplace documents and one longer text.
How many correct answers is band 7 in IELTS Reading?
Roughly 30 out of 40 on Academic and about 34 out of 40 on General Training, based on the tables in official practice materials. GT texts are easier, so the threshold is higher. Our band score calculator shows both full tables.
What is the hardest IELTS Reading question type?
Candidates most often lose marks on True/False/Not Given (the False-versus-Not-Given distinction), matching headings (paragraph main ideas versus details), and matching paragraph information. These are also the most common types, and our catalog is heavy on True/False/Not Given questions so you can drill the skill properly.
How should I manage time in the Reading test?
You get 60 minutes for 3 passages and 40 questions with no transfer time. A workable split is 17–18 minutes for passage 1, 20 for passage 2, and 22–23 for passage 3, since difficulty rises. Never park on one question; flag it, move on, and return at the end.
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