The IELTS Academic Reading Module is a test for assessing one's ability to read and understand academic texts, very much necessary for success in university settings outside one's country. In this blog, we'll delve into the module's purpose, structure, types of passages and question types in it so you can ace your preparation.

Purpose of the IELTS Academic Reading Module

The Academic Reading Module evaluates how well you can:

·         Extract key information from academic texts.

·         Identify main ideas and supporting details.

·         Use critical thinking to answer text-based questions.

Your performance in this component indicates your preparedness for academic work in an English-speaking world.

Module Structure

This module comprises three sections, each featuring a passage followed by 13-14 questions, making a total of 40 questions. Test-takers are given 60 minutes to complete the module, requiring efficient time management. Each correct answer gets one mark. You get a band score from 1–9 in whole or half bands, for example, 4 or 6.

The questions cover diverse formats like:

•              Multiple Choice

•              True/False/Not Given

•              Matching Information, and more.

Understanding these formats is crucial for building strategies to maximize your score. You must transfer your answers to an answer sheet. You must transfer your answers in the time allocated to the Reading test-an hour. There is no extra transfer time, as there was with the listening test.

You will lose marks for misspelling and poor grammar if you write your answers on the answer sheet.

Types of Passages and Their Sources

IELTS Academic Reading passages are sourced from real-world academic materials, such as:

•              Journals

•              Books

•              Magazines

•              Newspapers

Topics range from science to arts, technology, and social issues. This allows it to reflect varying levels of complexities and styles to test the flexibility with writing conventions. The topics are of general interest to undergraduate or postgraduate students. A variety of writing styles may be used in the texts, such as narrative, descriptive or discursive/argumentative. One of the pieces of writing contains an extended, logical argument. A number of these texts include diagrams, graphs, or illustrations. If technical vocabulary is used in the text, then a dictionary definition is given.

Levels of Complexity and Variety

Each passage gets progressively harder. But the first passage is easy and about basic comprehension. The third passage contains more complicated ideas, needing good inferences and analytical skills.

The mixture ensures to give you a whole-rounded assessment of how well you can cope with academic texts.

IELTS Reading Question Types

Multiple Choice Questions

How does it work? 
You may have four possible endings for the first half of a sentence, or a question with four possible answers. You must select one correct answer out of A, B, C, or D and mark the correct answer on your answer sheet. Sometimes you will be given several options and have to choose between just a couple. Read the question carefully to see how many you must select. The answers to the questions follow the same sequence as the information in the text, i.e. the first question will be answered before the second, and so on.

Identify information (True/False/Not Given) 
You have to write 'True', 'False' or 'Not Given' in the boxes on your answer sheet. The difference between 'FALSE' and 'NOT GIVEN' is important to understand.

·         FALSE That is, the statement contradicts information in the text.

·         The statement 'NOT GIVEN' means that the statement neither agrees with nor contradicts the information in the text.

In making your choice, you must avoid drawing on any knowledge you may have of the subject of the text in making your choice.
 

Skills Evaluation: This type of question tests your comprehension of the nuances contained within the text.

YES/NO/NOT GIVEN

There are several statements that you are given in this type of question. Boxes on your answer sheet will have the following requirements for you to fill in "Yes, No, or Not Given". It is essential to know the difference between 'NO' and 'NOT GIVEN'.

·         The word 'NO' indicates that it contradicts the writer's view or claim.

·         The word 'NOT GIVEN' means that it neither supports nor opposes the writer's view or claim. There is no reliance on pre-existing knowledge of the content of the text when making your decision.

Matching Information

This kind of question demands that you find specific information within the sections, or paragraphs, of a text. There are letters that identify the paragraphs (or sections). The letters of the correct paragraphs or sections should be written in the boxes on your answer sheet. 
Some paragraphs (or sections) may be used more than once. Here is how the question looks: When paragraphs or sections are used more than once, the instructions will say: 'You may use any letter more than once. 
 

Skills Evaluation: It focuses on specific information rather than the main idea, specific details, an example, a reason, a description, a comparison, a summary or an explanation may be required.
 

Matching Headings

There are headings that are identified by Roman numerals in this type of question. A heading is used to summarize the main idea of a paragraph or section of text. The heading must be matched to the appropriate paragraph or section. Letters identify the sections or paragraphs. The correct Roman numerals must be entered into the spaces on your answer sheet. Some headings won't be used because there's always more than one in a paragraph or section. It is also possible that some paragraphs or sections may not be included in the task. The question paper itself may have a heading that matches one or more paragraphs or sections. The heading cannot be used more than once.  
 

Skills Evaluation: This type of question tests your ability to recognize the general topic of a paragraph (or section) and to distinguish between a main idea and a supporting idea.
 

Matching features

A list of statements or pieces of information needs to be matched to the given options in this type of question.

·         Options are a collection of features from the text, and letters are used to identify them. The correct letter should be spelled out on the answer sheet.

·         The descriptions of inventions may have to match the people who came up with them. 
Some options may never be used, and some options may be used more than once. The instructions will specify that you can use any option more than once when appropriate.

Skills evaluation: This question tests your ability to identify relationships and connections between facts in the text and your ability to recognize opinions and theories. You should be able to skim and scan the text to find the information quickly so that you can read that part more carefully for detail. 

Matching Sentence Endings

In this type of question, you are given the first half of a sentence based on information in the text and you have to choose the best way to complete the sentence from a list of possible endings. Letters identify the endings. You won't use all the endings of your sentences because there are more of them. Write the letter you prefer on the answer sheet. The sentences start in the same order of information from the text. 
 

Skills Evaluation: Your ability to comprehend the overall impressions in the text is tested. 

Completion of Sentences

The question requires you to fill the gap in each sentence by selecting words from the text. The words you select have to appear on the answer sheet. The number of words or numbers you may use to fill the gaps may vary if you read the instructions carefully. There is a word limit, for example, 'no more than two words and/or a number". If you write more than the word limit, you will lose the mark. Contracted words, such as 'they're', will not appear in any questions. Single words such as 'check-in' are hyphenated and must be included as such. The questions occur in the order of the text. 
 

Skills Evaluation: This style of question tests your ability to locate detail and specific information that is in a text.
 

Summary/note/table/flow chart completion
In this type of question, you are given a summary of a part of the text and are asked to complete it using words from the text. It's worth noting that the summary isn't always the entire text. The summary could take the following form.

·         There is running text: a summary in the instructions

·         There are several notes (the instructions call them 'notes')

·         A table which is partially blank or partly blank (in the instructions, it's called a table)

·         There are boxes or steps having arrows that indicate the sequence of events, some of them are empty or partly empty (it's called a 'flow chart' in the instructions)

The answers may come in an order other than the text suggests. They will usually come from one part of the text.
There are two kinds of exercises. In the first variation you have to pick words from the text that fit into gaps on the question paper. You are obliged to write the words you pick on the answer sheet. This may change the number of words or numbers you could use to fill in the gaps, so be careful to read the instructions. For example, there is a word limit as follows: 'no more than two words and/or a number.' The mark will be lost if you exceed the word limit. 'They' is an example of contracted words which are not to be tested. Single words such as 'check-in' count as hyphenated words.
To fill in the gaps, you need to select from a word list. Letters indicate the words. The letter you choose must appear on the answer sheet spelled out.
 

Skills Evaluation: You're putting your knowledge to the test by asking this type of question. When answering this type of question, it's important to consider the kind of words that will fill the void, for example, whether a noun or verb is appropriate, etc.

Diagram label completion

Labels must be filled in for a diagram with this type of question. The text creates the diagram from a description. The diagram might be the style of a machine, part of a building, or other information provided in the text that can be reflected in pictures. Write down the words that fill the blank space on the answer sheet.
The number of words, or numbers, you could use to fill in the gaps can vary so be sure to read the instructions very carefully. For example, you could be given a word limit such as no more than two words and/or a number. If you use more than the word limit the mark will be lost. Condensed phrases like 'they' won't be tested. 'Check-in' counts as a hyphenated word is an example of a single word. The answers may come in different order than the text suggests. However, they will usually come from one section of the text rather than the whole text.
 

Skills Evaluation: The question tests your ability to understand a detailed description in the text and relate it to information given in a diagram.
 

Short-answer Questions  

You must respond to questions related to factual information in the text. You must write your responses in words or numbers on the answer sheet. Your responses must be based on words in the text. There is a word limit, for instance, 'no more than two words and/or a number. Your score will be eliminated if you use over the word count. There are words or numbers that can be used to write figures. Contracted words like 'they' are not tested. Words with hyphens, as with 'check-in,' are counted as one-word phrases. The answers are the same order as the text.
 

Skills Evaluation: This type of question tests your ability to find and understand specific details held within the text.

Preparation Tips

1. Familiarize Yourself with Question Types
Practice each question type using mock tests available on platforms like PTE Panacea.

2. Read Faster
Skim for the idea and scan for the detail.

3. Build Vocabulary
Exposure to different texts broadens your vocabulary, which is vital in dealing with unfamiliar words.

4. Time Management
Plan your time well for all the three sections so that you do not have any question left unanswered.

Conclusion

Master the IELTS Academic Reading Module for your dream destination of studying abroad. Deepen your focus on consistent practice with appropriate material, and you will be able to conquer even the trickiest passages with confidence. Start now by using complete preparation tools and free mock tests available at PTE Panacea.