An overview of the Reading test

I. Structure
Texts come from books, journals, magazines, newspapers and online resources, written
for a non-specialist audience. All the topics are of general interest to students at
undergraduate or postgraduate level. The texts may be written in different styles, for
example, narrative, descriptive or discursive/argumentative. At least one text contains
detailed logical argument. Texts may also contain diagrams, graphs or illustrations. If
texts use technical vocabulary, then a simple dictionary definition is provided.
You will need to transfer your answers to an answer sheet. You must transfer your
answers during the hour you are given for the Reading test. Unlike the Listening test, no
extra transfer time is given. You should be careful when writing your answers on the
answer sheet because you will lose marks for incorrect spelling and grammar.
Summary

Time allowed: 60 minutes (including transfer time)

Number of 3; the total text length is 2,150–2,750 words

sections:

Number of 40
questions:

Marking: Each correct answer receives 1 mark.

Your final score is given as a band score from 1–9 in whole or half
bands, e.g. 4 or 6.5.

Types of question
Question Type 1 – Multiple choice

What's This type of question may be a question with four possible answers or the
involved? first half of a sentence with four possible sentence endings. You have to
choose one correct answer (A, B, C or D), then write the correct answer on
the answer sheet.

Sometimes you are given a longer list of possible answers and you have to
choose more than one answer. You should read the question carefully to
check how many answers you need to choose.

The questions are in the same order as the information in the text: that is, the
 answer to the first question will be before the answer to the second question,
and so on.

What skills This type of question tests many different reading skills including: detailed
are tested? understanding of specific points or general understanding of the main points
of the text.

Question Type 2 – Identifying information (True/False/Not given)

What's In this type of question, you are given a number of statements and are asked:
involved? ‘Do the following statements agree with the information in the text?’ You
have to write ‘True’, ‘False’ or ‘Not given’ in the boxes on your answer
sheet. It is important to understand the difference between ‘False’ and ‘Not
given’. ‘False’ means that the statement contradicts the information in the
text. ‘Not given’ means that the statement neither agrees with nor contradicts
the information in the text. You must be careful not to use any information
you already know about the topic of the text when choosing your answer.

What skills This type of question tests your ability to recognise specific information
are tested? given in the text.

Question Type 3 – Identifying writer’s views/claims (Yes/No/Not given)

What's In this type of question, you are given a number of statements and asked: ‘Do
involved? the following statements agree with the views of the writer?’ or ‘Do the
following statements agree with the claims of the writer?’ You have to write
‘Yes’, ‘No’ or ‘Not given’ in the boxes on your answer sheet. It is important
to understand the difference between ‘no’ and ‘not given’. ‘No’ means that
the statement contradicts the writer’s view or claim. ‘Not given’ means that
the statement neither agrees with nor contradicts the writer’s view or claim.
You must be careful not to use any information you already know about the
topic of the text when choosing your answer.

What skills This type of question tests your ability to recognise opinions or ideas.
are tested?

Question Type 4 – Matching information

What's In this type of question, you have to find specific information in the
 involved? paragraphs (or sections) of a text. The paragraphs (or sections) are identified
by letters (A, B, C, etc.). You will need to write the letters of the correct
paragraphs (or sections) in the boxes on your answer sheet. Not every
paragraph (or section) may be used and some paragraphs (or sections) may
be used more than once. When the paragraphs (or sections) may be used
more than once, the instructions will say: ‘You may use any letter more than
once’.

What skills This type of question assesses your ability to scan a text in order to find
are tested? specific information. Unlike Task Type 5 (Matching headings), it focuses on
specific information rather than the main idea. You may have to find:
specific details, an example, reason, description, comparison, summary or
explanation.

Question Type 5 – Matching headings

What's In this type of question, there is a list of headings which are identified by
involved? Roman numerals (i, ii, iii, etc.). A heading summarises the main idea of a
paragraph or section of the text. You must match the heading to the correct
paragraph or section. The paragraphs (or sections) are identified by letters
(A, B, C, etc.). You will need to write the correct Roman numerals in the
boxes on your answer sheet. There will always be more headings than
paragraphs or sections, so some headings will not be used. It is also possible
that some paragraphs or sections may not be included in the task. One or
more paragraphs or sections may already be matched with a heading as an
example on the question paper. No heading may be used more than once.

What skills This type of question tests your ability to identify the general topic of a
are tested? paragraph (or section) and to recognise the difference between the main idea
and a supporting idea.

Question Type 6 – Matching features

What's In this type of question, you have to match a set of statements or pieces of
involved? information to a list of options. The options are a group of features from the
text, and letters (A, B, C, etc.) are used to identify them. Write the correct
letter on the answer sheet. You may, for example, have to match descriptions
of inventions to the people who invented them. It is possible that some
options will not be used, and that others may be used more than once. When
it is possible to use any option more than once, the instructions will say:
 ‘You may use any option more than once’.

What skills This type of question tests your ability to recognise relationships and
are tested? connections between facts in the text and your ability to recognise opinions
and theories. You need to be able to skim and scan the text to find the
information quickly so that you can then read that part more carefully for
detail.

Question Type 7 – Matching sentence endings

What's In this type of question, you are given the first half of a sentence based on
involved? information in the text and you have to choose the best way to complete the
sentence by choosing from a list of possible endings. The endings are
identified by letters (A, B, C, etc.). There will be more sentence endings than
beginnings, so you will not use all of them. You must write the letter you
choose on the answer sheet. The sentence beginnings are in the same order as
the information in the text.

What skills This type of question tests your ability to understand the main ideas in the
are tested? text.

Question Type 8 – Sentence completion

What's In this type of question, you have to fill in a gap in each sentence by
involved? choosing words from the text. You must write the words you choose on the
answer sheet.

You should read the instructions very carefully as the number of words or
numbers you may use to fill the gaps can change. A word limit is given, for
example, ‘NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER’. You
will lose the mark for writing more than the word limit. Contracted words
such as ‘they’re’ will not be tested. Hyphenated words such as ‘check-in’
count as single words.

The questions are in the same order as the information in the text.

What skills This type of question tests your ability to find detail/specific information in a
are tested? text.

Question Type 9 – Summary/note/table/flow chart completion

 What's In this type of question, you are given a summary of a part of the text, and
involved? have to complete it using words taken from the text. Note that the summary is
not normally of the whole text. The summary may be in the form of:

 a continuous text (called ‘a summary’ in the instructions)

 several notes (called ‘notes’ in the instructions)
 a table with some parts of it left empty or partially empty (called ‘a table’
in the instructions)
 a series of boxes or steps linked by arrows to show the order of events,
with some of the boxes or steps empty or partially empty (called ‘a flow
chart’ in the instructions).
The answers may not come in the same order as in the text. However, they
will usually come from one part of the text rather than the whole text.

There are two variations of this task type. In the first variation, you need to
select words from the text which fit into gaps on the question paper. You
must write the words you choose on the answer sheet.

You should read the instructions very carefully as the number of words or
numbers you may use to fill the gaps can change. A word limit is given, for
example, ‘NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER’. You
will lose the mark for writing more than the word limit. Contracted words
such as ‘they’re’ will not be tested. Hyphenated words such as ‘check-in’
count as single words.

In the second variation, you have to choose from a list of words to fill the
gaps. The words are identified by letters (A, B, C, etc.).

You must write the letter you choose on the answer sheet.

What skills This type of question tests your ability to understand details and/or the main
are tested? ideas of a part of the text. When completing this type of question, you will
need to think about the type of word(s) that will fit into a gap (for example,
whether a noun is needed, or a verb, etc.).

Question Type 10 – Diagram label completion

 What's In this type of question, you have to complete the labels on a diagram. The
involved? diagram is based on a description given in the text. The diagram may be a
type of machine, part of a building or of other information in the text that can
be shown through pictures. Write the words that fit into the gap on the
answer sheet.

You should read the instructions very carefully as the number of words or
numbers you may use to fill the gaps can change. A word limit is given, for
example, ‘NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER’. You
will lose the mark for writing more than the word limit. Contracted words
such as ‘they’re’ will not be tested. Hyphenated words such as ‘check-in’
count as single words.

The answers may not come in the same order as in the text. However, they
will usually come from one part of the text rather than the whole text.

What skills This type of question tests your ability to understand a detailed description in
are tested? the text, and then relate that description to information given in a diagram.

Question Type 11 – Short-answer questions

What's In this type of question, you have to answer questions about factual details in
involved? the text. You must write your answers in words or numbers on the answer
sheet.

Answers must be taken from words in the text. A word limit is given, for
example, ‘NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER’. You
will lose the mark for writing more than the word limit. Numbers can be
written using figures (1, 2, etc.) or words (one, two, etc.). Contracted words
such as ‘they’re’ will not be tested. Hyphenated words such as ‘check-in’
count as single words. The answers come in the same order as the
information in the text.

What skills This type of question tests your ability to find and understand specific
are tested? information in the text.