IELTS General Training Reading: Format, Question Types &
IELTS General Training Reading explained: 5 sections, 40 questions, 60 minutes. How GT differs from Academic, every question type, the harsher GT scoring curve, and a Band 7 study plan.
General Training Reading looks easier than Academic — shorter texts, everyday language. The trap is the harsher marking curve and the constant context-switching across 5 sections.
This guide covers the exact format, every question type, the GT scoring chart, and a section-by-section strategy.
Jump to GT vs Academic Reading: The Real DifferencesGT vs Academic Reading: The Real Differences
| Feature | Academic | General Training |
|---|---|---|
| Sections | 3 passages | 5 sections |
| Text style | Academic journals, essays | Notices, adverts, manuals, one long general-interest text |
| Questions | 40 | 40 |
| Time | 60 min | 60 min |
| Band 7 needs | ~27/40 | ~30/40 |
| Band 8 needs | ~32/40 | ~34/40 |
Because GT texts are linguistically simpler, the examiners demand higher accuracy. There is no room to drop easy marks in Sections 1-2 — that is where GT candidates lose Band 7.
For the full Academic question-type breakdown, see our Reading question types master guide.
Jump to The 5 Sections ExplainedThe 5 Sections Explained
Sections 1-2: Survival English (easy marks, do not drop any) Short notices, timetables, adverts, classifieds. Example: "Which notice says the pool is closed on Mondays?" Questions are mostly matching information, short answers, and sentence completion. Target: 100% accuracy in 20 minutes total.
Section 3: Workplace context (medium) Job descriptions, staff policies, training manuals. Longer than Sections 1-2, denser vocabulary. Expect True/False/Not Given and matching headings to appear here. Target: 80%+ in 15 minutes.
Section 4: Long passage (hard — like Academic) One 700-900 word general-interest text (environment, history, technology). This section alone decides Band 7. Same difficulty as an Academic Passage 2. Target: 70%+ in 25 minutes.
Jump to Scoring Chart (General Training)Scoring Chart (General Training)
| Correct /40 | Band |
|---|---|
| 38-40 | 9.0 |
| 36-37 | 8.5 |
| 34-35 | 8.0 |
| 32-33 | 7.5 |
| 30-31 | 7.0 |
| 27-29 | 6.5 |
| 23-26 | 6.0 |
Compare with Academic, where 27/40 is already Band 7. On GT, 27/40 is only Band 6.5 — three extra correct answers are worth half a band.
Jump to Section-by-Section StrategySection-by-Section Strategy
Jump to Sections 1-2: Speed-scan, bank the marksSections 1-2: Speed-scan, bank the marks
- Read the questions first, underline names, numbers, dates — these are visually scannable.
- Do not read the whole text. Scan for the anchor word, read that sentence only.
- Copy answers word-for-word within the word limit ("NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS"). Extra words = wrong.
- If you are spending over a minute on a Section 1 question, you are overthinking — move on and return.
Jump to Section 3: Slow down for True/False/Not GivenSection 3: Slow down for True/False/Not Given
Most GT Section 3 losses come from one type: True/False/Not Given. Apply the strict rule:
- True = the text states it explicitly.
- False = the text states the opposite.
- Not Given = the text does not mention it. Never use outside knowledge.
Workplace texts love qualifying words — "most," "usually," "prior approval required." One qualifier flips True to False.
Jump to Section 4: Treat it like AcademicSection 4: Treat it like Academic
Use full Academic technique: skim first/last sentences for structure, then tackle matching headings by paraphrase (never keyword-match), and leave completion tasks for last since they follow passage order and are the easiest marks in a hard passage. Our time management guide shows the 20-20-20 split adapted for GT's 10-10-15-25 split.
Jump to The 5 Mistakes That Cost GT Candidates Band 7The 5 Mistakes That Cost GT Candidates Band 7
- Losing marks in Sections 1-2. These should be perfect. Practice them under 10 minutes each until they are.
- Ignoring word limits. "Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS" — four words is automatically wrong, even if the meaning is right.
- Spelling errors in completion answers. Copy spelling exactly from the passage; US/UK variants must match the text.
- Over-answering Yes/No/Not Given with opinions. Only the passage counts. Learn the distinction in our Yes/No/Not Given guide.
- No time for Section 4. Candidates who spend 40 minutes on Sections 1-3 arrive at the hardest section exhausted. Enforce the 10-10-15-25 budget with a watch.
Jump to 2-Week GT Reading Plan2-Week GT Reading Plan
- Days 1-4: Sections 1-2 drills only. 4 sets/day, target 100% accuracy under time.
- Days 5-8: Section 3 + True/False/Not Given technique. 2 passages/day with error logging (why was each wrong: misread, qualifier missed, outside knowledge?).
- Days 9-12: Section 4 long passages. One full Section 4/day using practice tests under 25 minutes.
- Days 13-14: Two full 60-minute GT Reading mocks under exam conditions. Review every error against the scoring chart above.
GT Reading pairs naturally with GT Writing Task 1 letters — most GT candidates take both, so prepare them together.
Jump to Frequently Asked QuestionsFrequently Asked Questions
Is GT Reading easier than Academic? Texts are easier; scoring is stricter. You need about 3 more correct answers per band than Academic.
How many questions are in GT Reading? 40 questions across 5 sections in 60 minutes, same as Academic.
Can I use Academic materials to prepare for GT? For Section 4, yes — Academic Passage 1-2 difficulty matches GT Section 4. For Sections 1-3, use GT-specific materials (notices, adverts, workplace texts).