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IELTS Academic Reading

IELTS Reading - passage on the left, questions on the right.

Three academic passages, 40 questions, 60 minutes. Highlight what matters, then see an explanation for every mistake and where in the passage the answer is.

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In the Trylab bank: 3 tests · 93 questions · 2 free

3 passages · 40 questions

Popular-science articles that get harder passage by passage.

60 minutes

No extra time to transfer answers - you manage the clock yourself.

10+ question types

True/False/Not Given, matching headings, summary completion and more.

Question types

The questions in our bank - by type and count.

  • True / False / Not Given18 questions
  • Multiple choice16 questions
  • Note completion13 questions
  • Matching information11 questions
  • Yes / No / Not Given10 questions
  • Sentence completion9 questions
  • Matching headings6 questions
  • Summary completion5 questions
  • Matching features5 questions

Sample questions

From our free tests - with the answer and the explanation.

1

According to paragraph A, Luke Howard

  • Awas the first to explain the causes of urban heat.
  • Brecorded temperatures in and around London.
  • Cadvised city planners in the nineteenth century.
  • Dwas a professional climate scientist.
Show the answer and explanation

Correct answer: B

He “recorded temperatures in and around London”; he was an amateur.

2

What problem with reflective surfaces does the writer mention?

  • AThey are too expensive for most cities.
  • BThey wear away quickly.
  • CThey can make pedestrians feel warmer.
  • DThey increase energy use indoors.
Show the answer and explanation

Correct answer: C

Reflected light can make pedestrians “feel hotter rather than cooler”.

3

What did Ebbinghaus notice when he relearned a list?

  • AHe could still recall most of the syllables.
  • BHe needed less time than before.
  • CHe made more mistakes than the first time.
  • DHe preferred to study it in one session.
Show the answer and explanation

Correct answer: B

“It took him less time than it had the first time.”

Preparation tips

  1. 01

    Read the questions first, then look for answers - there's no time to read every word.

  2. 02

    «Not Given» means the passage doesn't say; don't use what you know.

  3. 03

    In matching headings, find the paragraph's main idea, not single words.

  4. 04

    Give each passage about 20 minutes; flag a hard question and come back.

  5. 05

    Answers usually follow the order of the questions (matching tasks are the exception).

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FAQ

What's the difference between Academic and General Training Reading?

Same format - 3 sections, 40 questions, 60 minutes - but Academic uses popular-science articles. Trylab is Academic for now.

True/False/Not Given vs Yes/No/Not Given?

T/F/NG is about facts in the passage; Y/N/NG is about the writer's views. Both are in the bank.

How is the Reading band calculated?

Correct answers out of 40 are converted with the Academic table; 30 correct is usually 7.0.

Can I highlight the passage?

Yes - highlight in three colours and add notes; they stay even if you reload the page.

More from this exam

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