IELTS Academic Reading Score Guide 2023: Expert Tips & Sample Questions

Most IELTS trainers believe an IELTS Academic Reading Score of 7 or 8 will contribute to an excellent overall band score.

Here’s a fun fact: You only need 30 out of 40 correct answers to get an IELTS academic reading score of 7. 

Understanding the IELTS academic reading score criteria before you start your preparation can help you set goals. 

The IELTS Reading section mainly consists of MCQs, which makes it a more accessible section to score in.

Time management is critical in this section. Though the Reading section is IELTS and is often considered easy, we recommend not taking it for granted. Even if you are an avid reader, you mustn’t take this section for granted, as it requires much practice. 

This blog discusses the IELTS Academic Reading score in detail, including the score calculation, conversion and tips to crack the IELTS reading section. 

IELTS Academic Reading Score: Everything You Need To Know

The IELTS academic reading score gives insight into your reading abilities to immigration officials and institutions. The section features three long passages. These passages are taken from books, journals, magazines, and newspapers. The three passages are structured in an increasing difficulty pattern.

The reading section has 40 questions based on the featured text. 

The reading section consists of various questions like multiple choices, matching headings, True/False/Not Given, summary completion, and sentence completion questions. The questions test various reading skills, including skimming, understanding logical arguments, reading for gist, and writers’ purposes.

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IELTS Academic Reading Score Chart & Calculation

The IELTS Academic Reading score is graded on a scale of 1-9. The IELTS Academic reading score is calculated based on the total number of correct answers. The number of correct answers you get from the given 40 questions is called the raw score. 

The raw scores will be further converted to the 0-9 bands. 

The IELTS Academic Reading score can be whole bands like 4 or 5 or half bands like 5.5 or 7.5, depending on the number of correct answers. 

You must note that if the decimal part exceeds 0.5, the score will be rounded off to the next upper value. Example: 6.75 will be rounded off to 7.

If the decimal point is below 0.5, your grade will be rounded off to the nearest lower value. Example: 7.2 will be rounded as 7.

Here are some examples of IELTS Academic Reading score calculation. 

1. Number of correct answers: 33

Raw score: 33

IELTS reading band score: 7.5

2. Number of correct answers: 27

Raw score: 27

IELTS band score: 6.5

What does your IELTS Academic Reading Score mean?

As we mentioned, you get a score of 1-9 for each section of IELTS. Each of these band scores means something. Generally, a score above 6 means your English language skills are good enough. 

A score below 6 means you certainly need to improve your language skills.

Band score	Level	Description (As per British Council)
9	Expert user	You have a full operational command of the language. Your use of English is appropriate, accurate and fluent, and you show complete understanding.
8	Very good user	You have a fully operational command of the language with only occasional unsystematic inaccuracies and inappropriate usage. You may misunderstand some things in unfamiliar situations. You handle complex detailed argumentation well.
7	Good user	You have an operational command of the language, though with occasional inaccuracies, inappropriate usage and misunderstandings in some situations. Generally, you handle complex language well and understand detailed reasoning.
6	Competent user	Generally, you have an effective command of the language despite some inaccuracies, inappropriate usage and misunderstandings. You can use and understand fairly complex language, particularly in familiar situations.
5	Moderate user	You have a partial command of the language and cope with overall meaning in most situations, although you will likely make many mistakes. You should be able to handle basic communication in your own field.
4	Limited user	Your basic competence is limited to familiar situations. You frequently show problems in understanding and expression. You are not able to use complex language.
3	Extremely limited user	You convey and understand only general meaning in very familiar situations. There are frequent breakdowns in communication.
2	Intermittent user	You have great difficulty understanding spoken and written English.
1	Non-user	You have no ability to use the language except a few isolated words.
0	Did not attempt the test	You did not answer the questions.

IELTS Academic Reading Score Chart: Raw Score to Band Score

Raw scores in IELTS Academic Reading score is the total number of questions you have gotten right out of 40 questions. These scores are converted to a scale of 0-9, which are called as band scores.

To get a band score of 6 and above in IELTS reading, you must answer at least 23-26 questions correctly.

The IELTS Reading raw score to band score conversion table is given below.

Band Score	Raw scores
9	39-40
8.5	38-37
8.0	36-35
7.5	34-33
7.0	32-30
6.5	27-29
6.0	23-26
5.5	19-2
5.0	15-18
4.5	13-14
4.0	10-12
3.5	8-9
3.0	6-7
2.5	4-5

IELTS Academic Reading Score: Expert Advice

Whether you’re a native English speaker or not, consistent practice makes securing a good IELTS Academic Reading score achievable. One way to make it possible is by reading regularly. Your vocabulary, grammar and time management skills all improve significantly over time.

Below are some tips from our IELTS experts! 

Build time management strategies

Learn to scan the content rather than read every word. Your focus should be on identifying the key information. You can only build this skill by reading regularly. 

Focus on grammar and vocabulary

Improving your vocabulary is a mandatory step to score well in IELTS. Learn new words every day and start focusing on your grammar. Your vocabulary and grammar contribute 50% of your IELTS reading score.

Develop the ability to analyse difficult language

Try ways to analyse complex language, and if you find unfamiliar words, note their meanings and the context they’re used in. It will allow you to understand the jargon used in professional writing.

Learn synonyms

Whenever you learn a new word, also look at its synonyms. Most true and false questions have been paraphrased. If you master synonyms, you can quickly find the keywords and answers.

Learn the art of logical deduction

Make a habit of identifying the important points and keywords. You can use these words to locate the answers easily. This is helpful for logical reasoning questions and while answering multiple-choice questions.

Also read: Dates of IELTS Exam 2023 – Check IELTS Test Dates & Locations in India!

Tips for IELTS Academic Reading Exam Day

These hacks will boost your confidence on the exam day.

Do not read everything

Managing time is the key! Remember: You don’t have the time to read everything. Read the tasks and questions first and think about the key points you need to find to answer those questions.

Skim through paragraphs

Skim-read the summary to get a general understanding of what it’s about. Quickly scan through the material and try to find critical points.

With enough practice, you will find words pop out as you scan the passages, these are referred to as keywords. Keywords can help you find answers easily.

Make use of paraphrasing

Paraphrasing is a key skill required to score well in IELTS reading. You can paraphrase by using synonyms, changing grammatical structures and phrasal verbs.

Focus on your writing skills too

It may be a reading task, but it still remains an English language test. The examiner will always have an eye on your writing skills, and IELTS Reading answers are no exception.

Make sure the grammar and writing style is appropriate in all your answers.

IELTS Academic Reading: Sample Questions

Sample Question 1

MCQ Type : Choose one correct answer

Only a tiny fraction of Newton’s work on alchemy has been published, but he wrote around a million words on the subject, including laboratory notes, indexes of alchemical substances and transcripts from other sources.

 On his death in 1727, Newton had over 100 manuscripts filled with alchemical material, sold by auctioneers Sotheby’s as part of a larger collection in 1936. This side of Newton was often an embarrassment to his admirers. His first biographer, John Conduitt, like many commentators who followed, played down the role of alchemy (and other pursuits) in Newton’s work, stating:

“When he was tired with his severe studies, his only relief and amusement were going to some other subjects such as History and Chronology or Divinity and Chymistry”. Just how important the study of alchemy was to Newton only began to be recognised in 1947, when John Maynard Keynes, who bought much of the work from Sotheby’s, declared in his essay, “Newton, the Man, “;” Newton was not the first of the age of reason. He was the last of the magicians.

1. Many thought Newton was what?

A. tired

B. an embarrassment

C. admired

Ans. B

2. What did Keynes call Newton?

A. old

B. reasonable

C. a magician 

Ans. C

Sample Question 2

Find a suitable heading for the paragraph 

Despite its bad reputation, stress historically had a vital role to play. Commonly referred to as the ‘fight or flight’ mode, the sudden release of stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol causes the heart to beat faster, airways to dilate and blood vessels to open up, all of which push the body towards optimal performance and, ultimately, survival.

In the rest of the animal kingdom, this is still often the difference between life and death. As he springs off to freedom, the lucky gazelle who escapes the lion can thank this primal evolutionary response.

1. Stress reduction in animals

2. Two types of stress

3. The fallout of cell death.

4. The best type of exercise

5. How stress can be useful

Ans. 5

The IELTS Academic Reading section is easy to score through proper planning, studying, revision and practising as many questions as possible.

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