Why Academic and GT differ
Both versions have 40 questions marked out of 40 with no penalty for wrong answers. The difference is the conversion. General Training reading passages are drawn from everyday sources and are less demanding, so the band boundaries are set higher — the same band requires more correct answers than in Academic. If you are unsure which test you are taking, it is almost always Academic for university study and General Training for migration or work.
Academic Reading conversion
| Raw score / 40 | Band |
|---|---|
| 39–40 | 9.0 |
| 37–38 | 8.5 |
| 35–36 | 8.0 |
| 33–34 | 7.5 |
| 30–32 | 7.0 |
| 27–29 | 6.5 |
| 23–26 | 6.0 |
| 19–22 | 5.5 |
| 15–18 | 5.0 |
| 13–14 | 4.5 |
| 10–12 | 4.0 |
General Training Reading conversion
| Raw score / 40 | Band |
|---|---|
| 40 | 9.0 |
| 39 | 8.5 |
| 37–38 | 8.0 |
| 36 | 7.5 |
| 34–35 | 7.0 |
| 32–33 | 6.5 |
| 30–31 | 6.0 |
| 27–29 | 5.5 |
| 23–26 | 5.0 |
| 19–22 | 4.5 |
| 15–18 | 4.0 |
নোট
Both tables are indicative reference conversions — the exact mark for a band can move slightly between test versions. Notice how much higher the General Training boundaries sit: band 7.0 needs about 30 in Academic but about 34 in General Training.
Where marks are really lost
Reading is rarely lost on the passages you find hard — it is lost on time. Most candidates who miss their target band ran out of time on the third passage and guessed the final set of questions. The fix is pacing (roughly 20 minutes per passage) and knowing the question types well enough to locate answers quickly.
- Transfer answers as you go — there is no extra transfer time in the computer-based test, and none is guaranteed on paper.
- Don't over-read. Most questions are answered by scanning for a keyword, not by reading every line.
- Leave the hardest question and come back; a two-minute deadlock can cost you three easy marks later.
- Spelling counts here too — a correct answer copied wrongly from the text still scores zero.
মূল বিষয়সমূহ
- 40 questions, one mark each, no negative marking — attempt everything.
- Academic and General Training use different tables; GT needs more correct answers per band.
- Band 7.0 ≈ 30/40 in Academic but ≈ 34/40 in General Training.
- Time management, not text difficulty, is what usually decides the Reading band.
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Why do Academic and General Training Reading have different score conversions?
General Training reading texts are less academically demanding, so the band boundaries are set higher to keep the bands comparable. You need more correct answers in General Training to reach the same band as in Academic.
How many answers do I need for band 7 in Reading?
In Academic Reading, roughly 30 out of 40 correct answers corresponds to band 7.0. In General Training you need more — around 34 out of 40 — because the boundaries are higher.
Is there negative marking in IELTS Reading?
No. There is no penalty for wrong answers, so you should answer every question, including the ones you are unsure of.
How much time should I spend on each Reading passage?
Aim for about 20 minutes per passage across the three passages. Many candidates lose marks simply by running out of time on the last passage, not by finding the texts too difficult.