- The IELTS Reading test lasts 60 minutes and contains 40 questions across three sections totalling 2,150 to 2,750 words, with no extra transfer time
- Reading is marked out of 40 raw marks that convert to the nine band scale, so there is no separate vocabulary score
- Lexical Resource is one of four equally weighted criteria, worth 25 per cent, in Writing and Speaking only
- IELTS One Skill Retake lets you reattempt Reading alone within 60 days of a full test.
The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is a widely accepted English proficiency test taken by students who want to study overseas or work in another country. It assesses four skills: listening, reading, writing and speaking.
A common myth says that vocabulary is worth 25 per cent of the IELTS Reading score. It is not. IELTS applies the Lexical Resource criterion only to Writing and Speaking, where it is one of four equally weighted criteria. Reading is marked objectively, question by question, out of 40. Vocabulary still matters enormously in Reading, but it works through paraphrase recognition rather than through a marking criterion.
What Role Does Vocabulary Play in the IELTS Reading Test?
The Reading test has no vocabulary criterion of its own. IELTS marks Reading out of 40 raw marks that convert to the nine band scale, so vocabulary is never scored directly. It still decides your band indirectly, because recognising paraphrase drives nearly every question type. Lexical Resource carries 25 per cent only in Writing and Speaking.
Almost every IELTS Reading question rewrites the words of the passage. A heading, a True/False/Not Given statement or a gap-fill sentence rarely repeats the exact wording of the text, so the answer is found by matching meaning, not by matching letters. Candidates aiming for band 7 and above need a broad enough vocabulary to spot those rewordings quickly across unfamiliar subject matter.
That is why themed vocabulary building works better than memorising random word lists. The topics below appear repeatedly across IELTS reading, listening, writing and speaking material.
- Advertising and business
- Culture and society
- Environment and climate
- Fashion and clothing
- Personality and relationships
- Health and public health
- Education and study
- Travel and holidays
- Food and diet
- Cities, towns and transport
Which Vocabulary Topics Appear in IELTS Academic Reading?
Academic Reading uses three texts totalling 2,150 to 2,750 words, taken from books, journals, magazines, newspapers and online resources written for a non-specialist audience. Recurring topic families include advertising, food, fashion, music, education, sport, books and films, relationships, holidays and city life, so themed word lists give the widest coverage.
The Academic Reading passages are of general interest to undergraduate and postgraduate students, and use narrative, descriptive and argumentative styles, with at least one text containing detailed logical argument. The themed lists below collect the collocations and phrases that recur in these passages and in the productive papers.
Vocabulary Words for IELTS: Advertising
- Commercial breaks
- Celebrity endorsements
- Prime time
- Show adverts
- Advertising agency
- Product placement
- Classified ads
- Brand loyalty
Vocabulary Words for IELTS: Food
- Appetisers
- Home-cooked
- Take-away
- Grab a bite
- Quick snack
- Processed food
- Fussy eater
- Three-course meal
- Sweet tooth
- Tuck into
Vocabulary Words for IELTS: Clothes and Fashion
- Casual clothes
- Must-haves
- Fashion icon
- Getting dressed up
- Vintage fashion
- Designer labels
- Off the peg
- Dressed to kill
Vocabulary Words for IELTS: Music
- Classical music
- Blues
- Rock band
- Music composition
- Sound engineering
- Slow number
- Live performance
- Play things by ear
Vocabulary Words for IELTS: Education
- Meeting deadlines
- Private schools
- Play truant
- Graduate school
- Master's degree
- Distance learning
- Exchange programme
- Higher education
Vocabulary Words for IELTS: Sport and Fitness
- Get into shape
- Personal trainer
- Play tennis
- Take up exercise
- Hit the gym
- Set records
- A brisk walk
- An athletics meeting
Vocabulary Words for IELTS: Books and Films
- Bestseller
- Box-office hits
- Sci-fi books and films
- Low budget films
- Special effects
- Plot
- Couldn't put it down
- Real page-turner
Vocabulary Words for IELTS: Relationships
- Get on really well
- Have a lot in common
- Go back years
- Love at first sight
- Tying the knot
- Fall head over heels in love
- Healthy relationship
- Drift apart
Vocabulary Words for IELTS: Holidays
- Wildlife safari
- Holiday resorts
- Package holidays
- Hordes of tourists
- Travel agents
- Check-in desks
- Charter flights
- Picturesque villages
Vocabulary Words for IELTS: Cities and Towns
- Residential area
- Rundown
- Public transport
- Inner-city
- Boarded up
- Chain stores
- In the suburbs
- On the outskirts
What Vocabulary Should You Learn for IELTS General Training Reading?
General Training Reading also runs 60 minutes with 40 questions in three sections. Section one uses notices, advertisements and timetables, section two covers job descriptions, contracts and training material, and section three uses general interest texts, so everyday, workplace and descriptive adjective vocabulary matters most here.
General Training Reading tests whether your English is good enough for everyday life and for the workplace. Section one draws on notices, advertisements and timetables, section two on job descriptions, contracts, staff development and training materials, and section three on newspapers, magazines, books and online resources.
Descriptive adjectives carry much of the meaning in these texts, and they are also the words most often paraphrased in the questions. The following set is a useful starting point.
- Absurd
- Adventurous
- Assertive
- Dedicated
- Discreditable
- Discreet
- Efficient
- Eminent
- Generous
- Impatient
- Indispensable
- Inexperienced
- Intelligent
- Mischievous
- Organised
- Outstanding
- Reasonable
- Reserved
- Responsible
- Sentimental
- Severe
- Spontaneous
- Stringent
- Tangible
- Tempting
- Tolerant
- Understanding
| Reading test feature 2026 | IELTS Academic Reading | IELTS General Training Reading |
|---|---|---|
| Time allowed | 60 minutes, including transfer time | 60 minutes, including transfer time |
| Number of questions | 40 | 40 |
| Number of sections | 3 | 3 |
| Total text length | 2,150-2,750 words | 2,150-2,750 words |
| Where texts come from | Books, journals, magazines, newspapers and online resources | Notices and advertisements, workplace documents, general interest texts |
| Extra transfer time | None | None |
How Is the IELTS Reading Test Scored in 2026?
Every one of the 40 questions earns a single mark, and the raw total converts to a band from one to nine in whole or half bands. On Academic Reading roughly 30 marks average band seven and 35 average band eight. General Training Reading needs more correct answers for the same band score.
IELTS publishes the average raw marks that correspond to each band. The figures are averages taken across many test versions, not a fixed pass mark, because individual papers vary slightly in difficulty. Note that General Training Reading consistently requires more correct answers than Academic Reading for the same band.
| Band score 2026 | Academic Reading raw marks (average) | General Training Reading raw marks (average) |
|---|---|---|
| Band 4 | Not published | 15 |
| Band 5 | 15 | 23 |
| Band 6 | 23 | 30 |
| Band 7 | 30 | 35 |
| Band 8 | 35 | Not published |
If Reading is the one skill holding your overall band down, IELTS One Skill Retake allows you to reattempt Reading alone within 60 days of your full test. It can only be used once per original test, and your original test must have been an IELTS on computer test taken at a centre that offers the service.
How Can You Practise Reading Effectively for IELTS?
Read widely in English every day, then practise whole papers under a strict 60 minute limit, because no extra transfer time is given. Skim each passage first, scan for keywords, and write answers straight onto the answer sheet. Check spelling carefully, since incorrect spelling and grammar lose marks.
- Read a wide range of English material daily, from newspapers and magazines to journal articles, so that unfamiliar topics stop slowing you down.
- Read each question carefully before hunting for the answer, and note the type of answer required, such as a number, a name or a maximum of three words.
- Skim the passage first for the general idea, then scan for the keywords from the question and read that section closely.
- Every answer is in the text. You never need outside knowledge, so resist the urge to answer from what you already know.
- Underline or highlight keywords as you read. On computer-delivered IELTS you can highlight text and make notes on screen.
- Write answers straight onto the answer sheet if you are taking the paper test, because no extra transfer time is given for Reading.
- Copy spellings exactly from the passage. Marks are lost for incorrect spelling and grammar.
- Keep a themed vocabulary notebook and revise it two or three times a week rather than trying to memorise long lists in one sitting.