Academic and General Training Reading use similar question formats and reading skills, but the passages differ. Academic Reading uses longer, more academic texts. General Training includes a mix of practical, social, and workplace texts.
The test checks several skills: finding specific details, identifying main ideas, following arguments, recognizing opinions, and completing summaries or diagrams. Questions often paraphrase the passage, so vocabulary knowledge matters too.
1. Don’t Expect to Understand Every Word
If you meet an unfamiliar word, use the surrounding sentence to guess its meaning or move on. Focus on information that helps answer the question. Trying to understand every word can waste time and increase stress.
2. Read Outside Test Practice
Learning question formats is useful, but regular reading also builds vocabulary and comprehension. Choose topics you enjoy so you can keep the habit going. When you meet a new word, try to infer its meaning from context before checking it.
3. Follow the Instructions
Check the word limit and the kind of answer required. If the instructions say “no more than two words,” an answer with three words may be marked wrong. Read each instruction carefully before you begin.
4. Stay Calm and Move On
Some questions take longer than others. If an answer is not clear, mark your best guess and continue. You can return to it later. Spending too long on one question may leave you short of time for others.
5. Learn Vocabulary in Context
Questions often use synonyms or paraphrases rather than the exact wording in the passage. Keep a record of useful new words, along with meanings, examples, pronunciation, or common word combinations. Review the words and practise using them.
6. Manage Your Time
Work at a steady pace. Avoid rushing so much that you miss details, but do not let one difficult question hold you up. During practice, notice which question types take you longer and adjust your approach.
7. Base Answers on the Passage
Use the information in the text, not your own knowledge of the topic. Prior knowledge can lead you to assumptions that the passage does not support. Even if you know the subject well, check each answer against the text.
8. Practise Slowly, Then Under Time Limits
At first, work through questions without strict time pressure. Review your mistakes, identify why you chose the wrong answer, and notice how the passage expresses the relevant ideas. Once you understand the question types and your common errors, practise with a full test under timed conditions.
9. Practise Recording Your Answers
Make sure you know how to enter or transfer answers in your test format. Practice this step so you can leave enough time to record your responses and check spelling.
10. Answer Every Question
Do not leave a question blank. If you are unsure, make your best choice and return to it if time allows. A guess may be correct, while a blank cannot earn a mark.