IELTS Reading Passage 2 practice tests
Practise the second part of the Reading test on its own: Passage 2 for Academic, or Section 2 for General Training. Each one takes about twenty minutes, with the answers explained.
- Time
- About 20 minutes
- Questions
- 13 or 14
- Academic
- One long passage
- General Training
- Work-related texts
Academic Reading: Passage 2
Each one opens straight into that part. Check your answers as you go, see why each one is right, and get an estimated band at the end. Free, with no account needed.
- Academic Reading Practice Test 1, Passage 2The White Gold of the Ancient World13 questions: Matching, Multiple choice, Completion and short answer
- Academic Reading Practice Test 2, Passage 2Farming Upwards13 questions: Matching, Multiple choice, Completion and short answer
- Academic Reading Practice Test 3, Passage 2The Hidden Value of City Trees13 questions: Matching, Multiple choice, Completion and short answer
- Academic Reading Practice Test 4, Passage 2Sound in the Sea13 questions: Matching, Completion and short answer
- Academic Reading Practice Test 5, Passage 2Can Happiness Be Measured?13 questions: Matching, Multiple choice, Completion and short answer
- Academic Reading Practice Test 6, Passage 2Water from the Sea13 questions: Matching, Multiple choice, Completion and short answer
General Training Reading: Section 2
- General Training Reading Practice Test 1, Section 2Harbourside Hotel: Information for New Staff13 questions: Completion and short answer, Multiple choice
- General Training Reading Practice Test 2, Section 2Westbrook Logistics: Your Probation Period13 questions: Matching, Completion and short answer
- General Training Reading Practice Test 3, Section 2Carlton Insurance: Hybrid Working Guide for Staff13 questions: Matching, Completion and short answer
- General Training Reading Practice Test 4, Section 2Greenway Supermarkets: Welcome Pack for New Store Staff13 questions: Completion and short answer, Multiple choice
- General Training Reading Practice Test 5, Section 2Portside Distribution: Health and Safety Guide for New Employees13 questions: Matching, Completion and short answer
- General Training Reading Practice Test 6, Section 2Fairfield Buses: Information for New Drivers13 questions: Matching, Completion and short answer
What to expect in the second part of Reading
The second part of the Reading test is where questions about the structure of a text become common: which paragraph contains a piece of information, or which heading fits each paragraph.
In Academic Reading, Passage 2 is another long text. It often has lettered paragraphs, with matching headings or matching information questions that make you understand the main idea of each paragraph.
In General Training, Section 2 is about work: two short texts such as a job description, a contract, staff guidelines or training information.
Tips for Passage 2
- Read the headings before the text. For matching headings, read the list first, then read each paragraph for its main idea, not its details.
- Do the easy matches first. Match the paragraphs you are sure about, then choose between the headings that are left.
- A heading covers the whole paragraph. A heading that matches one sentence but not the rest of the paragraph is a trap.
- Matching information is not in order. Unlike most question types, these answers can be anywhere, and a paragraph can be used more than once if the instructions say so.
- Scan for names and numbers. Names, dates and figures are easy to find in a text, and they lead you to the right sentence.
More advice: IELTS Reading tips and tricks.
Questions
- What question types come up in Reading Passage 2?
- Matching headings and matching information are common, together with multiple choice, True / False / Not Given and summary completion.
- How long should I spend on each Reading passage?
- About 20 minutes. The Reading test is 60 minutes for three parts and 40 questions, and there is no extra time to copy your answers.
- What is General Training Reading Section 2 about?
- Work. It has two short texts on topics such as applying for jobs, company policies, pay and conditions, or staff training.
- Do these practice tests come with answers?
- Yes. Press "Check these answers" under each group of questions to see which are right, the correct answer, and the words from the passage that prove it. At the end you get an estimated band for the part.
Practise the other parts
- Reading Passage 1 practice tests
- Reading Passage 3 practice tests
- Full reading practice tests: all the parts together under exam conditions.