FasihoIELTS Academic Reading: evidence, headings, and Not Given
Separate contradiction from missing information and choose headings that capture the whole paragraph.
Applies to: IELTS Academic · section preparation
Know the task
IELTS Academic Reading has three sections, 40 questions, and 60 minutes. Academic texts differ from General Training Reading. Task types include identifying information, matching headings, and completion questions. Read each question’s answer format and word limit before responding.
A practical approach
- Skim the passage to identify its topic and paragraph purposes. Then scan for details relevant to a particular question.
- For True/False/Not Given, compare the entire statement with the text. False needs contradictory evidence; Not Given means the text does not establish the claim. Yes/No/Not Given questions concern the writer’s views or claims.
- For headings, summarize the paragraph before reading the heading choices. Prefer its central purpose over one memorable example.
- For completion, check both the evidence and the grammar of the completed answer. Keep to the specified word limit.
Worked example: original Fasiho practice
Original passage: “A university opened its rooftop garden in 2022. Biology students collect data there every month. The report does not record the construction cost.”
- “The garden opened in 2022” → True: directly stated.
- “Students collect data every week” → False: the text says every month.
- “The garden cost more than the library” → Not Given: no comparison of costs is provided.
A heading about a garden used for student research fits better than “An expensive building project.” The latter introduces an unsupported emphasis. This short exercise illustrates reasoning; full Academic passages require sustained reading.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Using your own subject knowledge to decide True or False.
- Choosing a heading from one shared keyword.
- Assuming every task type follows exactly the same answer-order pattern.
- Leaving no time to enter or check answers within the Reading time.
Your next practice session
Complete a short fresh set under a study timer. During review, write the supporting phrase beside every answer. For Not Given, name the missing relationship, such as a comparison or a cause. Track evidence errors separately from vocabulary errors. Then do a full timed section periodically to assess pacing over 60 minutes.
Questions & answers
Is Not Given the same as a statement that sounds unlikely?
No. It concerns what the passage establishes. An unlikely claim may still be Not Given if the relevant information is absent.
Should I spend exactly 20 minutes on each passage?
That is one possible study allocation, not a compulsory per-passage timer. Adjust your pacing while staying within the total time.
Are Academic and General Training Reading identical?
No. They use different texts. Prepare with the version your application requires; Fasiho currently focuses on Academic practice.
Official sources
Checked October 19, 2026. Official links support the task-format descriptions. Strategies and fictional examples are original Fasiho teaching material, not official sample questions or assessed model answers. Practice estimates do not guarantee an official result.
Put your target into practice
Choose the exam your application accepts, then work on one skill at a time.