Unofficial practice. We wrote these questions to match the official IELTS question types and timings. They are not real exam questions, and points shown are practice feedback, not a band score. For official sample tests, visit ielts.org.
Before you start
Do
- Read the instructions for word limits, like "NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS".
- Skim the passage first, then scan for answers.
- Check spelling: a misspelled answer is marked wrong.
- Leave no blanks. There's no penalty for wrong answers in IELTS.
Don't
- Don't spend too long on one question. Move on and come back.
- Don't write more words than the instructions allow.
- Don't replay the audio. In the real test you hear it once.
How the buttons work
- ▶ Start test starts the clock (20 minutes) and shows one part at a time, as in the real test. In reading, the passage stays on screen next to the questions.
- Move between parts with ◀ Back and Next ▶. As in the real test, you can go back and change answers until time runs out.
- Listening: each recording plays once. Read the questions first, then press play and answer as you listen.
- ❚❚ Pause stops the clock if you're interrupted (the real test can't be paused). End test finishes early and shows your results.
How it's marked
- Multiple-choice, fill-in and listening questions are marked instantly with the real test's rules. See exactly how we mark.
- At the end you'll see a results report by task type, with what to practise next.
Test paused. The clock has stopped.
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How this practice is marked
One point per correct answer, with spelling checked, as in the real IELTS. There's no penalty for wrong answers. We show points rather than a band, because IELTS converts raw scores using tables that vary by test version. See IELTS band scores explained and how our marking works.
Answers, explanations and transcripts
Finish the test first, then open each section to check your answers. Every answer has an explanation.
Reading
Passage text
Cooling the city
A On a hot summer afternoon, the centre of a large city can be several degrees warmer than the farmland around it. This effect, known as the urban heat island, occurs because roads, roofs and buildings absorb heat during the day and release it slowly at night. Cities also have fewer trees and less open soil, so there is less evaporation to cool the air.
B Researchers now use satellite images to map surface temperatures across entire cities. These maps often reveal striking differences between neighbourhoods: leafy suburbs may be far cooler than nearby areas dominated by car parks and warehouses. Such data allow councils to identify the streets where intervention is most urgent.
C One of the most effective responses is to copy what forests do naturally. Trees provide shade and release water vapour through their leaves, a process that can cool the surrounding air. Green roofs and walls, covered with plants, work in a similar way, while also reducing the amount of rainwater that rushes into drains during storms.
D The benefits of cooler streets are not shared equally. Older people, young children and those with existing health conditions are most at risk during heatwaves, and lower-income areas often have the least tree cover. For this reason, some cities now prioritise planting in disadvantaged neighbourhoods.
E Failing to act is expensive. Heatwaves increase hospital admissions, reduce productivity among outdoor workers and push up electricity demand as residents run air-conditioners. Economists estimate that, over time, the cost of these effects can be far greater than the cost of planting and maintaining trees.
Answer key (12 answers)
| # | Question | Answer | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Paragraph A: choose the best heading. | ii. Why cities are warmer than the countryside | Paragraph A explains why cities are warmer than farmland. |
| 2 | Paragraph B: choose the best heading. | iv. Measuring the problem from space | Paragraph B describes satellite maps of surface temperature. |
| 3 | Paragraph C: choose the best heading. | i. A solution borrowed from nature | Paragraph C is about copying what forests do naturally. |
| 4 | Paragraph D: choose the best heading. | v. Who benefits most from cooler streets | Paragraph D discusses which groups benefit most. |
| 5 | Paragraph E: choose the best heading. | iii. The cost of doing nothing | Paragraph E describes the costs of not acting. |
| 6 | Cities release heat more slowly at night than during the day. | Not Given | The passage says buildings release heat slowly at night, but doesn't compare release rates between day and night. |
| 7 | Satellite maps show that all suburbs have similar temperatures. | False | The maps reveal 'striking differences between neighbourhoods'. |
| 8 | Green roofs can reduce stormwater entering drains. | True | Paragraph C says they reduce rainwater rushing into drains. |
| 9 | Lower-income areas usually have more trees than wealthy areas. | False | Paragraph D says lower-income areas often have the least tree cover. |
| 10 | Most cities have stopped building car parks. | Not Given | Car parks are mentioned, but nothing about stopping building them. |
| 11 | Trees cool the air by providing shade and releasing ___ | water vapour (also accepted: water vapor) | Paragraph C: 'release water vapour through their leaves'. |
| 12 | During heatwaves, demand for ___ | electricity | Paragraph E: 'push up electricity demand'. |
Frequently asked questions
Is IELTS reading practice test 1 free?
Yes, free and marked instantly, with explanations.
How long should I spend on one passage?
About 20 minutes per passage, as in the real test.
Where can I take a full reading test?
Try our full IELTS Academic Reading tests or the unlimited reading mock test.