- You choose the correct answer from options A–D, or two or three answers from a longer list.
- Questions follow the order of the passage, but the options don't.
- Find the answer in the passage first, then compare it with every option.
- Wrong options are usually true but irrelevant, partly true, or not mentioned at all.
Multiple choice looks like the easiest question type in IELTS Reading: the answer is right there in front of you. In practice it's one of the trickiest, because the wrong options are carefully designed to look right.
This guide shows you a five-step method, a full worked example you can try yourself, and the patterns behind the wrong options, so you can spot them quickly.
What are IELTS multiple choice questions?
There are two main forms:
- Single answer: a question or unfinished sentence with four options, A–D. Only one is correct.
- Multiple answers (“pick from a list”): for example, “Choose TWO letters, A–E.” You choose two or three correct options from a longer list.
They appear in both Academic and General Training Reading, and in Listening too. On the computer test you simply click the option you choose.
Why multiple choice is tricky
- Every option usually contains words from the passage, so they all look familiar.
- Some options are true according to the passage, but don't answer the question.
- The correct answer is almost always a paraphrase, using different words from the passage.
The 5-step strategy
- 1Read the question stem, not the options
Highlight the key words in the question itself: names, numbers and the exact thing it asks about.
- 2Find the right part of the passage
Questions follow passage order, so start after the previous answer and scan for your key words or their synonyms.
- 3Read that part carefully
Read the whole sentence, plus the one before and after. Decide what the answer is in your own words.
- 4Compare every option
Check each option against the passage. Cross out any that are wrong, not mentioned, or true but not an answer to the question.
- 5Choose and move on
Pick the option that matches the meaning. If you are stuck between two, re-read the question: one of them usually answers a slightly different question.
Worked example: try it yourself
Read the passage, answer the three questions, then open each answer to check your reasoning.
Many workplaces now encourage short afternoon naps. Supporters say that a nap of 10 to 20 minutes can improve alertness for several hours, while longer naps often leave people feeling groggy, because they wake up from a deeper stage of sleep. In one experiment at a university sleep laboratory, volunteers who napped for 20 minutes made fewer errors in a memory task than those who stayed awake. However, volunteers who slept for an hour performed no better than the group that did not nap at all, at least for the first 30 minutes after waking.
Timing also matters. Most people experience a natural dip in energy in the early afternoon, and naps taken at this time appear to be the most effective. A nap late in the evening, by contrast, may make it harder to fall asleep at night.
Not everyone benefits equally. People who sleep well at night tend to gain less from napping than those who are short of sleep. Some researchers also point out that frequent long naps can be a sign of poor health in older adults, although it is not clear whether the naps cause the problems or simply reflect them.
This passage was written for this guide; it is not from a real test.
According to the passage, why do longer naps often leave people feeling groggy?
- A They usually happen too late in the day.
- B People wake up from a deeper stage of sleep.
- C They make it harder to sleep the following night.
- D They reduce people's memory for several hours.
Question 1Show answerHide
The passage says longer naps leave people groggy “because they wake up from a deeper stage of sleep”. Option C is true for evening naps (paragraph 2), but it isn't the reason for grogginess. Option D is not stated anywhere.
What did the experiment find about volunteers who slept for an hour?
- A They made fewer errors than the 20-minute group.
- B They made more errors than those who stayed awake.
- C At first, they did no better than people who did not nap.
- D They felt more alert for several hours afterwards.
Question 2Show answerHide
“Performed no better than the group that did not nap at all, at least for the first 30 minutes” is paraphrased as “at first, they did no better”. Option B is a trap: “no better” does not mean “worse”. Option D describes what supporters say about short naps.
Choose TWO letters, A–E. Which TWO points are made in the passage?
- A Naps are most effective in the early afternoon.
- B Employees who nap are more productive at work.
- C An evening nap can make it harder to sleep at night.
- D Older adults should avoid taking naps.
- E Short naps improve physical fitness.
Question 3Show answerHide
A paraphrases “naps taken at this time appear to be the most effective”, and C paraphrases “a nap late in the evening… may make it harder to fall asleep at night”. B sounds likely, but productivity is never mentioned. D goes too far: the passage says long naps may be a sign of poor health, not that older adults should avoid them. E is not mentioned.
How wrong options are built
| Trap | What it looks like |
|---|---|
| True but irrelevant | Correct according to the passage, but answers a different question (Q1, option C). |
| Twisted meaning | Uses the passage's words but changes the meaning, such as “no better” becoming “worse” (Q2, option B). |
| Too strong | Turns “may” or “some” into “should” or “all” (Q3, option D). |
| Sounds logical | Something you might expect, but the passage never says it (Q3, option B). |
Tips for “choose TWO” questions
- Check each option on its own: is it stated in the passage, yes or no?
- The correct answers can come from different paragraphs, so scan the whole relevant section.
- Watch the number. If the question says TWO, give exactly two letters.
- The order of your answers doesn't matter: A and C is the same as C and A.
How to practise multiple choice
- For every wrong answer, write down which trap caught you. After a few tests you'll see your own pattern.
- Practise finding the location of each answer quickly by scanning for key words and synonyms.
- Work on other question types too: matching headings uses the same skill of reading for meaning.
- After a full test, convert your score with the free Reading score calculator.
Practise with full IELTS Reading tests
Multiple choice and every other question type, in the computer-delivered format, with instant marking.
- Academic and General Training passages
- Split-screen reader with a countdown timer
- Your band score as soon as you finish
