Basic Reading

1. Multiple Choice with One Correct Answer

This question type presents a question followed by four answer choices, of which only one is correct. It covers three common variations:

Basic comprehension questions — checking that you understood a stated fact, main idea, or detail from the passage.

Vocabulary questions — asking you to choose the closest synonym for a highlighted word or phrase, based on how it is used in the passage (not its most common dictionary meaning).

Paraphrase questions — asking you to choose the option that correctly restates a highlighted sentence, preserving its original meaning.

Tip: For vocabulary and paraphrase items, return to the surrounding sentences. The context — not your general knowledge of the word — determines the correct answer.

2. Insert a Sentence

This question type gives you one sentence and four marked positions (■) within the passage. Your task is to choose the place where the sentence best fits logically and grammatically.

Tip: Look for the clues a sentence leaves behind — pronouns (it, they, this), connecting words (however, therefore, for example), and references to people or ideas. The correct insertion point is the one where these links are complete on both sides.

3. Summary

This question type provides six answer choices, and you must select three that best summarise the passage. On the computer-based test, you drag and drop your three choices next to the bullets. Because it requires you to distinguish main ideas from minor details, this question type is worth more than one point.

Tip: Eliminate choices that are true but minor, or that misstate the passage. The three correct options usually express the passage's central ideas in order.

4. Category Chart

This question type gives you five to seven answer choices and two categories. You drag and drop each choice into the category it belongs to. You may not need to use all of the answer choices. Like the Summary, this question type is worth more than one point.

Tip: Read the category labels carefully before sorting. Identify the defining feature of each category, then test each choice against both — some choices are designed to be plausible but incorrect.

Note for exam candidates: These four types appear across TOEFL iBT, IELTS, and Cambridge reading papers in adapted forms. Mastering them here builds the core skills — locating information, following logical flow, and separating main ideas from details — that all three exams reward.