A common question from IELTS beginners is whether they should always answer questions 1 to 40 in order, or jump around. Here is a clear answer with the reasoning behind it.
Within a single passage: mostly yes, follow the order. IELTS Reading questions are usually presented in the same order as the information appears in the passage. If question 5 covers information found early in the passage and question 6 covers something slightly later, working through them in order lets you scan forward naturally without backtracking.
Exception: matching questions. Matching Headings and Matching Information questions do not always follow this rule, since they ask about whole paragraphs rather than a specific order. For these, it is fine to work through the paragraphs in the order they appear, not the order the questions are listed.
Across the whole test: skip and return if stuck. While order matters within a passage, you should not feel forced to finish every question in Passage 1 before moving to Passage 2. If a question is taking too long, mark your best guess, note the question number, and continue. Return to it at the end if time remains.
Do not skip filling in an answer entirely. Even if you plan to "return later," always leave some answer in place first — a blank answer sheet at the end of 60 minutes guarantees zero marks, while a guessed answer still has a chance of being correct.
Why this matters. Following passage order saves time by letting your eyes move naturally through the text instead of jumping back and forth. Practicing this approach consistently, rather than randomly answering questions, builds a rhythm that becomes automatic by exam day.