The IELTS Reading section uses different passages to test how well you understand information, find specific details, and recognise ideas written in different ways. Driverless Cars is one such IELTS Reading passage.
The Driverless Cars IELTS Reading Answers page helps you check your answers and understand how they are connected to the passage. It looks at how driverless cars could affect road safety, travel, vehicle use, and everyday life.
This article covers:
The complete Driverless Cars IELTS Reading passage.
Questions with answers and simple explanations.
Important keywords and paraphrased ideas.
Easy ways to approach different IELTS Reading question types.
Common mistakes to avoid while answering.
FAQs about the Driverless Cars IELTS Reading passage.
Some questions may look confusing because the passage can use different words to express the same idea. Read each question carefully, find the related information, and check the meaning before choosing your answer.
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Driverless Cars IELTS Reading Passage
The Driverless Cars IELTS Reading passage talks about the development of automated vehicles and how they could change transport. It looks at their possible benefits, their effect on car ownership and manufacturing, and the problems that need to be solved before they become common on roads.
You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 1–14, which are based on the passage below.
Driverless Cars
A
The automotive industry is already familiar with automation in manufacturing. From the 1970s, robots were used to make cars. This helped reduce costs and made mass production more reliable and flexible.
Now, another type of automation is becoming important. This time, the focus is not on how cars are made but on the cars themselves and their ability to drive without human control.
B
Research into vehicle automation is not new. For more than 50 years, vehicles with limited self-driving features have been developed. This research helped create many of the driver assistance systems used today.
Progress became much faster after Google announced in 2010 that it had been testing self-driving cars on the roads of California.
C
There are several reasons why this technology is developing so quickly. One of the main reasons is safety. Research by the UK's Transport Research Laboratory found that human error is responsible for more than 90% of road collisions.
Automating driving could help reduce the number of accidents caused by human mistakes.
D
Another reason for developing driverless cars is to reduce the amount of time people spend driving. People could use this time to work relax or spend time with others while the vehicle handles the driving.
Driverless vehicles could also help older people and people, with disabilities travel on their own if they are unable to drive themselves.
E
The effects of automated vehicles could go beyond these direct benefits. They could also change transport and society, as well as the way cars are manufactured.
At present, the average car remains parked for more than 90% of its life. Automation could make car-sharing easier, especially in cities where many people need vehicles. A smaller number of shared automated vehicles could meet the transport needs of a large number of people.
F
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology studied automated mobility in Singapore. Research showed that, than thirty percent of the vehicles that are used today may not be required if automated car-sharing were fully introduced.
This could mean that fewer cars would need to be made. However the number of trips could grow because empty vehicles would have to move from one customer to another.
G
Research from the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute shows that automated vehicles might cut car ownership by 43 percent.. At the same time the average yearly mileage for each vehicle could go up by double. That means people might own cars but those cars could be driven much more. It's a shift, in how we think about cars and how much we use them.
This means that the vehicles would be used more often and might need to be replaced sooner. Because of this faster replacement, vehicle production might not actually decrease.
H
Automation could also change the way cars are designed and manufactured. In a system where people do not own cars but use vehicles through a mobility provider, they could choose a vehicle based on the needs of each journey.
People would not have to buy one car that tries to meet all their different needs.
I
Most seats in most cars are empty for much of the time. This could lead to more smaller and efficient vehicles designed for specific needs.
For special journeys, such as a family trip or helping children move to university, people could use larger or specially designed vehicles when required.
J
There are still many problems to solve before automated vehicles can become common on roads. One challenge is technical. Vehicles must be reliable in traffic, different weather conditions, and many types of road situations.
There are also legal and regulatory issues.Governments must decide how responsibility, liability and law enforcement will operate when vehicles no longer need drivers.
Another challenge is acceptance. People must trust automated vehicles. Accept automated vehicles as a useful part of the transport system.
K
There is no question that many problems still need to be fixed.. With dedicated research these issues can be handled in the next ten years.
Transport is expected to change in different ways and might grow together with technologies like telepresence and virtual reality. It is hard to say what the future will be, like.
One thing is certain: change is. Car makers will have to be ready to deal with it.
Questions 1–5 are Matching Information questions. You need to find which paragraph, from A–K, contains the information given in each question.
The same paragraph can be used more than once in this type of question. So, do not assume that every answer has to be a different letter. In IELTS Reading Test look for the main idea in each statement and then find the paragraph that gives that information.
Questions 1–5
This reading passage has eleven paragraphs, A–K.
Which paragraph contains the following information?
Write the correct letter, A–K, as your answer to each question.
Question 1
Google announced that it had been trialling self-driving cars on the streets of California in 2010.
Answer: B
The answer is in Paragraph B. It says that progress in vehicle automation increased after Google announced that it had been testing self-driving cars on the streets of California in 2010.
The keyword Google makes this part easy to locate.
Answer: B
Question 2
The University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute indicates that automated vehicles might reduce ownership of vehicles by 43%.
Answer: G
The answer is in Paragraph G. It mentions research by the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute.
The paragraph says that automated vehicles might reduce vehicle ownership by 43%, although the vehicles could be used more often.
Answer: G
Question 3
Automation can increase the development of smaller and efficient vehicles that match the needs of individuals.
Answer: I
The answer is in Paragraph I. This paragraph explains that most car seats are empty most of the time.
Because of this, automation could lead to smaller and more efficient vehicles that are designed for specific needs.
Answer: I
Question 4
Those who are old or disabled may be able to travel alone if the vehicle can do the driving.
Answer: D
The answer is in Paragraph D. It explains that driverless vehicles could give older people and people with disabilities more freedom to travel on their own.
The important idea here is travelling alone without having to drive.
Answer: D
Question 5
Vehicles would be used more frequently and require replacement sooner, resulting in fast turnover, so vehicle production may not necessarily decrease.
Answer: G
The answer is again in Paragraph G. It says that automated vehicles could be used more often and may need to be replaced sooner.
Because of this faster replacement, the amount of vehicle production may not fall even if fewer people own cars.
Questions 10–14 are Summary Completion questions. You need to complete the summary using words from the passage.
The instruction says NOT MORE THAN THREE WORDS, so check the number of words before you write each answer. IELTS says that you can lose the mark if you write more words than the given limit.
Complete the summary below. Write the answer in NOT MORE THAN THREE WORDS for each answer.
From the 1970s the implementation of 10_______ manufacture brought significant cost savings and improvements in the reliability and flexibility of mass production of vehicles. For more than 50 years, vehicles with limited 11________ capabilities have been around, which contributed significantly towards driver assistance systems. More than 90% of road collisions occur due to human error, and it is the biggest cause of 12________. Automating driving may help to reduce the occurrence of this. One thing is clear: change is for sure, and the 13______ to respond to this will be essential for those involved in manufacturing the vehicles that will implement future mobility. There is no doubt that many challenges need to be taken care of but, through targeted and 14________, these problems can be solved in the next 10 years.
Questions 10–14
Complete the summary below.
Write the answer in NOT MORE THAN THREE WORDS for each answer.
Question 10
Answer: robotic car
The answer is found in Paragraph A. The passage talks about the use of robots in car manufacturing from the 1970s.
It says that the implementation of robotic car manufacture brought cost savings and made vehicle production more reliable and flexible.
So, the missing words are robotic car.
Answer: ROBOTIC CAR
Question 11
Answer: self-driving
The answer is in Paragraph B. It says that vehicles with limited self-driving capabilities have existed for more than 50 years.
The word fits the sentence because it describes the type of driving technology these vehicles had.
Answer: SELF-DRIVING
Question 12
Answer: road accidents
The answer is in Paragraph C. The passage says that more than 90% of road collisions happen because of human error and that this is the biggest cause of road accidents.
The two words fit the gap and follow the word limit.
Answer: ROAD ACCIDENTS
Question 13
Answer: flexibility
The answer is in Paragraph K. The passage says that change is certain and that flexibility will be essential for people involved in making vehicles for future mobility.
The sentence in the question uses the same idea, so flexibility is the correct answer.
Answer: FLEXIBILITY
Question 14
Answer: robust research
The answer is in Paragraph K. The passage says that many challenges can be solved through targeted and robust research over the next 10 years.
The phrase fits the sentence and is within the three-word limit.
Answer: ROBUST RESEARCH
Driverless Cars IELTS Reading Answers 10–14
Question
Answer
Paragraph
10
robotic car
A
11
self-driving
B
12
road accidents
C
13
flexibility
K
14
robust research
K
How to Approach Driverless Cars IELTS Reading Questions
The Driverless Cars IELTS Reading passage has three different question types. So, using the same method for every question may not work. First, look at the question type, then find the part of the passage that can give you the answer.
Here are some simple ways to solve these questions without wasting too much time.
1. Check the question type first
Before reading the passage in detail, look at the questions. In this practice set, you have Matching Information, True/False/Not Given, and Summary Completion.
Each type needs a different approach. IELTS Academic Reading has several question types, and the official IELTS sample tests are designed to help students get familiar with them.
2. Underline the important words
Pick out the words that can help you find the answer quickly.
For example, in the Driverless Cars passage:
Google + 2010 → Paragraph B
43% + vehicle ownership → Paragraph G
old or disabled → Paragraph D
90% + parked → Paragraph E
These words make it easier to scan the passage instead of reading every line again.
3. Look for the same meaning
The question may not use the exact words from the passage. Look for words or phrases with a similar meaning.
For example, the question says “reduce ownership of vehicles”, while the passage talks about automated vehicles reducing “ownership of vehicles by 43%.”
The words are almost the same here, but IELTS can make the difference less obvious in other questions. So, always check the full meaning.
4. Use scanning for Matching Information
Questions 1–5 ask you to find specific information in paragraphs A–K. You do not need to read every paragraph word by word.
Look for names, numbers, dates, places, and unusual terms first. IELTS says Matching Information questions test your ability to scan a text and find specific details, examples, reasons, descriptions, comparisons, or explanations.
5. Be careful with True, False and Not Given
For Questions 6–9, do not guess based on what you already know about driverless cars.
TRUE = the passage agrees with the statement.
FALSE = the passage says the opposite.
NOT GIVEN = the passage does not give enough information.
IELTS specifically says that you should not use outside knowledge when answering these questions.
6. Check the word limit in Summary Completion
Questions 10–14 say NOT MORE THAN THREE WORDS. This means your answer can be one, two, or three words, but not four.
For example, robust research has two words, so it fits the instruction.
The official IELTS format says that Summary Completion answers are taken from the text and that you must follow the word limit given in the question.
7. Do not spend too long on one question
The IELTS Academic Reading test has 40 questions and 60 minutes. Official IELTS preparation advice suggests working at around 20 minutes per passage. Skimming and scanning can help you find the part of the text you need faster.
If one question is taking too long, move to the next one and return to it later. This can help you avoid losing time on a single question.
The Driverless Cars IELTS Reading passage has different question types, so it is easy to lose marks by using the wrong approach. Small things like missing a keyword, choosing an answer too quickly, or ignoring the word limit can affect your score. IELTS also points out that not knowing where to look, poor time management, spelling mistakes, and distractors can cause wrong answers.
Here are some common mistakes to avoid while solving the questions.
Common mistake
Why it can be a problem
What to do instead
Looking for only exact words
The question and passage may use different words for the same idea
Look for similar meaning and paraphrasing
Choosing an answer too quickly
A word from a wrong idea may also appear in the passage
Read the full sentence before choosing
Mixing up False and Not Given
A statement may not be mentioned at all
Choose False only when the passage gives the opposite information
Reading every line slowly
You may lose too much time on one passage
Skim first and scan for useful details
Ignoring names and numbers
Names, dates and figures can help you find the right paragraph
Mark important names, numbers and places
Writing more than the word limit
An answer can be marked wrong when it goes over the given limit
Follow instructions such as NOT MORE THAN THREE WORDS
Using your own knowledge
The answer may not match what the passage actually says
Use only information from the passage
Spending too long on one question
You may have less time for the remaining questions
Move on and come back to difficult questions later
Want to practise more IELTS Reading passages? Check out these answer guides covering a range of topics and question types:
The Driverless Cars IELTS Reading Answers are useful for practising different types of questions in the IELTS Academic Reading test. The passage may look long, but you can solve it more easily when you know what to look for.
Before you finish your practice, remember these points:
Read the question carefully before searching for the answer.
Look for keywords, numbers, names, and similar meanings.
Check the full sentence instead of choosing an answer too quickly.
Follow the word limit in Summary Completion questions.
Do not use your own knowledge to answer passage-based questions.
Keep track of time so you can attempt all the questions.
Review your wrong answers and understand where you went wrong.
Regular practice can help you read faster, spot important information, and feel more confident during the IELTS Reading test.
What is the Driverless Cars IELTS Reading passage about?
The passage looks at the development of automated vehicles and their possible effect on transport. It covers topics such as road safety, car ownership, vehicle manufacturing, and future mobility. The passage also talks about the challenges that may come with driverless cars.
What question types are included in Driverless Cars IELTS Reading?
The question set includes Matching Information, True/False/Not Given, and Summary Completion. These are common question types in IELTS Academic Reading. Each one checks a slightly different skill, such as finding details or understanding information from the passage.
Are the Driverless Cars IELTS Reading Answers difficult to find?
The answers are based on information given in the passage, but they may not always be easy to spot. Some questions use numbers, names, or ideas that appear in different parts of the text. Reading the question carefully can help you know what information to search for.
How can I improve my score in IELTS Academic Reading?
Start by practising different question types rather than only doing full tests. After each practice session, check your wrong answers and understand why you selected them. Over time, this can help you recognise question patterns and manage your time better.
What should I do when I cannot find an answer in IELTS Reading?
Do not spend several minutes searching for one answer. Check the keywords again and scan nearby paragraphs for related information. If you still cannot find it, make your best choice, move ahead, and return to the question later if you have time.
Are IELTS Reading answers always in the same order as the passage?
Not always. Some question types generally follow the order of information in the passage, while others may ask you to look across different paragraphs. This is why it is useful to understand the specific question type before deciding where to search.
Can I write answers in capital letters in IELTS Academic Reading?
Yes, you can write your Reading answers in capital letters. IELTS accepts answers written in either upper-case or lower-case letters. Using capital letters for all answers can also make your handwriting easier to check when completing a paper-based test.
What happens if I spell an IELTS Reading answer incorrectly?
Spelling is important in IELTS Reading when you have to write an answer. Even when you understand the correct information, a spelling mistake can result in an incorrect answer. Always take a moment to check the spelling, especially when copying words from the passage.
Should I read the Driverless Cars passage more than once?
You normally do not need to read the whole passage several times. A better approach is to understand the general topic first and then return to the relevant paragraph when answering a question. This saves time and gives you more time to complete the rest of the test.
How is the IELTS Academic Reading test scored?
The IELTS Academic Reading test has 40 questions, and each correct answer receives one mark. Your total number of correct answers is converted into an IELTS Reading band score. The exact number of correct answers needed for each band can vary slightly between test versions.
Where can I find official IELTS Academic Reading practice tests?
The official IELTS website provides sample test questions and preparation resources for IELTS Academic Reading. These are useful when you want to practise with material that follows the actual test format. You can also use them to become familiar with different question types before test day.
Is Driverless Cars IELTS Reading Answers Practice Test 3 useful for IELTS preparation?
Yes, Driverless Cars IELTS Reading Answers Practice Test 3 can help you practise finding specific information, understanding paraphrased ideas, and solving different IELTS Reading question types. Reviewing the answers after the test can also help you understand your mistakes and improve your reading speed.
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