The Academic Reading test tends to focus more on articles that are of a more academic nature, such as an extract from a university textbook or an article from a scholarly journal. You will need to read three articles of about 900 words in length and then answer 40 questions. The IELTS Academic Reading test lasts 60 minutes.
To learn more about the test, see the main reading page, the reading skills page, and do a practice test.
I also have an excellent reading eBook for students who want to improve their reading skills and strategies.