Mavjuda’s stuff
Ielts Reading
Date: 9/27/2023 IELTS Reading tips and things you should know about
IELTS Academic Reading: Basic
Information.
The Reading Test is immediately after the Listening Test. You do not get a break.
There are 3 sections in the Reading Test. Each section has 13 or 14 questions, making 40 questions
in total. The test lasts 60 minutes, and in that time, you must write your answers on an answer
sheet.
Here are some of the problems that students have with IELTS Reading:
Time is the biggest problem. Many students don't manage to finish the test.
The texts are long and contain some difficult vocabulary.
Students find "which paragraph contains information" type of questions difficult.
Students find "true/ false/ not given" questions difficult.
IELTS Reading is really a test of your vocabulary and comprehension. If your knowledge of
English words and phrases is good, and you don't struggle to understand when you read texts,
you will dowell.
When are the answers in order?
For the following question types, the answers are usually (almost always) in order in the passage:
All types of gap-fill (sentences, summaries, diagrams etc.)
True, false, not given
Yes, no, not given.
Multiple choice
Matching sentence endings
, 'Short answer' questions
However, answers to the following question types are never in order:
Matching paragraph headings
Which paragraph contains the information?
Matching names with statements or information
The time problem
'Not having enough time' is the biggest problem for most people taking the reading test.
Here are some tips for dealing with this problem:
Go straight to the first question. Don't waste time reading the full passage or the first
sentence of each paragraph, and don't read any of the other questions.
Do 'paragraph' questions last. Questions that ask you to match headings or statements with
paragraphs are much easier if you are already familiar with the passage.
Don't get stuck on one question. As soon as you realize that you are having difficulties with a
question, leave it and move to the next one. Return to difficult questions later if you have
time.
Remember that the answers to most question sections are in order in the passage. You don't
need to go back to the beginning of the passage to search for each answer.
Only skim or scan for numbers and names. Otherwise, read at normal speed.
Work with an alarm. You can't do this in an exam, but at home you could set the alarm (on
your phone) for 2 minutes and try to do each question within this time.
"Keyword technique' steps
1. Read the first question and underline "keywords". These are the words that you think you
will need to search for in the passage. They are the words that communicate the meaning of
the question: normally nouns, verbs and adjectives.
2. Read the passage at normal speed from the beginning. Look out for the keywords from the
question, or any words which have a similar meaning (look for synonyms and paraphrasing).
3. Underline the keywords that you find in the passage.
4. Read the sentences around those keywords carefully. You may need to read them several
times.
5. Check back to the question, and compare it with the relevant part of the passage.
6. Decide on the answer.
Note: The main point of the "keyword technique" is that you have some specific words to look for
in the passage. But remember: Locating the answer is just the first step. The second step is
reading carefully, making sure you understand what you are reading, and comparing with the
question.
Skimming and scanning
Many teachers and books talk about skimming and scanning as key techniques for IELTS reading.
Ielts Reading
Date: 9/27/2023 IELTS Reading tips and things you should know about
IELTS Academic Reading: Basic
Information.
The Reading Test is immediately after the Listening Test. You do not get a break.
There are 3 sections in the Reading Test. Each section has 13 or 14 questions, making 40 questions
in total. The test lasts 60 minutes, and in that time, you must write your answers on an answer
sheet.
Here are some of the problems that students have with IELTS Reading:
Time is the biggest problem. Many students don't manage to finish the test.
The texts are long and contain some difficult vocabulary.
Students find "which paragraph contains information" type of questions difficult.
Students find "true/ false/ not given" questions difficult.
IELTS Reading is really a test of your vocabulary and comprehension. If your knowledge of
English words and phrases is good, and you don't struggle to understand when you read texts,
you will dowell.
When are the answers in order?
For the following question types, the answers are usually (almost always) in order in the passage:
All types of gap-fill (sentences, summaries, diagrams etc.)
True, false, not given
Yes, no, not given.
Multiple choice
Matching sentence endings
, 'Short answer' questions
However, answers to the following question types are never in order:
Matching paragraph headings
Which paragraph contains the information?
Matching names with statements or information
The time problem
'Not having enough time' is the biggest problem for most people taking the reading test.
Here are some tips for dealing with this problem:
Go straight to the first question. Don't waste time reading the full passage or the first
sentence of each paragraph, and don't read any of the other questions.
Do 'paragraph' questions last. Questions that ask you to match headings or statements with
paragraphs are much easier if you are already familiar with the passage.
Don't get stuck on one question. As soon as you realize that you are having difficulties with a
question, leave it and move to the next one. Return to difficult questions later if you have
time.
Remember that the answers to most question sections are in order in the passage. You don't
need to go back to the beginning of the passage to search for each answer.
Only skim or scan for numbers and names. Otherwise, read at normal speed.
Work with an alarm. You can't do this in an exam, but at home you could set the alarm (on
your phone) for 2 minutes and try to do each question within this time.
"Keyword technique' steps
1. Read the first question and underline "keywords". These are the words that you think you
will need to search for in the passage. They are the words that communicate the meaning of
the question: normally nouns, verbs and adjectives.
2. Read the passage at normal speed from the beginning. Look out for the keywords from the
question, or any words which have a similar meaning (look for synonyms and paraphrasing).
3. Underline the keywords that you find in the passage.
4. Read the sentences around those keywords carefully. You may need to read them several
times.
5. Check back to the question, and compare it with the relevant part of the passage.
6. Decide on the answer.
Note: The main point of the "keyword technique" is that you have some specific words to look for
in the passage. But remember: Locating the answer is just the first step. The second step is
reading carefully, making sure you understand what you are reading, and comparing with the
question.
Skimming and scanning
Many teachers and books talk about skimming and scanning as key techniques for IELTS reading.
