IELTS Reading Test

Reading Test Strategies

1. Remember to read the instructions carefully. The instructions will tell you
where to find the answers, what you need to do, what kind of answer is
required, and how many words you need to write. The instructions will
also tell you if an option can be used more than once, and will remind
you to transfer your answers to your Answer Sheet. Also, many task
types contain variations, and it is easy for you to confuse them if you do
not check carefully what it is you are required to do.
2. rite your answers on the answer sheet, NOT on the question sheet.
!nlike the "istenin# test, you will not have time to transfer your answers
to the answer sheet.
$. %ake sure that you write each answer in the correct bo& on the answer
sheet.
'. (on)t read the Readin# passa#e first. *ive yourself a reason for readin#.
This will make it much easier for you to find the answers.
+. Read the test in a lo#ical order, title, headin#s, bold printed words,
pictures, instructions, answer types, the e&ample and the questions.
-. hen startin# a new section, check the layout. here does the section
start and end. /ow many questions are there. hich questions are
easier or quicker.
0. /i#hli#ht 1or circle or underline2 key words in the questions as you read
them.
3. Read the topic sentences first. This helps you to find the information you
are lookin# for.
4. Scan the te&t for specific information. 5ou can find most of the answers
without readin# the te&t carefully.
16. Read around the key words in the passa#e. 5ou will often find the
answer you)re lookin# for 7ust before of 7ust after the key word.
11. There is often a #lossary with definitions of difficult or technical words.
Read these if they are present.
12. 8f the answers include numbers or dates, look for these first. they are
the easiest to find.
1$. Remember your ma&imum word limits, e.#. Write NO MORE THAN
THREE WORDS for each answer.
1'. Answers often appear in fi#ures and dia#rams, so don)t for#et to check
these.
1+. 9or questions that ask for specific information, the answers almost
always appear in the te&t in the same order as the questions.
1-. Remember that the questions for certain task types follow the order of
information in the readin# passa#e.
10. Remember to read all the questions very carefully.
13. :ractise scannin# for key words in the e&tracts or the readin# passa#e
that match the items. 5ou can also practise scannin# for paraphrases of
key words.
14. Remember that in most tasks which involve writin# words or numbers,
e.#. Short;answer <uestions, the answers have to be #rammatically
correct and spelt correctly. Accuracy in spellin# and word form are very
important and you will be penalised for incorrect spellin#.
26. !se the information provided in the notes, tables, dia#rams or flow;
charts, as well as any e&amples, to predict the type of information that
is required.
21. 8n classroom activities, discuss the type of information you need for each
task type you mi#ht meet in the test.
22. !nderline key words and phrases when you read as well as payin#
attention to key words in the questions.
2$. :ractise usin# synonyms, summary words etc. to help you locate
information.
2'. :ractise different ways of e&pressin# the same ideas or information in a
te&t.
2+. :ractise readin# skills such as skimmin# and scannin# for information.
2-. Some students are convinced that only test practice will really help
them, and want to do test after test. This can be discoura#in#, as they
do not see the rapid pro#ress they would like. 5ou should read widely,
e.#. newspapers, 7ournals, ma#a=ines and books, and use materials from
these sources when preparin# for the test.
20. >e aware of the different te&t types and how best to approach them.
:ractise the full ran#e of 8?"TS Academic Readin# task types. Take time
in class to discuss the differences between task types and the skills that
are bein# tested.
23. 5ou should make sure that you understand that there is more than one
way to read a te&t. Some students believe that they must read every
te&t slowly and carefully, underlinin# every unknown word and stoppin#
to worry about it. 5ou should remember that your main aim is to locate
the answers to the questions. 5ou do not need to read in the same way
you would if you needed to memorise somethin#. 5ou should try not to
worry too much about the presence of unknown words, and you should
also practise #uessin# meanin# from conte&t. Try not to look up every
unknown word in the dictionary.
24. 5ou should remain conscious of time limits durin# the test, and you
should move on rather than spendin# too much time on a particular
question to which you are unable to find the answer.
$6. >e aware of the dan#ers of relyin# on locatin# the e&act words in the
te&t that you find in a question, practise usin# paraphrases and locatin#
paraphrase in a te&t.
$1. 8n task types where the information is located in order in the te&t,
remember you don)t need to #o back to the be#innin# of the te&t for
each question.
$2. Take care when you need to copy a word or words from the te&t onto
your Answer Sheet. @opyin# incorrectly will lead to loss of marks.
$$. %ake sure that you #et some practice in usin# an answer sheet.