Top Tips to Improve IELTS Score in IELTS Reading
You will have 60 minutes to complete the three passages. So you should utilize these 60 minutes in a proper way in order to get good band scores. Besides there are some Top Tips to Increase Your Score in IELTS Reading that you should follow to easily hit your target scores.
Firstly, the reading test is considered by many to be the most difficult part of IELTS and with some justification. You have to read 3 long sections each with multiple paragraphs and answer 40 questions (13 to 14 per section). Unlike the listening test no extra time is given at the end to transfer your answers to the answer sheet. Time can be a major obstacle as you only have an hour to finish the test.
Practice is the key if you are lacking in this part of the test you should read newspaper, magazines and books. Try and improve your reading skills and speed.
Now let us learn some tips –
1. Scanning is to scan the content instead of reading it thoroughly for example when looking for a phone in a directory (list). You know the specific information you looking for and you go down the page quickly to find it. This technique is used when answering questions such as multiple – choice and matching. You scan the passage to quickly find the information mentioned in the question. Once you find it , you get the answer from the passage and write it against the question.
2.Skimming refers to reading a paragraph quickly to get an idea of what it is about, without trying to understand it’s details. This technique is part of the initial reading. It can be modified (reading a little slower) to answer some question types like “provide headings for the paragraphs”, in which paragraph does this information appear in the text? And author’s views type of questions.
Moreover the sections get progressively more difficult. Manage your time well as it is recommended to spend about 15 to 17 minutes on section 1, 20 minutes on section 2 and 23 to 25 minutes on section 3. If possible keeps some spare time to check your answers
Apart from this, tests are taken from magazines, journals, books and newspapers. At least one text contains detailed logical argument. One text contains non-verbal materials such as diagrams graphs or illustrations.
3. Don’t expect to understand every word
Many of the students have been taught to look up every word in a dictionary they don’t understand. The theory behind this is good, a wide vocabulary is the key to get a good score in the IELTS test, but worrying about all the words you don’t understand in the reading exam is one of the worst things you can do.
You don’t have to understand the meaning of every word. Even native speakers- and many IELTS teachers- would not be able to understand all the words in the reading test.
4. Develop your speed reading skills.
This test has strict time limit. Which will really challenge your ability to complete the questions in time? You must develop speed reading skills to be able to find the answers quickly.
5. Don’t try to understand the full passage. Your task is to locate the answer only. Most question test your ability to find the specific information given to you.
6. Developing vocabulary
This is one of the key reasons why students don’t get the score they need. Learn vocabulary is not just about learning the meaning of a word; it is about learning when you can and can’t use a word. It is also about what collocations can be used with words, for example verbs and match nouns. You should write words lists that include common paraphrases and also any problems you had finding the answer. You can do this by learning vocabulary from practice reading passages.
7. Getting used to difficult passages
If you have time before your test you should be widening your reading skills and familiarity of complicated passages on a range of topics.
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