TIPS FOR IELTS READING TEST
Test structure: Academic Reading in most cases consists of 3 large passages taken from newspapers or magazines. The first passage usually is the easiest and the last one is the most difficult.
As in the Listening test, questions in the Reading test are arranged in groups. Instructions will tell you which group of questions belongs to which paragraph or portion of text. You may see the questions before or after the passage they belong to.
TIPS FOR IELTS READING TEST
Manage your own time
Time is your greatest enemy. In the Listening test it was managed for you, but the Reading test is a different story. You need to manage it very carefully yourself and this is where the “15-20-25” rule comes in.
When you receive the Reading booklet, first of all, count how many passages there are. Typically there are 3 passages in the booklet. You could divide the hour into 3 equal parts and spend 20 minutes on each passage, but this is not the smartest way. The smartest way is to spend 15 minutes on the first passage, 20 minutes on the second and 25 on the last one. Why? Because they progress in level of difficulty!
TIPS FOR IELTS READING TEST
Write down the time when you should start and when you should finish working on each passage and stick to it. In each passage set aside 2 minutes to copy your answers to the Answer Sheet. For example, in the first paragraph you should use 13 minutes to actually answer the questions (writing the answers on the booklet pages) and 2 to copy your answers to the Answer Sheet.
If you didn’t finish a passage in time, move to the next one anyway. And whatever you do, please do not forget about the Answer Sheet (remember the guy with the ZERO score?)
If you have some time left by the end of the Reading test, make sure that you didn’t forget to answer any question. Check and double check your answers. It can give you a few “easy” points if you find mistakes before the examiner does.
TIPS FOR IELTS READING TEST
Don’t read – scan!
The biggest mistake you could make is to start the test by reading the whole passage. The best thing is to scan the text quickly. Don’t try to understand every word! Just go over it and get the idea of what each paragraph is about. Usually you don’t need to read the whole paragraph – the first couple of sentences are enough.
Make a map
The text before you resembles a strange, new territory. It is so easy to get lost inside all these words! What you need is a map that will help you to orientate. Every paragraph in the passage has its own main idea, which is different from all the other paragraphs. Write in the margins near the paragraph what its topic is, and its main idea. If writing takes too much time, underline the words in the paragraph that explain its main idea. Congratulations! You have just created a map that will later guide you through the search for answers.
TIPS FOR IELTS READING TEST
TIPS FOR IELTS READING TEST