Multiple aspirants around the globe find it difficult to score a great band score of 7+ in the IELTS reading section. This is a primary problem among the non-native English speakers. What they need to realise is that they are perfectly capable of achieving that score, they only need to focus on the right strategies. Undertaking certain steps to achieve power over those strategies is the one way you can be well-prepared for the IELTS reading section.
Let us discuss it in detail.
The basics
The IELTS reading section comprises a total of 40 questions that need to be answered in 60 minutes. The reading section comprises three sections. This directly implies that you shall be required to pay attention to three different texts in total. The questions here are going to be progressively difficult.
As an aspirant, you might have already come across multiple reading tests and sample questions, and you might have also noticed that all these questions have a similar approach when it comes to asking you what to do. This can get confusing for some; however, with adequate practice and diligence, you will have the edge when it comes to comprehending the questions.
The following are the different types of questions present in an average IELTS reading section:
- Multiple choice questions
- True/false/not given questions
- Gap filling questions
- Matching questions
- Sentence completion task
- Classification task
- Short answer questions
- Charts, diagrams, table questions
One thing aspirants need to understand is that the reading section aims at highlighting your capabilities of understanding and comprehending what is written in the question and further answer questions based on your understanding. So, even if you do not fully understand the meaning of a certain word mentioned in the reading section, it is going to be alright. You can still achieve a great band score if you are focussing on the overall meaning, instead of being stuck at a particular word.
Another thing you need to understand is that you need to finish all these 40 questions completely under 60 minutes. If you are not being able to manage your time well, you are going to be losing out on a great score on the basis of the Task Response parameter.
Tips to get a higher band score
Do not start reading the passage right away
Not everyone is going to tell you about this tip, you are not supposed to read the passage right away. You must focus on the tasks that follow the passage and then continue reading the passage.
Why?
There is nothing weird about it, if you are thinking so.
The concept behind this is very simple.
You will have to read the passage anyway. If you read the questions after you read the passage, you will have to go back and read the passage again to find the right answers. Instead, you could simply read the questions before and then read the passage, looking for the answers in the same. This will save you a lot of time.
Look for answers in an order
People might tell you that answers are scattered all over the place, so you need to look for them carefully.
It is a myth.
The answers appear in an order.
The way the questions are presented, the answers appear in the same order in the passage.
So, this directly means that the answer for question 3 will be followed by the answer to question 2 in the passage.
The answers, in most cases, will be present in an order. Knowing this fact will save you a lot of time.
Do not pay heed to difficult words
If you are not able to comprehend certain words, or texts that are difficult to understand, you do not have to worry. Do not pay heed to it!
The understanding of the text is only limited to you finding the answers in the right place. Once you have figured out that the answer to question 1 will be present in either paragraph one or paragraph two, you are good to go.
There is absolutely no need to be terrified if you come across words that are difficult for you to know the meaning of.
Skimming and scanning
There is no absolute requirement that you are required to read every single word with great precision and detail. You can read faster by skipping out a few words. The easiest way to do this is to look at the word and ignore it and continue reading the next word.
You can ignore certain words like “a” “an” “the” and other prepositions and sometimes even words that are repeating in the passage.
Quickly glancing through those words will save a lot of time for you and will increase your reading speed as well. Skimming through the text like, scanning for only keywords and important sentences is important as far as the IELTS reading section is concerned.
Your primary concern should be to look for answers and keywords.
Read task carefully
Paying attention to the task mentioned is the one thing you need to focus on to get a higher band score. Whenever you start, make sure you are through with the instructions and the examples and then start attempting the tasks.
Certain tasks do look the same and if you read carefully, pay articulate attention and practice enough, you will be able to identify and differentiate between different tasks easily.
Here is how you can pay better attention to some of the most common tasks:
True/false/not given task questions
If you are inclining towards your answer to be true, make sure the whole sentence is actually true. There might be some tricky questions wherein all the featured details are not completely true. Some details might be true while others might not be. Therefore, in such cases your answer should be false.
Matching task
Do not simply cross out an option if it has comfortably matched with another option. Though seemingly easy, it might not always be the correct way to answer such questions. It could lead to major mistakes, leading you to get a lower band score. Reconsider every single option correctly before you lock in your answer finally. There is always an opportunity to correct your mistakes before your final submission. Only match the options that are a perfect match for each other, not because you think they should go together.
Gap filling task
Ensure you fill in the right options at all times and not go overboard with the word limit.
Keywords
Every single question in your IELTS reading section will be accompanied by keywords that you will be required to locate. In order to spot the correct answers to the task, you need to know what are some of the most important keywords. keywords that hold great importance in the reading section for IELTS are: Names, Places, Dates, Numbers. However, not all keywords are formatted like this. There are others that are subtly placed in the passage.
Underline them as soon as you see them. Mark them down as soon as you spot them and then proceed with writing down your answers.
Preparing in advance
Planning your preparations for the IELTS reading section is a significant task you need to undertake if you are aspiring to land in a higher band score. You need to invest your time and energy in:
- Developing your vocabulary
- The art of paraphrasing
- Practicing past years’ questions and sample questions
- Developing the art of scanning and skimming
- The art of reading faster
- Practicing sample test papers in order to evaluate yourself
- Manage your time well
- What most candidates are not able to do, no matter how well they have prepared and how well their command over the language and vocabulary has become: No being able to manage time well enough.
People can sometimes spend extra time reading the questions, filling out the details in their answer sheets, writing slowly, comprehending the questions and the vocabulary, getting stuck on an unfamiliar word or a certain fact.
You do not have to do that.
Manage your time well.
It should take roughly 1-1.5 minutes for every single task.
Note: We have said this before and we are saying it again, the reading section in your IELTS exam is not given to assess your art of textual comprehension. You only are required to locate the answers in the right spot. The text does not necessarily have to make sense. If you are able to find the right answer in the right spot, you are good to go!
Follow our YouTube channel “Unlock IELTS with Richa” for more such great tips and tricks to crack your upcoming IELTS exam in an easy way. All the best!
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