Reading is the second skill tested in IELTS series of test. After finishing listening section, test taker gets 60 minutes to finish three sections in reading IELTS with 13 until 14 questions for each section. A total question in this section is 40. The detail time arrangement for reading IELTS is:
- 17 minutes on section
- 20 minutes on section
- 23 minutes in section
In IELTS, test taker has to realize that he or she is going to deal with a three long passages. The passages are taken from academic sources. These passages can be categorized as an advanced text. These three passages will be given started from the easiest until the most difficult one.
Passages in IELTS reading section are followed by some different kinds of question. There are 11 types of question that test taker meets in completing this section. The lists are:
- Multiple choice
- Multiple matching
- Short-answer
- Sentence completion
- Tables, diagrams, flow charts
- Summary completion
- Paragraph headings
- Locating information
- Identifying writer’s views or claims
- Classification
- Matching
As test taker can see, there are many kinds of questions that test taker should deal with. Therefore, test taker needs to try each type of question to find out the most difficult type for him or her. Focus exercise on the most difficult type of question will contribute a lot in improving reading IELTS score.
Test taker can also apply another strategy in finishing this section by giving mark on the difficult question, moving from that question then coming back later when he or she has completed all questions. Test taker also needs to prepare some time for correcting his or her works.
In saving more time in doing this section, test taker should do three reading techniques, which should be matched with kind of question test taker are dealing with. The techniques are:
- Skimming
- Scanning
- Reading for detail
Besides applying the techniques above, test taker could also do some other efforts such as adding his or her bank of vocabulary by reading newspaper, books, and magazines. Test taker could improve his or her skill and speed in reading as well by taking more reading resources, especially from authentic materials.
Ref. http://www.aippg.com/ielts/reading-tips-ielts.html, http://www.examenglish.com/IELTS/cbIELTS_reading.htm, http://www.goodluckielts.com/2-1-1-IELTS_reading_overview.html
