Introduction to Reading IELTS

In reading IELTS, you have to deal with three reading passages with some questions as a companion. These reading passages are given based on its level of difficulty. These passages show increasing difficulty.

For each reading passage, there will be about 500-900 words existed. You have total 60 minutes to answer all questions about those three passages. The passages might involve information in form of tables, diagrams, charts, etc. Therefore, you need to have enough practice to understand on how to read those forms. Don’t be afraid of a topic that is unfamiliar for you. You will not be accessed about the knowledge of any particular subjects. You will be access merely on your skill to answer questions which are based on the reading passages. You may give marks on the question paper, but you should write down the answers directly to the answer sheet. Different from listening section, this section does not give you extra time for copying your answers to the answer sheet.

In reading sections, you could find several types of questions as follows.

• Short answer
• Multiple choice
• Matching
• Classification
• Completing sentences
• Completing notes
• Completing a summary
• Completing a table
• Completing a form
• Completing a flow chart or diagram
• Selecting headings for paragraphs and sections
• Recognizing a writer’s views or claims

The same as listening section, you cannot predict which type of question you will have to answer. Reading IELTS might give you some combination of the listed types of questions to answer.

In this section your skills in the following aspects will be tested.

• Identifying the gist of a passage
• Finding detailed factual information in a passage
• Identifying relationships between ideas or information items such as cause and effects, order of events, and comparison
• Making inferences
• Distinguishing between fact, assumption, or opinion
• Understanding text organization
• Summarizing information

Source: IELTS to Success Preparation Tips and Practice Test by Eric van Bemmel and Janina Tucker (Melbourne: 1997)

The Importance of Text Analyzis in Reading IELTS

One form of questions in reading IELTS is multiple choice. The kinds of questions that are given can be various as well. Purpose of the text can also be the question in this part. Have a look at the following example: 

Question 1

Choose the appropriate letter (A-D) and write it in box 1 on your answer sheet.

IELTS Reading: Improving Reading Score | Part 3

What are other things that we can do to improve your reading score? One stimulant that you think about is soldier’s activity. When a soldier is going to be involved in a war, he or she will learn on the battle itself, including the place, the time, and the enemy. The same thing happened in IELTS. You have to learn on the types of questions that you deal with in this reading section. You need to do many exercises on these different types of questions as each type of questions need different treatment.

IELTS Reading: Improving Reading Score | Part 2

In this article, we are going to discuss more on how to improve reading score in IELTS. Besides applying skimming and scanning as the strategies, you can do some actions such as:

IELTS Reading: Improving Reading Score | Part 1

When we talk about IELTS, it will be also about reading section. This section gives you a big opportunity to increase your overall band score as long as you can manage everything properly. One form of managements itself can be translated as using skimming and scanning techniques. If you have got the basic ideas of these two techniques pretty well, you can ask whether you have got the idea to improve your skimming and scanning ability or not.

Reading IELTS: Is it True, False, or Not Given?

Another form of True/ False/ Not Given is Yes/ No/ Not Given. The difference is on the basic of these options. True/ False/ Not Given is based on fact. Meanwhile, Yes/ No/ Not Given is based on opinion.

In this kind of question, test taker has to pay attention on how to interpret the passage and the question. Usually, test taker finds it difficult to differentiate the use of ‘not given’ and ‘false’.

Fourth Strategy in Reading IELTS: Eliminate Choices and Look at the Opposites

The way to apply eliminating choice in IELTS is not so complicated. First, you need to have a look at the choices then eliminate it quickly. For example, in one of the choice, it is stated “Ary Prihayati studied there”. Make sure that you check whether Ary Prihayati is mentioned in the passage or not. If not, quickly eliminate it.

Third Strategy in Reading IELTS: Contextual Clues

What is contextual clue? Context clues are words or phrases in sentences that can help you to find the meaning of an unfamiliar word. More than likely, you can figure out the meaning of new or unfamiliar vocabulary by looking at the surrounding language.

Second Strategy in Reading IELTS: Paragraph Focus

The second strategy that you can apply in reading section is having “paragraph focus”. What is meant by paragraph focus here is that you are expected to get the right paragraph to get the answer. You will be able to save your time if you jump straight to the paragraph. So, what you need to do are as follow.

First Strategy in Reading IELTS: The Application of “Skimming”

In reading IELTS, you deal with 40 questions which follow three different passages, with a total of 2,000 until 2,750 words. To answer those questions, we can use ‘skimming’ appropriately. So, what should we do to use it appropriately?

What We Should Know about Reading IELTS

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:

1. Multiple choice
2. Multiple matching
3. Short-answer
4. Sentence completion
5. Tables, diagrams, flow charts
6. Summary completion
7. Paragraph headings
8. Locating information
9. Identifying writer’s views or claims
10. Classification
11. 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

Reading: True/False/Not Given Question Type

The True/False/Not Given question type is maybe one of the question type in IELTS reading that is hard to answer by the test takers. Here are some tips on how to deal with those kind of question type.

IELTS Reading Task: Scanning and Identifying Location of Information, Labeling a diagram which has numbered parts

Scanning and Identifying Location of Information

These questions require you to scan the text to find the location of information. You will be given a set of statements and you need to find the paragraph each one comes from.

Look at the example below.

Questions 1-5

The passage has ten paragraphs labelled A-J. Which paragraphs contain the following information? Write the appropriate letters A-J in boxes 1-4 on your answer sheet. NB You may use any letter more than once.

1 Concern that recycling is not profitable.

2 Explanation of why fees for dumping waste should be increased.

3 The best way to deal with garbage.

4 The problem of decaying organic waste.

5 Recycling of automobiles.

Questions 1 - 6

Label the booths at the exhibition.Choose your answers from the box and write them next to questions 1-6.

Oriental vases Korean cabinets Indian rugs Chinese furniture Thai silk Malaysian batik Tibetan prayer rugs Balinese woodwork Oriental art

How to do:

-          Read the instructions carefully,

• - Quickly read the statements to get an idea of what the text is about.
• -  Take the statements one by one. Underline the key words.
• -  Search the text to find where the info is mentioned.
• -  Remember to look for synonyms and parallel expressions.

Labeling a diagram which has numbered parts

In this type of the task, you will be given a diagram and asked to label it with words from the text or labels given.

How to do:

• -  Read the instructions carefully,
• -  Study the diagram and the labels if they are given.
• -  See you can guess any of the answers,
• -  The info will be given in the same order as the numbers on the diagram.
• -  Scan the text to find the info. If labels are not provided, make sure you use words from the text.

Reference: How to Prepare for IELTS Writing. City University of Hongkong: English Language Center.

IELTS Reading Task: Choosing Headings

There are two types of headings questions:  Type 1. Choosing headings for paragraphs or sections of a text. This type of question requires you to sum up the meaning of a paragraph in order to match it to a bank of possible headings. You may be asked to match every paragraph or section of the text or just a selection of paragraphs.  

IELTS Reading Task: Matching

These questions require you to match a list of opinions to sources mentioned in the text. These questions are used with the texts which present a number of different people’s opinions.

The sources are usually numbered and the opinions are given a letter each. In the answer booklet you write the letter(s) beside the numbers.

There could be more opinions than sources. If so, you’ll need to write more than one letter beside the question in the answer booklet. If there are more sources than opinions, then one of more or the opinions will be used more than once.

Look at the example below.

This example has more opinions than sources.

Questions 1-4

Look at the following writers (Questions 1-4) and the list of their opinions below. Match each person with their opinion. Write the appropriate letters A-F in boxes 1-4 on your answer sheet.

NB You may use any of the writers’ names more than once.

1 Anna Blair

2 Dr Ian Sampson

3 Dean Frazer

4 Jane Langton

List of opinions A Life experience is essential for a writer. B Anyone who has a story can write. C Discipline and organization are just as important as creativity. D A writer has to be content to work alone. E The first novel is the easiest to write. F A good working relationship with ones’ editor is essential for a writer.

How to do:

-          Read the instructions carefully,

-          Take the names of the sources one by one and find them in the text and underline them.

-          When you have located a name, read carefully to see what is said about his/her opinions.

-          Look at the list of opinions and see if you can make a match.

-          Remember that the text is not likely to use the same words as the questions, so look for synonyms and parallel expressions.

-          Be aware that the sources may be referred to in more than one place in the text.

-          The opinions in the task are not listed in the same order as they appear in the text.

-          Phrases like ‘he said’ or ‘in his opinion’ should help you locate the arguments.

Reference: How to Prepare for IELTS Writing. City University of Hongkong: English Language Center.

IELTS Reading Task: Classification Question

These questions ask you to classify information given in the reading text. Classifications are often according to the writer’s opinion or according to a period of time or place. You will be asked to identify a letter which represents one of the classifications for each item in a list of statements.

Look at the example below.

Questions 1 -4

Classify the following statements as referring to

US the United States

J Japan

G Germany

or UK the United Kingdom

Write the appropriate letters in boxes 1-4 on your answer sheet.

NB You may use any answer more than once.

1 The biggest spenders on personal travel.

2 Had the greatest number of international travellers in 2002.

3 Take the majority of their holidays in Western Europe.

4 Employ the most people in the tourist industry.

How to do:

-          Read the instructions carefully,

-          Make sure you know how many classifications there are and what letters you have to use. (e.g. US, J, G & UK in the exercise above),

-          Read the classifications carefully. Make sure you don’t confuse the letters which represent each one.

-          Read the statements/phrases or words beside the question numbers and underline the key words.

-          Start with the first statement and work your way through them one by one, searching the text to find where the info is mentioned.

-          The questions will not necessarily be in the same order as the text and the wording will probably be different in the text so look out for synonyms and parallel expressions.

-          When you’ve located the reference in the text, read it carefully and select your answer.

-          Don’t leave any statements without a letter.

Reference: How to Prepare for IELTS Writing. City University of Hongkong: English Language Center.

IELTS Reading Task: Yes, No, Not Given or True, False, Not Given

These tasks either ask you to identify the writer’s views or claims in the text or identify information in the text.

You will be given a list of statements which are either opinions or facts and you have to decide for:

Type 1: if they are opinions, whether they are the opinions of the writer or not or not given in the text.

Type 2: if they are facts, whether they are true, false or not given in the text.

For the type 1, writer views may not be directly stated, so you may have to work out what is implied.

Try this example below.

How to do:

• -  Read the instructions carefully,
• -  Quickly read through all the statements to get an idea about the topic.
• -  Read the first statement more carefully. Understand the main topic.
• -  Search for the section of the text which deals with the idea or fact.
• -  Once you have found the relevant section, read it carefully. For type 1, if the statement disagrees with the ‘s writers’ opinion, then select ‘no’ and if the author doesn’t give an opinion, then select ‘not given’. Fot the type 2. If the statement is the opposite to the information in the text, then select ‘false’ and there’s no mention of it, select ‘not given’.
• -  Continue with the rest of the statements.

Reference: How to Prepare for IELTS Writing. City University of Hongkong: English Language Center.

IELTS Reading Task: Notes/table/form/summary/flow chart/diagram completion question

There are two types of these completion questions in the IELTS reading:

Type 1. Selection of possible answers.

Type 2. Without a choice of possible answers.

• These questions require you to:
• Insert a word or phrase in the middle of a sentence,
• Insert a word in the middle and another word at the end of a sentence,
• Write words or phrases that are not in sentences,
• Write a letter that represents a word or phrase.

Type 1: The words or phrases provided will be different from the words in the text. There will be more words than gaps.

Type 2: Similar to the short answer questions in that they will tell you to write your answer in NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS. So you can answer with one word, two words or three words but no more.

As with short answer questions: also note that the answers should not require a hyphenated word (e.g. non-smoker) or a contraction (e.g. They’ve).

If the answer requires a number, you can write it as a numeral (e.g. 6) or a word (e.g. six) or a combination (e.g. 6 million).

Try this examples below.

Type 1:

Type 2:

How to do:

-          Read the instructions carefully,

-          Look at the table or form etc carefully:

Examine any headings or subheadings,

Try to get an any idea of the topic,

Decide what section of the passage the exercise covers,

Anticipate grammatical form as well as vocabulary,

If a box of answers is given, see if you can guess any of the

matches & eliminate unlikely answers,

If the question is in the form of a table, work out which way it

is best to read it – horizontally or vertically.

 If the question is in the form of a summary, read through it

first and see if you can guess any of the missing words.

- Take each gap one by one and search the text for the best words to fill the gap.

Remember:

If there is a box of answers, there will be at least two you don’t need.

If there is no box, the answer could be one word, two words or three words but not four or more.

If you think you need more than three words your answer is probably incorrect,

There may be alternative rubrics for these completion questions e.g. ‘complete the noise’ or ‘complete the explanation’ or ‘complete the news report’.

Reference: How to Prepare for IELTS Writing. City University of Hongkong: English Language Center.