IELTS Reading: my advice
Here is my list of advice and techniques for IELTS reading:
Don’t read the whole text; you haven’t got enough time. Just go straight to the questions.
‘Paragraph’ questions are much easier if you do them last. Do other sections first.
The answers to most questions should be in the correct order in the text, so you don’t need
to go back to the beginning to start looking for the next answer.
Read all instructions carefully.
Look for ‘keywords’. There are usually words in the questions that are similar to words you
need to find in the text. For example, if the text contains the word “global”, the question
might use the word “international”. If you find the similar words, you have probably found
the answer.
You must get to the end and answer every question. If you don’t finish, you might miss
some easy points.
Some questions are difficult because their aim is to separate band 8 and band 9. Don’t
waste time on difficult questions. Miss them, finish the exam, and return to them at the
end.
IELTS Reading: some suggestions
People often ask me for advice about how to improve their reading. Here are some
suggestions:
If you want to improve your reading, the first thing to do is read a lot. There are no
shortcuts or secret techniques; you will only improve with time and practice.
Anything you read in English is good practice, so read about subjects that interest you. Try
to enjoy reading in English.
English is the most used language on the web. Whenever you search for information on the
Internet, try searching in English first.
Remember that “understanding is not the same as using”. Keep a notebook with useful
words and phrases that you find when you’re reading, and try using them in your own
sentences.
Apart from reading things that interest you, you also need to read lots of IELTS passages.
If you’ve done all of the tests in the Cambridge books, read the passages again without
doing the questions. Use a dictionary, take notes, and try to fully understand each passage.
Another way to use the Cambridge tests is to look at the correct answers to each question
first. Your task is to find out why those answers are correct by analysing the passage
carefully and finding the ‘keywords’.
I’m sure you can think of other suggestions. Be creative with your reading practice, try to
enjoy the learning process, and trust that you will improve if you persist.
