Reading Overview & Tips
| Correct Answers (Academic) | Band |
|---|---|
| 39-40 | 9 |
| 37-38 | 8.5 |
| 35-36 | 8 |
| 33-34 | 7.5 |
| 30-32 | 7 |
| 27-29 | 6.5 |
| 23-26 | 6 |
| 19-22 | 5.5 |
| 15-18 | 5 |
| 13-14 | 4.5 |
| 10-12 | 4 |
| Correct Answers(General Training) | Band |
|---|---|
| 40 | 9 |
| 39 | 8.5 |
| 37-38 | 8 |
| 36 | 7.5 |
| 34-35 | 7 |
| 32-33 | 6.5 |
| 30-31 | 6 |
| 27-29 | 5.5 |
| 23-26 | 5 |
| 19-22 | 4.5 |
| 15-18 | 4 |
Skimming & Scanning
Skimming
- Looking over a text very quickly to get the main idea of what it’s about.
- To do this, read the title, subheadings, and the first and last sentences of each paragraph.
- This gives you an idea of the topic and how the passage is organized before you answer the questions.
Scanning
- Looking through the text very quickly for a specific piece of information.
- This could be a name, date, idea, or keywords mentioned in the questions.
- After you understand the question, you'll scan the text to locate the answer.
Remember, neither technique involves reading every single word. You're not supposed to.
Reading Question Types
The IELTS Reading test uses a variety of question types, including:
- Multiple Choice
- Identifying Information (True/False/Not Given)
- Identifying the Writer's Views/Claims (Yes/No/Not Given)
- Matching Information, Headings, Features, or Sentence Endings
- Completion questions (Sentence, Summary, Note, Table, Flow-chart, Diagram Label)
- Short-Answer Questions
Key Types Explained
- Multiple Choice: Answers appear in chronological order in the passage. Read the questions first to know what to look for.
- Matching Headings: Read the headings before the text. Read the full paragraph to understand the main idea, not just the first few lines.
- Matching Information: The information in the question is often paraphrased, so you need to understand the meaning, not just find exact words.
- True/False/Not Given: Be careful not to confuse True/False with Yes/No. True/False is about factual information, while Yes/No is about the author's opinion or claims.
- Completion Questions: These questions are usually based on one part of the passage. Always pay attention to the word limit given in the instructions.
The key to success is strong skimming and scanning skills, as well as an understanding of paraphrasing.
General Notes and Useful Tips
- Read all instructions carefully: Pay attention to word limits and whether you should use words from the passage or letters from a list.
- Don't paraphrase your answers: If the instructions say to use words from the passage, you must use the exact words.
- Use time effectively: Aim for about 20 minutes per passage. Don't get stuck on one question.
- Understand word limits: "NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER" means you can write one word, two words, a number, a word and a number, or two words and a number. Words with hyphens (e.g., 'cold-blooded') count as one word.
- Answers are usually in order: Most question types follow the order of the text, which helps with time management.