How To pass the IELTS Reading Exam - Key Skills

Understand the exam format

The exam is 60 minutes, 40 questions, with 3 reading texts with + 2500 words.

Type 1 – Multiple choice

Type 2 – Identifying information (True/False/Not given)

Type 3 – Identifying writer’s views /claims (Yes/No/Not given)

Type 4 – Matching information

Type 5 – Matching headings

Type 6 – Matching features

Type 7 – Matching sentence endings

Type 8 – Sentence completion

Type 9 – Summary/note/table/flow chart completion

Type 10 – Diagram label completion

Type 11 – Short-answer questions.

IELTS.org provide these sample Test Papers.

 

Think about a realistic achievement strategy

The reading texts get progressively more challenging because of the use of an increased number of synonyms & paraphrases. The student might adopt a strategy such as:

Text 1: Score 11/13 – possible – keywords – less challenging questions; 

Text 2: Score 9/13 – achievable – expect the use of synonyms;

Text 3: Score +7/14 – challenging –  a lot of synonyms & paraphrases.

Thus a total of 27 = IELTS 6.5 score.

IELTS reading band scores

Time management within the exam

The exam is 60 minutes, 40 questions, with 3 reading texts. Therefore around 20 minutes has to be allocated to each text.

One key time management strategy is to identify keywords and skim read each Text within 2-3 minutes. The student should fully appreciate the need for a time management plan or they may run out of time and not complete Text 3 of the exam.

A sample time management plan for Text 1:

  • identify keywords in the first set of questions and scan read the text in 2 minutes;
  • this leaves 16 minutes for 13 questions, or 73 seconds per question. 

The initial steps in this 2 – 3 minute scan reading plan are:

  • read the question – twice – check the number of words required;
  • identify 1-2 keywords in the first set of questions;
  • think about synonyms & paraphrases;
  • read the title & any sub headings;
  • skim read the text – read 1st sentence of each paragraph;
  • you will find keywords in the first sentences & thus answers;

This time management plan might vary slightly as texts 2-3  become increasing more difficult. 

IELTS reading time management plan

After this initial scan reading of 2–3 minutes, to complete the questions these steps are involved:

  • for keywords not found in skim reading, scan read the text;
  • when finding keywords, read text around them to understand answers;
  • when inserting answers check the grammar, plurals & capitalisation;
  • Text 2 & 3 questions will contain a lot of synonyms & paraphrases.

 

Using Keywords is critical to your success

They:

  • help you understand the question;
  • help speed up looking for  answer locations;
  • help you think about synonyms & paraphrases.
  • only select 1 or a max. of 2 keywords. Why? – you cannot keep more than 1 – 2 words in your mind while you are scan & skim reading and also looking for synonyms & paraphrases;
  • select words that are easy to scan search, such as name nouns.
How to select keywords effectively in IELTS

Learn to think about synonyms and paraphrases quickly

As you are reading the questions for keywords, think about synonyms and possible paraphrases. This is especially true for Text 2 & 3.

Synonyms are words with the same meaning.

Intelligent:  synonyms – smart, bright, brilliant, sharp.

Paraphrases are sentences or clauses with the same meaning.

  • Original: He has lots of stuff to throw away.
  • Paraphrased: He needs to get rid of a lot of rubbish.

 

Develop a reading strategy

There are 2,500+ words to read in the IELTS three texts. How are you going to read 2500 words in 60 minutes? You cannot read every word because there is insufficient exam time.

The answer is to practice two reading strategies – Skim & Scan reading:

  • Skim reading – only read the first sentence of each paragraph quickly to get the main ideas. The first sentence, 80% of time is the paragraph subject sentence which means you do not need to read the entire paragraph to understand the context;
  • Scan Reading – scanning with your eyes looking for specific keywords, synonyms & paraphrases ignoring everything else.

 

Summary of IELTS Reading Skills

  • read the question – twice – check the number of words required;
  • identify 1-2 keywords in the first set of questions;
  • think about synonyms & paraphrases;
  • read the title & any sub headings;
  • skim read the text – read 1st sentence of each paragraph;
  • you will find keywords in the first sentences & thus answers;
  • above completed within 2-3 minutes;
  • for keywords not found in skim reading, scan read the text;
  • when finding keywords, read text around them to understand answers;
  • when inserting answers check the grammar, plurals & capitalisation;
  • Text 2 & 3 questions will contain a lot of synonyms & paraphrases.

Understand how to complete each task type time efficiently

The student should be familiar with each type of question and the most time efficient method of completing them.

IELTS.org provide these sample Test Papers.

IELTS type 1 reading task

Format of IELTS Reading Task Type 1

  • 1 answer from 4 alternatives (A, B, C ,D), or 2 answers from 5, (A, B, C, D, E), or the best 3 answers from 7 alternatives (A, B, C, D, E, F or G);
  • sentence completion from options (A, B, C ,D); 

Skills Tested

  • skim & scan reading for specific information;

How to

  • answers are in the same order as the text;
  • identify only 1 -2 keywords in the questions;
  • think about synonyms & paraphrases;
  • you may have found the keyword in your skim reading, if not, scan read the text;
  • read around the identified text for understanding.

Format of IELTS Reading Task 2 & 3

  • Type 2 – Identifying information (True/False/Not Given);
  • Type 3 – Identifying writer’s views/claims (Yes/No/Not Given);

Skills Tested

  • your ability to skim & scan read to recognising factual, opinions or specific information;

How to

  • answers are in the same order as the text;
  • identify only 1 -2 keywords in the statements;
  • using keywords & synonyms find the paragraph text related to the question;
  • read the relevant text carefully for understanding;
  • if you cannot find the answer – it is ‘Not Given’.
IELTS type 5 reading task

Format of IELTS Reading Task Type 4

  • required to find specific information – an explanation or reason, a description or comparison;
  • there may be more than one piece of information in a given section; 

Skills Tested

  • scan reading for specific information;

How to

  • the answers do not follow the passage in order;
  • the information is likely paraphrases of a sentence in each section;
  • select 1 – 2 keywords & think about synonyms;
  • scan read the text for keywords & and more likely synonyms;
  • once you think you have the correct paragraph, read for meaning. 

Format of IELTS Reading Task Type 5 

  • the list of headings use Roman numerals i, ii, iii, iv ….;
  • there will always be more headings than sections;
  • text always contains sections with clearly defined themes;

Skills Tested

  • you are looking for main ideas;
  • be careful to distinguish main ideas from supporting ones;

How to

  • the headings are likely paraphrases of a sentence in each section;
  • select 1 keyword from each heading & think about synonyms;
  • scan read the text for keyword & and more likely synonyms;
  • once you think you have the correct paragraph, read for meaning.
IELTS type 8 reading task

Format of IELTS Reading Task Type 6

  • match a set of statements to a list of options;

Skills Tested

  • skim & scan reading for information and to read for detail;
  • recognise the difference between opinions and theories;

How to

  • some options may not be used and others may be used more than once;
  • identify only 1 -2 keyword in the statements & think about synonyms;
  • scan read the text for keywords & and more likely synonyms;
  • once you think you have the correct paragraph, read for meaning;
  • Select the option.
IELTS type 8 reading task

Format of IELTS Reading Task Type 7

  • choose the best sentence ending based on the text from a list of options;
  • more options than there are questions; 

Skills Tested

  • understand the main ideas within a sentence;

How to

  • the answers follow the passage in order;
  • select 1 – 2 keywords from each sentence & think about synonyms & paraphrases;
  • scan read the text for keywords & and more likely synonyms;
  • once you think you have the correct sentence, read for meaning;
  • match ending.
IELTS type 8 reading task

Format of IELTS Reading Task Type 8

  • complete sentences with a given number of words taken from the text;
  • instructions: ‘NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER from the passage’ etc;
  • numbers are written using figures or words; hyphenated words are counted as single words.

Skills Tested

  • ability to locate detail and specific information;

How to

  • questions are in the same order as the passage;
  • look for the keywords around the gap-fill sentences – think about synonyms & paraphrases;
  • think about what type of word might fit;
  • scan read text for related paragraph;
  • read the paragraph for meaning & identify suitable word answers;
  • check grammar – plurals – number of words.

Format of IELTS Reading Task Type 9

  • 4 types: a) Summary – ONE WORD gap-fill sentences, b) gap-fill Notes, c) a Table with empty or partially empty cells, d) a Flow Chart of steps linked by arrows to show a sequence;
  • 2 types of tasks – either Words from a Box (with distractors) or Words from the text;

Skills Tested

  • understanding details and the main ideas of a paragraph of text;

How to

  • use keywords in the Summary Title or Labels to find the 1-2 paragraphs related to the summary. Think about synonyms & paraphrases.
  • look for the keywords around the gap-fill sentence & think about what type of word might fit;
  • read the paragraph texts for meaning & identify a suitable answers;
  • check grammar – plurals – number of words.
IELTS type 10 reading task

Format of IELTS Reading Task Type 10

  • labels on a diagram relating to a description in the text.;
  • instructions: ‘NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER from the passage’ etc;
  • numbers are written using figures or words; hyphenated words are counted as single words;

Skills Tested

  • understand detailed descriptions in relation to information on a diagram;

How to

  • questions are not in the same order as the information in the text;
  • think about what type of word might fit;
  • scan read – identify the 1- 2 paragraphs the information is in;
  • read the related paragraphs & identify a suitable words;
  • check spelling, plurals, number of words.

Format of IELTS Reading Task Type 11

  • relate to factual information in the text;
  • instructions: ‘NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER from the passage’ etc;
  • numbers are written using figures or words; hyphenated words are counted as single words;

Skills Tested

  • skim and scan reading in order understand detailed & specific information;

How to

  • questions are in the same order as the information in the text;
  • select 1 – 2 keywords from each question & think about synonyms;
  • scan read the text for keywords and more likely synonyms;
  • read the related passage text & identify a suitable words;
  • check spelling, plurals, number of words.

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