IELTS Reading Tips and Key points

The Reading Module contains 40 questions carrying one mark each. In this page, some tips and key points will be provided in the upcoming paragraphs related to each type of question which appears in exam. 

Note: Before reading the first passage, read first question of every type. For example, in the first paragraph MCQs, sentence completion and true false are included, so read first question of each type and then go for reading the passage.

Key point:  Don't read the whole passage at one go. Go with questions and read simultaneously.

1.) MCQs:

~ Preview the text to form an idea of what could lie where.

~ Be sure that other options in the question have some error like:

• not stated in the passage.

•stated but not relevant to the question.

•stated but refers to a different topic or opposite to the passage.

👉🏻 We need what's relevant and appropriate.

Tips:  While reading the passage, circle the keywords which relate with the question so that you can find the line easily without reading the whole passage again. This tip is for each question type. 

Do not underline every line/ word, it would be difficult for you to find the exact word which you saw in the question. 

Technique: Use the technique - Odd One Out. Yes! Only one option is the answer and we have to check carefully which information lies in which paragraph. Increase your speed. Don't get nervous. Inspite of giving 20 minutes to each passage,. try to finish it in 15 to 17 minutes. This is because the difficulty level increases as you move from passage one to the next. And to increase your speed and perfection, practice is the Key. 

Personal suggestion: Don't get nervous, practice daily and keep aside the things which distract you. 

2.) Table completion:

~ Read the instructions carefully. Often you are instructed to use the words from the reading text only. You may also be asked to stick to a certain word limit. 

~ Look at the table and at the headings. In some cases, you can decide which way is the most useful to read the table - horizontally or vertically. 

~ Always remember that you have to skim the text for the appropriate paragraph or section. 

~ According to my experience, this question type is easier as compared to other types. However, it depends on your concentration.

3.) Sentence completion:

~ Here, you may write only three words or fewer, as specified. 

~ read the specific information more carefully and decide on the best word or words to fill the blank.

Note: the words must make the sentence grammatically correct. 

4.) Short answer type questions:

~ The word limit is specified, either one, two or three words.

~ Read the questions first, then the text.

Warning: Do not exceed the word limit. If you do, your answer will be marked 'wrong' even the information provided by you is correct.

~ Identify key words.

~ Scan for specific information.

5.) Matching information:

~ Take a casual look at the list of statements and note the type of information you are looking for.

~ Read through the first paragraph and see whether there is a statement that matches with some information available there. Choose the statement that exactly matches with some information in the paragraph.

Note: In the first go, choose only the statements about which you are very sure. 

Suggestion: if you cannot choose between two statements, keep both tentatively and go on to the next paragraph. You can come back to this question later. Maybe one of these gets eliminated automatically later. 

~ Also, more than one information can be given in the same paragraph.

6.) Flowchart completion:

~ use filled information in the chart to get an idea of your answer. 

~ Circle the key points.

~ The flowcharts are most probably in sequence to the paragraph/ text.

7.) Diagram label completion: 

~ The information can either be in sequence or jumbled. 

~ The diagram can either be in the form of process, circular flow chart or a structure of a particular thing. 

~ Decide what key information you will need to complete the blank. Scan the text for the appropriate paragraph or section.

8.) Identifying information (True/False/Not Given): This asks you to identify the facts. 

Tip no. 1 :  Search for keywords.

Step1: circle the subject/object or noun/ pronoun in the question. 

This would assist you in finding the keywords while reading the text.

Step2: look at the key condition and qualifiers such as Quantity, Probability (sometimes, always, mostly, often, etc.) and Comparative ( more, less, greater, higher, etc.). 

Tip no. 2: Follow 3Cs: 

• C for confirmation : True

• C for Contradiction: False

• C for Confusing : Not Given

~ Decide if the statement agrees with the facts or disagrees. If the passage is silent or the information is not provided, mark not given. 

~ Be careful about qualifying expressions like sometimes, always, mostly etc. This will help you differentiate between false and not given.

Note: The same criteria will be followed in the another question type where we have to find the author's point of view i.e. Yes/No/Not Given.

9.) Matching Headings:

~ Take a casual look at the list of headings.

~ Concentrate on the main Idea and try not to be distracted by detail or by unfamiliar vocabulary.

~ In the first go, choose only the headings about which you are very sure.

~ Do not choose two headings for the same paragraph unless the question asks you to do so. 

~ Read the paragraphs individually and  rephrase the ideas.

~ Focus on the first and the last line of paragraph because generally the heading lies in these two lines. 

Personal suggestion: short list the ideas.

~ Eliminate the irrelevant headings which you think is not necessary or is not included in the passage.

10.) Matching Sentence Ending :

~ Preview the phrases to see which of them match easily.

~ Look at the first sentence and decide what key ideas or information you will need to complete the first blank.

~ Go back to the list of phrases to make the match.

Note: the phrases follow NO particular order.

11.) Notes/ Summary Completion:

~ The information is in sequence with the questions. 

~ Word limit is specified.

~ Your answer should be Grammatically correct.

~ Look for synonyms in the text inspite of words that directly match. 

My personal suggestion: Do not stop practicing. Solve one sample paper of each module and each question type to better yourself. There is nothing you can't do!!! You just need a mixture of concentration, determination and never giving up attitude 💫

Therefore, this was all about the tips, strategies and suggestions that you needed to know. 

In my next blog, I'll discuss about our first module i.e. LISTENING. 

#betteryourself 💯

#everythinguneedtolearn 🌟

                 By: NANCY DHANJAL 💖