Top 6 IELTS Reading Tips

Reading is an essential part of any exam. In the tunnel of language, Reading plays a vital role when it comes to any exam. When we consider the IELTS reading session, it is not related to the general reading rather it is more related to the academic reading. In the IELTS exam, there are three passages which are entirely based on comprehension and the candidate is supposed to read it carefully. Now, many students find it much more difficult mainly because of the shortage of time or maybe they are unable to perceive the actual meaning of it. But here are the top 6 IELTS reading tips which will help in the reading section.

Grasp the main idea:

• When reading comprehension is in front of you, there is no need to panic rather stay calm.
• The best tip is to adopt a technique of skimming and scanning.
• What many students do is they read the whole paragraph and waste their time.
• The students who are not familiar with the reading habit will take too much time.
• Here are some important points to note down:
  • Adopt a habit of skimming and scanning
  • Don’t read the whole paragraph

When you go through the text, you will come to know what the text is about and how it belongs to the other things. In this way, you will be able to grasp the main idea. The way how you read is very important.

Don’t let the time divert you!

• You are in the process of reading. Time is a continuous motion and is supposed to run out.
• You should have a watch with you so that you can see the time.
• Many students divide their time in reading comprehension but this is not the suitable thing to do.
• Usually, the last passage of the reading comprehension is hard and many students give it a lot of time so that it may not distract them. The best suggestion for the division of the time is 15 to 20 min only because time is what will save you throughout your test.

Don’t forget to paste answers on the answer sheet!

• Answers are very important in the test.
• Your answers should be pasted on the answer sheets.
• For the convenience, you can easily put it on the booklet. But you should manage the time on your own because your marks will be based on the answer sheet questions.

Mark the unanswered Question!

• There is another problem that many students face they leave the questions just because they don’t understand.
• Here is a tip to mark that question. Why? Because maybe the question which you have left for some reason is an answer to another question.
• You never know that the answer is always hidden in another question.
• At the initial stage, you can leave it but do mark it so that you can solve it later on.

Re-read what you have unified so far!

• You are simply done with the words. It‘s the time to read whatever you have written or incorporated.
• Do go for those answers which you mentioned in the booklet so that the answers will match with the answers which you pasted on the answer sheet.

Familiarize Yourself with IELTS Reading Question Formats

The IELTS reading section has a variety of question formats. Gaining familiarity with these types and developing specific strategies to address each one will enhance your efficacy:

• Multiple Choice: Carefully read both the question and the provided answer choices. Underline key terms and seek out phrases within the passage that correspond to the meaning of the question. Systematically eliminate any answer choices that are incorrect or contradict information presented in the text.
• True/False/Not Given: Avoid making assumptions when answering these questions. Concentrate on finding precise information mentioned in the question, then discern whether it is explicitly stated as true, false, or not mentioned at all within the passage.
• Matching Headings/Sentence Endings: To accurately match headings or sentence endings, grasp the main idea of each paragraph or section thoroughly. Pay close attention to transitions and how ideas progress throughout the passage.
• Summary Completion/Short Answer Questions: Carefully read surrounding sentences to fully comprehend the context and identify missing details. Ensure you paraphrase; avoid directly copying from the passage while including necessary information using your own words.

By mastering these strategies, you can improve your overall performance in tackling various question formats featured in the IELTS reading section.