Tips for
IELTS
Reading
Academic/General Training
Module by Adam Smith
First Published in 2015
IELTS
JOURNAL
Target
Band
7
+
IELTS
JOURNAL
IELTS
JOURNAL
4
Short-answer
questions
87
Reading
Advice
92
Always Analyze your Wrong Answers
92
Focused Practice Reading Exercises
93
Sample Academic Reading A: Questions
128
Why
Study
History?
138
Preparing for the IELTS reading test
147
IELTS READING FULL TESTS
156
Keep
in
touch!
180
NOTE:
THE ANSWER KEY IS PROVIDED IN A SEPARATE FILE FOR EASIER ACCESS.
Use this book together with the
instagram
page
@ieltsjournal
The
instagram page contains lessons that show how to use the ideas from this
book. You can keep in touch with the author there and ask your questions.
IELTS
JOURNAL
5
The IELTS Reading Test
What’s in the Academic Reading test?
The IELTS academic reading test consists of three reading texts with a total of 2,200 to
2,750 words and 40 questions with a variety of task types. The texts come from
magazines, journals, books and newspapers and have been written
for a non-specialist
audience. At least one text contains detailed logical argument. The texts may include
diagrams, graphs or illustrations.
There is 1 mark for each correct answer. There is no negative mark. You have 60
minutes to answer 40 questions including time to copy your answers onto the answer
sheet.
While answering, Candidates are required to transfer their answers to an answer
sheet. Candidates must transfer their answers during the time allowed for the test. No
extra time is allowed for transfer. Care should be taken
when writing answers on the
answer sheet as poor spelling and grammar are penalised.
Here are some of the problems students have with IELTS Reading:
Time is the biggest problem. Many students don't manage to finish the test.
The texts are long and contain some difficult vocabulary.
Students find "paragraph headings" questions difficult.
Students find "true/ false/ not given" questions difficult.
Tip:
IELTS Reading is really a test of your vocabulary. If your knowledge of English
words and phrases is good, you will do well.
Note:
There are techniques that can help you to work faster and cope with the difficult
question types. However, the best way to improve your IELTS Reading score is by doing
a lot of reading and vocabulary work.
IELTS
JOURNAL
6
Approaching the IELTS Reading test
Many teachers and books talk about skimming and scanning as key techniques for
IELTS reading. But, here we refer to the words 'skimming' and 'scanning' as ‘finding’ in
my lessons as they may seem confusing to students. In fact, many students get the
wrong answers because they 'skim' too quickly and miss the words that they are
looking for. So, forget 'skimming' and 'scanning' and focus on 'finding' and intensive
reading as referred to 'understanding' here from now on.
1.