IELTS Reading Tips to improve your score
Skimming
If you read in the usual slow, relaxed way you will not pass the IELTS test.
Learn to skim and scan. These reading techniques use rapid eye movement and keywords so that you are able to move fast through text.
Skimming is reading rapidly in order to get a general overview of the material. Here is an overview:
1. Read the first paragraph attentively to get an idea of what the text is about.
2. Pay attention to the first few sentences of every paragraph, this will give you the main idea of the text.
3. Always read the last paragraph thoroughly as this normally contains the summary.
Scanning
Scanning is reading rapidly in order to find specific facts.
The questions in the IELTS reading test will often include dates, names, numbers, new terms that are part of your answers.
When you are scanning be sure to :
1. Always underline important specific information and numbers. You do not need to read every word. Look out for information like names, dates, figure, statistics etc
2. From the question, identify the keyword and then scan the text for it, and possible synonyms. This will help you find the answer more quickly.
It is important to be fast, focused and alert. You can’t allow yourself to be slow and relaxed.
You should spend no more than 3 minutes skimming the passage for your test.
Focus on the ideas, not the words.
Re-read, and then rephrase it in your own words.
Explain to yourself what you have just read.
This mini-analysis helps you to focus on the ideas, the message rather than the words in front of you.
This is extremely important because the answer you are looking for has definitely been rephrased too.
Test different exam strategies, then choose a winner.
Every site, tutor, and former student will have a guide for you to pass the reading exam.
Try these strategies, but measure which one works best for you.
Some students find reading the questions first and then the text is the best way. Other students do the exact opposite.
Try both methods on different practice exams, the technique that brings in the most points for you is the winner.
Try our reading exam strategy.
Read the text first to focus on the information. This way you keep one piece of information in the brain.
Your brain will most likely struggle to keep the question in mind AND search for the answer at the same time.
But if you skim the text part rapidly, discuss what you had just read in your head and THEN go to the question and its options, you should get the answer easier.
Find proof in the text, underline and number.
– Find the exact location of the rephrased answer in the reading passage. Compare it to the key words in your answer and rest assured that it is the ONE. That is the proof.
– Then underline that rephrased line in the passage.
– Then write the number on top of the question that is answered by that line. As simple as that.
You should do this to avoid relaxing and guessing during the reading test. This gives you the certainty that you have made the correct choice.
And yes, there’s always only ONE correct answer. Despite what many may think, there are no options. This is how the tests are designed. That is precisely why there is a very definite location of the correct answer in the text.
Don’t panic over unknown words. Use context.
Try to look around the new word. Maybe the content of the sentence can help you deduce whether it’s positive or negative, a person or a job, an animal or a feature.
Prefixes can help, un- means cancel an action, and re- means repeat, or -wise means referring to something.
Grammar will also help, if it comes before a noun, it might be describing how this noun is.
Remember to do background work on expanding your vocabulary and understanding of prefixes and suffixes for your reading test.
If this doesn’t help either just don’t panic. Move on to the next question, and later return to the confusing part.
Don’t leave any question unanswered
Never leave any box unanswered. When you know there’s no time left, just guess and write something.
Why? You won’t be penalized for incorrect answers. If you leave the cell in your answer sheet blank, you will get zero points. For sure.
But what if you strike lucky and manage to guess it! You will have at least one more point that could get you from band 6.5 to 7.0 in your reading test.
That’s why you should guess when out of time.
Improve your reading speed
To make the best of the 60 minutes you have to complete your IELTS reading exam, you have to improve your reading speed when you are preparing for the exam.
Here is a brief guide to improving your reading speed.
1 – Increase your reading gaze to include three words at a time, rather than bouncing from one word to the next. Catch three at a time and aim to expand it to about five words in each glance.
2 – Use a pointer to increase speed. The pointer will land between every three words. Moving it quicker through the text you will progress faster.
3 – Make sure not to sacrifice comprehension for speed. It’s very easy to speed read through an article and then recall nothing. Avoid this by using your new speed reading skills in online reading comprehension tests (see tip 15).
Favourite reading tools
Make sure to use the free web based tool, no need to buy the software.
To use it, just load up the text you want to practice and then start chunking it out into three word blocks.
The Amazon Kindle is a fantastic resource for students, you can highlight any word you don’t understand, and get a definition immediately.
It then saves your words as flash cards and you can test yourself later. I use this all the time to expand my own English vocabulary and especially to improve my Spanish skills.
Audible is another fantastic resource, I usually buy the audiobook version of the current kindle book I’m reading. This helps me learn the material deeper, and ensures I didn’t miss a concept in the text version.
Choose your material carefully
Although using past IELTS reading exams is a great idea, they can quickly become boring and laborious.
I suggest choosing subjects you have an interest in. This way you are far more likely to stick with the book and read more. This will build your language skills rather than your exam skills, so it’s more of a long term strategy.
Also consider the level you are reading at. In English I read War and Peace by Tolstoy, and I wanted to re-read it in Spanish but it was far too complex. I soon abandoned the novel and went for the Spanish versions of Harry Potter!
Don’t sacrifice retention for speed
When improving reading speed it is common for retention to fall as we blaze through the text.
To avoid this try applying the six questions words to each chapter or paragraph. Ask yourself:
-Who?
-What?
-Why?
-When?
-Where?
-How?
Another technique when starting, is to ask yourself: What do I want to get out of this chapter / paragraph / book? Asking yourself this makes it easier to identify the useful information when you are reading.
Organise your reading time to improve focus
Countless students, myself included, struggle with staying focussed while reading. Unless the material is truly captivating I find myself wandering to check reddit, email, the fridge and other time wasting activities!
How do we solve this?
1. Set a timer and read for that duration of time, 30 minutes is a good time to start with.
2. Allocate a reading time and space. Your focus will be infinitely stronger working from home with the phone in airplane mode and headphones on. Rather than reading a book at the train station.
3. Headphones. Block all the distractions. Listen to rain sounds to increase focus.
