Table of Contents
IELTS Reading Types of Questions – Tips
Tips helpful to perform efficiently in Reading Module…
The Reading is a module that contains an amalgamation of some of the listed types of questions, but the configuration changes from test to test. Thus, the entire candidates have to answer the following question types:
(i) Multiple choice questions
(ii) Gap-filling exercises
(iii) List of headings
(iv) Short answers to open questions
(v) Yes/No/Not given statements or True/False/Not given statements
(vi) The completion of-sentences-summaries, diagrams, tables, flow charts, notes.
Though most of the students often complain that they find it difficult to grasp a text because they do not know the meaning and use of certain words yet these particular words do not stop the reader from understanding the text. But majority of the trouble that is frequently found by the various students is in the three sectors that are:
True/False/Not Given or Yes/No/Not given
List Of Headings
Multiple choice questions.
Therefore, this article will be discussing some guidelines that will assist in solving these types of questions effortlessly:-
True/False/Not Given or Yes/No/Not Given…Firstly understand the little difference between both:-True/False/Not Given are based upon some factual information provided in passage whereasYes/No/Not Given is based upon the author’s point of view.
Tips:-
Initially, have an overlook (scan) upon the passage as well as go through all the questions mentioned related to that passage.
Initially, have an overlook (scan) upon the passage as well as go through all the questions mentioned related to that passage.
a. Read the question properly – Start reading the 1st question of the true/yes, false/no and not given.
b. Understand the question and mark the key words=After having the fleeting glance upon the question understand it very well and start marking the key words (that helps in finding the location easily) in order to save your time.
c. Try to match the meaning=After performing above points try to match the meaning of the statement and try to predict what the question is asking you to find for… thus, don’t run behind matching the information of the question’s with the information of paragraphs instead match the meaning.
d. Answers are in sequence=All the answers of this set of questions are in serial order therefore, while reading the first question you should also have look upon key words of second question. If you come across information relating to other statements, put mark beside the section so that you can find it quickly again later.
List of Headings
In order to do the list of headings follow the below mentioned steps:
1. Analyse the main idea: Beginning with, read the paragraph with proper concentration and try to identify the main idea around which your whole paragraph is revolving and try not to get distracted from unfamiliar vocabulary. Therefore, choose the heading that sums up the main idea of the paragraph.
2. Match the meaning: Reading the paragraph and finding the main idea of that section go through the given list then, put your main emphasis on finding the meaning of the related heading’s provided in the list. Just chose the heading that sums up the main idea of the paragraph.
3. Don’t match the similar words: When matching/comparing your answers, try not to match of similar words given in list of headings with the words mentioned in paragraphs. Thus, having a practice of predicting your answers with this approach will not offer you with the accurate answers.
4. Help of contrast linkers: Most of the time majority of candidates are able to find their answers with the help of some linking (key) words (but, so, therefore, beside, moreover, also and many more…) which is a great trick to receive the answers on time. Moreover, its assist that maximum of answers is either from first-two lines or from last-two lines of paragraph.
5. Skip the unsure answers: In the first go, choose only the headings about which you are very sure. If you cannot choose between two headings, keep both tentatively and go on to the next paragraph; you can come back to this question later. May be one of these gets eliminated automatically later. But not to choose the two headings for the one section unless it’s ask to do so.
Multiple choice questions
a. Read the given guidelines carefully and have a scan of all the questions in order to get the overall idea of the information you are in need of.
b. Apply the same tricks you have applied for T/F/Not Given or Y/N/Not Given.
c. Answers for this part of section may come in sequence but it’s not compulsory.
d. Try eliminating the wrong answers that you find are not relevant to the information.
e. Don’t fall for the answer choice with the words copied from the text; be sceptical of the answer choices which have the same words copied from the text.
Time Management
Managing time is a very important task to be learned by every candidate attending their reading module. Choose reading passages of between 700 to 1000 words, and spend max. 20-30 minutes on each passage. Better to skip the questions that you find tricky to solve at one go and move on to next without spending too much time. Remember, there is always a second chance!