The most useful tips and strategies for solving IELTS reading questions
If you aspire to score 8 or more than 8 bands in IELTS reading test, it’s not at all mandatory to be an ardent reader. This reading module is far from only assessing reading skill. It is beyond that. A Candidate is needed to find out the answers for the given questions rationally within constrained time limits. The abilities which are judged here are predicting the demand, analyzing the views presented, reading at appropriate speed, grammatical accuracy and many more.
The difference only lies in the text given in the passages. These passages are real academic journals, articles from magazines and newspapers etcetera for academic students, whereas in case of general training readings, amalgamation of short length text and long articles is presented. Here articles are usually related to social circumstances, newspaper advertisements etcetera.
Therefore, if you are looking for band 8, following mentioned tips are for you. Have a look:
1. Be careful about the time
The test taker is supposed to attempt the reading test within 60 minutes only. Henceforth, you need to manage time very sagaciously. It’s better to solve a question within 70-80 seconds and not more than that. If you find it time consuming, just move on to the next one as it will score equal to the other question. So for one question, it is futile to waste time.
2. Read the instructions aptly
Before the questions, instructions are presented very evidently for every passage and all set of questions. You need to adhere to them very seriously and should write answers in the designated spaces on answer sheets. Avoid over writing as it would hamper your score.
3. Do guess work
The best part about IELTS is that there is no negative marking. So if you are unable to find any answer just make an educated guess but don’t leave the space blank.
4. Avoid understanding the passage
Reading with interest definitely is excellent but not here in IELTS. Yes you may do it after the end of test. Understanding of all passages will confuse you to find right answer and will end up losing time. Skim and scan to answer your questions rather.
5. Enrich vocabulary
Lexicon plays prominent role in reading test and to be an avid reader you need to build your vocabulary understanding. Learning vocabulary is a lengthy process so for a short cut add new word after watching a web series every day.
6. Dilemma while marking false and not given
It is considered the most tricky to solve questions of true false and not given. You can mark answer yes with a bit certainty but when it comes to rest two, it becomes difficult to decode. Candidates can’t read with eye movement only as matching keywords perhaps can lead to incorrect answers. They need to understand real essence of the text as there might be paraphrasing or can be with same words too.
If the fact is found matching properly it’s always a yes.
If something contradictory is seen, it’s a no.
If 1-99% information is found missing, it’s not given.
* well as per my own experience I can suggest that focus on connectors carefully as not given answers normally revolve around conjunctions.
* if you don’t find answer or relevant information mark not given for that time and move on.
7. Increase your reading speed
Averagely, a person can read nearly 300 words a minute. Play some tricks with articles and same gist paragraph. Use timer to analyze your speed and try to read superficially to increase your pace. This will assist you in managing time.
8. Avoid understanding everything
It’s never needed to comprehend every sentence which is given. Just speedy skim and with the crux analyze the answers
9. Match keywords
To find location timely use specific words which are hard to repeat and easy to scan. Choose titles, dates etcetera for this.
10. be selective for the passage
You should know that all the passages are of different level and only one or two are comparatively easier to solve. So focus on them first and leave the tough one which you find hard to understand.
Keep learning!!!
strategies for solving IELTS reading questions
strategies for solving IELTS reading questions