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One of the main difficulties experienced by students doing the Reading Module is not having enough time
to complete the test. It is, therefore, essential to read both efficiently and effectively.
There are a few main skills that you will need in order to do well in the IELTS Reading Module. It is useful
to use the following procedure for each text that is given.
Previewing
(about 2 minutes for each passage)
(a) Study the passage by noting:
titles
headings
illustrations
diagrams
any print in bold type or italics.
(b) Study key parts of the passage by skimming. Read the first paragraph which often focuses on
the main idea. The first sentence of each paragraph usually expresses the key points of the paragraph.
Generally, the concluding paragraph provides a summary of the given passage. You may wish to highlight
these with a pen.
etc?)
whether or not the question requires a specific or general answer
what form the answer should take (is it a number, date, reason, etc?)
(about 3 minutes)
After you have completed your answers for each section, you need to check them. Check that you have
followed the instructions exactly. If you have time, return to the answers you marked because you were
unsure and see if the answers you have given are the best ones.
time to finish all the questions and some of those questions could be ones that you could answer quite
easily. As I said above, don't spend too long on a difficult answer but also keep an eye on the clock. It's a
good idea to have your watch or a small clock on your desk so you know exactly how long you have left
in the test at any given time. In addition to this, keep control on how long you spend on each section.
Remember the test gets more difficult as it goes on so you will probably need more time for the questions
at the end than for those at the start. Maybe a guideline could be:
17 minutes on section 1.
20 minutes on section 2.
23 minutes on section 3.
(If you can do things more quickly all the better as that will give you time to look at questions that you
skipped and to check on your answers)
With experience and practice you will soon know how long things take you, and be able to manage your
time well.
As I just said, if you have finished the exam with time to spare, DON'T just sit there!! Check what you
have done. If you have time after the check, check again. And so on
First of all, glance through all sections, get an idea of the subject matter and spend around 2-3
minutes scanning the paper.
Now prioritise all sections according to the subject matter you find easier. The section you find
and attempt the questions by reading the passage. In difficult passages, go for a ' skim and
scan' approach -- read the questions and try finding out the answers by locating similar words.
The most important step is to set a time limit for every passage and attempt that in the specified
time only.
If you are not able to answer any question, don't waste your time. Move to the next. Later, if you
have some extra time, make a guess as there is no negative marking. You are always advised
not to leave any question unanswered.
Write your answers directly on the transfer sheet to save you time. No extra time is given to
transfer answers. Also transfer answers very carefully, as any carelessness may cost you marks.
Be very careful with spellings. Wrong spellings mean wrong answers.
Skimming
Your first task when you begin reading is to answer the question What is the topic of the selection?
This can best be answered by quickly skimming the passage for the general idea, stopping to read only
the first sentence of each paragraph. A paragraphs first sentence is usualy the main topic sentence, and it
gives you a summary of the content of the paragraph.
Once youve skimmed the passage, stopping to read only the first sentences, you will have a general idea
about what it is about, as well as what is the expected topic in each paragraph.
Each question will contain clues as to where to find the answer in the passage.
Do not just randomly search through the passage for the correct answer to each question. Search
scientificaly. Find key word(s) or ideas in the question that are going to either contain or be near the
correct answer. These are typicaly nouns, verbs, numbers, or phrases in the question that will probably be
duplicated in the passage. Once you have identified those key word(s) or idea, skim the passage quickly
to find where those key word(s) or idea appears. The correct answer choice will be near by.
Example : What caused Martin to suddenly return to Paris?
The key word is Paris. Skim the passage quickly to find where this word appears. The answer will be close
by that word.
However, sometimes key words in the question are not repeated in the passage. In those cases, search for
the general idea of the question.
Example : Which of the following was the psychological impact of the authors childhood upon the
remainder of his life?
Key words are childhood or psychology. While searching for those words, be alert for other words or
phrases that have similar meaning, such as emotional effect or mentaly which could be used in the
passage, rather than the exact word psychology.
Numbers or years can be particularly good key words to skim for, as they stand out from the rest of
the text.
Example : Which of the following best describes the influence of Monets work in the 20th century?
20th contains numbers and will easily stand out from the rest of the text. Use 20th as the key word to
skim for in the passage.
Once youve quickly found the corect section of the passage to find the answer, focus upon the answer
choices. Sometimes a choice will repeat word for word a portion of the passage near the answer. However,
beware of such duplication it may be a trap! More than likely, the correct choice will paraphrase or
summarize the related portion of the passage, rather than being exactly the same wording.
For the answers that you think are corect, read them carefully and make sure that they answer the
question. An answer can be factualy corect, but it MUST answer the question asked. Additionaly, two
answers can both be seemingly correct, so be sure to read all of the answer choices, and make sure that
you get the one that BEST answers the question.
Some questions will not have a key word.
Example : Which of the following would the author of this passage likely agree with?
In these cases, look for key words in the answer choices. Then skim the passage to find where the answer
choice occurs. By skimming to find where to look, you can minimize the time required.
Sometimes it may be difficult to identify a good key word in the question to skim for in the passage. In
those cases, look for a key word in one of the answer choices to skim for. Often the answer choices can all
be found in the same paragraph, which can quickly narrow your search.
answer by refering directly to the passage or by using your reasoning powers. You alone know which
question types you customarily handle with ease and which give you trouble and will require more time.