Do you plan to take the IELTS reading test soon? Here are 8 key pointers that we at VCANXL have discovered along the way as IELTS trainers that’ll boost your IELTS reading skills and help you ace the test.
IELTS Reading Test
1. Learn to manage your time
When you start preparing, don't worry about your time goal. Aim to catch the minutest of the detail and provide each answer. After practicing for a while, your speed will increase substantially and you will have sufficient time to double-check your work and attempt those answers you were unable to at the beginning.
2. Figure out your own method
One of the essential IELTS reading tips is to figure out your own modus operandi. There are some candidates who find it more beneficial to read the questions before the text; others prefer to view the article first, and then look at the questions. Try both approaches to see which suits you best and then stick to it.
3. Speed up your reading
To read fast, strive not to use a finger or a pencil as a cue. Avoid sub-vocalizing, i.e. the act of reading "aloud in the mind," and instead of reading only one or two words every time you read the text, read in "sense groups," i.e. groups of words that together make for a unit of meaning.
4. Pay heed to the content words
Content words are nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs, and they supply much of the meaning in a text. On the other hand, grammar or structure words (i.e. auxiliary verbs, pronouns, conjunctions, prepositions) assist in the clarity of meaning. Of course, all of these words require attention, but it's wise to focus more on the content words to fully understand the text.
5. Pay attention to the text’s structure
Titles and subheadings of a written text are great indicators of its focus, purpose, and content. So are the illustrations, charts, tables, or other images. Look for the key or topic sentence in each paragraph that summarizes its content, or the theme or main idea in each paragraph, then decode what it means and perceive how the topics are linked. Take note of the structure and highlight those as you progress.
6. Determine the author’s tone, attitude, and purpose
To better understand the text, ask yourself what the author's goal is when writing (e.g. to inform, to describe, to argue, to discuss, etc.), and what approach or tone and attitude he has to the subject at hand.
7. Familiarize yourself with the different kinds of questions
Identify the different types of questions that may be present in the reading module such as blanks, sentence completion, diagram labelling, table completion, true false not given, matching items, etc., and practice hard so that you can excel at them without making a mistake.
8. Be logical while answering
Guesswork may be helpful in grasping the meaning behind words and terms in texts, but it can be dangerous to only use guesswork to answer questions. So, instead of speculating or guessing, the best way to obtain all your answers is to apply logic and reason.
Follow these tips and see a higher score in your IELTS reading module. For more professional assistance, visit our website or call us at +91-9872323762
Also Read: Top Five Strategies To Prepare For IELTS
