Do you often have questions about the IELTS reading exam?
How can you get answers that you trust?
Today, we’re answering 4 questions we received recently about the IELTS reading exam.
#1: Understanding the gist
Question: I cannot understand the main idea of a passage after reading. What can I do? Tell me the solution for that. – Royel
Many IELTS reading passages are very long.
If you are trying to read entire passages, you will have to read them extremely quickly.
Not only will you not be able to find all the answers, but you may not even understand the main idea.
Instead, your goal should not be to read entire passages.
You need to be able to skim a passage in one minute and get the main idea.
This is overall what the article is about.
Some question types will require you to identify main ideas in individual sections.
These are usually in the first or last sentence of the paragraph or section.
#2: What should you be reading?
Question: What are the best resources to improve my reading skills for the IELTS?
– Nadahamouda12
Read articles about a variety of different topics, but especially those common on IELTS
- Environment
- Education
- Technology
- The role of government
Read a novel you look forward to in order to improve general fluency and vocabulary.
Read transcripts of podcasts you’re listening to.
This targets both listening and reading.
#3: How to improve reading quickly
Question: How can I improve my reading in 15 days? – Parwinder
With only 15 days left, you should be applying strategies to practice exams.
Each question type has different strategies.
Continue reading to build fluency and vocabulary as well.
#4: Why can’t I score a 7?
Question: I got stuck in reading two times, 6.5. What could be the reason? Overall, I had 7.5. – Jyoti
First, know that you are not alone.
Many students struggle to score 7 on the IELTS Reading exam.
There are many different possibilities that could be keeping you from getting the score you need.
You could be treating it like a comprehension exam and reading entire passages.
There is not enough time to do this!
Instead, you must use strategies to find answers.
You could also be falling for IELTS tricks and traps, as there are many!
- Distractors that look like the correct answer, but when you read that sentence closely, it is not
- Words from the question are in the article when the answer is found near a paraphrase or synonym
Another possibility is that you are making common mistakes.
- Example: not being able to tell whether an answer is “no” or “not given”
- Example: mixing up T/F/NG and Y/N/NG (writing T instead of Y, etc.)
Takeaway
You need strategies for IELTS Reading!
Every question type requires its own strategy.
Get our full system of strategies at allearsenglish.com/keys.
