The International English Language Testing System (IELTS®) is a standardized test that was created in 1989 to determine a person’s English language proficiency. The reading section of the test focuses on your ability to read material written in the English language in a practical manner. Practice is the key to performing well on the IELTS® reading test. Skimming and scanning written material as a habit will also help you improve your score. Your ability to follow instructions and complete all questions will also affect your score.
The IELTS® reading test isn’t so much a test of your reading comprehension as it is a test of your ability to find relevant information within written paragraphs. Practicing your reading skills is the most effective way to improve your IELTS® reading score. This can be accomplished ensuring that you read every day, with a focus on factual material such as newspaper stories. Make a friend quiz you on the key points from various newspaper or magazine articles. On the Internet, you can also find a variety of sample IELTS® reading tests, which you can use to help you improve your score.
When taking the IELTS® reading test, skimming and scanning skills are crucial. You do not need to read and understand every word in a testing paragraph; however, you must have a general understanding of what the paragraph is saying and be able to locate key words that relate to the questions. To do so, skim through the questions first to get a sense of the type of information you’ll need, then skim through the paragraph, underlining or circling any key words or information that pertains to the questions you just read. After you’ve done that, go over each question again and scan the paragraph for the answers you’re looking for, focusing on key words or synonyms.
It’s all too easy to get caught up in a question and keep reading and rereading a paragraph in order to figure out the answer. However, you should avoid doing so because you will waste time that could be better spent answering other questions. If you can’t find an answer to a question right away, move on; you might be able to come back to it later.
On the IELTS® reading test, you have 60 minutes to answer 40 questions. It is critical that you answer all of the questions in order to maximize your score. You don’t lose points for incorrect answers, and it’s always better to guess at a multiple choice answer than to leave it blank if you don’t know. While you are permitted to write on the question pages, keep in mind that you will not be given time to transfer your answers later.
Make sure you get enough sleep the night before your exam and eat a nutritious breakfast the next morning. Wear comfortable, layered clothing so you can adjust if the room becomes too hot or too cold. Most people are nervous before a test like this, but try not to let them get the best of you. Remember that you are not expected to get every answer correct, so don’t be concerned if you don’t know the answer to a question. Simply make the best guess you can and move on.