Basic information about academic reading

3 separate test containing 3 passage

Passage may be taken from books, newspaper , magazine e.tc
1st – 13 question
2nd – 13 question
3rd – 14 question
Total – 40 question
Mark – 40
Each text – 2-3 task
Time – 60 minutes
No extra time to transfer answer like listening
1st and 2nd text – 900 words (approx.)
3rd text - 950 words (approx.)
Increasing difficulty

Organize your time ( 20 min for each text approx. )

Do no read whole text
First see the title
Read and underline the first two lines of each paragraph
Read the question carefully
Try to find out key word and underline it form the question
Scan the text to find out answer of those question
Enrich your vocabulary as much as you can
Practice ! Practice ! Practice ! Practice ! and Practice !
 Scanning and Skimming

Skimming
Goal: Get the overview of the text (main ideas)
1) Read the title
2) Read the first paragraph quickly
3) Read and underline the first two lines of each paragraph
4) Sub headings and subtitles
5) Read and underline the last two lines of each paragraph
Help to find out opinion/conclusion
6) Read the last paragraph of the text quickly
7) Underline key words ( uncommon word / terminology/ numbers/ dates/ per cents e.tc )
Phrase like: the most, the best, the least, the minority, the last, the majority e.tc
Places/country: London, America, Bangladesh,
Nationalities: Bangladeshi, Americans, English
Repetition of words, synonyms, same words
Example: …………… ecosystem ………… environment ……..ecosystem…

Scanning
After reading the question
We already know what to search for!
Always keep in mind what you search for
What kind of information are you searching for?
A date? A number? A percentage? An opinion?
A nationality? A medical or scientific term?
Previous underlining will guide you
Read carefully in order to justify your answer
Make sure your answer is correct
Practice! Practice! Practice! Practice! Practice!
 True/ False/ Not given
A number of statement is given
You have to find out weather it is true or false according to the given passage
If the statement is not in the passage then write Not given
Use information you find in the text
Never use your own logic
At least one true
At least one false
At least one Not given
Paraphrase may be used
Follow the order of the question
Example :
 Yes/ no / not given
- similar as true/ false/ not given
- a statement is given
- Yes : agrees with the info in the text
- No : If the info disagree
- NG ( not given) : if there is no info in the text
- Need to distinguish different ideas and views from the text
- T/F/NG ( in case of true/ false/ not given) or Y/ N/ NG ( in case of Yes/ no / not given)
- Do the following statements agree with the information given in reading passage -1?
- Sometimes asked for only writers view so distinguish your answer according to writers view
-
 Confusion about Not Given

1) Beware of implications !
2) If the statement is not proved clearly on the text then it may be not given
3) Lack of discussion
“home schooling is part of a self study procedure that has more offer than it is generally
known”
4) If you can not see it that does not mean it does not exist!
5) Beware of omissions!
“having a family makes people feel more secure ……. Or …….”
Having a large family enhances security – statement
6) Beware of explanations!
“the population of wild arts increases at such a fast rate because they constantly need new
members in the art community”
7) Beware of comparisons !
“Bus is the most convenient form of public transportation”
8) link
Example
 Completion task like
Note completion
Flowchart completion
Sentence completion
Summary completion
Table completion
Similar in terms of strategy follow
1) check out the word limit in the instruction
2) the questions do not necessarily follow the order they will appear in the text
3) Copy the words as they appear in the text : do not change them!
4) underline key – words before a gap
5) Be careful of paraphrasing both in the text and in the task
6) Practice Skimming and scanning the right way !