Lecture Notes

on Reading
International
English
Language
Testing
System
(IELTS)

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Kindly be informed that once you are through with this manual, you are expected to email the
center for your copy of the 8 complete reading test questionnaires and their answer keys.

Introduction:
The IELTS reading component comes in two modules, namely the ACADEMIC MODULE (applicable for
both standard and UKVI IELTS) and the GENERAL TRAINING MODULE. Although the number of
passages and the types of questions asked vary on the actual test, both modules follow the same
principles in reading. Hence, this book can be used by students taking either of the two modules.

The following are the differences:

Section 1 Section 2 Section 3

1 long passage
1 long passage
1 long passage

Academic Module
Questions 1-13
Questions 14-26
Questions 27-40

(13 items) (13 items) (14 items)

2-3 short passages

2 short passages
1 long passage

General Training
Module
Questions 1-14 Questions 15-27 Questions 28-40

General Rule:
Answers in the reading test are found in the same order as the questions. To illustrate, when
answering the first passage of the academic module, the answer to question number 1 is
expected to appear first in the text and the rest of the answers follow sequentially.

Exception:

The following four types of questions do not follow the sequential rule:

-Classification

-Matching Type

-Paragraph Headings

-Paragraph Summaries

Definition of terms:
1.) Skimming- a method in looking for answers in which students read selected parts of the
passage by considering the order of the question they are answering and the key words that
appear in the question at hand. This is the best method used when answering questions that
follow the sequential rule.

2.) Scanning- a method in looking for answers when students expect them to be scattered all
across the passage. Students here will initially look for key words (usually names of people or
objects). This is usually the best step when answering Classification and Matching Type drills.

3.) Verbatim- students read the text word for word. This is only encouraged when students
answer Paragraph Headings and Paragraph Summaries.

*List of popular types of questions in Reading:

1. True/False/Not Given

2. Yes/No/Not Given

3. Sentence Completion

4. Short-answer questions

5. Multiple Choice

6. Notes Completion

7. Table Completion

8. Chart Completion

9. Summary Completion

10. Diagram Labelling

11. Classification

12. Matching Type

13. Paragraph Headings

14. Paragraph Summaries

*Not all will come out in one test but almost all of them will.


Memorise:

Answers in the reading test are, IN GENERAL,

arranged sequentially EXCEPT in Classification,
Matching Type, Paragraph Headings and
Paragraph Summaries.
 ILLUSTRATIONS:

Scanning:

Steps:

#1. Since this is a classification drill, we

expect the answers to be scattered all
throughout the text. To be faster, we initially
look first for each of the seven plants in
question. Once we see each plant, we
place it in a box.

#2. After we identify all the seven plants in

the passage, we now read the lines that are
near each box.

#3. Finally, we classify each plant.

Remember:

All three choices (A-C) should be used at

least ONCE.

7. B
6. A
5. B
4. A
3. C
2. C
Answer Key:
Skimming:

Steps:

#1. This type of question is not under any of the four

exceptions, so we expect the answers to be arranged
SEQUENTIALLY. We will just read selectively some parts
of the passage BASED ON the item we are answering
(first question= first few lines) and the key words of each
question.

#2. After reading #1, read selectively the first few lines
of the passage. The correct answer is HEROES.

Remember:
4. The Assassins
3. A map Our answers are ONLY CORRECT if our basis contains
2. World War I the key words of the questions.

Answer Key:
Verbatim: Generally discouraged. We only read the passage word for word if
we are answering Paragraph Headings and Paragraph Summaries.



g. ii
f. viii
e. ix
d. vi
c. iii

Answer Key:

Steps:

VERY IMPORTANT: Answers

in Paragraph Headings are
never repeated.

#1. Eliminate the example

given from the list of titles.

#2. Our task in this type of

question is to assign a title per
paragraph. To do this
Answer: vii properly, we need to master
first the titles available. This is
done by paying closer
attention to the first few words
(we encircle them as they are
the gist per title. A title is
different from the rest through
the first few words).

#3. Once we have understood

all of the titles, we now read
each paragraph word for word.
Our objective is to identify the
main idea or central theme.

#4. Once we have identified

the main thought we now
assign the appropriate title.

Remember:

It is the main thought if it is

recurring or the main focus.
When confused, we decide
based on the first two lines of
the paragraph.

 TRUE/FALSE/NOT GIVEN
YES/NO/NOT GIVEN


 Distinction True/False/Not Given Yes/No/Not Given

Facts Writer’s attitude towards the facts

What to look for?
(Adjectives & Adverbs) (Read between the lines)

Similarities

How to read the text? Skim

How do answers
Sequential
appear in the text?

TRUE/YES:
• If the question statement RESTATES what’s written in
the passage, i.e. it uses SYNONYMS.

FALSE/NO:
• If the question statement CONTRADICTS the text by
way of ANTONYMS
• If the question SUBSTITUTES some parts of the text
What definitions are (normally the object of the sentence)
observed?
NOT GIVEN:
• If the question statement is ENTIRELY ABSENT in the
text. More specifically, the answer is not given if the
question statement is…
• an assessment
• a comparison
• a suggestion
• contains an additional idea

1. Answers are ALWAYS arranged in the text sequentially.

2. All three choices (Yes/No/Not Given or True/False/Not
Given) are ALMOST ALWAYS used as answers in a
REMINDERS: test.
3. Stick to the choices given. Do not substitute ‘Yes’ with
‘True’ or ‘No’ with ‘False’ and vice versa.
4. Don’t write the answers in initials (like Y for Yes).
 Drill 1: True/ False/ Not Given
Time: 10 minutes only


Steps:

#1. This type of question follows the

sequential rule. Read #1 and look for its
counterpart in the passage in the first few
lines. Once done, move downward for the
rest.

#2. In general, all three choices (True/False/

Not Given) should all be used.

Remember:

Stick to the choices. Do not write YES/NO

if the choices are TRUE/FALSE or vice
versa.

When torn between FALSE and NOT

GIVEN, we only choose FALSE if we are
certain that the exact opposite of the
question is what is mentioned in the
passage. If not, then it has to be not given.

10. Not Given (The comparison is not supported in the text.)

9. True

8. True

7. False

6. Not Given (The comparison is not supported in the text.)

5. True

4. False

3. Not Given (The comparison is not supported in the text.)

2. True

1. True

Answer Key:

Drill 2: Yes/No/ Not Given

Time: 20 minutes

Answer Key:

1. No 11. Not Given (This is not mentioned in the text.)

2. No 12. Yes

3. Not Given (The comparison is not supported in the text.) 13. Not Given (This is not mentioned in the text.)

4. Yes 14. Yes

5. No 15. Yes

6. Yes 16. No

7. Yes 17. Not Given (This is not mentioned in the text.)

8. Not Given (The assessment is not supported in the text.) 18. Not Given (This is not mentioned in the text.)

9. Not Given (This situation is not mentioned in the text.) 19. No

10. No 20. Yes



 Drill 3: Diagram Labelling
Time: 5 minutes


Steps:

#1. Identify first where the diagram is

described. Usually answers are just
clustered in one or two adjacent
paragraphs.

#2. Read question #1 and look for the

key words in the passage.

Remember:

Our answers are ONLY CORRECT if our

basis contains the key words of the
questions.

A robot 6.
Navigation system
5.
Price
4.
Work
3.
160 km
2.
Electricity grid
1.

Answer Key:

 bottles 6. Consumption. 7. Disposal. 8. Symbolic

Drill 4: Sentence Completion 1. Wildlife 2. Blown away 3. Aesthetics 4. Death 5. Plastic

Time: 10 minutes
Answer Key:

Steps:

#1. Read the first question and identify the

counterparts of the key words in the
passage. Once answer is found, move
downward for the rest.

#2. When applicable, include a/an/the in

completing the sentences.

#3. Answers are correct if their bases

contain the key words of the questions.