IELTS ACADEMIC

READING
Reading
- Three parts

The further you go, the harder you get

Or quicker on section 1 and 2

Don’t spend too much time on any single question. Come back to them later

Many question comes in order

- Missing words – Choose one word, choose no more two words
- True, False, not Given / Yes, no, not given (except when it’s on the 3rd section)
- Multiple choice (One option out of 4 or two options out of 5/7)

Don’t comes in order

- Matching heading (read the first paragraph choose the answer,)
- Matching paragraph
- Make sentence ending
- Questions at the ending 3rd ending
Identify the key words
- Highlight dates and names
- Answers lie on some words
- Correct answers are paraphrased

Computer can copy and paste words

The only reason for Answer Sheet mistakes is negligence or lack of mindfulness.
a. Not writing exactly what was said or written, which is what the directions say. (negligence). You
cannot paraphrase.
b. Not spelling an answer correctly. (negligence)
c. Forgetting to transfer all the answers (negligence).
d. Writing answers in the wrong spaces (negligence)
e. Not remembering the instructions that there is no extra time to transfer answers in Reading.
(negligence)
f. Not following the word limit (One Word and/or Number) directions. (negligence)
g. Leaving blank answer choices instead of guessing. (negligence)
h. Not paying attention to grammar rules when entering answers. Question says: There are three
__________ involved in the tour. You write "student," which is clearly wrong because the question says
"three," so you have to know that they said "students" in the audio. (Negligence).

Basically: Follow directions and DON'T BE NEGLIGENT!

a. Basic
- 40 questions – 60 minutes
- 3 parts (Progressively difficult)
- 14 Question Types
- Answering process (immediate)
3 Concepts
1. Identifying key words
2. Locating key words
3. Understanding language

Key to success
1. Vocabulary enhancement
2. IELTS Scanning
3. Time management
4. Don’t read the passage first
b. Question Types Review
IELTS Reading Strategies Summarized

Reading is a test of two skills:

1. Scanning
2. Comprehension
Fill the Blank Sentence Completion
1. Question goes in ORDER (mainly)
1. Question goes in ORDER 2. Read through questions and spot easiest
2. Read through questions and spot easiest to do first.
to do first. 3. Underline key words in questions
3. Underline key words in questions 4. Scan and find matching sentence to your
4. Scan and find matching sentence to your 1st easiest question.
1st easiest question.
 5. Find the language in the passage
sentence that matches the language
before/after blank line.
6. Write the answer.
Short Answer
1. Question goes in ORDER
2. Read through questions and spot easiest
to do first.
3. Underline key words in questions
4. Scan and find matching sentence to your
1st easiest question.
5. Find the language in the passage
sentence that answers the question.
6. Write the answer.
Multiple Choice
1. Question goes in ORDER
2. Read through questions and spot easiest
to do first.
3. Underline key words in questions
4. Scan and find matching sentence(s) to
your 1st easiest question.
5. Note: sometimes for MC can use 2
sentences from passage
6. Find the language in the passage
sentence(s) that matches the language of
one of the answer choices.
7. Write the answer.
• Watch for starting point sentences…..
• Watch for “;” and compound sentences
Summary Question
1. Basically is a Fill Blank Question
2. Difference: Sentences can come from
multiple paragraphs.
3. Difference: most of the time in order
4. Read through questions and spot easiest
to do first.
5. Underline key words in questions
6. Scan and find matching sentence to your
1st easiest question.
7. Find the language in the passage
sentence that matches the language
before/after blank line.
8. Write the answer.
Matching Question
1. Note if instructions say name in box can
be used more than once.
5. Read sentence and look in book for
answer with language that completes
sentence.
6. Heavily uses synonym language
Flow Chart (Fill Blank)
1. Question goes in ORDER
2. Read through questions and spot easiest
to do first.
3. Underline key words in questions
4. Scan and find matching sentence to your
1st easiest question.
5. Find the language in the passage
sentence that matches the language
before/after blank line.
6. Write the answer.
Yes, No, Not Given (True, False, Not Given)
1. Question goes in ORDER
2. Read through questions and spot easiest
to do first.
3. Underline key words in questions
4. Scan and find matching sentence to your
1st easiest question.
5. Compare the passage sentence and the
question sentence that is matches.
6. You are comparing the question to the
passage. NOT the passage to the
question.
Note:
True: all of the essential information from question is
in the passage. Synonym Lang.
False: essential language from the question has
been changed, made opposite, or is different in
the passage.
Not Given: Info from the question is missing or
maybe/maybe not when comparing into to the
passage sentence.
This applies to all In-Order Questions
Paragraph Location Question
1. DO LAST if in a set. For general exam
mainly in passage 3.
2. Underline keywords in question statement.
3. Pay attention to Topic Sentences as very
often these point to if that paragraph has
that question statement information.
4. Question can be time consuming, which is
why you should do other questions first so
you can see a lot of the passage.
5. Note: underline the keywords before
moving on to other questions.
Which section are the following statements true
for? Classification Question. (General)
1. Basically a Paragraph Matching question.
 2. Note: some names can appear more than
once in a passage.
3. Locate names in passage.
4. Do the names that only appear once first.
5. Read the sentence where you see
name….look for what said or position of
person.
6. Look at sentences and see which one the
information in passage for that person
matches.
7. Synonym Language
Headings Question: this question requires you to
place a heading based on the main idea of
paragraph.
1. Quickly scan through the headings and
underline key words in choices.
2. Do the shortest paragraphs first.
3. Go to Paragraph: Read First and Second
sentence.
4. Find answer that captures the main
idea/controlling idea of paragraph. TOPIC
Sentence.
5. IF still cannot find answer read the last
sentence.
6. Key to this question is being able to pull
out the controlling idea from the topic
sentence.
2. Mainly in Section/Passage 1 or 2
3. You have to read question and then
locate the section for which the sentence
comes from or is true within.
4. Important to underline the keywords in the
questions, will help locate matching
section with sentence information.
5. The question sentence belongs to which
reading section.
Which section contains the following? (General)
1. Basically a Paragraph Location question.
2. DO LAST if in a set. For general exam
mainly is in passage 3.
3. You have to find the paragraph that has
the section information.
4. Important to underline the keywords in the
questions, will help locate matching
section with sentence information.
5. Pay attention to Topic Sentences as very
often these point to if that paragraph has
that question statement information..
6. Question can be time consuming, which is
why you should do other questions first so
you can see a lot of the passage.
7. Note: underline the keywords before
moving on to other questions.

Which of the following statements (2-3) are

mentioned in the passage?

1. This question will give you several

statements and ask from the 4-6
statements, which are actually mentioned
in the passage.
2. Do this question last in the question set;
however, you should in the very beginning
underline the key words in the answer
choices.
3. As you are going through the other
questions for the passage, keep an eye
out for the keywords that you underlined.
4. If you are doing the paper test, underline
or note where you saw these keywords.
5. After you finish the other questions (Fill
Blank, Matching) then go and try to
answer which of the following statements
are true.
6. Note: The topic sentences can provide
guidance for which paragraph to look and
see is the statement is true.

Scanning for Matching Vocabulary

 Academic Cambridge Book 13 Test 4 “Cutty Sark” (Questions 1-8)

Keywords in Question Matching Language in Passage

intended to built to
Favored put in a strong position
Wanted was designed to
could travel between Britain and China faster the canal was of no use to the sailing ships
that clippers (clippers synonym)
Travel Journey
at risk of hitting dangerously close to

Academic Cambridge Book 13 Test 4 “Cutty Sark” (Questions 9-13)

Keywords in Question Matching Language in Passage

Carried Transported
very skilled Excellent
used for as a
damaged by suffered from