READING SKILL

• The Reading test is more than just a mandatory section of your Academic or General Training IELTS
test to get through. It is actually an accurate assessment of your ability to read, process information,
analyze and evaluate the ideas and narratives you take in.
• Whether you are looking to enter university studying for your dream course or seeking to embark on a
new exciting career overseas, reading is a life-long skill that you need to master to reach success!
• It is an essential skill that will assist you in your progression and help you become a more competent,
professional and analytical individual.
• In this article, we will go through what the IELTS Reading test assesses and how it sets you up for
success in your career down the road!
 4 CORE SKILLS BEING TESTED IN THE READING TEST

1. Reading comprehension
Reading is one thing but understanding the text and fully comprehending it is another. Because the
IELTS test is structured in such a way that you need to simultaneously answer questions while
reading, candidates need to swiftly digest and comprehend the ideas and facts being shared.

2. Skimming
Having a strict time limit on the Reading test means that it isn’t possible to take your time reading
leisurely. You will need to swiftly skim the information to swiftly get the gist and idea of what the
work is about. It involves fast eye movement as well as a strong vocabulary as well to make sense
of the text at a fast pace.
3. Information scanning
Scanning is one essential skill being tested thoroughly in the test. Because of the time
restriction and various ‘locate and answer’ tasks, you will need to do a lot of selective
scanning in order to spot certain facts and find the right information necessary. You’ll know
what you are looking for, the hard part is finding it.

4. Reading for details

Reading for details is another core skill the reading test assesses. Unlike scanning or
skimming, you will need to read in between the lines and carefully take in both specific
information and the entire narrative holistically in order to draw inferences and conclusions.
 9 TIPS IN BOOSTING YOUR READING

1. Know the test

a) Like all international language testing systems, IELTS has a unique format, so I recommend
familiarizing yourself with the details before you arrive. Start by answering the following questions.
b. How long is the test?
c. What’s the format? 
d. How many texts are there?
e. What kind of texts are they?
f. What skills will be tested?
g. What types of questions will be asked?
h. What skills do you need to answer the questions?
j. Will you have extra time to transfer your answers?
2. Practice makes perfect
 If you like reading, then improving your English reading skills can be an enjoyable experience – you can sit in the
comfort of your home and engross yourself in a book. Take every opportunity to read, from novels and blogs, to
newspapers and academic journals. The more variety, the better. Reading extensively will help you learn new vocabulary
and improve your reading speed.
3. Develop your reading techniques
 Many candidates find the length of the texts to be the most challenging aspect of the IELTS reading section. With three
long texts around 2,750 words, and just one hour to read them and answer 40 questions, it’s clear there’s not enough time
to go through the texts thoroughly. So, learning some simple reading techniques will really help.
• Skimming
‘Skimming’ is used to get a general overview of the text. Just spend a minute glancing at the titles and headings to identify
the general topic.
• Scanning
‘Scanning’ is the technique used to locate specific keywords or phrases.

  
4. Focus on keywords
Texts in the IELTS reading section are packed with lots of new vocabulary. Don’t be discouraged.
You don’t need to understand every word, and you can always use contextual clues to guess the
meaning of a word you don’t understand. 
5. Follow the instructions carefully 
If the instructions state to ‘use one word only’, make sure you don’t write more than one word. You
don’t want to lose points for not reading the instructions properly.
6. Make the most of your time! 
Remember, you have just one hour to answer 40 questions, which equates to one and a half minutes
per question. Leave difficult questions until the end; you can always go back to them later.
7. Beware of distractors
What you hear first may not be the right answer, so watch out for distractors. For example, the
speaker may say one thing, but then reverse their answer.
 Pay attention to the details. 
8. Don’t wait too long to hear the answer
If you feel like you’ve waited too long to hear the answer, the chances are you’ve already missed it.
A big advantage of the IELTS reading test is that you don’t need to go back and forth to answer the
questions; they are all in order, so just relax!
9. Transfer your answers carefully
At the end of the paper-based test, you get an extra ten minutes to transfer your answers to the
answer sheet. Take care with spelling and capitalization. If you’re unsure about the correct
capitalization, you can write your answers in all capitals. Take one last look at your answers to
ensure they are grammatically accurate and you’ve followed all instructions. 
Remember this:
• 40 items
• 3 sections
• 60 minutes