What is IELTS reading section all about ?
IELTS test assesses reading skill. This skill is evaluated based on how well you can read and understand the general sense of a passage, main ideas, details, understand inferences and implied meaning. The test is also assessed based on how well you can recognize a writer’s opinion, attitude and purpose, follow the development of an argument and vocabulary.
You will have to read three different passages and answer a series of questions. The passages that you read will increase in the level of difficulty as you go through the test. The content of the reading test is entirely different for IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training. The reading test is completed along with listening and writing test on the same day, with no breaks.
IELTS Reading Test Format
You will have to read three different passages and answer a series of questions.
IELTS Academic test includes three long passages. These are taken from books, journals, magazines and newspapers. The information ranges from descriptive and factual to discursive and analytical. These texts have been selected for a non-specialist audience but are appropriate for people entering university courses or seeking professional registration.
IELTS General Training test includes three passages with tasks. The test consists of extracts from books, magazines, newspapers, notices, advertisements, company handbooks and guidelines. These are materials that you’re likely to come across on a daily basis in an English speaking environment.
This test lasts for 60 minutes.
IELTS reading test marking criteria
- Reading component of the IELTS test is marked by the computer and later checked by a human examiner for quality purpose.
- IELTS reading test contains 40 questions.
- Each correct answer is awarded one mark.
- The total score out of 40 is then converted to whole or half band score. There is no negative marking for wrong answers. The marking criteria for IELTS academic and IELTS general training tests are different.
IELTS Academic Reading Score
| RAW SCORE | BAND SCORE |
|---|---|
| 39-40 | 9 |
| 37-38 | 8.5 |
| 35-36 | 8 |
| 33-34 | 7.5 |
| 30-32 | 7 |
| 27-29 | 6.5 |
| 23-26 | 6 |
IELTS General Training Reading Scores
| RAW SCORE | BAND SCORE |
|---|---|
| 40 | 9 |
| 39 | 8.5 |
| 37-38 | 8 |
| 36 | 7.5 |
| 34-35 | 7 |
| 32-33 | 6.5 |
| 30-31 | 6 |
IELTS Reading Tips
- Don’t read the whole passage as the time provided to you is limited.
- Don’t extend the time spent on one answer. Move to the next one, once you have answered. Do the same even if you don’t know the answer to the question.
- Don’t try to segregate answers for every question. Some questions will be difficult while others will be easy. Try to work as per your strengths and weaknesses.
- Divide the time for attempting the passage based questions. Assign 20 minutes for each reading. Time can be increased or decreased according to the complexity level of a passage.
- Refrain from spending more than 25-30 minutes on a single passage. It is advisable not to procrastinate even for a minute while attempting the passage.
- Each passage will have three to four different types of questions such as -- matching the headings, true or false, yes or no questions, matching paragraph information, summary completion, sentence completion, multiple choice, list selection, categorization questions, matching sentences endings, table completion, choose a title, flowchart and diagram completion and short answer questions.
- Even if you have missed out an answer, try remembering any data that you can.
How to prepare for IELTS Reading
Below are the eight main things that you need to practice while reading -- practice IELTS reading test which is available online.
- Develop strategies – For each type of question -- there are about 14 different sub-types of questions. Practice a particular type of question and develop skills to tackle each sub-type.
- Skimming and scanning – While reading, skim the passage to get a general idea of the content. Practice underlining essential words when you’re reading. This will help you later when you’re answering the questions.
- Develop your speed reading skills – There is a time limit for the reading test. You have to read the passages and answer the questions within the given time. Practice developing your speed reading skills so that you can read quickly and scan the information.
- Develop your vocabulary – Learn when you can and cannot use the words.
- Keywords – Each question has keywords that help you locate information in the passages. Learn to spot these keywords and try to paraphrase.
- Work on your grammar – Certain question type requires grammatically correct sentences. So work on your grammar.
- Get used to difficult passages – Read newspapers, journals etc. and get used to difficult passages.
- Understand the test format – The first two passages for IELTS general training are different from IELTS academic, but the third passage is similar.
How to score band 8 in IELTS reading test
Few points that will help you score band 8 –
- Develop different ways to connect the meaning of one sentence in the text with that of other sentences. These include the use of reference words such as pronouns, articles and synonyms.
- Skim and scan the passages and try writing down important points.
- Don’t just read the reading text, have a reason to read a text.
- Do not forget to read the glossary. The glossary helps you understand the meaning of the unfamiliar terms.
- Do easier questions as quickly as possible so that you have more time for the difficult ones.
- When you finish one passage, check for the answer and try to fill in gaps.
- Questions are usually paraphrased from the text. So look for the meaning and not the exact words.
- Use the information given in the notes, tables, diagrams to predict the type of information that is required.
- Try to answer all the questions.
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