IELTS is an English language proficiency test that assesses your skills through 4 sections: reading, writing, speaking and listening. However, each of them requires you to use effective strategies to score well in them individually. This is so because all these will add up to deliver the final scores. Furthermore, the reading section is considered one of the trickiest of all, for which you need to know IELTS reading tips. Thus, in this write-up, you will be getting along everything you need to know about the IELTS reading section. So, begin by providing an overview of the section.
What Is IELTS Reading?
The reading section for IELTS is one of the four parts of the IELTS exam and is designed to evaluate a test taker’s ability to understand written English. This section includes a variety of question types. There are two versions of the test: Academic and General Training. In Academic Reading, there are three long texts from books, journals, or newspapers that aim at candidates entering higher education or professional fields. On the other hand, the General Training version includes extracts from books, advertisements, manuals, and newspapers, focusing on everyday English in social and workplace contexts.
After having an overview of the reading section, it is time to move forward to explore the tactics to handle this section and score well without struggling.
Tips to Ace IELTS Reading Section: Question Type Wise
To ace the most tricky section of the test, you need to know the IELTS reading tips for each question type. Thus, in this segment, we have listed them to ease your task:
Matching Headings
In this question type, you need to read the text given and choose the heading that is most suitable for it. To ace this, use these tips enlisted:
- Read the topic options before you read the entire paragraph.
- Do not get lost in the details of the paragraph, rather look for the overall pointer or the idea in it.
- Remember, the beginning and the ending sentences often contain the main thought of the paragraph.
- You must eliminate the heading options that are too narrow or broad or are off-topic for the text.
- You must be afraid to leave headings options for harder paragraphs till later.
Matching Paragraph Information
In this, you will be reading the pieces of information to decide which paragraph contains it. Thus, to solve this type of problem easily, follow the strategies listed below:
- Do not make the point of view that sentences will appear in order, as they can come randomly without any sequence.
- A single paragraph may contain several answers, or it might also have no answer.
- You must focus on facts, dates, keywords and figures while reading to easily find the correct answer.
- You must read around the keyword to be sure that you understand the entire idea.
Matching Features
In this task type, you will see specific features such as names, factors, etc, and you need to match them with the information in the paragraph.
- You must highlight all the names or categories in the passage.
- Use a scanning technique to see where they appear, then read more carefully.
- Match ideas, not exact words—often opinions are paraphrased.
- Be aware that each option may be used once, more than once, or not at all.
Matching Sentence Endings
In this, you have to match the correct second half of the sentence with the first one already there. To ace this easily, you should follow these tactics:
- The best tip to ace this question type is to stick to grammar. If the sentence is not grammatical, you can eliminate it directly.
- There are more options for the heading than needed, so eliminate those irrelevant ones.
True, False, Not Given
In this, you are required to read a sentence and identify it as either true, false or not given. To ace this, follow the strategies enlisted:
- Focus on factual accuracy.
- “True” matches the statement in the text.
- “False” contradicts the statement.
- “Not Given” no clear information on that point.
- Look for strong words like “always,” “only,” and “never”—these are often used as traps.
- Do not assume answers based on general knowledge or logic—stick to the information in the text.
Multiple Choice
As the name suggests, you will be selecting the correct option from the number of choices given. To ace this, you need to use the tips:
- Read the question first, followed by answer choices. This will help you to focus on your reading.
- Mark keywords in the question to know what to look for in the text.
- Scan the passage for synonyms or paraphrased forms of those keywords.
- Remember that all options may seem correct, but only one truly reflects the passage.
- Eliminate wrong options, as 1–2 is clearly off-topic or not mentioned.
Choosing a Title
This question type needs you to select an ideal title for the passage you will be reading. This might sound tricky, but with tips for IELTS reading section, you ace this.
- Focus on the main idea, ignoring the general thoughts given in the passage.
- Know the difference between the main idea and the general idea of the passage to ensure you are on the right track.
Short Answer
In this, you need to answer in a short phrase or answer. To ace this, follow the tactics listed below:
- Read the question first to know what kind of answer is needed.
- Use keywords from the question to find the relevant part of the passage.
- The answers appear in sequence in the text—don’t waste time re-reading earlier parts.
Completion Questions (diagram, table, sentence & flow chart)
In this type of question, you need to complete the different types of things or the missing information. To ace it, follow the tactics enlisted:
- Firstly, identify which part of the passage explains the process to know what you have to consider.
- Follow the logical order of steps, as this will help you to complete the task easily.
- Again, obey the word limit as if you exceed it, you might lose your marks.
- Focus on nouns and verbs describing actions or features in the diagram.
These were tactics to handle each type of question. However, if you want to test yourself, you can take IELTS reading practice test and know where you stand with your preparation.
General IELTS Reading Tips
After knowing the question type wise reading tips for IELTS, it is time to explore some common strategies to use in the entire section.
- Manage your time wisely, as you will be getting only 60 minutes to complete 40 questions.
- Do not read the passage in detail; rather, use skimming and scanning techniques to get the main idea.
- Follow the instructions exactly to ensure you do not exceed the word count asked.
- Expand your vocabulary, as sometimes you might have to understand its meaning while answering.
Conclusion
This was all about the IELTS reading tips for each type of question that you might get to solve in the test. Moreover, you must keep in mind that knowing the tips is one thing, but preparing for them is another and most important one. So prepare well and take frequent IELTS practice test online to evaluate your preparation.