2. There are 14 question types in IELTS Academic and General Reading as follows:
Questions Types in IELTS Reading
1. Matching Headings
2. Locating Information
3. Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
4. Summary Completion
5. Diagram Labelling
6. Matching Sentence Endings
7. Matching Features
8. Sentence Completion
9. Short-Answer Questions
10. Note Completion
11. Flowchart Completion
12. Yes/No Not Given
13. Table Completion
14. True/False and Not Given
3. IELTS READING TECHNIQUES
IELTS READING TECHNIQUES
SCAN SKIM CLOSE READING
Skimming
Scanning
IELTS READING TECHNIQUES
I. Read the first paragraph attentively to get an idea of what the text is about.
II. Pay attention to the first few sentences of every paragraph, this will give you the main idea.
Always read the last paragraph thoroughly as this normally contains the summary.
I. Scanning is reading rapidly in order to find specific facts.
II. Always underline important specific information and numbers.
III. From the question, identify the keyword and then scan the text for it, and possible synonyms.
4.
5. MATCHING HEADINGS
SkillAssessed: Y
ourAbility to Recognize the Central Idea of a Particular Paragraph
IELTS READING TIPS & STRATEGIES, TRICKS
1 Focus on the IDEAS
2 Focus on the TOP SENTENCES by PARAPHRASING
3 Read the FIRST/LAST SENTENCES of the paragraph
4 Find the Right KEYWORDS
5 Find SPECIFIC WORDS (Date, Name, Number)
6 Focus on the SYNONYMS AND ANTONYMS of Words
7 Find the Right CONNECTIVE /CONTINUATION WORDS in the Body Paragraphs
8 There are not TWO HEADINGS for EACH PARAGRAPH
9 Do not consider sentences with the SAME MEANING/SIMILAR/REWRITING FOR MORE
EXPLANATION/STARTER SENTENCE in the Body paragraph
10 If the KEYWORDS are the SAME in the sentence and the Heading, it is DISTRACTOR
11 Focus on the SINGULAR/PLURAL in the sentence
12 Focus on changing TENSE GRAMMAR
13 Focus on the NEGATIVE OR POSITIVE in the Sentence
6. LOCATING (Matching) INFORMATION
IELTS READING TIPS & STRATEGIES, TRICKS
1 Focus on the MAIN IDEAS
2 Paragraphs are NOT ORDERED for answers to the question. Questions follow the order of the text
3 Read the Main Body of the paragraph
4 Find the Right KEYWORDS
5 Find SPECIFIC WORDS (Date, Name, Number)
6 Focus on the SYNONYMS AND ANTONYMS of Words
7 Find the Right CONNECTIVE /CONTINUATION WORDS in the Body Paragraphs
8 A paragraph could contain MORE THAN ONE ANSWER
9 Do not consider sentences with the SAME MEANING/SIMILAR/REWRITING FOR MORE
EXPLANATION/DESCRIPTION/ANALYSIS ON THE TOPIC/STARTER SENTENCE in the Body paragraph
10 If the KEYWORDS are the SAME in the sentence and the Heading, it is DISTRACTOR
11 Focus on the SINGULAR/PLURAL in the sentence
12 Focus on changing TENSE GRAMMAR
13 Focus on the NEGATIVE OR POSITIVE in the Sentence
7. MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS
Skill Tested: YourAbility to Understand the Central Idea of the Passage and Particular Points
IELTS READING TIPS & STRATEGIES, TRICKS
1 READ the First Questions
2 Find the Right KEYWORDS
3 Find SPECIFIC WORDS (Date, Name, Number)
4 Focus on the SYNONYMS AND ANTONYMS of Words
5 Find the Right CONNECTIVE/CONTINUATION WORDS in the Body Paragraphs
6 Do not consider sentences with the SAME MEANING/SIMILAR/REWRITING FOR MORE
EXPLANATION/DESCRIPTION/ANALYSIS ON THE TOPIC/STARTER SENTENCE in the Body paragraph
7 Focus on the SINGULAR/PLURAL in the sentence
8 Focus on the NEGATIVE OR POSITIVE in the Sentence
9 Focus on the WH QUESTIONS
8. SUMMARY COMPLETION
IELTS READING TIPS & STRATEGIES, TRICKS
1 Focus on the READ THE QUESTIONS.
2 Remember that you CANNOT CHANGE THE WORD FORM. It must be used exactly as presented in the passage
3 SCAN the Sentence to get the MAIN IDEA
4 Find the Right KEYWORDS
5 Find SPECIFIC WORDS (Date, Name, Number)
6 Focus on the SYNONYMS AND ANTONYMS of Words
7 Find the Right CONNECTIVE WORDS in the Paragraphs
8 Highlight the SIGNPOST WORDS or the PIVOTAL WORDS to help you navigate the passage. For example, “In
addition/ and/also” etc. refer to information in continuation. “However/though/In contrast/but” etc. refer to a shift in
idea or opinion or findings. This guides you to the required part of the passage.
9 Do not consider sentences with the SAME MEANING/SIMILAR/REWRITING FOR MORE EXPLANATION/
STARTER SENTENCE in the Body paragraph
10 PREDICTION, Assume the ANSWER IN YOUR MIND so that you can pick the appropriate word.
PAGE.1
Skill Assessed:YourAbility to Identify the Idea of the Passage and the Type of Words to Fill in the Blanks
9. SUMMARY COMPLETION
IELTS READING TIPS & STRATEGIES, TRICKS
11 Focus on the SINGULAR/PLURAL in the sentence
12 Check your answer to ensure that the sentence is GRAMMATICALLY CORRECT
13 Focus on the NEGATIVE OR POSITIVE in the Sentence
14 Remember that you should not exceed the Word limit
15 Do not pick any word as your answer which is already presented in any other form or as a SYNONYM before or
after the blank. You have to identify missing information. DO NOT REPEAT SUPPLIED INFORMATION.
16 Find out whether the gap has to be filled with an ADVERB, ADJECTIVE, NOUN, or VERB.
17 Find PARAPHRASES in the text instead of words that seem DIRECTLY MATCH.
18 Check CORRECT SPELLING WORDS
19 Focus on the Words Before or After the blank
PAGE.2
10. DIAGRAM LABELLING
SkillAssessed: YourAbility to Relate the Information in the Text to the Labels in the Diagram
IELTS READING TIPS & STRATEGIES, TRICKS
1 Focus on the READ THE QUESTIONS.
2 The answers may NOT be in progressive ORDER
3 Highlight the (NOUN, ADJECTIVE, ADVERB, VERB) in the question
4 Find the Right KEYWORDS
5 Find SPECIFIC WORDS (Date, Name, Number)
6 Focus on the SYNONYMS AND ANTONYMS of Words
7 Check your answer to ensure that the sentence is GRAMMATICALLY CORRECT
8 Remember that you should not exceed the WORD LIMIT
11. MATCHING SENTENCE ENDINGS
SkillAssessed: YourAbility to Understand the Central Idea of the Given Sentence
IELTS READING TIPS & STRATEGIES, TRICKS
1 Use a process of ELIMINATION to select the CORRECT ANSWERS.
2 READ the sentence endings to get their general MEANING
3 Highlight the (NOUN, ADJECTIVE, ADVERB, and VERB)
4 Find the Right KEYWORDS
5 Find SPECIFIC WORDS (Date, Name, Number)
6 Focus on the SYNONYMS of Words
7 Find the Right CONNECTIVE /CONTINUATION WORDS in the Body Paragraphs
8 Find PARAPHRASES in the Text
9 The GRAMMATICAL STRUCTURE of the two halves of the sentence must MATCH.
10 Focus on changing TENSE GRAMMAR (Collocation)
11 READ the INCOMPLETE QUESTION statement, it expresses, cause, consequence, purpose, or contrast
12 Select the ENDING that conveys the SAME MEANING
12. MATCHING FEATURES
SkillAssessed: YourAbility to Determine Connections and Relationships Between Facts
IELTS READING TIPS & STRATEGIES, TRICKS
1 Use a process of ELIMINATION to select the CORRECT ANSWERS.
2 READ around the name to see if their findings or research come before or after their name
3 Highlight the (NOUN, ADJECTIVE, ADVERB, and VERB)
4 Find the Right KEYWORDS
5 Find SPECIFIC WORDS (Date, Name, Number)
6 Focus on the SYNONYMS AND ANTONYMS of Words
7 Find PARAPHRASES in the Text
13. SENTENCE COMPLETION
SkillAssessed: Your Ability to Locate Particular Information in the Given Passage and Your Skills to Paraphrase
IELTS READING TIPS & STRATEGIES, TRICKS
1 Remember that your chosen WORD should NOT exceed the word LIMIT
2 Highlight the (NOUN, ADJECTIVE, ADVERB, and VERB)
3 Find the Right KEYWORDS
4 Find SPECIFIC WORDS (Date, Name, Number)
5 Focus on the SYNONYMS of Words
6 Find PARAPHRASES in the Text
7 Find the Right CONNECTIVE /CONTINUATION WORDS in the Body Paragraphs
8 The GRAMMATICAL STRUCTURE of the two halves of the sentence must MATCH.
9 The questions will be in ORDER. Start to look for the next answer right below where you discovered the previous
answer
10 Check your answer to ensure that the sentence is GRAMMATICALLY CORRECT
14. SHORT-ANSWER QUESTIONS
SkillAssessed: YourAbility to Understand Information and Locate it in the Given Passage
IELTS READING TIPS & STRATEGIES, TRICKS
1 READ the questions and UNDERSTAND what is being asked.
2 READ the FIRST QUESTION. Then, scan the first and second paragraphs until you FIND THE ANSWER. Repeat
the process for EACH QUESTION
3 The answers are in progressive ORDER
4 Find the Right KEYWORDS
5 Find SPECIFIC WORDS (Date, Name, Number)
6 Focus on the SYNONYMS AND ANTONYMS of Words
7 Find PARAPHRASES in the Text
8 Focus on the WH QUESTIONS
9 your ANSWER doesn't exceed the WORD LIMIT
10 Focus on the NEGATIVE OR POSITIVE in the Sentence
11 Focus on the SINGULAR/PLURAL in the sentence
12 Focus on changing TENSE GRAMMAR
15. NOTE COMPLETION
Skill Assessed:YourAbility to Identify the Idea of the Passage and the Type of Words to Fill in the Blanks
IELTS READING TIPS & STRATEGIES, TRICKS
1 READ the questions and UNDERSTAND what is being asked.
2 PREDICT the CORRECT WORD that completes the note before looking at the passage
3 The answers are in progressive ORDER
4 Find the Right KEYWORDS
5 Find SPECIFIC WORDS (Date, Name, Number)
6 Focus on the SYNONYMS AND ANTONYMS of Words
7 Find PARAPHRASES in the Text
8 Check CORRECT SPELLING WORDS
9 your ANSWER doesn't exceed the WORD LIMIT
10 Focus on the NEGATIVE OR POSITIVE in the Sentence
11 Focus on the SINGULAR/PLURAL in the sentence
12 The GRAMMATICAL STRUCTURE of the two halves of the sentence must MATCH
16. FLOWCHART COMPLETION
Skill Assessed:YourAbility to Identify the Idea of the Passage and the Type of Words to Fill in the Blanks
IELTS READING TIPS & STRATEGIES, TRICKS
1 READ the questions and UNDERSTAND what is being asked.
2 PREDICT the CORRECT WORD that completes the note before looking at the passage
3 The answers are in progressive ORDER
4 Find the Right KEYWORDS
5 Find SPECIFIC WORDS (Date, Name, Number)
6 Focus on the SYNONYMS AND ANTONYMS of Words
7 Find PARAPHRASES in the Text
8 Check CORRECT SPELLING WORDS
9 your ANSWER doesn't exceed the WORD LIMIT
10 Focus on the NEGATIVE OR POSITIVE in the Sentence
11 Focus on the SINGULAR/PLURAL in the sentence
12 The GRAMMATICAL STRUCTURE of the two halves of the sentence must MATCH
17. TABLE COMPLETION
Skill Assessed:YourAbility to Identify the Idea of the Passage and the Type of Words to Fill in the Blanks
IELTS READING TIPS & STRATEGIES, TRICKS
1 READ the questions and UNDERSTAND what is being asked.
2 PREDICT the CORRECT WORD that completes the note before looking at the passage
3 The answers are in progressive ORDER
4 Find the Right KEYWORDS
5 Find SPECIFIC WORDS (Date, Name, Number)
6 Focus on the SYNONYMS AND ANTONYMS of Words
7 Find PARAPHRASES in the Text
8 Check CORRECT SPELLING WORDS
9 your ANSWER doesn't exceed the WORD LIMIT
10 Focus on the NEGATIVE OR POSITIVE in the Sentence
11 Focus on the SINGULAR/PLURAL in the sentence
12 The GRAMMATICAL STRUCTURE of the two halves of the sentence must MATCH
18. YES/NO and NOT GIVEN
SkillAssessed: YourAbility to Recognize the Information Conveyed in the Passage
IELTS READING TIPS & STRATEGIES, TRICKS
1 READ the questions and UNDERSTAND what is being asked.
2 PREDICT the CORRECT WORD that completes the note before looking at the passage
3 The answers are in progressive ORDER
4 Find the Right KEYWORDS
5 Find SPECIFIC WORDS (Date, Name, Number)
6 Focus on the SYNONYMS AND ANTONYMS of Words
7 Find PARAPHRASES in the Text
8 Check CORRECT SPELLING WORDS
9 your ANSWER doesn't exceed the WORD LIMIT
10 Focus on the NEGATIVE OR POSITIVE in the Sentence
11 Focus on the SINGULAR/PLURAL in the sentence
12 The GRAMMATICAL STRUCTURE of the two halves of the sentence must MATCH
13 Find the Right CONNECTIVE /CONTINUATION WORDS in the Body Paragraphs
19. TRUE/FALSE and NOT GIVEN
SkillAssessed: YourAbility to Recognize the Information Conveyed in the Passage
IELTS READING TIPS & STRATEGIES, TRICKS
1 READ the questions and UNDERSTAND what is being asked.
2 PREDICT the CORRECT WORD that completes the note before looking at the passage
3 The answers are in progressive ORDER
4 Find the Right KEYWORDS
5 Find SPECIFIC WORDS (Date, Name, Number)
6 Focus on the SYNONYMS AND ANTONYMS of Words
7 Find PARAPHRASES in the Text
8 Check CORRECT SPELLING WORDS
9 your ANSWER doesn't exceed the WORD LIMIT
10 Focus on the NEGATIVE OR POSITIVE in the Sentence
11 Focus on the SINGULAR/PLURAL in the sentence
12 The GRAMMATICAL STRUCTURE of the two halves of the sentence must MATCH
13 Find the Right CONNECTIVE /CONTINUATION WORDS in the Body Paragraphs