The only way to improve your reading score is to read more and learn more vocabulary. The IELTS Academic Reading Texts contain vocabulary sets that you can familiarise yourself with before the exam. The more you read these types of text, the more you will understand, and the faster you will be able to skim and scan for the answers to the questions.
There are certain key topics that come up in IELTS, and knowing the issues and vocabulary surrounding these topics will help you to
- read more quickly and predict correct answers
- listen more effectively and be able to correctly spell the words that you hear
- write more persuasively, with plenty of ideas to support your argument
- speak confidently on a wide range of topics
I’ve made a number of ‘Mind Maps‘ related to each topic – print them out (preferably in colour) and put them around the house, so you can quickly refer to them and keep reviewing the essential vocabulary. You can also read them on your phone, or make your own Vocabulary Cards to test yourself.
It’s also good to read regularly for pleasure and interest – you don’t have to understand everything, but the more you read, the more you will become familiar with common themes such as the environment.
I post daily on Facebook, with videos, podcasts and useful articles about topics that I recognise from the exam. Make sure that you keep a notebook, check definitions, check pronunciation and try to use the new words in full sentences.
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