IELTS preparation made easier
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Improving your IELTS Reading score takes time and effort.
Here are some tips that can help make the IELTS Reading texts a little easier.
IELTS texts follow a predictable structure (e.g. chronological – in order of time, or theoretical – based on research and evidence). Once you recognise the structure, you will know where to find the answers more quickly.
It’s important to have a good background knowledge and vocabulary to help you with the typical topics that come up in the Reading Test.
IELTS texts relate to similar subjects, so you need to build up your vocabulary and knowledge to help you understand concepts more easily.
‘Skimming and scanning’ will NOT help you if you don’t understand the words – as soon as your vocabulary improves, you will understand more, and you will read faster.
If you don’t have much time to read, make sure you’re reading the right stuff.
Start with the most recent Cambridge Practice Test book (Book 17), and work backwords until you get to Book 9 (the earlier books are not as useful).
Doing this will help you get used to the text lengths, topics and question types.
IELTS questions follow a similar format. Once you know how the questions work, you will identify the correct answer more confidently.
For example, IELTS questions always go in the same order as the answers are found in the text (apart from matching headings/statements with paragraphs).
This means that you don’t need to jump around the whole text to find the answer.
If you are aware of some of the topics that you will read about, such as the environment, this will save you so much time in the exam.
Get more familiar with IELTS Reading topics on my Resources page.
Good time-management is also essential.
You don’t need to get all the questions right to get a high score, so train yourself to
Find more advice on How to manage your time in the IELTS Reading Test.
Practice tests are learning tools. Go back over the answers and check any that you got wrong. Try to understand why you chose the wrong answer.
Use a dictionary and make notes – this will help develop the vocabulary you need to improve your reading skills.
On my website there are many practice examples with answers and explanations and Podcast links in my 10-minute lessons. Do one a day leading up to your exam.
If you have extra preparation time (if you’ve already analysed all of the Cambridge Practice Tests and are aiming above Band 7), use it to read more widely.
Here is my complete guide to IELTS Reading Resources.
My IELTS Reading Skills Course will help you understand how the reading test works and how to answer a variety of question types within 60 minutes.
To get a good IELTS Reading score you need to
3 texts of increasing difficulty.
40 questions to answer in 60 minutes.
20 minutes per text.
Many students find the General Training IELTS Reading test slightly easier because the texts are shorter and more familiar.
However, this does not mean that they are easy, and you will still need to be familiar with a range of question types and reading strategies to get the best score.
The format is very similar
Part 1: 2 texts about everyday life like Passports and Airports
Part 2: 2 texts about work life like Dress Codes and Negotiating a Pay Rise
Part 3: a factual article like The Iron Bridge
Do you need motivation, high-quality materials, a roadmap, feedback, guidance and an IELTS specialist teacher?
Get instant access to all courses, challenges, boot camps, live classes, interactive and engaging classes, 1:1 support, and a friendly tight-knit community of like-minded learners to get you to Band 7+.