In this IELTS Reading Overview, we will be getting ourselves familiar with the test, reading section. Particularly, we will discuss about the test’s:
- Order & Structure
- Time
- Questions
- And strategies
Video IELTS Reading Overview
The video is made in Vietnamese but there is rather good illustration. Try to watch it together with this information below.
IELTS Reading Overview
Order and Structure
In the IELTS test, reading is the skill that you have to take after the Listening Section. Whilst the listening accounts for only approximately 40 minutes, the Reading is up to 60 minutes. However, there are only 40 questions, just as many as the listening’s.
First to know, these 40 questions are divided into three parts. And almost usually, the level of difficulty is increasing as you progress further in the test. That said, it does not necessarily mean the last part (part 3) is the hardest. Thus, you may want to find the topics you are familiar with and have it done first. Then continue the others.
In each part, there are 13 questions (apart from the last one, 14 questions). And among these 13 questions, there are roughly two to three types of questions.
Bear mind mind that there is no extra time (like the listening section) for you to transfer the answer you have into the reading answer sheet. So try to read the text, do the questions, and write the answers at once.
Questions
There are many questions which may appear in the IELTS Reading. Nonetheless, the following are the frequent:
- Sentence Completion
- Short-answered Question
- Multiple Choice
- Diagram
- Matching Endings
- Summary
- True – False – Not Given
- Yes – No – Not Given
- Matching Headings
- Locating Information
- Classification
Each of these will be discussed in other posts. In this post, however, I just name some types of questions for you to google if necessary.
IELTS Reading Strategies
So, what do you need in order to do well in the IELTS Reading test? In a nutshell, you need three particular skill sets:
- Scanning: the ability to find where the information is.
- Skimming: the ability to grab the main idea of a paragraph.
- Vocabulary: the first and foremost thing to learn.
Again, to know in comprehensively, we will have to wait for other posts. But for now, I think you know what you have to be up against!
Finally, thanks for reading IELTS Reading Overview! If you are still interested in the test, try:
- IELTS Recent Actual Test – To download and try the real ielts test.
- Or IELTS Writing Task 1 Process – To know how to do the IELTS Writing Report.
