- Skim First, Read Later
Trick: Quickly skim the passage in 2-3 minutes to get the overall idea.
Example: If a passage is about “global warming,” you’ll spot words like “climate,” “carbon,” and “temperature” repeated.
2. Underline Keywords in Questions
Trick: Mark keywords in each question to match them with the passage.
Example: For the question “According to the text, what is the main reason for bee population decline?”, underline “main reason” and “bee population decline.”
3. Identify the Use of Synonyms
Trick: Don’t expect exact word matches. IELTS applies more synonyms.
Example: The question says “impact,” but the passage might use “effect” or “consequence.”
4. Scan for Specifics
Trick: For dates, names, or numbers, scan vertically — don’t read everything.
Example: If asked “When was the treaty signed?”, scan for 4-digit numbers like “1997.”
5. Master the True/False/Not Given Trap
Trick: If the info contradicts the passage → False, if it matches → True, if it’s not mentioned → Not Given.
Example: Passage: “Most turtles avoid cold climates.”
Statement: “All turtles live in warm areas.” → False (Not most = all)
6. Don’t Overthink “Not Given”
Trick: If you’re stuck, it’s probably “Not Given.”
Example: Question: “The scientist conducted the experiment in summer.” If the passage says “The experiment was done” but gives no time, the answer is Not Given.
7. Learn Passage Structure
Trick: The first sentence of each paragraph often gives the main idea.
Example: “Urbanization has changed the way animals live.” → Expect examples of how animals adapt in cities.
8. Watch for Contrasting Words
Trick: Words like however, but, although signal a change in idea — useful for inference.
Example: “Elephants are large. However, they can move silently.” → Key info often lies after however.
9. Hints in Titles and Subheadings
Trick: They give clues about the topic and purpose.
Example: Heading: “Benefits of Solar Energy” → Expect positive points.
10. Predict Answers Before Looking
Trick: Read the question and guess what the answer might look like.
Example: “What causes soil erosion?” → You might expect causes like “deforestation,” “farming,” etc.
11. Understand Paraphrasing
Trick: Learn how IELTS rewards ideas.
Example: “Children are vulnerable to pollution.”
Question: “Young people are more affected by bad air quality.” → This is a match.
12. Don’t Read the Whole Passage
Trick: Reading everything wastes time. Skim for structure and scan for answers.
Example: If you’re asked about Paragraph D, jump straight there.
13. Apply Elimination Technique
Trick: For multiple-choice, eliminate clearly wrong answers first.
Example: If 3 options say “increase,” “decrease,” and “stay the same,” but the passage says “plummeted,” cut “increase” and “stay the same.”
14. Know Common Question Types
- Matching headings
- True/False/Not Given
- Sentence completion
- Multiple choice
Practice each with awareness of their quirks.
15. Look Around the Answer
Trick: Answers are rarely at the very beginning or very end of a sentence.
Example: Question: “Who discovered X?” → Read one sentence before and after the mention of “X.”
16. Ignore Unknown Words (Sometimes)
Trick: If one hard word confuses you, don’t panic. Use surrounding clues.
Example: “The lichen thrived in an arid environment.”
Even if you don’t know lichen, you can still understand that it grows in dry places.
17. Don’t Transfer Mistakes
Trick: Be extra careful with spelling and grammar in your answer sheet.
Example: If the passage says “behaviour” (British spelling), don’t write “behavior” (American).
18. Practice Reading Under Time Pressure
Trick: Simulate the 60-minute limit regularly.
Tip: 3 passages, 40 questions — spend no more than 20 minutes per passage.
19. Ensure Plural/Singular Forms
Trick: If a blank requires a plural and you write singular — it’s wrong.
Example: “The museum displayed several __________.” → “sculptures” not “sculpture”
20. Keep Calm – It’s Not Linear
Trick: You can answer easier questions first. Don’t get stuck. Time management is crucial.
Example: If matching headings is hard, then try sentence completions first.
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