IELTS Reading: Top 10 Tips

TRANSCRIPT

Hello. My name is Emma, and in today's video, we are going to talk about the reading module of the IELTS. I'm going to tell you some of my top IELTS reading tips. So let's get started.

During the reading module of the IELTS, there will be three passages that you read, and for each passage, there are a bunch of questions you have to answer. The first tip I have for you is: don't spend too much time reading the passages. What happens to a lot of students is they read word-for-word everything. They see a word they don't know, they keep trying to understand the meaning. You don't have to understand everything to understand the passage. If you don't know a word, that's fine.

The better thing to do than to slowly read is to use skills such as skimming which means you quickly read for the main idea or scanning, meaning you look for key words or you look for specific detail. A lot of students, what they do for the IELTS is they will actually read the questions first, and then they will read the passage. And that way, they... They know what they're looking for. You don't have to do this; it's one technique. Some students find this a lot easier, other students like to read the passage first and then answer the questions. I recommend trying both out. First do the reading, then the questions, then try to read the questions first and read the passage and see what you like better, what you're more comfortable doing.

So the key thing here is: don't read slowly. It's a timed test, you have three parts you have to get through, 40 questions; it's very important that you read quickly. You can start practicing reading quickly also. There are a number of resources out there where you can actually start practicing. And time yourself when you practice, make sure you're not going over time.

Number two, similar to number one, my tip is: don't spend too long on each question. Some of the questions are difficult-they're possible, you can do well on them-but some of them, you might be reading and you might think: "Oh, I don't know what the answer is," and you might look at it, and think, and try, and try, and try. Well, the problem is if you spend too much time on a question, there are 40 questions and the one hour limit for the test, it goes by very quickly. So you can spend too much time on each question. So what I recommend is read a question, try to figure out the answer. If you don't know it, you can put a star beside it and come back after. Don't spend too long on any question. You can also take a guess, move on, and come back later.

My third tip: spend less time on earlier questions. For the reading module, the... Like I said, there are three passages. The first passage is the easiest, then the second passage, and then the third question. If you spend all your time on the first passage, you're not going to have time to do the second and the third. And, like I said, the first one is easier. So a good idea is to spend less time on the first passage, maybe about 17 minutes, then the second passage maybe spend about 20 minutes, and the third passage maybe 23 minutes. You don't have to follow this exactly, but the main idea is spend less time on part one, more time on part three because part three is harder.

My fourth point is: make sure you have enough time to transfer your answers. They will have an answer sheet and you're supposed to write your answers on it. It's very important to leave yourself time to transfer your answers from your test paper to the answer sheet. A lot of students, they work through the booklet and then they realize there's no time to transfer their answers, so make sure you leave time for this.

[adhitomax]

I just want to say these videos are really helpful. My IELTS score was Listening 5.5 Reading 6.5 Writing 6 Speaking 6, and I have improved to 8/8/7.5/7.5. Thank you Emma you rock !

[ahmedalshimmari]

I don't understand, why people doing dislike, people who try to gives something useful if you don't like just stop watching.

[wastedjepoy]

I would like to thank the owner of this Channel.. I've watch all your videos and use it as my means for my review. I have taken my IELTS exam last July 25, 2015 and just got my results today. I got a total Band score of 7.5. (L8, R6.5, S7, W7.5). Thanks again and hope you continue making all this informative videos...

[congosrevolution]

I have never seen a life saver like you before . Remain blessed more than enough 🙏🏽

[itsmeayana]

The more i am practicing .. the more i am getting the worse score

[williamtran]

Teacher, I love you and this video. You helped me so much in my reading tasks. Now I am so confident to deal with readings tasks. Before watched this video, I had hated reading tasks so much as the difficulties of them. But now, I can easily do the tasks well due to your suggestions. Eventually, I want to say that I love you <3

[remistaom]

Im sitting in the car waiting for the tests! Just finished speaking and was good... fingers crossed!

[ikafridi]

I have studied English throughout my Schooling and University, however getting a good score in IELTS is all about understanding the exam technique which can be done only through the practice and comprehension. If you are a native English speaker or already good at English, is definitely going to be helpful but do not be overconfident that it will get you a higher band unless you practice ;-)

[jamessupplant]

@3:23, Although each passage has its own difficulty, the marks you get will remain same regardless of question types. For those who think last passage is important and loose marks spending less time with first two passages, each passage has either about 13 or 14 questions. Do those passage thoroughly that you find are easy to solve.

[douglasdamasceno]

the teacher that i love much! emma of the my heart.

[scottsmith]

As a native speaker, I have to say the unfortunate thing about IELTS is the number of ambiguous questions there are, which are open to interpretation. The test format is, sadly, flawed. Having gone through some of the practice tests, it seems to me that some of questions have been written by someone who's native language is something other than English, which leads to ambiguity and is unfair. This is probably one of the reasons native students do struggle a little. For foreigners I can't imagine how difficult it must be. Still, at least you can all pay for the privilege of a re-test, at $350 a go, and make your contribution to the IELTS christmas party!

[AliHasan-ipfj]

i have been watching these videos uploaded by Madam Emma before taking the IELTS and today I got the result which is 6.5, thank you very much and what you do leaves the world better than you found it.

[santhoshjohn]

If you don't know a word, it's okay.. but if you don't understand anything it's double okay

[jonasakula]

Hi, Emma,
Just got my results:
Overall Band:7.5
Listening 7.5
Writing 6.5
Speaking 8
Thank you, Emma - I did not use any other material courses - just selected youtube videos and got my desired band.

[kaaslam]

Hello Emma, I would like to thank you for your very informative videos for IELTS preparation. I used your tips for all tasks and today (7th June) AlhamdulALLAH (thanks GOD), I got my desired score band. I got R = 6.5, L = 7.0, W = 7.0, S = 7.5. Keep up the good work.

[vijaygotpagar]

Emma thankyou very much ur videos have helped got 7 band score. thankx

[lebronjamesuit]

1. Read question first or read passage ( let's try)
2. Don't spend much time on ONE question
3. Spend more time on passage 3, less time on passage 1, 2
4. Make sure have enough time to answers
5( fifth) Three words or less
6. Speeling - pratice speeling alot
7. Grammar - after write, HAVE TO CHECK again grammar
8. Always read the instructions properly

[_ab]

Tomorrow is my test day! And yes, smelling is important too…! Especially if your test place situated in China… thank Emma!

[anwar]

Thank you so much for all the vids about ielts exams, from speaking to writing and now reading. Keep the good work and may God bless you. 🙏❤️

[Motawfiq]

Hi Emma, I watched your videos before I take the test. And I want to thank you you were of a great help. I got 7 actually and I needed 6.5. Thank you