IELTS – 3 Reading Strategies

Is the IELTS Reading section very challenging for you? Can't finish all the readings and questions before the time is up? In this lesson, you will learn three approaches to the IELTS Reading section and their pros and cons. The goal of this lesson is to help you finish the test on time without compromising your understanding of the readings. Learn how to read less while answering more questions correctly. After watching, make sure to do the quiz to test your understanding. Good luck on your test!

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TRANSCRIPT

So, let's begin. Today, I'm going to look at the IELTS reading section. I'm going to look at three different approaches to tackling the IELTS reading section. Students always ask me: "What should I do with the reading? How do I do it? How can I finish on time? How can I answer more questions?" Right? So I'm going to give you three approaches, three different ways to try to do the IELTS. Okay? We're going to look at three different ways. They're completely different from each other.

The most important thing I want to tell you before we start: you have to know what works for you. Okay? One of these approaches will work for you; the others may not. Practice all three. If you're comfortable with one and it seems to work for you, and your score seems to be getting better, stick with that one and practice that one. Don't try to do all three each time. Figure out which one works, and just practice that one the most. Okay?

The most obvious one and the first one we're going to talk about: read the entire passage, and then tackle the questions. Now, a few things to say, good and bad, about this approach. So, you have 20 minutes, let's say, that you're going to start from the first passage, you're going to do about 17 minutes; the second passage, you're going to spend 20 minutes; the last passage, you're going to spend 23, 24, 25 minutes. So, you have to do this very fast.

So: can you read the entire passage and do the questions in that timeframe? Okay? That's the question you must ask yourself. Are you a fast reader? Can you comprehend everything you're reading? How is your vocabulary? Things like this. Some people, they must read everything, from beginning to end, and then go to the questions. But they can also keep; they can retain the information they've read, so when they go to the questions, they know where to go back and look for the answers.

Now, the good part about this is that you have all the information in your head once you've read the entire passage. The bad part is that you're going to be reading the passage twice. Okay? Or not the whole passage, but you're going to read big chunks of the passage twice. You'll have read it the first time, you'll go to the questions, and then you'll be reading again to find the answers, because you're looking for specific words now. When you get to the questions, sometimes it's only one word difference from what you read in the passage.

So, do I recommend this? Yes and no. If you're a fast reader and you can comprehend, then yes, do that. If you're not a fast reader, then no, don't do this. You'll be wasting too much time and reading more than you need to.

What I'm going to do with these two approaches is show you how to read less. So you don't need to read the entire passage; you just need to read the areas that contain the answers to the questions.

So, the second approach: go straight to the questions. You look at the question. First of all, understand the type of the question. Is it a multiple choice? Is it a fill-in-the-blank, like a summary? Are you looking for like headings for each paragraph? Are you looking for the title? Etc. Figure out what you're looking for, read the question carefully, pick out the keywords in the question or the key idea in the question, and then scan the passage. Don't read the passage. Just quickly look everywhere for where that information ought to be.

[ximenr]

I went from 5.5 to 7.5 in a week and a half. I give you the tips that helped me: - Practice the readings that you find on YouTube and have the same format as the IELTS. - Take the time while you solve them. - Don't waste time reading the entire reading and answering later. Look first at question 1 and find the answer in the text, then at question 2, and so on. Most of the questions are in order with the paragraphs, that will give you an idea where the answer is. - Do not waste more than 1 minute and a half in each question, if you do not find the answer, go to the next one because it is very likely that after solving the next question, you will find where the answer to the previous question is located. - The main idea of ​​the paragraph is usually in the first or last sentence. - If you don't know an answer and you don't have time, use chance, there are no points against. - Super important: take the time while you solve various readings. In my case I had to do several exercises to learn to manage my timing and nerves. - During the exam you will be nervous, so it is important that you practice several readings to get used to solving the exam with techniques. In my personal experience I discovered that it was not useful for me to read everything and then answer the questions because I was so nervous that I did not remember what I had read. I tried different ways to solve the readings until I discovered that the third tip I mentioned works best for me.

[catalin-rizea]

Thank you, Adam! Your recommended method, the 3rd one, helped me a lot! I've scored 9 in IELTS reading task.

[arbazmuzaffer]

You are a gem, Adam. I got 9 in Reading and 8.5 in Listening after watching your videos.
I came here to revisee because I am appearing again for the IELTS next week to improve my speaking and writing scores. Thank you for all the help.

[renetak.]

I barely had a few days to prepare for my IELTS exam and the reading section did seem like a task. This channel was such a lifesaver during my time of preparation as I didn't opt for any classes. Today I received my result. Got an overall score of 8 out of 9. With 8.5 in reading. I used the 3rd strategy :) Thank you so much EngVid!!!!

[eliazarelisha]

I adopted the first strategy and it worked very well for me. I got 7.0 overall in my IELTS, thanks to this video

[pineappleonpizzaisgood.]

Yesterday was the day i took my first ielts mock test. Watched this video only 2 hours prior to my test, without even practicing, i scored 7.0 on my reading section. The third strategy helped me score this much on my first try. I couldn’t be more thankful❤

[nunchakun]

Thank you Adam for all your precious tips and encouragement. Just got my Ielts result yesterday with an overall band score of 8.0 including a 9.0 for Reading. Pls keep on with your good works. Cheerio

[asianchristianchurchnewcastle]

you have a generous heart. you doing good work without any greed or moeny. God bless you for this. it is really helpfull for ielts students.

[moradbenkoura]

Thank you Adam for all videoes.i always watch engvid.
I got 5 overall last month because it was the first time to me to do then IELTS 
now i planing to get 7 .
good luck.

[dariafilatova]

Hello Adam! I have just tried the third strategy... And I have achieved FANTASTIC results. It was the first time me ending tasks for all 3 passages in time, earlier I was always out of the time limit.Thank you!

[chenkatie]

Hi, Adam,
I just wanna let you know I do really like your way of teaching, patient, humble, friendly. thank you so much.

[hubertburakiewicz]

Very interesting tips! I would like to propose another strategy which is a mix of the first two mentioned. What do you think about the following way of working: 1. reading the 1st paragraph and look at the questions. Answer all the questions that you are able to address based on 1st paragraph. Then go the second paragraph and proceed in the same way. Thanks to this approach you kill 2 birds with a stone - you know the content very well and can focus on details and you save time by answering questions immediately after reading some portion of text. Does it make sense?

[ratanjyoti]

I saw, you are skillful teacher and definitely, you could make many excellent talented students. With humble Gratitude to my English teacher!

[jinjidezaixiong]

Your approach 3 inspired me a lot, Thanks.
Only the step - "scan for support" took quite a lot time, so I make some change.
My approach variation is:
(1) read the article name;
(2) read the first (if no useful information got then read second sentence) and last sentences to know the topic;
(3) scan the remaining part of the paragraph to mark the name of person or place;
Those 3 steps took me around 3~6 minutes,
(4) read questions, the follow what you teach in this video.
This approach is really suitable for me.
Thanks!

[itsmeayana]

The most important TIP is ... Don’t read the comments while watchin’ the video

[elmatador]

I honestly think the best way here, is somewhere between Approach 1, and Approach 3. Let me explain further; in order to spend a proper time on reading and completely comprehending the passage, you should read as many as you could, the more the better, but at the same time, you should save some memory and time by UNDERLYING the important words in the text.
That way, you would have read the entire scripture, and you would have answered almost all the questions in one read, so when you get to the questions you would be ready to answer by one look.
Although, I gotta say, the first approach is a suicide mission if you don't highlight the important keywords!
And, the third approach could surprisingly make you lost along the way, espcially because you wouldn't have much time to re-read more the once. Good luck for all the IELTS students.

[englishwithmuzammal]

Speed Reading with the third method works if practised well. I got overall band 9. Reading 9, Listening 9, writing 8, speaking 8.5.

[vegvisir]

Reading is always the pain of the ass for me for I am a slow reader. I had been to some cram school for english 5 years ago, and after although I live abroad I still did not practice much about my english. I got 5.5 this year for not getting any preparation. I watched this video before I took another IELTS in one month again, and I got 6 on reading this time! It is very helpful!!

[BudsfMay]

I just tested myself with the third approach, done the whole 12 Qs in 9 Thank you Adam :)

[Akramito]

I feel very calm and optimistic when I see you Mr.Adam . I kindly ask you to wish me luck ... my IELTS exam is tomorrow and I've learned a lot from you, thanks .