All about Reading of IELTS exam

The IELTS exam consists of 4 modules: Listening, Reading, writing, and Speaking. Everyone knows that IELTS Reading is the most crucial part of the IELTS exam, and most of all, it’s an understanding and observation-based test. In IELTS Reading, one should have skills like Reading, skimming, scanning to grasp quickly and write answers precisely. Time management is the key feature in IELTS Reading.

There are two types of IELTS exams, i.e., IELTS academic and IELTS general training.

Let’s look at the reading sections of both IELTS academic and IELTS general training.

IELTS Academic Reading:-

The IELTS Reading tests one’s ability to understand by reading a particular piece of information. It tests one’s ability to grasp the opinion, ideas and point of view of the author and what message the author is implying through the passage. The IELTS reading comprises 40 questions. The duration of this test is 60 minutes. The IELTS reading consists of 3 sections and three passages which consist of an equal number of questions in each. IELTS reading involves 11 types of questions:

• MCQ,
• Identifying information,
• Identifying writer’s views,
• Matching information,
• Sentence endings,
• Sentence completion
• Matching headings,
• Flowchart
• Diagram label matching completion

IELTS General Reading

This test generally consists of 3 sections and five forms of paragraphs and has 60 minutes. The first two may be sub-divided into two parts. These are usually in a newspaper advertisement, brochure or perhaps information about a restaurant or a product. The questions in first two sections are comparatively easier. 

However, the third section is quite similar to an academic reading passage. Due to this, a general training reading is often considered easier than an academic reading, though it is not always the case.

The types of questions asked are similar to that of IELTS academic reading.

Difference in Academic and General Training Reading

1.) The IELTS academic reading test consists of 3 sections and three paragraphs having an equal number of questions in each, whereas in the general training reading, there are three sections and five paragraphs. The first two may be divided into two parts.

2.) In IELTS academic reading, a test taker can expect narrative, descriptive or argumentative. In contrast, in IELTS general training, there are newspaper advertisements, a part of a brochure or information about a restaurant or a product.

Approaches for Reading:-

A.)Reading Passage:- If one has a good speed in Reading, then the whole passage can be read and understood in no matter of time, and questions will be solved efficiently. Remember, here; the purpose is not to increase knowledge but to attempt all the questions before the time ends.

B.) Keyword Approach:-This approach can be used while skimming through the whole passage. In this approach, the main focus is on searching the keywords relevant to the questions. By using this approach, the chances of finding answers may be high.

IELTS Reading (Academic) marking schemes

For the academic reading test, which contains 40 questions, the IELTS academic reading band scores can be calculated using this table.

IELTS Reading (General) marking schemes

For the general reading test, which contains 40 questions, the IELTS general reading band scores can be calculated using this stable.

So, it was all about reading. By applying the approaches and all of the English language knowledge that one has gained in their entire lifetime, one could ace the IELTS Reading Test. Keeping in mind that the IELTS exam checks one’s understanding and observation skills, one must practice multiple times to have a good command over Reading and improve the IELTS reading band score and then perceiving what the author wants to convey. That can be done efficiently by IELTS academic reading practice test and IELTS general reading practice test as much as one can.