IELTS - ACADEMIC READING

Maryuris CotesKaren NiñoEliana Cantillo

GENERAL DESCRIPTIONTIMING: 60 Minutes

No. OF QUESTIONS: 40

TASK TYPES: multiple choice, identifying information, identifying writer’s views/claims, matching information, matching headings, matching features, matching sentence endings, sentence completion, summary completion, note completion, table completion, flow-chart completion, diagram label completion, short-answer questions.

SCORE: 9 (39-40) 8.5 (38-37) 8 (36-35) 7.5 (34-33) 7 (32-30) 6.5 (29-27) 6 (26-23)

TIPS AND TRICKS

-SCANNING-SKIMMING-CHECK SPELLING-WORD LIMIT

TYPES OF QUESTIONS1. Short answers

2. Sentence completion

3. Summary completion

4. Multiple choice

5. Table completion

1. Labelling flowcharts/ processes2. Matching 3. Paragraph selection4. True, false, not given5. Yes, no, not given6. Headings7. Diagrams

PARAGRAPH SELECTION

HOW TO APPROACH IT? Read the instructions carefully.Read the questions first. Think about

synonyms and how you could paraphrase the statements. This will help you identify the answer. Saying each statement in your own words can help do this.Quickly skim the reading text to try to understand the general meaning of the text.Read the question statements again and predict which paragraph contains the answer.Scan the text paragraphs you think might contain the answer for synonyms. If you find a possible answer underline it.Check back with the question statement and mark answer if correct. If not, move on to other paragraphs.

TABLE COMPLETION

Skills and Tips• Locating specific information in the passage

• Choosing appropriate words

• Understanding details

• Read the column headings in the table

• Identify the type of word needed for each part of the table

• Scan the passage for information

• Answers are usually in a specific part of the table

• Check how many words you can use for the answer

DIAGRAMS

Skills and TipsLocating information in the passage

Relating information to the diagram

Choosing appropriate words

Identify the type of word needed for the answer

Find the information in the passage

The information is usually located in one or two specifics paragraphs

Check how many words you can use for the answer

Answers don’t always come in order

LABELLING FLOWCHARTS/PROCESSES

Skills and TipsLocating specific information in the passage

Choosing appropriate words

Understanding details and order of information

Identify the type of word needed for each part of the flow chart

Scan the passage for information

Answers do not always come in order

Use the direction of the arrows and boxes to follow the order of the information in the chart