ACADEMIC READING KAREN ZAYAS

JESSICA LEÓN

CAROLINA MOLANO

KEVIN IDROBO

• Reading is the second part of the IELTS test, it takes 60 minutes. It consists of three or sometimes four Reading passages, each one is more difficult than the other, and it has a total of 40 questions to answer.

• The Academic and General Training Reading Test are graded to the same level.

• The texts in the Academic Reading Test are more challenging overall tan those in the General Training Test.

INFORMATION FOR CANDIDATES

• There are 40 questions on test.• Each questions carries one mark.• There are 3 or 4 parts in the academic Reading • Texts are authentic and are taken from books, journals, magazines

and newspaper.

READING TEST HINTS

• Write your answers on the answer sheet• Do not read the reading passage first • Read the test in a logical order• Consider the passage layout• Scan or skim the reading passage • Read the topic sentences firts• Check where to start looking for an answer • Read around the keywords/ phrases

Read the Glossary

Check difficult vocbulary

Rearch for Number first

Search for numbers first

Remember the maximum word requirements

Check figures and diagrams before answering

Matching Task

TYPE 1

TYPE 2List a longer list of items to choose from than the number of the matches to make.

List of items to choose from equal in number to the matches to make.

More difficult

Two or Three similar items for each question

Matching Task Methodfor Types 1 and 2

- Read the instructions carefully.

STEP

1

STEP

2

Complete the task in the order in which the answers will be given in the passage.

Method:

-Random order. (x)- Systematic approach.(best)

HOWEVER THE FASTEST

Match the items in the order in which the answers to the questions will appear in the passage.

Step3:

Step 4:

Cross off the answer of the example

Proceed to the first place in the passage and seek the correct match from the list of items

Give yourself a number of choices from the list of possible matches

Matching Task Method - Type one only

Step 5:

Step 6:

Leave the most difficult match the last.

Chek your answers carefully because if you make a mistake with one match in a matching task type 1, you will cause an error with another match.

Other aspects to keep in mind.

• With both matching task type: When find a single paragraph and you have to match a heading you must be sure of the main topic before you make your match.

• In the case of heading with a particular part of the passage you must be sure that every paragraph are related with the topic.

Gapfilling Task

2 Types:

TYPE 1

You will be given a list of word or phrases to fill the gaps.

TYPE 2

Fill the gaps with words or phrases from the reading passage

Generally the questions are a summary of part or the whole reading passage.

Method.

Step 1: Read the instructions to know if the questions are a summary or part of the whole of the reading passage.

Step 2: Cross off the answer to the example of the list. ( If you don’t have to use it twice).

Step 3: Scan or skim the graphfill text quickly.

Step 4: Work out the parts of speech for each word in the given list.

• If the item is a phrase determine it: ( noun, adjetival, adverbial etc.)• If a word can function as two parts of the speech ( as a noun and a verb) write

down both.

Step 5: Turn the first gap in the task and try to work out the full meaning of the sentence within.

Step 6: Work out the part of the speech for the gap. (Examine the words before and after the gaps)

Step 7: Search only through the words in the list that can function as the same part of the speech as the missing gap word.• Look for all the possible answers.• Make not final choices just yet.

Step 8: Summary or part of the passage. To help you choose possible answers from the gap.

Step 9: Complete steps 5 to 8 for each gap in the task.

Step 10: Choose the final answer. ( cross off the incorrect answers)

Find Short sentences within Paragraphs.

• We need to learn how to find short possible questions during the reading because most of the time the will appear on the reading test. Is important to keep in mind that sometimes the question won't be organized to gives clues about the answer, for this reason is important to remain the key words from the test and the keywords from the question.

Reading Gapfill method for type 2

Step 1: Read Instructions.

Step 2: Example for information about the topic.

Step 3: Scan or skim the grapfill.

Step 4: Locate the answers to the example.

step 5: “Place”

Step 6: Turn to the 1st gap and try to work out the full meaning of the sentence.(before - after)

Step 7: Work out the part of the speech for the gap. (Examine the words before and after the gaps)

Step 8: Examine and locate keywords, phrases…

Step 9: Choose the word that best suits the gap .

Charts and Tables in question Task.

For this is necessary to read carefully the words that appears after and before the key word or phrase, why?, because the answer is always going to be on the same paragraph that the clue word from the question appears.