Proven Strategies for IELTS Reading: Question Types
In this post, I will provide you with valuable tips on how to approach different question types in IELTS Reading.
To start, it’s essential to familiarize yourself with the different question types. Examples of these types can be found in Cambridge IELTS books. Once you are aware of the various question types, you can apply the following techniques to help you answer them:
True, False, Not Given Questions
True, False, Not Given questions are a common type of question in the IELTS Reading test. These questions can be tricky, but with the right approach, you can improve your chances of answering them correctly.
Here are some steps to follow when answering True, False, Not Given questions:
1. Read Two Statements at a Time
To begin, read two statements at a time. This helps you to know where to stop looking for the answer because the questions are in the same order as the information in the text.
2. Look for Keywords
After reading the statements, look for keywords in each statement that will help you scan the passage more efficiently. These can be specific words or phrases that are relevant to the question.
3. Scan for Keywords
Next, go to the passage and scan for the keywords and keyword synonyms in a zigzag from right to left. This technique can help you to locate the relevant information more quickly.
4. Identify Comparisons or Qualifying Expressions
After underlining the keywords in the passage, read the statement one more time carefully and identify comparisons or qualifying expressions such as every, all, some, most, sometimes, a few, always, often, and so on, if any.
5. Read the Sentence from the Beginning
Once you have identified the keywords and qualifying expressions, go back to the sentence including the keywords and read the sentence from the very beginning. This will help you to understand the context of the information and to identify whether the statement is true, false or not given.
6. Make Your Decision
Finally, make your decision based on the information you have gathered. Remember to consider the context and qualifying expressions when making your decision.
Sentence Completion Questions
Sentence Completion questions are a type of question in the IELTS Reading test that requires you to complete a sentence with the appropriate word or words. These questions can be challenging, but with the right approach, you can improve your chances of answering them correctly.
Here are some steps to follow when answering Sentence Completion questions:
1. Identify the Type of Word Needed for Each Gap
To begin, identify the type of word needed for each gap. This can be a noun, verb, adjective, and so on. This will help you to focus your search for the correct answer.
2. Look for Keywords in Each Statement
After identifying the type of word needed for each gap, look for keywords in each statement. These can be specific words or phrases that are relevant to the question.
3. Scan for Keywords
Next, go to the passage and scan in a zigzag from right to left for the keywords you have identified in each statement. This technique can help you to locate the relevant information more quickly.
4. Underline the Keywords
After locating the keywords in the passage, underline them to help you remember the important details.
5. Read the Statement Again Carefully
Once you have identified the keywords and underlined them, read the statement one more time carefully. This will help you to understand the context of the information and to identify the appropriate word for the gap.
6. Read the Sentence from the Beginning
Go back to the sentence including the keywords and read the sentence from the very beginning in order to choose the right word. It’s important to remember that the sentence must be grammatically correct, which can help you in choosing the right word for the gap.
7. Keep Within the Word Limit
Finally, remember to keep within the word limit for each gap. This will help you to avoid adding unnecessary words that can affect the accuracy of your answer.
Matching Sentence Endings
Matching Sentence Endings questions are a type of question in the IELTS Reading test that require you to match sentence beginnings with sentence endings. These questions can be tricky, but with the right approach, you can increase your chances of answering them correctly.
Here are some steps to follow when answering Matching Sentence Endings questions:
1. Look at the Beginnings and Underline Keywords
To start, look at the sentence beginnings and underline any keywords that may be helpful in finding the right endings. This will help you to focus your search for the correct answer.
2. Skim the Endings to Get the Main Ideas
Next, skim the sentence endings to get the main ideas. This will give you an idea of the content of each ending and help you to understand how they relate to the sentence beginnings.
3. Look for Relationships
When reading the sentence endings, look for relationships between the sentences, such as examples or cause and effect. This will help you to match the sentences more accurately.
4. Predict the Answers
Based on the relationships you have identified, predict the answers by deciding what is likely to go together. Eliminate the endings that cannot match with the sentence beginnings. For example, if a sentence beginning refers to something that cannot be related to a specific ending, eliminate that ending as a possibility.
5. Finalize Your Answers
Once you have narrowed down the possibilities, use the keywords to find the right part of the text and finalize your answers. Make sure to read the entire sentence in the text to ensure that it matches with the sentence beginning.
6. Pay Attention to Exceptions
It’s important to pay attention to exceptions. For example, in question 19, the sentence cannot be matched with option B because routes cannot travel. Make sure to read the sentence carefully and consider any exceptions or specific information that may affect the match.
Diagram and Flowchart Completion Questions
Diagram and Flowchart Completion Questions are a type of question in the IELTS Reading test that require you to label a diagram or flowchart by completing gaps with the appropriate words. Here are some steps to follow when answering Diagram and Flowchart Completion Questions:
1. Identify the Type of Word
To begin, identify the type of word that is needed for each answer, such as a noun, verb, or adjective. This will help you to focus on the right type of word when completing the gaps.
2. Underline Keywords
Next, underline any keywords in the diagram or flowchart that may be helpful in finding the right words to complete the gaps. This will help you to focus your search for the correct answers.
3. Scan the Text
Scan the text to identify which section describes the information in the diagram or flowchart. The title of the diagram or flowchart can help you find the section including the information more easily.
4. Read the Section Carefully and Complete the Gaps
Read the section carefully and complete the gaps with the appropriate words. It’s important to pay attention to the context and ensure that the words you choose fit grammatically and semantically.
5. Remember the Sequence DOES NOT Always Follow the Same Order
Remember that the sequence doesn’t always follow the same order as the numbers on the diagram or flowchart. It’s important to read the text carefully to ensure that you are completing the gaps in the correct order.
Matching Headings Question
Matching Headings Questions can be challenging as the answers are not in order, and there are usually more headings than questions. To effectively answer these questions, it is important to understand the main idea of each paragraph.
Here are some steps to follow when answering Matching Headings Questions:
1. Skim the headings to get a general idea of the topics covered in the passage.
2. Identify and underline the organizing words (such as “effects,” “problems,” “causes,” etc.) and keywords in the headings.
3. Skim read the paragraphs to check your predictions. Read the first sentence of each paragraph carefully and then quickly scan the rest of the text to identify any keywords or organizing words. Repeat this step for all the paragraphs and sections in the passage.
4. Match the headings to the appropriate paragraphs by considering the main idea of each paragraph and the information in the headings.
5. If time permits, check your answers by reading the headings in order. The order should make logical sense and match the flow of the passage.
Summary with Wordlist
Summary questions in the IELTS Reading test require you to complete a summary by filling in gaps with words from the passage. Here are some steps to help you approach these types of questions:
1. Identify the Type of Word Needed
To start, identify the type of word needed for each gap in the summary. This could be a noun, verb, adjective, or other type of word.
2. Underline Keywords
Next, underline keywords in the summary to help you find the section of the text that relates to the summary. These keywords can guide you to the relevant part of the passage.
3. Read the Summary and Relevant Section
Read the summary first, and then read the relevant section of the text to complete the answers. Remember that the answers usually come in order, so pay attention to the order of the gaps in the summary.
4. Ensure Grammatical Correctness
Make sure that your completed summary is grammatically correct. This can help you to choose the right word for the gap and to ensure that the completed summary makes sense.
Matching Names Questions
Matching Names questions are a type of question in the IELTS Reading test that require you to match names with statements or opinions. These questions can be challenging, but with the right approach, you can increase your chances of answering them correctly.
Here are some steps to follow when answering Matching Names questions:
1. Look for Names
Matching Names questions usually require you to identify names in the text and match them with statements or opinions. To save time, while answering the previous question set, circle any names you see in the text. This way, you won’t need to spend more time scanning the passage for each name.
2. Underline Keywords
After reading the statements carefully, underline any keywords that may be helpful in finding the right match. Note that the questions don’t follow the order of the passage.
3. Read Around the Name
Start reading around the name to find the statements in the questions and match them with the related name. Note that the person’s opinions may occur before or after their name. Look for keywords or phrases that are related to the statement or opinion in the question and match them with the corresponding name.
4. Double-Check Your Matches
Once you have matched a name with a statement or opinion, double-check your answer to ensure that it makes sense and is supported by the text. Make sure to read the entire sentence or paragraph to confirm that the match is accurate.
Multiple Choice Questions
Multiple Choice questions are a common type of question in the IELTS Reading test. They require you to read a stem and choose the best answer from a list of options. Here are some steps you can take to improve your chances of answering Multiple Choice questions correctly:
1. Scan the Stem for Keywords
Start by scanning the stem for keywords. These are the important words or phrases that will help you locate the relevant information in the text.
2. Locate the Keywords in the Passage
Using the keywords you identified in the stem, locate the relevant information in the passage. This will help you to focus your reading and find the correct answer more quickly.
3. Read the Stem Again
Before reading the options, read the stem again to make sure you fully understand what is being asked. This will help you to choose the correct answer from the options.
4. Match the Meaning in the Text with the Correct Paraphrase
Read each option carefully and match the meaning in the text with the correct paraphrase from the options. This may involve paraphrasing or summarizing information from the text in your own words. Make sure to read all the options before choosing the best one.
5. Eliminate Wrong Answers
If you are unsure about the correct answer, try to eliminate any obviously wrong answers. This will increase your chances of selecting the correct answer from the remaining options.
Short-Answer Questions
Short-Answer Questions are a common type of question in the IELTS Reading test. In this type of question, you will need to find specific information in a passage and give short answers to questions. The number of words you are allowed to use in your answers will be specified.
Here are some steps to follow when answering Short-Answer Questions:
1. Look for Keywords in Each Question
To begin, look for a keyword in each question. This will help you to identify the information you need to find in the passage.
2. Scan the Passage for Each Keyword
Once you have identified the keywords, scan the passage for each keyword. This will help you to locate the relevant information quickly.
3. Read the Question and Read Around the Keywords
After locating the keywords, read the question again and then read around the keywords to find the answer. Start reading from the very beginning of the sentence including the keyword. This will help you to understand the context of the information and ensure that you are giving an accurate answer.
4. Read Two Questions at a Time
It’s also helpful to read two questions at a time. This will help you to know where to stop looking for the answer because the questions are in the same order as the information in the text.
Matching Paragraph Information Questions
Matching Paragraph Information questions can be challenging for test takers, but with the right approach, they can be answered accurately. Here are some tips to help you tackle these questions:
1. Read the Statements and Underline Keywords
To start, read the statements and underline keywords, including nouns, verbs, names, locations, and organizing words such as reasons, lists, problems, aims, effects, etc. This will help you to focus your search and identify the relevant information.
2. Read the First Sentence of Each Paragraph
Next, go to the text and read the first sentence of each paragraph. This will give you an idea of what each paragraph is about and help you to limit the number of paragraphs that the information given in the questions should be looked for.
3. Underline Keywords and Organizing Words
As you move down the paragraphs, underline any keywords, keyword synonyms, and organizing words. This will give you more clues about the content of each paragraph and help you to match the information with the questions.
4. Match the Questions
Finally, go back to the questions and match them with the relevant paragraphs based on the keywords and organizing words you have identified.
Yes/No/Not Given Questions
Yes/No/Not Given questions are a type of question in the IELTS Reading test that requires you to determine whether a statement is true, false, or not given based on the opinions, views, or beliefs of the writer in the text.
To approach these questions, follow these steps:
1. Read Two Statements at a Time
First, read two statements at a time. This will help you to know where to stop looking for the answer because the questions are in the same order as the information in the text.
2. Look for Keywords in the Statement
Next, look for keywords in the statement to help you scan for the relevant information in the passage.
3. Scan for Keywords and Synonyms
Go to the passage and scan for the keywords and keyword synonyms in a zigzag from right to left. This technique can help you to locate the relevant information more quickly.
4. Underline the Keywords
After locating the keywords in the passage, underline them to help you remember the important details.
5. Identify Comparisons or Qualifying Expressions
Read the statement one more time carefully and identify comparisons or qualifying expressions such as every, all, some, most, sometimes, a few, always, often, and so on, if any. This can help you to determine whether the statement is true, false, or not given.
6. Read the Sentence from the Beginning
Go back to the sentence including the keywords and read the sentence from the very beginning. This can help you to understand the context of the information and to make an informed decision.
7. Make Your Decision
Finally, make your decision whether the statement is Yes, No, or Not Given based on the information in the passage.
Remember, in Yes/No/Not Given questions, you should consider the opinions, views, or beliefs of the writer in the text.
Practice regularly to improve your skills in answering these questions and to build your confidence for the IELTS Reading test.
Good luck, and happy studying!