IELTS Reading Tips and Tricks | How I got a band 8.5

Summary

In this video, Asiya shares her strategies for achieving a high score in the IELTS Reading section, following her experience with both paper-based and computer-based exams. She emphasizes the importance of time management, suggests answering questions in order, and highlights the convenience of computer-based exams. Asiya also discusses reading comprehension techniques, such as focusing on keywords and ignoring irrelevant information, and recommends her separate videos on specific question types and strategies for IELTS Writing and Speaking.

Takeaways

• 📘 Asiya shares her experience and strategies for achieving a high score in IELTS Reading after taking the computer-based exam in London.
• ⏰ The IELTS Reading section consists of 40 questions to be completed in 60 minutes, with three longer passages in the Academic module and five shorter ones in the General Training module.
• 🔍 Time management is crucial; the first passage is typically easier, and the last is more difficult, so allocate time accordingly.
• 🚀 Asiya recommends finishing the first passage in 15 minutes, the second in 20, and the third in 25 to manage time effectively.
• 🚫 If a question is not immediately answerable, mark it for review and move on to maximize the chance of attempting all questions.
• ✍️ In a paper-based exam, answers are marked on the question paper and then transferred, while in a computer-based exam, answers are selected directly on the screen, saving time.
• 🖥️ Asiya found the computer-based exam more convenient due to the large screen, direct answer selection, and visible time remaining.
• 📚 She suggests a strategy of reading the first question and then skimming the text for answers, rather than reading the entire passage first.
• 🔑 Pay attention to keywords in the questions and look for their synonyms or paraphrases in the passage to locate answers.
• 📝 Highlight important names, dates, and places in the text to quickly locate them for questions, using a pencil in a paper-based exam or the highlight function in a computer-based exam.
• 🤔 Don't spend too much time on any single question; if uncertain, mark it for review and revisit it if time permits.
• 📈 Asiya has created separate videos discussing the differences between paper-based and computer-based exams, as well as strategies for specific question types like True/False/Not Given and Matching Headings.

Q & A

What type of IELTS exam did Asiya take in London?

Asiya took a computer-based IELTS exam in London.

What was Asiya's IELTS score in the previous year when she took a paper-based exam?

Asiya scored an eight in the paper-based IELTS exam the previous year.

What is the format of the IELTS Reading exam according to Asiya's explanation?

The IELTS Reading exam format includes 40 questions to be completed in 60 minutes, with three longer passages in the Academic module and five shorter passages in the General Training module.

How many questions does one need to answer correctly to achieve a band seven in the IELTS Reading exam?

To achieve a band seven, one needs to answer 30 questions correctly in the Academic module and 34 questions in the General Training module.

Why is time management important in the IELTS Reading exam?

Time management is important because there is a lot to read and finding answers takes time, with the exam containing 40 questions to be completed within a limited 60 minutes.

What strategy does Asiya recommend for managing time during the IELTS Reading exam?

Asiya recommends finishing the first passage in about 15 minutes, the second in 20 minutes, and the third in 25 minutes, and not spending too much time on questions that are difficult to answer initially.

What is the difference between answering questions on a paper-based and a computer-based IELTS exam according to Asiya?

In a paper-based exam, answers are marked on question sheets without extra time for transferring answers, whereas in a computer-based exam, answers are chosen directly on the screen, and there is no need to transfer them anywhere.

What is Asiya's preferred strategy for answering IELTS Reading questions?

Asiya prefers to read the first question, then quickly read the text without focusing on details, and slow down to carefully read sentences when she thinks the answer might be there.

How does Asiya handle questions that are not in order in the IELTS Reading exam?

For question types that are not in order, such as matching paragraphs or headings, Asiya adapts her strategy and does not follow the simple question-passage order method.

What advice does Asiya give for dealing with complex topics and unknown words in the IELTS Reading exam?

Asiya advises to pay attention to keywords, look for their synonyms in the passage, and ignore irrelevant information to focus on the parts that likely contain the answer.

How can examinees highlight important information during a computer-based IELTS exam?

In a computer-based exam, there is a function to highlight words or phrases in yellow by pressing the right button on the mouse and clicking 'highlight'.

What does Asiya suggest doing if you're unsure about an answer during the IELTS Reading exam?

Asiya suggests marking the question to review later, moving on, and returning to it if time permits after attempting to answer all questions.

What resources does Asiya offer to help with specific question types in the IELTS Reading exam?

Asiya has separate videos discussing strategies for different question types, such as true/false/not given and matching headings, which are linked in the video description.

What is the main tip Asiya gives for approaching the IELTS Reading exam?

Asiya's main tip is to have a clear strategy for solving each type of question before taking the exam, which helps save time and ensures a more effective approach.