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Reading Exam and Practice

What's the best way to use the IELTS Advantage Practice Reading tests?

The IELTS Advantage Practice Reading Tests are designed to give you an opportunity to practice the strategies for the different question types. They are not designed to check your level, so don't att…

Updated by Michelle Shiels

Can I look at the reading answer sheet and the reading booklet at the same time?

The answer sheet is separate, so you can look at it at the same time that you are looking at the reading passages.

Updated by Phill Burns

How can I practice reading more effectively?

The VIP Study Plan should give you a pretty good idea about how you should approach your reading practice, but this video will give you a bit more information about a few keys to practicing as effect…

Updated

I'm taking the General Training test. Can I use the Reading Academy course and practice tests?

The Reading Academy course will prepare you for both the Academic and General Training test because the question types are exactly this same. This means that the strategies Chris teaches are the stra…

Updated by Michelle Shiels

How can I use the Reading Academy modules effectively?

To fully benefit from the reading modules you need to do the following steps for each question type: Watch the module and take notes to make sure you understand the strategies. . Do the pdf practice…

Updated by Damien Burton

How can I improve my general reading skills?

If you find IELTS reading texts very difficult to understand, you probably need to improve your general reading skills. If so, please follow the steps below. NOTE: it's important to remember that the…

Updated

How can I learn to skim and scan?

Skimming and scanning won't help you answer the Reading questions, but they will help you know where to go look. Just like you know exactly where to find the honey and the coffee in your favourite su…

Updated by Michelle Shiels

How can the Reading Academy course help me increase my scores?

The only way to increase your reading score is to master the strategies for the different question types and then identify and improve your weaknesses. The Reading Academy course will help you do thi…

Updated by Michelle Shiels

Do I get extra time in the Reading test to transfer my answers to the answer sheet?

No, you don't get any extra time to transfer your answers. Test takers are required to transfer their answers to an answer sheet during the time allowed for the test. Care should be taken when writin…

Updated by Michelle Shiels

Where can I find texts that are of a similar difficulty level to the Reading test?

You won't find texts that are exactly the same as Cambridge IELTS Reading practice tests, but it is useful to practice reading texts that are: of a similar genre (for example, not just newspaper arti…

Updated by Michelle Shiels

Why are my reading scores not improving?

A common question that students ask is why their IELTS reading score is not increasing. Chris goes over the 4 main causes for this in a video in the bonus section of the Reading Academy Course (just…

Updated by Phill Burns

Should I write TRUE / FALSE / NOT GIVEN or T / F / NG (and YES/NO/NOT GIVEN or Y/N/NG) in answer to these types of Reading questions?

You should follow the instructions, which ask you to write TRUE if the statement agrees with the information FALSE if the statement contradicts the information NOT GIVEN if there is no information on…

Updated by Tom

I need to know more about the Computer-delivered reading test.

The reading questions on the paper-based test and the computer-delivered test are exactly the same, so please just follow the strategies Chris teaches in the Reading Course. If you are worried about…

Updated

How can I learn to manage my time in the Reading test?

IMPORTANT: do not attempt a practice Reading test under timed conditions until you can get the score you need. It is completely irrelevant if you can finish in 60 minutes if you can't get the score y…

Updated by Michelle Shiels

Where can I find score conversion tables for reading and listening?

These conversion tables can also be found in the VIP Study Plan.

Updated by Phill Burns

I can't concentrate when reading long passages. What can I do to improve my concentration?

It’s important to note that when you take the IELTS Reading test, you should never read every single word of each passage from start to finish. Instead, you should use the reading strategies in the R…

Updated by Tom

How can I discover my weakness in Reading?

If you do a practice test and you choose the wrong answer, it is because of a weakness. (When a teacher does a practice test, they understand everything in the question, everything in the text, and t…

Updated by Michelle Shiels

Where can I find authentic practice tests for the IELTS Reading tests?

There are a lot of materials and practice tests for IELTS reading on the internet that should be avoided. Chris talks about these and discusses the best option. This link will show you how to locate…

Updated

Which question types should I do first in the Reading test?

Time management is an essential skill for the Reading test, and choosing to complete different question types based on how easy it is to find the answers in a passage saves you some time when looking…

Updated by Matthew

How can I practice Matching Headings questions?

If you're following Chris' strategy, then you should be making your own headings before you look at the list of headings options. Many students find it incredibly difficult to make their own headings…

Updated by Michelle Shiels

I can't manage time when I encounter T/F/NG questions in the reading exam. What can I do?

This is a fairly common issue among IELTS students. You should consider the advice given in the following video: https://share.getcloudapp.com/nOuko00k

Updated

Summary Completion questions - Reading

In IELTS Reading, summary completion questions can either come with a list of answers to choose from or not. Please watch this video to find out more https://share.getcloudapp.com/rRub7GJL

Updated by Damien Burton

How can I increase my reading speed?

There are 3 different types of reading: scanning, skimming and close reading. Be clear about which kind of reading you are trying to improve. Scanning : When you try to locate a particular fact (like…

Updated by Michelle Shiels

Which questions types appear in which sections of the Reading test?

While it may be true that certain question types appear more often in certain sections of the Reading test, it is entirely possible for ANY question type to appear in ANY section.

Updated by Jason Bowman

Are my Reading answers right or wrong?

Your answers must match the answers in the answer key exactly. If the answers say to choose one or more words from the text, copy them exactly as they are written in the text. In the answer keys for…

Updated by Damien Burton

Do I lose marks for incorrect and blank answers in the Reading and Listening test?

No, you don't lose marks if you get a question wrong, and you don't lose marks if you leave a question blank. However, since you don't lose marks for an incorrect answer, it's always best to guess. T…

Updated by Michelle Shiels

I can't manage time when I encounter Matching Headings questions in the reading test. What can I do?

This is a common issue among IELTS students. You might consider the advice given in the following video: https://share.getcloudapp.com/wbu7wEDK

Updated

What's the best way to use Cambridge IELTS practice Reading tests?

Cambridge IELTS practice Reading tests are useful for two things: assessing your level. identifying your weaknesses. If you got a question wrong, you need to figure out WHY you got it wrong. First, c…

Updated by Michelle Shiels

How can I learn from my mistakes in practice Reading tests?

If you got a question wrong, it's because you have a weakness. The only way to increase your score is to improve your weakness, so it's imperative that you discover what your weakness is. Once you di…

Updated

Should I start the reading exam with section 3 of the reading paper?

Should I start the reading exam with section 3 of the reading paper? Some students think it's a good idea to start with section 3 of the reading test as this is the most difficult part. The advice is…

Updated

What does it mean to improve your weakness in Reading or Listening?

Every time you choose the wrong answer, it is because there is something that you don't understand or you misunderstand. If you understood everything perfectly, the correct answer would be obvious an…

Updated by Michelle Shiels

Where are the reading practice resources in the VIP Community?

To help students increase their reading score, we have several practice resources in the VIP Community: 1. Reading Live Lessons. Please click here to see the schedule. If you can't join the Reading L…

Updated by Michelle Shiels

How can I master the reading strategies?

Chris has made a module about how to master the strategies that he has provided for each question type, and you can find it here.

Updated

What can I do when I encounter vocabulary that I can't understand while reading?

In both the Listening and Reading tests, it's normal for students to encounter vocabulary that they are not familiar with. This must be expected; however, as these tests are designed in such a way as…

Updated

How can I use skimming to manage my time in the reading test?

Being able to skim is important because it allows you to ignore the irrelevant information. If you don't ignore (or you don't know how to ignore) the irrelevant information, you will waste time readi…

Updated

I don’t know how to answer a particular reading question no matter how hard I try.

Note: We don't explain the answers to Reading questions over email because it is a slow way to learn, and we really care about helping you increase your scores as quickly as possible. What to do if y…

Updated by Tom

For which question types are answers given in order in reading passages?

Some question types are not in passage order, but the question types which are always in passage order are: T/F/NG, Y/N/NG, short answer, and multiple choice.

Updated

Where can I find practice Reading tests for the General Training exam?

The question types are the same for both tests, so the strategies in the reading course can be used for both tests. Similarly, the 8 IELTS Advantage Practice Tests in the bonus section of the reading…

Updated

How can I improve my Reading scores?

You can find answers here about reading and listening

Updated

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