International English Language Test System: The Reading

International English Language Test
System
THE READING
EXAMINATION
How People Read
Can you Read this Paragraph?
When you read you don’t absorb exact letters and words and then interpret them
later. You anticipate what will come next. The more previous knowledge you have
the easier it is to anticipate and interpret.
Reading and Comprehending are Two Different Things

New information is assimilated more thoroughly when it is plugged into
existing cognitive structures.
How People Read
Reading isn’t as fluid as it seems

Our eyes move in quick, sharp jumps, with short periods of stillness
in between.
How People Read
What You Remember of What you Read Depends on Your Point of View
People are active readers. What they understand and remember from
what they read depends on their previous experience, their point of view
while reading, and the instructions they are given beforehand.
The Reading Examination
60 minutes
3 sections
20 minutes/section
Content for Academic and GT are
different
ACADEMIC and GT READING
ACADEMIC GENERAL TRAINING
•3 long passages increasing in •3 short passages increasing in
length and difficulty
difficulty
•More general /everyday style
•Academic style texts (journal texts
articles, text-book extracts) •Texts related to social survival
•Texts related to academic (advertisements, notices etc.);
workplace survival (job
topics such as science, history, descriptions, employment
sociology contracts etc.); general texts
(newspapers, magazines, travel
brochures etc.)
GENERAL TIPS
•read the titles and sub-headings to get the concept of the article
•skim/scan for specific information; answers occur in the text in the same order as
the questions
•be cautious on the number of words required as answers; answers more than the
required words are penalized
•Identify main and supporting ideas
•understand paraphrases
•Learn to differentiate between NO and NOT GIVEN
•Select the heading that covers the main topic or theme

Section 1:
Your goal is to PERFECT this, as it is the easiest of all
sections.
Step 1: Study your questions
Encircle and underline your keywords.
Comprehend your question
Be careful with instructions.
Step 2: Dissect your article.
Scan! Find keywords that are in your questions in
your passage.
Skim! Read fast.
Identify Topic Sentence/Main Idea!
Skimming and Scanning
Skimming is reading a text Scanning is reading a text
quickly to find out the quickly to find specific
general theme, topic or information e.g. names or
meaning figures
This is useful for answering

Used for pre-reading tasks
exam type questions which
that do not need detailed
ask for True/False or to
attention
discover facts
There is no need to read The objective is to search out

every word relevant words, collocations
The focus is more on lexis

The focus is improving the
than general meaning and to
speed of reading
ignore irrelevant information
Step 2: Skimming
Speed Reading Techniques
The Hand
The first method is to simply place your right hand on the page
and slowly move it straight down the page, drawing your eyes
down as you read. Keep an even, slow motion, as if your right
hand has its own mind. Your eyes may not be exactly where your
hand is, but this simple motion will help you go faster. Don't
start, read a little, stop, read a little, start, read a little. Keep the
movement slow and easy. Only do it once per page. If you are
"left-handed" use your left hand as the dominant pacing hand.
Step 2: Skimming
Speed Reading Techniques
The Sweep
Another method is to use your hand to help draw your eyes

across the page. Slightly cup your right hand. Keep your fingers
together. With a very light and smooth motion, sweep your
fingers from left to right, underlining the line with the tip of your
tallest finger from about an inch in and an inch out on each line.
Use your whole arm to move, balancing on your arm muscle.
Imagine that you are dusting off salt from the page.
Step 2: Scanning
Keywords from questions to keywords in the article.
1. There’s little economic difference between

members of a clan.
2. The farmers of a tribe grow a wide range of

plants.
3. One settlement is more important than any

other settlements in a tribe.
4. A member’s status in chiefdom is determined

by how much land he owns.
Identify the Keywords or Phrases

THE READING EXAMINATION
WHAT ARE POSSIBLE SYNONYMS?
IELTS VOCABULARY
Having a wide range of vocabulary helps in the reading examination.
NOTE: Do not simply rely on words. Also try to understand the OVERALL meaning
Step 2: Scanning
Keywords from questions to keywords in the article.
Step 2: Scanning
Answers generally occur in the text logically.
10
11
12
13
Step 2: Scanning
Answers generally occur in the text logically.
Identifying the Heading/Topic/Main Idea
The topic sentence in a

paragraph states the
main idea of the
paragraph.
While it is usually at the

beginning of the
paragraph, it also can
be in the middle or end
of it.
The best trip my family ever took was to New Orleans, Louisiana. We drove there in two
days. I didn’t think it would be very interesting, but I was wrong. We saw the Mississippi
River, rode a horse carriage in the French Quarter, and visited a cemetery where
everyone was buried above the ground. I liked the food best, especially the New Orleans
doughnuts called beignets.
No one likes to eat with a dirty knife, fork, or spoon. It is important to

completely wash all utensils before using them. Clean utensils won’t
transmit germs and bacteria. They also are more pleasant to eat with.
Many people think poetry is old-fashioned and uninteresting. They don’t

realize that every time they hear a song sung, they are hearing poetry in
the form of song lyrics. Just like many written poems, many song lyrics
use rhythm, rhyme, and literary imagery. It turns out that poetry isn’t
old-fashioned; it’s as modern as the latest hit song!
Step 2:
Identify Topic Sentence/Main Idea
Topic sentence can sometimes be the

concluding sentence of a paragraph.
The main idea is what the bulk of the

paragraph is about?
Topic sentence can be the first sentence of

a paragraph.
Step 3:
Answer the Question
Look for the actual

example of wildlife
Step 3:
Answer the Question
SUMMARY QUESTIONS
Find the starting point.

Match key words.
Supply the missing word.
Be wary of the Grammar and logic.
Students are asked to summarize the entire passage or 1-2
paragraphs.
phantom
What word is missing?

Fill in the gaps. Complete the summary
1. USSR
2. Boar/wapiti/moose
3. Caspian Tiger
4. control
Step 3:
Answer the Question
SENTENCE COMPLETION QUESTIONS
Match key words.

Supply the missing word.
Be wary of the Grammar and logic.
Students are asked to summarize the entire passage or 1-2 paragraphs.
natural
selection
How to Approach
Sentence Completion
• Make sure to not exceed the word limit. (No more

than one word, no more than two words and/or a
number, etc.)
• Be aware of synonyms
• Make sure that the chosen answer fits the question
grammatically as well
Complete the sentences. No more than three words.
worthwhile
Now scientists doubt whether it is ______ to treat large groups of possibly infected people.
The experts called the debate Worm wars

______.
fatal
Although dangerous, worms are rarely ______.
How to Approach
Identifying Headings
• There is no need to read the entire passage. What is
important is to be able to grasp the gist of each
paragraph.
• Be aware of synonyms as well as generalized ideas
• If there are two or three headings that are similar,
write them beside the paragraph and try to find out
the difference between the two headings.
• IF you cannot find the answer, move on and come
back to it later.
Step 3:
Answer the Question
Yes/No/Not Given or True/False/Not Given
True/Yes = same context

False/No = opposite context
Not Given = concept is not there
True-False-Not Given
Water supplied to citizens of Ancient

Rome is of relatively the same volume as
water supplied to people today.
In the modern times, water use is

significantly less than it was in Ancient
Rome.
There is a higher demand for water today

than in ancient times.
How to Approach
True/False/Not Given or Yes/No/Not given
• Read the instructions.
• Understand the OVERALL meaning instead of relying
simply on keywords or phrases
• Try to think of synonyms that could have been used
in the text.
• IF you cannot find the answer, move on and mark it
is not given.
• REMEMBER: True/False/Not Given is not based on
your own knowledge. The answer depends on what
the passage states.
Step 3:
Answer the Question
Multiple Choice Questions

Keyword in your questions and ALL of your options
appear in the text.
How to Approach Multiple Choice
•Look through the questions first

•Underline key words from the question as well as the
choices
•Then scan the text for those key words that you have
underlined
•The answer should be found close to that word
•The answers will be found in the text in the same
order as the questions
What is dry farming?
A. Preserving nitrates and moisture.
B. Ploughing the land again and again.
C. Cultivating fallow land.
READING is FUN
• Be patient and understanding.
Take your time to read.
• Don’t make things complicated.

The topic might be complex but that is not your concern.
• Learn to move on when things get tough.

But, make sure to come back to it later.
• Try to make things interesting.

After all, you are learning something new with each passage.
• Don’t give up.

The passages might be long, but you don’t have to read
everything.
To Close….
RESOURCES
• Exercises:
• http://ielts-up.com/reading/sentence-completion-2.html
•http://www.k12reader.com/subject/composition/topic-se
ntences/
•http://www.ieltsanswers.com/ielts-reading-summary-ans
wers.html
•https://www.teflexpress.co.uk/blog/matching-headings-to
-paragraphs-in-the-ielts-reading-test/
• Other resources:
•http://www.butte.edu/departments/cas/tipsheets/readin
gstrategies/skimming_scanning.html
• British Council (Teaching Materials)
• IELTS Buddy
• IELTS Advantage
THANK YOU!

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International English Language Test

Can you Read this Paragraph?

Reading and Comprehending are Two Different Things

Reading isn’t as fluid as it seems

•Identify main and supporting ideas

•Learn to differentiate between NO and NOT GIVEN

•Select the heading that covers the main topic or theme

This is useful for answering

There is no need to read The objective is to search out

The focus is more on lexis

Another method is to use your hand to help draw your eyes

1. There’s little economic difference between

2. The farmers of a tribe grow a wide range of

3. One settlement is more important than any

4. A member’s status in chiefdom is determined

Identify the Keywords or Phrases

WHAT ARE POSSIBLE SYNONYMS?

Identifying the Heading/Topic/Main Idea

The topic sentence in a

While it is usually at the

No one likes to eat with a dirty knife, fork, or spoon. It is important to

Many people think poetry is old-fashioned and uninteresting. They don’t

Topic sentence can sometimes be the

The main idea is what the bulk of the

Topic sentence can be the first sentence of

Look for the actual

Find the starting point.

What word is missing?

Match key words.

• Make sure to not exceed the word limit. (No more

The experts called the debate Worm wars

True/Yes = same context

Water supplied to citizens of Ancient

In the modern times, water use is

There is a higher demand for water today

Multiple Choice Questions

•Look through the questions first

• Don’t make things complicated.

• Learn to move on when things get tough.

• Try to make things interesting.

• Don’t give up.

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