15/08/2022
IELTS READING SUB-SECTION SIMPLIFIED.
If you are struggling with Ielts reading section, go through this short write up by Chikaire, it will help you, I will also be teaching IELTS for 1hour every Monday by 10pm here on my page, you can follow me and also invite your friends who are struggling with IELTS, its completely free.
I wrote IELTS exam 6times so I can share a few things that will help you to pass this exsm the next time you sit for it.
Firstly, the IELTS Reading module has question types peculiar to it, they are; objective, True/False/Not given, matching headings/paragraph search.
Understanding how to successfully answer each of these question type is the key to success. So it's important one knows each of them. Know which gives you problem and seek to do better at it. So before I list tips peculiar to these question types, let me drop these general tips:
TIP 1.
To begin with, It is important to note that You dont need to read or even understand the entire passage to answer the questions, I think this is the most important tip of all. In fact, I'm sure the marker doesn't care if at the end of the passage you don't have a detailed knowledge of what the passage is about.
There is no time, he only needs to see your right answers. So please focus on answering the question, don't bother yourself if the passage is hard, the answers are right there, just locate them.
I used to tell myself, the answers are there, I just need to find them, this mentality helped me a lot. I just look for the answers.
With the above tip said, you only need to look at the question, see what it demands of you and commence answering.
TIP 2.
The use of keywords in the question helps, so after looking at the question, you look in the passage to find your chosen keyword, when you do, you quickly read the entire sentence alone, you can look at the question again to confirm and choose your answer. With this you move on to the next question.
By this method, you don't get to read unnecessary and time wasting sentences and you answer the question in no time and move onto the next, following the same method.
TIP 3.
I have noticed that answers in reading passages are sequential, that is, answer to question 2 will be in between answers to question 1 and 3, so if you get question 1 and question 2 seems difficult, try answering question 3 and go back to find question 2 answer in between that of 1 and 3. This however doesn't work for matching heading/paragraph searching. questions.
TIP 4.
Now, dealing with the question types;
True/False/Not given, this type of question comes out quite a lot, usually up to 6, if you get it all, you get closer to smashing and obtaining your desired band.
TRUE.
So, True means the statement COMPLETELY agrees with the passage/writer.
FALSE.
False means that the statement contradicts/does not completely/does not have the same meaning with the passage/writer
NOT GIVEN.
Not given means there is nothing like that in the passage.
It is important that one DOES NOT infer anything while answering these question types, Please, try not to assume anything because it leads to one picking a wrong answer.
TIP 5.
Paragraph searching: Some questions require that one match different sentences to the paragraphs in which they are mentioned in. These types of questions can be time consuming and easy to fail, thankfully, there is a way to make them VERY fast and easy to pass.
THE TRICK
The trick is to answer other questions beneath these question types before tackling them. I've learnt that when you use this method, you have a rough estimate of what each paragraph is talking about.
So with this knowledge, you can easily look at these questions and know the paragraphs they are mentioned in.
You save time because at the end of addressing other questions, you have a fair knowledge of what each paragraph says and can go ahead to answer the questions.
For the few that might still be unknown to you, you can go ahead to look through the parahraphs after ruling out the paragraphs already answered.
Note that sometimes though 2 of the sentences may be found in one paragraph. this is really common when the question instructions says something like "you may use a letter two times". Thus, by this, a paragraph may contain two sentences.
TIP 6.
For matching headings; One just needs to read the first and second sentences and pick from the options the one that best suits the paragraph. This should be a little easy considering our knowledge on" which best answers the question" peculiar to nursing exams.
If at the end of reading the first two sentences, you are not sure, quickly read the entire paragraph and decide. If after doing this, you aren't sure, please move to the next paragraph and get its heading.
After answering for other paragraphs, the trick of elimination will help highlight the answer to any difficult one. It is advisable that one be conscious not to spend much time on one paragraph because this is usually the case.
TIP 7.
Also, It is important that you know through your practice tests which question type gives you issues and address it particularly. By this I mean, you read more on how best to address that question type and immediately answer PLENTY questions only on that question type to know you have gotten the trick.
Finally, I got better at reading through the help of the Holy Spirit and practicing. I mentioned this because I strongly/unashamedly believe in God. He is the best teacher. You only need to know Him and ask for His help. So, I enjoin you to do this and begin your dedicated practice, I mean strictly timed practice sessions because for every test you do, you learn what works best for you and use it.
I challenge you to go through the reading passages on Cambridge books 1 to 10 . Initially, you may not get the high mark you desire and might be tempted to be discouraged but persistence is key, so, I enjoin you to keep at it and in no time you will be happily smashing it and will enjoy reading greatly. This is the key!!!
God's grace and speed dear, I pray the Holy Spirit guide you as He did guide me. You are born to be great. Your IELTS will show it!!!!