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IELTS READING SKILLS
WORKSHOP
BY EMEL ORTAC

GLOBAL READING SKILLS
 Never read without a purpose
 Not every main idea is at the beginning or end of a
paragraph
 Use the heading, subheading, introduction and
conclusion to understand the gist of the topic. DO
NOT read all of the passage as soon as you see it.
 Go directly to the questions.

 Identify the type of question (to remember the tactic
needed) and pay attention to the instructions.
 Start underlining key words, think of possible
synonyms for them.
 Unknown words can sometimes be guessed from
context, form or can be skipped in order to save on
time.

 Skimming: for a general understanding
 Scanning: for specific detail
 Detailed reading: for the idea

TYPES OF PASSAGES
 Narrative
 Descriptive
 Discursive / argumentative
 At least one text contains detailed logical argument.
 Texts may contain non-verbal materials such as
diagrams, graphs or illustrations.
 If texts contain technical terms then a simple
glossary is provided.
Takenfrom:https://www.teachers.cambridgeesol.org

QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS FROM
CANDIDATES
1. Can I start from whichever passage I want?
2. I don’t like some of the question types, can I do the
ones I like first?
3. I have to understand EVERYTHING, so I will read the
text in detail before I look at the questions. Will this
save me time?
4. I really hate reading. Everything is boring.
5. I feel like I have to be an expert to understand these
passages, what can I do to change that?

WHILE TEACHING: TASK FOCUS
 Multiple choice: tests a wide range of reading
skills including detailed understanding of specific
points or an overall understanding of the main
points of the text.
 Identifying information: assesses the candidate’s
ability to recognise particular points of
information conveyed in the text.
 Views/claims: assesses the candidate’s ability to
recognise opinions or ideas.

 Matching information: assesses the candidate’s
ability to scan for specific information.
 Matching headings: tests the candidate’s ability to
recognise the main idea or theme in the paragraphs
or sections of a text, and to distinguish main ideas
from supporting ones.
 Matching features: assesses the candidate’s ability
to recognise relationships and connections between
facts in the text and their ability to recognise
opinions and theories.

 Matching sentence endings: assesses the
candidate’s ability to understand the main ideas.
 Sentence completion: assesses the candidate’s
ability to locate detail/specific information.
 Summary, note, table, flowchart completion:
assesses the candidate’s ability to understand
details and/or the main ideas of a section of the
text.

 Diagram label completion: assesses the
candidate’s ability to understand a detailed
description, and to relate it to information presented
in the form of a diagram.
 Short-answer questions: assesses the candidate’s
ability to locate and understand precise information
in the text.

BEFORE EACH TACTIC, REMEMBER TO…
 Identify the type of question (to remember the tactic
needed) and pay attention to the instructions.
synonyms for them.
 Unknown words can sometimes be guessed from
context, form or can be skipped in order to save on
time.

FINDING INFO, MATCHING HEADINGS
 Go directly to the questions. Check instructions:
Can you use a letter more than once? (NB)
synonyms for them.
 Read a paragraph, check list for possible answers.
 If you cannot find something in that paragraph, skip
to the next paragraph. You can always come back
later when your list is shorter.
 Go paragraph by paragraph

SUMMARY (WITH/WITHOUT BOX)
 Go directly to the questions. Check instructions: What is
the word count?
 Check title: Does it refer to the whole text or a part of it?
 This type usually follows other questions; you need to
have read the area to activate your short-term memory.
 (with a box) Look at words in the box, try to find one or
two alternatives for each space.
 Start underlining key words, think of possible synonyms
for them.
 Start scanning for words/ideas.
 Careful of grammatical clues. Copy-paste directly, do not
change the word(s)
 Read your answer: Does it make sense?

SENTENCE COMPLETION
What is the word count?
synonyms for them.
 Careful of grammatical clues. Copy-paste directly,
do not change the word(s)

SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS
synonyms for them.
 Copy-paste directly, do not change the word(s)

DIAGRAMS, FLOWCHARTS, TABLES
 Look at the title and/or categories: Those words will
help you locate a starting point in the text.
 Scan for those words. Once located, start
underlining key words, think of possible synonyms
for them. Be careful of grammatic clues.
 Copy-paste directly, do not change the word(s)

TRUE/FALSE/NOT GIVEN, YES/NO/NOT GIVEN
 Go directly to the questions. Check instructions: Is it
T/F/NG or Y/N/NG?
synonyms for them.
 TRUE/YES = The same (paraphrased) idea.
 FALSE/NO = The opposite idea.
 NOT GIVEN = a) it is not mentioned, b) only
partially mentioned (the word/s, not the idea)
 If you have read it twice, and are still unable to
answer: a) in might not be there, b) skip it and
come back later.

CLASSIFICATION
Which categories do I have?
synonyms for them.
 Go to the text, underline names/ words of
categories.
 Read around these found words scanning for
keywords/ideas.

PICKING FROM A LIST
How many do I need to find?
 This is like a hidden T/F/NG, but you only need to
find the TRUE answers.
synonyms for them.

MULTIPLE CHOICE
 Go directly to the questions.
synonyms for them.
 There is almost always an option that is the
opposite to what is stated in the passage, another
which is completely unrelated and another which
may look correct because it may mention the same
or a similar word, but is lacking the idea (a “False
Friend”).
 Never leave an answer unfilled, if need be, make
an educated guess.

OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM
 Encourage reading from academic/formal sources:
 Wikipedia
 BBC Learning English
 TIME Magazine
 National Geographic
 www.myenglishpages.com > Reading
 www.ielts-exam.net > IELTS Practice Tests
 http://www.marshalladulteducation.org > Reading Skills
for Today’s Adult

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IELTS Reading Skills Workshop_Emel Ortac

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IELTS Reading Skills Workshop_Emel Ortac