How To Manage Your Time Effectively In IELTS Reading Section

The IELTS Reading test comprises 40 questions designed to assess a variety of reading abilities. These include reading for gist, reading for primary ideas, reading for detail, skimming, comprehending logical reasoning, and recognizing writers’ perspectives, attitudes, and purposes.

Both the IELTS General Training and Academic examinations contain identical question formats; however, the reading text themes change.

Managing your time in the IELTS reading section is important as you only have 60 minutes to answer 40 questions. It is normally recommended that you spend no more than 20 minutes on each section of the Reading test; however, if you find the first passage easy, you may finish it in less time, giving you more time to answer questions in the following two passages. The passages become more difficult as you progress through the test, so make sure you allow enough time to complete the final passage.

Here are a few reasons on how to manage your time well in the IELTS reading section.

You may want to read our article 13 Effective Time Management Tips For College Students

1. Skim through the passage

Your Reading test will include three distinct reading passages. You can rapidly peruse the entire section to get the gist. Do not read each sentence in detail because it is time-consuming and pointless. Focus on the headings and subheadings, as well as the major elements that describe the passage. This will help you locate answers later on.

2. Pay attention to the beginning and conclusion

The author’s point of view is frequently stated in both the introduction and conclusion. After reading these two sections of the reading passage, you should be able to correctly answer the majority of the questions. After reading the introduction and conclusion, skim over the rest of the passage.

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3. Identify keywords

By identifying keywords in a passage you get a full grasp of what the passage is all about. Identify these keywords and underline or highlight them when you skim through the passage. This can help you answer most questions that follow the passage.

4. Read all questions carefully before you start answering them

Before you start answering, take a glance at all of the questions. Remember that questions are presented in groups of three, four, or more, so read the group of questions before studying the material. Make sure to underline the crucial information terms in your questions, and because you’ve previously scanned through the passage and discovered keywords, it’ll be easy to identify the answers.

5. Answer every question

Remember to answer every question even if you cannot find the answer or option. If you are running out of time, remember that you will not lose a mark if the answer is wrong, so make an educated guess and you may get the answer right.

6. Check your answers

Going back to your answers to ensure they best match the questions can help you improve your IELTS Reading score. Make sure that you answer all the questions and allocate at least 20 minutes for checking. You can use the practice materials available on our website and time yourself to perfection.

The IELTS Reading section can be intimidating for test takers however, prior preparation and time management can make the difference between an average score and a great one.

How To Read Faster In IELTS Reading Section

Here are a few practical tips on how to read passages faster in the IELTS reading section:

1. Start reading in groups of 3 – 5 words or chunking

While we were all taught to read each word in school, it is inefficient and slow, especially in a time-sensitive test setting.

Instead, try to word chunk, which means taking in numerous words at once and digesting them for information and intricacies. To practice, try reading three to five words at a time and seeing if you comprehend the meaning of the sentence or phrase when you’re finished.

Continue to practice with three words at the start, gradually increasing to five words with your peripheral vision. You will improve your speed and comprehension as you continue to train yourself by reading many paragraphs this way.

2. Do not read words repeatedly

When we are perplexed or unclear about what we read, it is normal to go back and reread the sentence or chapter. However, this means that your eyes will frequently jump back and forth while reading, resulting in valuable seconds missed, which can quickly add up.

To avoid this, simply run your finger across a text as you read without pausing to train yourself to swiftly absorb and retain information while moving forward.

3. Skim during your first reading then scan when answering questions

Skimming the major parts of your text is an excellent technique to approach reading passages once you’ve become more comfortable with word chunking.

It is critical to swiftly read through the passage and take note of the essential features, particularly the title, and questions. You should also take note of the nouns in the text to get an overall image, as well as how the paragraph is structured.

4. Start improving your vocabulary to speed up comprehension

One of the most common causes of sluggish reading is not understanding what a word means. Fortunately, this is one of the easiest challenges to fix, and you may start by simply expanding your vocabulary.

You can actively begin reading more and listening to news and broadcasts such as the BBC and CNN. Make a point of noting or recording unfamiliar words, and utilize a dictionary or thesaurus to help you along the way.

What Types Of Questions Should I Expect From IELTS General Training Reading?

The IELTS General Training Reading passages are derived from materials that you can find on a day-to-day basis in an English-speaking country. The questions in this section will test your ability to understand content present in everyday materials such as:

Newspapers
Advertisements
Handbooks
Notices.

To become more familiar with these text types, make use of our sample questions. By familiarising yourself with the type of passages to expect from the IELTS general test, you will be able to manage your time better as you will be better prepared.

Questions To Expect In IELTS Academic Reading

The IELTS Academic test is used for university admissions and professional registrations around the world, so the questions in this section will test your ability to understand content presented in academic materials.

To prepare for test day, make sure you read a range of texts on different topics from:

Books
Journals
Magazines
Newspapers

When you have experience with reading a range of different text types, you will be able to focus more on the questions linked to each text type.

Question types (Academic and General Training)

You can expect a variety of question types in the General and Academic Reading tests such as:

Multiple choice
Identifying information
Identifying a writer’s views/claims
Matching information
Matching headings
Matching features
Matching sentence endings
Sentence completion
Summary, note, table, flow-chart completion
Diagram label completion
Short-answer questions

To ensure you can accurately answer a range of question types in the 60 minutes, you will need to manage your time. Look at the following advice on how to manage your time during the IELTS Reading test.

How To Prepare For IELTS Reading?

There are many different resources you can use to prepare for the IELTS Reading test. To make it easy for you, MystudentKit has launched IELTS study material. It’s an encompassing IELTS preparation material including Reading, writing, speaking, and listening. You can access a wide range of preparation materials here: from practice tests, videos, and articles to expert assessments, online, and more.

FAQs On How To Manage Your Time In IELTS Reading

How much time do I have for the IELTS Reading section?

You have 60 minutes to complete the IELTS Reading section, which includes reading the passages and answering 40 questions.

Should I read the entire passage first or look at the questions?

It’s generally more efficient to skim the passage first to get a general idea of the content and structure, then read the questions. This helps you know what to look for when you read the passage in more detail.

Is it useful to underline or highlight information in the passage?

Yes, underlining or highlighting keywords, dates, names, and important details can help you quickly locate information when answering questions.

Conclusion

The IELTS reading section requires you to read and comprehend a large amount of information within a limited time frame, making it essential to have an effective strategy for managing your time. By implementing strategies like skimming through the passage, and reading the beginning and conclusion, you can confidently approach the IELTS Reading section and increase your chances of achieving a high score.

References

ielts.idp.com – IELTS Reading test: how to manage your time?
linkedin.com – Mastering Time Management: The Key to Success in IELTS and Beyond

How To Manage Your Time Effectively In IELTS Reading Section

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Why You Must Manage Your Time Efficiently in IELTS