IELTS guide
IELTS Reading rewards targeted evidence search, not slow line-by-line reading. Strong test takers skim for structure, scan for keywords, and then read the exact evidence sentence carefully before choosing an answer.
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IELTS Reading rewards targeted evidence search, not slow line-by-line reading. Strong test takers skim for structure, scan for keywords, and then read the exact evidence sentence carefully before choosing an answer.
Use three speeds: skim the passage to understand the map, scan for names, numbers, and keywords, then read carefully around the answer sentence. This saves time and reduces guessing.
For True/False/Not Given, ask whether the passage says the same thing, the opposite, or nothing. For Matching Headings, match the whole paragraph idea, not one repeated word.
A practical target is about 18 minutes for Passage 1, 20 minutes for Passage 2, and 22 minutes for Passage 3. If one question takes more than 90 seconds, make a best guess and keep moving.
Skim first for structure, scan for keywords from the questions, then read the nearby sentences carefully to confirm the answer with evidence.
TRUE means the passage states the same idea, FALSE means it contradicts the statement, and NOT GIVEN means the information is absent.
For Academic Reading, about 30 correct answers out of 40 usually corresponds to band 7, though exact conversion can vary slightly by test.