IELTS Reading: How to Get a Higher Score

When Mohammed told me he couldn’t get a good reading score on IELTS, I knew he needed help.  He said his last teacher told him skimming and scanning was the key strategy to a good reading score.  He was worried about taking the IELTS test, but he had to improve his score.  

Even though skimming and scanning are helpful strategies, Mohammed needed to understand more.  What did he need to know?  What would help Mohammed get a better reading score?

Mohammed would have to become a better reader.  In order to do better with IELTS reading, I asked him to focus on 4 questions.

Question #1:  Do I understand what I read?

• Principle:  It might seem obvious, but the best way to get correct answers on a reading test is to first understand the reading.  The purpose of skimming and scanning is to gain understanding of a reading passage.  Skimming is a quick look at a passage to understand the big idea and scanning is a close look to find more detailed information.  However, knowing the purpose of skimming and scanning is very important.  
• Practice:  People become good at something by practicing.  It is important to read many different texts from various sources, not only IELTS reading passages.  When reading, take time to ask yourself, “What does this mean?” after reading each paragraph.  You can practice by saying in your own words what you understood from the paragraph.  When you finish reading all the paragraphs in a passage, ask yourself more questions like:
  • What is the main point of this passage?
  • What does the writer want the reader to understand?
  • Who is the audience?
  • What questions do I have about the passage?

Question #2:  Do I know the vocabulary?

• Principle:  Knowing more vocabulary makes you a better reader.  The more words you know, the more of a reading passage you will understand.  Students with a lot of vocabulary do better on IELTS reading. How much vocabulary should you know? This post gives some perspective about the importance of vocabulary.
• Students who focus on learning synonyms and paraphrasing have a wider vocabulary.
  • Synonyms are words that have the same or similar meanings.
  • Paraphrasing is saying something with the same meaning in a different way.  
• Practice:  IELTS reading test questions are written using a lot of synonyms and paraphrases of what is in the reading passage.  Improve your vocabulary by learning different ways to say the same thing.  Use word lists if that is helpful to you, but expand the words in those lists with synonyms and paraphrases.  

Question #3:  Can I read faster?

• Principle:  Reading faster helps students finish more questions on the reading test.  Many students I have worked with cannot finish the reading section because they can’t read fast enough.  If you read faster and understand what you read, you will get a better reading score.  
• Practice:  You can read faster!  Here are some steps to reading faster:
  • Time yourself:  Check your reading speed and set a goal to finish the same number of lines in a shorter time.
  • Read groups of words, not single words.
  • Move your finger (or pencil) along the line as you read.  This helps you focus and concentrate instead of looking around the page.  Set a pace for your finger and gradually increase your speed.
  • Check out some techniques of speed reading online.  It really can help.

Question #4:  Do I know how to handle the different question types?

• Principle:  Familiarity with the types of questions on the IELTS reading test is necessary to getting a better score.  Different questions require different strategies.  Know the question types.
  • True / False / Not Given
  • Multiple choice
  • Short answer
  • Sentence completion
  • Matching sentence endings
  • Summary completion
  • Matching headings
  • Matching information
  • Labeling diagrams
• Practice:  Learn the different question types.  Get a practice test and become familiar with the instructions for each of the different types.  

Mohammed decided to become a better reader.  He made a plan to read more  articles and books, along with practice IELTS reading passages.  He made a plan to learn more vocabulary words.  He made a plan to become a faster reader.  And he made a plan to understand more about the IELTS reading question types. 

What is your plan for becoming a better reader?  

Send me a DM on Instagram or write me an email at jerry@learnenglishwithmrjerry.com to let me know. Comments below are also welcome!