Top 15 Reading Tips by an Expert IELTS Mentor
Reading module is a challenging module in IELTS for many. When the Academic reading passages are lengthy and based on scientific topics involving complex vocabulary, General Training reading passages are simple to understand but questions are quite confusing. In order to get high band score in IELTS Reading section and to help you overcoming the hurdles you face while attempting reading passages, below are some of the reading tips given by an expert IELTS mentor. Let us learn the important and useful tips on reading module:
1. Keep on Reading to Improve Grasping Power
If you have the habit of reading a number of books or online materials, it will definitely help you a lot in the reading test. If you don’t, you can develop this habit by reading textbooks, magazines, newspapers and articles online. This will help you in grasping the written content in less time and also, you will improve your concentration. For half an hour or so, try reading text on a daily basis as part of your exam preparation.
2. Prepare a Reading Strategy
For your success in exam, it is extremely important that you prepare a reading strategy and implement the same in the exam effectively. There can be a number of reading strategies from which you can adopt the one which works best for you. For example, if you think solving the 3rd section first helps you gain confidence, instead of doing it at last, use this strategy as per your comfort level.
3. Practice Mock Tests
Solve a number of mock tests from Cambridge IELTS books, IELTS websites or other materials shared by your training institute. Always remember that practice is the key to your success in the exam. It can’t be the case at all that you hardly do practice of 1 or 2 reading passages and you can get high band score.
After solving every practice test, you come to know your weak points and silly mistakes. The more you are aware of your mistakes before exam, the better it is for you since you can then avoid them during the exam.
4. Manage Time Effectively
Plan how you are going to divide your time effectively for completing the 3 sections. Prepare a time based reading strategy and practice accordingly. Let’s say, you have 1 hour for your reading test which you can divide as 20 mins each for every section. Keep in mind that time is crucial for success in reading, so do solve the questions with focused mind so that you can complete them all within the time. Also, keep an eye on timer to stay updated how much time you are left with.
5. Stay Concentrated and Focused While Completing a Passage
Concentration is the most important skill that will lead you towards your target band score. Devote time at home for building up your concentration level by reading texts and practicing strictly keeping the timer with you to get the feel of exam. The more focused you are while you read the passages and solve the questions, the more quickly and accurately you are able to solve your answers.
6. Skim the Passage Properly
Skimming is the first major part of the reading test. It is nothing but reading the passage effectively. At the time you read a passage, just try to understand the main ideas of every paragraph you read. Getting a general idea or an overview of each paragraph is what we call meaningful read. One essential tip to skim a paragraph is to keep in mind the first and last line of that paragraph.
7. Underline Keywords
Practically, what is going to help in the reading test is when you underline important keywords in the passage and the questions as well. It is another way of gaining focus using abstract reading that makes you getting closer to find the answer. Some facts, figures, capitalized words etc. are some of the common words that we underline. Also, underline keywords when you read a question and try to find those keywords in the passage to identify the right paragraph that you will refer for finding your answer.
8. Follow the Scanning Process Carefully
After skimming the passage, scanning is the next major element of reading test and this is area that makes the difference when you find out answers correctly. You follow a particular process for scanning; firstly, use keywords from question to locate the right paragraph, read that paragraph to locate the right statement that refers to that question and then read the located statement to find the rights words (keeping in mind the word instruction) as you answer.
9. Always Find Answers in Order
A very basic thing that most of the students are simply unaware about is that your answers follow the same order in the passage as the order of your questions. So, if you have found answer to 3rd question in 2nd paragraph, you would not get answer to 4th question in 1st paragraph, for sure. In almost all the questions, you will find regularity like this, which can be an advantage for you for finding your answers.
10. Understand Paraphrasing and Vocabulary (Guess the Meaning)
Your questions in the reading test are paraphrased which means that different words or synonyms are used in the question. So, not every time you will find the words match with words in the passage. You may have to understand the question and then try to locate the right paragraph by understanding the synonyms. In this case, if you are not aware of the exact meaning of a particular word, even then you can solve the question, merely by understanding the complete statement and guessing the meaning of that complex word.
11. Pay Attention to the Focus of Question
In the question, there is one or the other word that you can consider as the focus of that question. This word will help you find the right answer. You just need to identify this kind of word in the question.
Let’s take an example for this,
Q. What is the major reason why the author did not revert back to his friend?
a. He did not want to continue friendship
b. He found social networking boring
c. He thought it was worthless to speak to him
d. He did not intend to have any negativity again.
Now, here is your paragraph:
Though I am not very fond of Facebook but last night, I just signed into my account and saw that my friend had sent me message on Facebook whether I would like to be in the party or not. After a very long time, I could hear from him for a get together. Last time, we met with each other; there was a huge argument after which I couldn’t get in touch with him. Though I wanted to meet him as well but as I was out of town and did not want to say no to him, I kept mum for a while and replied him after I came back to my place and then we had a grand party together.
The focus in the above question is “major reason”. Though all the reasons are somehow applicable but the major point is the last option as per the underlined statement in the above paragraph.
12. Guess your Answer Grammatically as Well
By looking at the question itself, you can come to know whether the answer would be a noun, adjective, verb, number or a word etc. This will help you a lot in identifying the right answers as grammar plays a very significant role for the same. Also, you can find out whether your answer is to be a singular word or plural word, which is what many of the times found that students are not transferring the answers correctly missing out writing “s” for a plural word.
13. Keep the Instruction in Mind
Word instruction is as important as finding the answer. Let us suppose that your instruction is ONE WORD ONLY but if you have mistakenly written two words as your answer, it would be marked wrong then. So, be careful about the given instruction. It is better to underline the instructions too like keywords.
14. Transfer Answers Carefully
Your answers, in almost all the cases, are to be the same words that you choose from the passage though sometimes you have to change the answer grammatically (for example, changing form of verb). Do not manipulate the answer in any way or do not even write synonym in its place. When you write the exact answer, then only you get the right mark. Also, prefer transferring answers simultaneously or after you complete one section, rather than doing it at the end.
15. Attempt all the Questions
Since there is no negative marking for a wrong answer, it is highly recommended that you should not leave any answer as blank. If you don’t know the answer, guess it rather than leaving blank completely. Who knows what you are guessing comes out to be the right answer. In case of guessed answer, you can mark that question so that you can review it later also if you get time at the end.
If you get confused on a particular question due to nervousness or since you are running out of time, first try to handle it patiently. If it does not work, do not spend too much time solving that single question only. Just guess it and keep on continuing with the rest of the passage.
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Across the globe, many people consider music as a mere amusement tool for individuals while other proponents contend that it plays a pivotal role in our society. However, I firmly assert that music has a significant even irreplaceable role in our daily lives since it has a medical soothing effect on our physical and mental health. However, there are some music that could be considered as only a noise, nothing else.
To begin with, many elderly generations tend to consider modern music as full of noise and anxiety since many latest music producers' masterpieces show fast rhythm and raps. Many adults believe that these types of music only can harm the young generation's mind but obtain nothing good from it. For example, the modern music industry releases much music with there are only a few words, not to mention the content of the text, full of sex exposure and seductive words. Our young generation could be led astray with these kinds of music.
By contrast, music could be extremely peaceful and soothing if it is made by real talented musicians, like, Mozart. According to the research conclusion about some of the classic music, Mozart’s masterpieces may trigger the alfa wave in the human brain and facilitate education and mental healthiness. Besides, some music are good additive for sports, like, elating emotions.
In conclusion, does music plays a great role in our lives depends on the essence of the music itself. I firmly believe that good music may provide us with positive feedback and encourage us to think positively and act efficiently.
It could be considered a band 7.0 sample, checked with Chat GPT and Grammarly.
The flowchart depicts the cheese-producing steps. Overall, there are involved a total of 8 steps in order to produce high-quality cheese. It begins with mixing raw milk with bacteria ending up with processed food delivery.
Firstly, it can be seen that the acidification process begins with mixing raw milk and bacteria in a container, facilitated by the addition of enzymes, resulting in the transformation of the liquid into solid curds. Subsequently, the obtained curds were meticulously sliced into small pieces poured into the pot, and heated the curds before they turned into a dried state. Next, the following step is to pour out the liquefied form of curds into a bowl or other container for adding salts.
In the subsequent stage, the liquid form of curds was cooled down and poured into shape making machine in order to mold them into specific cubic shapes. Moving forward, shaped curds were placed inside the shelf for a two-month fermentation process. Finally, collected fermented cheeses are packaged and then will be delivered to the retailer for sale.
It is a band 6.5 sample, tested with Chat GPT.
Many people consider listening music as one of the best alternative to get relieved from stress and anxiety. Music plays a significant role on the society but some people treat music, just as a form of entertainment.
Firstly, music which reveals family relations and patriotism shows a significant impact on the society and the nation whereas music which completely acts as an antagonist (which affect human relations) may have negative impact on the children and the teen age groups across the world. Melody and romantical songs are always considered as better medicines to anyone who is suffering from depression and stress. Moreover, this type of songs surely relaxes us from various mental tensions and it also merely protects us from being attacked by mental problems but some individuals listen music while driving a motor bike on highways which may pose a dangerous threat to them.
On the other hand, music can also be treated as a simple way of entertainment to the public. Nowadays, some young ones are getting attracted to listening songs while driving a car or when performing physical exercises which shall improve their mood. Whereas, few people listen music to be happier and to improve their sleep quality whilst there are also few people who listen music when they feel bored only for entertainment purpose.
To conclude, in my opinion, music surely plays an important role on the society in both good and bad ways. I'd recommend every individual to consider music as a positive development only, such as to repair ones mood and also for the betterment of the society.
The given diagram illustrates the process of cheese making. This process involves various steps to follow in order to make good quality cheese.
Overall, the main source in cheese production is raw milk, which undergoes several steps after solidifying them to form cheese.
Firstly, raw milk is converted to curd by following a couple of steps such as acidification and adding tenzyme to milk. Then curd formed after this step is converted into solid curd cubes by following solidification process. Then, these cubes are cut into small pieces and are then heated and drained. Next, the liquid formed after heating small curd cubes is taken into a bowl.
Secondly, after heating and draining, salt is added to the liquid, which then undergoes shaping. After shaping, it goes through 2 months of fermentation process. As a result, after 2 months, cheese is formed which is then packed and supplied to various shops.
The diagram illustrates about the process involved in making cheese .
The pivotal point of the whole procedure is producing cheese mainly, these process consists of formation of curd, shaping the curd, fermentation and packaging.
The Raw milk which contains Bacteria in it is known as acidification, by adding tenzyme to this raw milk curd starts producing which is known as solidification then slice the curds into Bits subsequently heating and draining is done to remove the excess amount of water. After heating and draining add salt to the residue, after adding salt to the residue shaping machine provides the structure to the curds.
Fermentation is the most important process for making cheese. In the last stage of these process the structured curds is fermented for 2months where the cheese is formed after the period of 2 months of fermentation, the cheese will parcel to the shops.
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The visual representation depicts the intricate manufacturing process of cheese, involving a series of nine significant stages. These stages encompass a variety of methods, such as acidification, solidification, shaping, fermentation, and more, ultimately culminating in the production of the final cheese product ready for sale.
The initial step in this process is "acidification," where raw milk is combined with bacteria in a container to produce enzymes. The subsequent stage involves "solidification," during which the enzymes are transformed into curds. These curds are then meticulously cut into smaller pieces and subsequently subjected to heating over a flame. The resultant mixture is then carefully drained using specialized cooking equipment. Following the solidification phase, salt is introduced to the curd pieces to enhance flavor and preservation.
In the subsequent stage, these seasoned pieces undergo a "shaping" process, where specialized instruments are employed to give the cheese its desired form. Finally, the cheese is subjected to a critical phase, "fermentation," lasting approximately two months. During this period, the cheese matures, developing its distinctive flavor and texture. Upon reaching maturity, the cheese is carefully and meticulously packaged, ensuring it is well-protected for distribution to various retail outlets.
In conclusion, the manufacturing of cheese is a meticulous and multistep process involving acidification, solidification, shaping, and fermentation, among other essential stages. Each stage contributes to the development of the unique characteristics of the final cheese product, which is then thoughtfully packaged and sent to market for consumers to enjoy.
Music is a form of art and expression particularly evolves the organizations of voice over time, it contains a variety of various meanings and roles for community and individual. Some people presume, it is just an entertainment of daily life whereas other ones assume, it holds a vital influence in society. These opinions are acceptable to argue that music has its exclusive determination by the position.
To begin with music has a role more than only entertaining is a form of expressions in that occasionally related to cultural, religious, and identifying significance exclusively. Another word, each Independence Day surely sings a special national song which contains a meaningful role to remember the hero services, patriotism, and nationalism. Consequently, what statement emphasizes it more than just music, they comprehend that comprehensively. In addition to, music additionally brings a certain identification in various culture by virtue of the recognizing voice organization has been able to introduce what it is from. All of these are identity that play essential role in society as well as it provides a wide range of importance of divergent.
On the other hand, music brings different meaning of its connoisseur since they become it part of alternative to bush mood of daily life. For instance, some people will feel easier to study if they play music firstly. As a consequence, it provides a positive effect into where the help of music has mood booster system. Besides, music is a set-off of voice phenomenon that can absorb the negative energy in body and mind especially those who are interested to disconnect from stress and abundance of life process. This presumption definitely generates undoubted pleasure thing as much like other instruments TV or reading book.
Having two essences of view respectively makes music establishing its meaning differently towards citizens’ segmentation. The assumption it is part of fun activity and the opposite one regards more than entertaining having more paramount impact. In my opinion, both are dynamic of condition and situation as a result all individual reserve the right for their position.
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