ielts Reading Question Types

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QUESTION TYPES IN IELTS READING TEST A variety of question types is used in the reading passages and you need to be familiar with techniques used in each. If any other question type is used, the test will include an example. However, this is unusual. Types of  questions

Examples of direction used ·

Choose the correct letter(s)

OR  ·

Multiple choice

Choose the correct letters for each answer… and write them in boxes 1-5 on your Answer Sheet.

Skills needed

Test strategies

Skimming for general impression or gist. Scanning for specific (usually factual) information.

Highlight keywords. Eliminate other answers.

Understanding the relationships between words and paragraphs. Answer the following questions with  NO MORE THAN THREE T HREE WORDS which must be taken from Short-answer  the text. Write your answer in boxes 6-10 on your Answer Sheet. questions

From the list of headings below choose the most suitable heading for  Sections 1-9 in Reading passage 1. Then, write your answer in boxes 11-17 on your Answer Sheet.

Scanning for specific information.

Use techniques to find answer to who, what, when, where questions. Highlight keywords in questions and look for  these keywords or  synonyms in the passage.

Skimming for general impressions or gist. Identify main ideas in  paragraphs. Locating topic sentences.

Choosing from a heading bank 

Always read headings first and then topic sentences (or first sentence in paragraphs). Do not read whole  paragraph. Do not complete in order  given. Choose the most obvious answer first. Roman numerals are often used: I, II, III, IV, V etc…

Matching lists and phrases

By referring to passage 2, match the list of phrases A-E with steps 1-6. Write the correct letters in boxes 18-

Understanding relationships between

Choose the most obvious answer first.

Good At ESL (English as a Second Language): http://www.GoodAtESL.com 25 on your Answer Sheet. words and paragraphs. Paraphrasing ands synonyms. ·

Look at the following statements and indicate: TRUE if the statement agrees with the information in the passage.

Identifying viewpoints, facts and opinions

FALSE if the statement does not agree

Recognizing opinions and viewpoints. Recognizing main ideas. Interpreting information.

 NOT GIVEN if there is insufficient information in the passage. Making inferences. ·

Do the following statements agree with the views of the writer in Passage 2?

Classifying

Using information provided in Passage 3, classify the following animals as Category A, B, or C. Write your answers in boxes 30-34 on your Answer Sheet.

Be careful of questions that use broad statements like all, always. Make sure that you know the differences in meanings of modal verbs.

Write YES, NO or NOT GIVEN in  boxes 26-32 on your Answer  Sheet. ·

Look at the language used in the passage – is it negative or positive when discussing the topic? Is it emotional or factual / technical?

Scanning for  information. Understanding relationships between words and passages.

Use a highlighter to identify the character of  different categories in the text.

Paraphrasing and synonyms. ·

·

Completing sentences, tables, flow charts, summaries, etc…

Use NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS to complete the sentence.

Scanning for  information.

Choose from the list of words given  below to complete the summary. Then, write your answers in boxes 35-40 on your Answer Sheet.

Summarizing. Identifying parts of  speech. Paraphrasing. Sequencing.

Contractions are not used when words limited are given. Don’t use more than the number of words allotted. Check the question to see if it asks for your own words or words from the text. For summaries ands closes, make sure that you have a general understading of the  passage before starting to complete.

Good At ESL (English as a Second Language): http://www.GoodAtESL.com Information in summaries and closes as the passage.