IELTS Reading

Skimming and scanning

With 40 questions in 60 minutes, you can't read every word carefully. Skimming means reading quickly for the main idea of each paragraph; scanning means searching for a specific word, name or number.

Skim each passage once, noting the topic of each paragraph, then scan for the key words from each question. Remember that the passage usually uses a paraphrase, so scan for the idea, not only the exact word.

How to answer

Skimming for Overall Meaning

Move quickly across the whole passage; do not stop to understand every word.
Notice ideas that recur; they often reveal the broad subject.
Ask what the passage is mainly about, not what one example or fact says.
Make a short summary in your own words and leave out supporting details.

Example: Skim this short passage for its overall subject.. Many buildings use large amounts of energy to stay cool in summer. Green roofs, which have plants growing on them, can reduce the heat absorbed by roofs. They may also provide a habitat for insects. Overall: the passage is about how green roofs can benefit buildings and urban nature.

Finding Topic Sentences

Ask: What is the paragraph mainly about?
Ask: Does the topic sentence cover the whole paragraph, not just one detail?
Ask: Can the other sentences explain or support the topic sentence?
Ask: Does any sentence disagree with it or introduce a different main idea?

Example: Testing a possible topic sentence. Paragraph: Regular exercise can improve sleep quality. People who are active during the day may feel ready to rest at night. Exercise can also help reduce stress, which can disturb sleep. Test: What is it about? Exercise and sleep. Does the sentence cover the paragraph? Yes. Do the other sentences support it? Yes. Is there a different or opposing main idea? No. The first sentence works as the topic sentence.

Scanning for Numbers

Underline the number type in the question: a date, a quantity or a percentage.
Scan the passage for digits first. Numbers written as words may also appear.
Read the words around a number to check what it measures and which year it refers to.
Check units such as people, years or per cent before choosing an answer.

Example: Worked scan: a report on water use. Question: How many households took part? Scan for a quantity, then check its context. The report says, "The study began in 2021 and included 240 households." Answer: 240 households.

Scanning for Key Terms

Choose a distinctive content word from the question, such as a material, process or idea.
Scan quickly for that exact word instead of reading every sentence.
Read the sentence around the match; the answer may be nearby or qualified.
Check that the surrounding meaning answers the question, not just that the word appears.

Example: Question: What reduced noise in the trial?. I scan the passage for the distinctive word "vegetation". The nearby sentence says that a dense strip of vegetation reduced traffic noise, so the answer is a dense strip of vegetation.

Spotting Word Variations

A question’s key term may appear in the passage with a different ending or word form.
Look for a shared base, such as “analyse” in “analysis”, or “success” in “successful”.
Check whether the passage uses a noun, verb or adjective form of the key term.
Do not choose a word just because it has a similar meaning; check its form and context.

Example: Question key term: reduction. Passage: The filter reduced the amount of dust in the air. Answer: “reduced”. The noun “reduction” appears as a verb in the passage.

Practise

Short items from the ielts.coach lessons. Answer them, then check to see why each answer is right.

Seed banks keep samples of seeds in carefully controlled conditions. These collections can help protect plant varieties that are becoming rare. Researchers may also use stored seeds to study how plants respond to changes in their environment.

1What is the passage mainly about?

Sleep supports several processes involved in memory. In studies, people who sleep after learning often remember information better than those who stay awake. Scientists continue to examine how different stages of sleep contribute to this effect.

2Which option gives the overall subject?

Urban trees can make streets more comfortable in hot weather. Their shade reduces direct sunlight on pavements, and leaves can cool nearby air as water evaporates. These effects may lower the heat people experience outdoors.

3Which sentence best states the main idea?

Researchers use ice cores to study past climates. Tiny air bubbles trapped in the ice preserve samples of ancient atmosphere. Layers also record changes in snowfall and dust over time.

4Which candidate topic sentence best covers all the details?

Between 2012 and 2016, researchers collected water samples from a river. They gathered 180 samples in total, visiting 12 sites each month.

5How many water samples did the researchers gather in total?

A 2020 survey asked residents about their use of public transport. Of those surveyed, 64% said they used it weekly, while 18% used it daily.

6What percentage said they used public transport weekly?

A team measured air quality from 2011 to 2022. The measurements ended in 2022, after the team had recorded data at 15 locations.

7In what year did the measurements end?

A two-month study compared rooftop planters with and without mulch. The mulch reduced water loss from the soil, especially during warm, windy periods. Plant growth was similar in both groups.

8What did mulch do in the study?

Test hacks

False vs Not Given

False means the passage says the opposite. Not Given means the passage doesn't say either way. Don't use your own knowledge.

Why it works: Confusing False and Not Given is an easy trap: choosing False when the passage simply says nothing about the point.

Answers usually follow passage order

For most question types (True/False/Not Given, gap-fill, multiple choice) the answers appear in the same order as the passage.

Why it works: Once you find answer 3, answer 4 is almost always after it. You'll search a much smaller area.

Hunt for synonyms, not the same words

Questions paraphrase the passage. Look for words with the same meaning, not identical words.

Why it works: Matching exact words often leads to the distractor; the real answer is usually paraphrased.

Practise with feedback on every answer

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