Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Let’s Read!
A Guide to IELTS Reading
Let’s learn about the test. Work in pairs.
Read this information about the IELTS Reading Test and complete the tasks:
A The Reading Test is the second part of the IELTS test. It is 60 minutes with 40
questions. There are 3 texts (a total of about 2000-2500 words). You will be given a
question paper and an answer paper. You should write your answers directly onto the
answer paper, as you will NOT have extra time at the end to transfer your answers.
B Texts are taken from magazines, newspapers, journals and books. All reading topics are of
general academic interest and you do not need specialist knowledge. At least one text will
contain a logical argument. One text may include a diagram, graph or picture. If there are
any technical words or terms, which you are not expected to know, then a short
explanation will be provided at the bottom of the page.
In the IELTS Reading Test there are EIGHT different types of tasks.
1. Multiple choice
2. Short answer
3. Completing the sentence
4. Notes/summary/diagram/flow chart completion
5. Matching headings to text
6. Identifying writers opinions/ideas - yes/no/not given
7. Identifying information in the text - yes/no/not given or true/false/not given
8. Classification: matching features, lists or phrases
1
IELTS Preparation READING 1
Answer these question using NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS for each answer.
If there is a difficult word which needs specialist knowledge, you will be given a/an
……………………..…………………………………………………………………………………………… .
5. Matching headings
Choose the correct heading for paragraphs A and B from the list of headings below.
Write the correct number 1 to 4 in boxes 1 and 2.
2
IELTS Preparation READING 1
C The reading module may be difficult, but if you prepare carefully and practise a number
of different reading activities, you should be successful. The exam is only 60 minutes,
with no extra time for writing your answers. This means you must write all your
answers neatly, with good spelling and grammar, on the answer sheet.
Do the following statements agree with what the writer says in Paragraph C?
In boxes 1-4 on your answer sheet write:
7. Read paragraphs A, B and C again. Are these statements TRUE, FALSE or NOT
GIVEN (i.e. there is no information).
1. The Reading Test is the third part of the IELTS exam. ………………………
2. The Reading Test is a one hour test. ………………………
3. The second passage is always the most difficult. ………………………
4. There is extra time for writing your answers. ………………………
Answers
1. The exam is one hour long.
2. The exam is not easy, but it’s not impossible.
3. Practise a range of different activities.
3
IELTS Preparation READING 1
Which TWO statements are true according to the text. Circle the letters.
A. Rivers will flood their banks when the sea level rises.
B. Warmer water holds less carbon dioxide. This worsens the global warming problem.
C. Sea life will die out because of less oxygen in the sea water.
D. Scientists think that global warming causes the polar ice-caps to melt.
E. Polar bears will lose their fur because of the change in temperature.
4
IELTS Preparation READING 1
Complete the sentences below with words taken from the text.
Use no more than THREE words for each answer.
1. Water from frozen ice caps melts and flows …………………………………………... .
2. This lowers the …………………………………………... of salt in the water.
3. Water with a high …………………………………………... usually sinks to the bottom of the sea.
In the second type, you have to complete sentences from a list of options.
Complete each sentence with the correct ending A-G from the box below.
1. Fresh water from melting ice-caps…
2. Scientists say that global warming…
3. Lower saline levels…
4. A theory about global warming…
5. Saline dense water…
2 ……………………………
usually sinks to the
1. …………………………… bottom of the sea.
flows into the sea. 5