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IELTS Techniques
Information Point Kapurthala

Pen and paper

Section 1: Reading

Exam summary

The academic reading module takes 60 mins

There are 3 reading texts with a total of 1500-2500

words

The texts can be on a range of different topics

At least one of the texts will contain a detailed logical

argument

The texts become progressively more difficult to

understand

There are usually 40 questions. These questions become

progressively more difficult.

Golden Rules

Answer the questions quickly and accurately. If you cant

do a question quickly, leave it and come back to it later

You have roughly one and half minutes for each

question

The questions generally follow the order of the

information in the text

The questions are usually paraphrases of the text so

seek for the meaning!!!

Golden Rules

Do not panic if you can only do maybe three questions

out of seven. Go through them again and again, but
quickly.

As the level, the text and the tasks become more difficult,
therefore do the earlier questions as quickly as
possible, to give yourself more time for the difficult
questions

As the passages are long, you dont have to read

them in detail. Skim and scan them to find the relevant
information

Techniques
to increase your speed of reading

1) Skimming. Skim the text to obtain general information.

Think about the general information!!! and not the
detail.

2) Scanning. Scan for specific details only; dont

concentrate on the meaning of the text. If you start to
read, or even to skim, you will find it more difficult to
locate your words.

3) Skim and scan. Skim a text, and stop at particular

points to look at the meaning. Use the questions to guide
you around the text.

4) Scan and skim. When you scan a text for a specific

word, your eyes touches the other information lightly.
Because your focus is on the scanning, your eye skims
the text naturally and does not slow you down. You need
to practice to build your confidence.

Skimming Techniques

Skim the title and the questions. This will give you a
summary of the passage.

Without reading the text, mark the connecting words,

e.g. moreover, in addition, however, etc.

Skim so that you recognize common types of paragraph

organization, like effects, causes, methods, etc.

Skim only the nouns to get the general picture. Learn

differences between a noun, verb adjective and adverb
and their functions.

Read the first sentence of a paragraph then skim the

beginning of each sentence to get general theme!!!

Skim the verbs in each sentence to see if the content of

text is changing

Skim verbs, they usually mark the beginning of new

information

Skim the text to understand the theme, without looking at

the meaning

Skim the text forwards and backwards and note the

words forming general picture : airports, passengers,
lounge, fly

Find the focus of the paragraph, it is not always at

the beginning!!!

Look at the central point of the paragraph and let your

eyes wander around to skim nouns and verbs for the
general idea

Ignore the words you do not know

7 Skimming Tricks

1) Use a pencil to help you skim.

2) Skim each sentence from left to right.
3) When you develop confidence, skim left to right and then
right to left and so on.
4) Move a pencil vertically down through the centre of the
text forcing your eye to look quickly at the text on either
side.

5) Skim diagonally through the text top left to bottom right. You
could also go backwards diagonally or vertically.

6) Jump in different directions through the text. Then stop now

and again and read.
7) Skim the ends of sentences. A sentence is basically divided
between information which refers back to the previous
sentence and information which is new. Information which
refers generally comes at the beginning and new ideas at the
end. Skim the end of the sentences.

Scanning

Choose your scanning word carefully.

Look for words that relate to the general subject. They

can be nouns, names, dates etc.

Keep in mind the basic structure of a sentence.

Look for words and ideas that help you navigate the text.

Look at the questions together and not in isolation

Connect the questions, group them and use this to help

you to jump around the text

Matching
headings to paragraphs

This will test test your ability to understand general

information

Look at any titles with the passage

Use the heading to predict the headings next to it

If the list of headings is long, reveal them one at a time to

stop panicking

Headings are usually connected with each other

Note anything you are already aware of from reading the

other questions

Section 2: Writing

Exam Summary

The academic writing module takes approximately 60

minutes.

There are two tasks in this module:

TASK 1

First task takes about 20 minutes

You are asked to write a report about a graph, table, bar

chart or diagram, using a minimum of 150 words

You are marked on task completion and use of a range of

vocabulary and grammar, organization and development

Golden Rules for

Task 1

Do Task 1 first, it gives you a sense of accomplishment

when you have finished

Spend 20 minutes. You need much time for Task 2!!!

Skim the instructions and study the diagram. Check the

values and numbers

Check that if you write at least 150 words. Lesser words

= affect your score!!!

Avoid focusing on the details

If you have more than 1 graph, link the information.

We recommend
to spend
20 minutes the following way:

2-3 minutes analysing and planning

14-15 minutes writing

2-3 minutes checking

How to write the main part

of the text

Divide your text into 3-4 paragraphs, including the

introduction. One sentence is enough for introduction

Divide the information into general groups/ categories or

trends

Describe the main or most striking/ significant, noticeable

trends/ changes. Avoid writing list of detail. Write about
general trends and support what you say with specific
data.

Describe 3 general trends (upwards, downwards, flat) or

say what happened (rose, fell, remained flat, fluctuated)

TASK 2

Second task takes about 40 minutes. You write an

essay discussing an argument, opinion or a point of view

You may be asked to write about one or more specific

aspects of a topic

You may be asked to give your opinion and suggestions

for causes and solutions.

Specialist knowledge of the subject IS NOT being tested.

You are marked on use of a range of vocabulary and
grammar, organization, development and how you
respond to the task.

Golden Rules for

Task 2

Analyze the essay question and understand the rubric

Check the general topic of the question and check how

many parts there are to the question

Make a brief plan, use focus points of the question

Plan to write about 5 paragraphs*

Brief notes for each paragraph.

Aim 270 words. Work out how many lines 250 words are
in your handwriting, e.g. if your write 10 words per line,
then you will need to produce 25 lines!!!

Keep this plan in mind:

Plan of 5 paragraphs

Title

Paragraph 1 \ Introduction

Paragraph 2

Paragraph 3

Paragraph 4

Paragraph 5

General writing hints

for Task 2

Familiarize yourself with the basic structure of the essay

question and the rubric

Keep the introduction short

Start your paragraph with a general statement and then

support and explain it

Check your spelling

Be aware of the mistakes you usually make and look out

for these. It can make a difference of a score band!

General writing hints

for Task 2

The basic pattern of an English sentence is:

Subject/Verb/Object

Leave yourself 3-5 minutes to check your writing. Check

your writing before and after you write and keep in mind

Remember what you bring to the writing when you do the

exam. Your mind is not a blank sheet!

Section 3: Listening

Exam Summary

Takes approximately 30 minutes.

There are 4 separate sections and you hear each section once
only.*

There are 40 questions. These questions become

progressively more difficult.

4 Sections of listening

Section 1: Conversation between two people on a

general or social theme.

Section 2 : A monologue or an interview on a general or

social theme.

Section 3 : Conversation between up to 4 speakers on

an educational or training theme.

Section 4 : A talk or lecture on a theme of general

academic interest.

Golden Rules

Learn using listening, reading, hearing and writing

simultaneously.

Develop your organizational and prediction skills, add

your concentration.

Practice listening to a wide range of accents!!!

Concentrate on the questions one at a time, but be

prepared for the next question.

Listen to the instructions on tape as well. A general clue

is usually given.

Golden Rules

Skim the questions to get a general idea of the listening

and take notes of key words.

Use your time efficiently.

Go to the next question of you miss a question.

Predict and check:

Predicting is not guessing. You guess when you do not

think about an answer, you predict when you use the
information you have or know to give an answer

Predicting is about using skills you already use in life

generally. So use logic, common sense.

Practice until you predict

automatically!!!

Summary

Concentrate through the whole exam. If you relax, you

end up hearing what is being said and not listened

Use the questions to guide you through the

recording

Concentrate while you are writing answers. If you dont

listen to the recording, you may miss the thread of the
dialogue

Use the prediction skills to help you focus

If you miss a question, leave it and go to the next one. It

is better to miss one question than a whole section

Section 4: Speaking

Exam Summary

The speaking module takes 11 14 minutes

There are 3 sections.*

You will be assessed on your:

Fluency

and coherence

Vocabulary
Range

of grammar and accuracy

Pronunciation

Part 1

Takes about 4 5 minutes.

This part is for the examiner to introduce him/herself and ask

you questions about yourself.

The questions asked in this part are designed to encourage

you to talk.

Part 2

Part 2 takes 3 4 minutes

This part is for you to prepare and give a short talk of 1 2

minutes on a given subject.

Part 3

Takes 4 5 minutes.

During this part, you and the examiner have a discussion

linked to the subject from Part 2.

Golden Rules

Speak as much English as you can.

Sound natural, be spontaneous and relevant.

Be positive!!!

Use a wide range of vocabulary.

Practice speaking clearly.

Keep eye contact with the examiner.

Tips for speaking

Concentrate at one part at a time. For a while forget other

parts

Keep eye contact with the Examiner, even if she/he is

looking away

Remember that the Examiner is just like your teacher. In

fact, Examiners are usually teachers, so they are aware
of how you feel, because their own students feel the
same

Always state your answer and then expand it

The questions are designed to encourage you to talk.

They are not new or unpredictable

You might be asked

about:

A place or a hobby

Your daily routine

Your interests

Places in your country

Special foods/events in your country

Organization skills

Speaking tests your ability to organize what you say. Good

organization improves your fluency and coherence and reduces
your mistakes

Practise making notes and using them to help you speak

Learn to build what you say around the prompts on the card
and your notes

Record yourself; even write your answer down to see how

much you need to say

Do not learn what you have written by heart, but do learn words
and phrases that prompt and guide you

Developing ideas

When you state something, try to qualify it and expand to

support your opinion/reason

The main way/step/measure I think, is to

because this will/can lead toand also

And another way isI also think/feel/believe

In my opinion/From my point of view

Use, adding words: Moreover/What is more

Keep the subject and try not to speak too fast. Speak and
breathe take shallow breaths

Dealing with nerves

Plan

Mock test

Mental exercises

Visualisation

Controlling your physical state

Thank You