Ultimate Guide to I Reading Preparation

Introduction

• Step-by-step strategies for all 12 potential test questions.
• Strategies used by students to achieve band nine.
• Includes two free practice tests and walkthroughs.

Sentence Completion Questions

• Task: Complete sentences using words from the text.
• **Key Problems: **
  • Not reading instructions (e.g., number of words).
  • Poor spelling.
• Strategies:
  1. Read instructions carefully.
  2. Read the incomplete sentences first.
  3. Predict the answers (even if wrong).
  4. Scan for the correct answer location (Where before What).
  5. Check spelling carefully.
  6. Be aware of synonyms.

Summary Completion Questions

• Task: Complete summary using words from the text.
• **Key Problems: **
  • Not reading instructions (e.g., number of words).
  • Poor spelling and grammar.
• Strategies:
  1. Read instructions carefully.
  2. Read the summary text first.
  3. Predict the type of words (noun, verb, adjective).
  4. Scan for location using synonyms (Where before What).
  5. Read the section carefully.
  6. Ensure grammar makes sense.
  7. Double-check answers.

Multiple Choice Questions

• Task: Choose the correct option (usually 3-4 options).
• **Key Problems: **
  • Not differentiating between options.
• Strategies:
  1. Read questions and options carefully.
  2. Skim the text for general meaning.
  3. Focus on differences between options.
  4. Locate specific text sections for each question.
  5. Use process of elimination for difficult questions.
  6. Read the question again and make the final choice.

Short Answer Questions

• Task: Answer direct comprehension questions.
• **Key Problems: **
  • Rushing through questions and misunderstanding them.
  • Not understanding keywords.
• Strategies:
  1. Read and understand questions first.
  2. Underline keywords and think of synonyms.
  3. Scan for the location and read the section carefully.
  4. Double-check the question and decide the answer.

Labeling a Diagram

• Task: Complete diagram labels using text.
• **Key Problems: **
  • Coping with unfamiliar diagrams.
  • Not reading instructions.
• Strategies:
  1. Read instructions carefully.
  2. Understand the diagram without panicking.
  3. Highlight keywords and predict answers.
  4. Scan for location and read in detail.
  5. Check spelling.

True/False/Not Given Questions

• Task: Determine if statements are true, false, or not given based on the text.
• **Key Problems: **
  • Misinformation and not understanding the whole sentence.
  • Focusing too much on keywords.
• Strategies:
  1. Read the whole statement first.
  2. Think of synonyms.
  3. Match statement with the correct text part.
  4. Read the text section carefully.
  5. Determine if meaning matches (True), contradicts (False), or is absent (Not Given).

Yes/No/Not Given Questions

• Task: Similar to True/False/Not Given but focuses on the writer's views.
• **Key Problems: **
  • Confusing with True/False/Not Given.
  • Not understanding the writer's opinion.
  • Confusing the writer's opinion with other views.
• Strategies:
  1. Follow strategies similar to True/False/Not Given.
  2. Focus specifically on the writer's opinion.

Matching Sentence Endings

• Task: Match sentence beginnings with correct endings.
• **Key Problems: **
  • Using logic or grammar instead of text information.
• Strategies:
  1. Read and understand sentence beginnings first.
  2. Predict endings before checking.
  3. Read endings and match obvious ones.
  4. Eliminate wrong endings and match remaining options.
  5. Locate and read the correct text section carefully.

Matching Information to Paragraphs

• Task: Match information to appropriate paragraphs in the text.
• **Key Problems: **
  • Necessity to consider the whole text.
• Strategies:
  1. Do this question last.
  2. Read questions first and think of synonyms.
  3. Skim the text for understanding.
  4. Re-read questions and match with paragraph locations.
  5. Check statements again and mark correct answers.
  6. Move quickly between paragraphs if needed.

Table/Flowchart Completion

• Task: Complete tables/flowcharts using text information.
• **Key Problems: **
  • Not reading instructions.
• Strategies:
  1. Read instructions carefully.
  2. Scan and locate correct paragraph.
  3. Read section carefully.
  4. Transfer words exactly as they are.
  5. Check spelling.

Matching Headings

• Task: Match paragraphs with provided headings.
• **Key Problems: **
  • Processing a lot of information.
  • Focusing too much on keywords.
• Strategies:
  1. Do this question first.
  2. Ignore question statements initially.
  3. Read each paragraph and write your own heading.
  4. Compare your headings with the questions.
  5. Match obvious headings first.
  6. For remaining paragraphs, read carefully and match correctly.

Conclusion

• Understand your own weaknesses and improve on them.
• Personalized improvement is key to achieving high scores.