IELTS88 - IELTS Reading Section

Reading section is arguably the most confusing module of the IELTS test,
especially the True, False and Not Given questions. After observing IELTS patterns for
long time, I have came to conclusion that some of the students who get the concept of
Reading module get excellent scores all the time as compared to the students who do not
grasp the underlying techniques.

Believe it or not they are using these techniques subconsciously and that explains how
some students cannot clear IETLS Reading Module that easily. We have dedicated a
whole book on Reading Module of IELTS focusing on True, False and Not given
Questions. Please take some time to go to our Products Section of this website for more
information.

Getting familiar with the format and style of the examination should be the first task of
any student who aspires to take IETLS. You can contact with your friends or someone
who has recently given the test to know what kind of questions are being asked in IELTS
examination. The information you should know involves this question.

What are your weaknesses that could be the problem? It’s best if you start with the
problematic module first followed by other modules in descending order of difficulty.
Find which module is the most difficult one for you.

It doesn’t matter what you do, do it in English. I recommend getting active. Listen to
English radio channels (ABC, BBC). (No English song channels please). You can watch
English movies, but that is not as good as listening to radio. For you to master IELTS,
practice is needed but there is another thing which is needed that is getting the concept
right.

IELTS Reading Tip - 1

If article sentence is repeated as a question directly (sentence in the article changed to

question in the question section)

NOT GIVEN

Example:

In the paragraph there is this sentence,

Children are particularly at risk as the thick hollow stems and broad fan-like leaves lend
themselves to a variety of games.

In Question there is sentence,

Are children particularly at risk as the thick hollow stems and broad fan-like leaves lent
themselves to a variety of games?

(Note: If you think its TRUE for a moment, do not even think about it; most of the
students get it wrong. Most of the times these kind of Paraphrase questions will be asked
in IELTS to trap students. Remember when you see this type it is Not Given guys!)

IELTS Reading Tip - 2

If the question contains “should, must, swear, pledge, resolve, etc…” this kind of strong
words

NOT GIVEN

Examples:

In question,

Organizations should be legally bound to instituonalize day dreaming processes.

Most children must be given space to day dream.

(Note: there is nothing in IELTS world which is sure. When you read the articles in the
IELTS test you will find that 80 % of the time they use uncertain words that are: may,
might, seems to, can, could, etc).

IELTS Reading Tip - 3

If the number in the question is over the given range of numbers in the article

FALSE

Example:

In article,

The Indian revolution started from 1942 to 1947, and India finally got independence in
1947.

In the question,

The Indian revolution started from 1942 to 1947, and India finally got independence in
1948.
IELTS Reading Tip - 4

If the number in the article is over the given range of numbers in the question

NOT GIVEN

Example:

In the article,

In his recent published book, Flora Britannica (1998), Richard Mabey devotes a whole
chapter to garden escapes.

In the question,

The Flora Britannica (1998) by Richard Mabey is devoted to garden

Example:

In the article,

The Indian revolution started in 1942, and India finally got independence in 1947.

In the question,

The Indian revolution started from 1942 to 1947, and India finally got independence in
1947.

(Note: In the article it is just one chapter in the Britannica but in question it is the whole
book, so the article is just focusing on a one chapter and the question is mentioning the
whole Britannica).

(Note: in second example, you can see that, article is just giving a number, while the
question mentions the range of numbers).

IELTS Reading Tip - 5

If in article and question there is only a single number which is mentioned, locate the
information first and then just find the number from the article.

If the numbers and information is same

TRUE

Example:
In the article,

Flora Britannica (1998) was published by Richard Mabey and the writer devotes a whole
chapter to garden escapes.

In the question,

Flora Britannica was published by Richard Mabey in 1998 and writer devotes a whole
chapter to garden escapes.

IELTS Reading Tip - 6

If the numbers and information is different,

FALSE

Example:

In the article,

Flora Britannica (1998) was published by Richard Mabey and the writer devotes a whole
chapter to garden escapes.

In the question,

Flora Britannica was published by Richard Mabey in 1997 and writer devotes a whole
chapter to garden escapes.

IELTS Reading Tip - 7

The information in the question never appeared in the article,

NOT GIVEN

Example:

In the question,

Of the three pieces of Hesse’s work described, the first is the writer’s favorite.

In the article,

The article did not mention anything about “writer’s favorite work” anywhere.
 IELTS Reading Tip - 8

If there are A and B two set of information in the article, but the question only mention A
OR B,

FALSE

Example:

In the article,

Deforestation and fumes from vehicles may lead to environmental imbalance and can
cause disaster.

In the question,

Deforestation or fumes from vehicles may lead to environmental imbalance and can
cause disaster. (Pay attention to this point, it’s very tricky)

Example:

In the article,

Weeds can be removed by hand and without the use of herbicides, in order to encourage
bio-diversity.

In the question,

Weeds can be removed by hand or without the use of herbicides, in order to encourage
bio-diversity

IELTS Reading Tip - 9

If in the article A appears with a restricted terms, but the question only mention A
without that term,

FALSE

Example:

In the article,

Weeds can be removed by hand and without the use of herbicides only when bio-
diversity is needed.
In the question,

Weeds can be removed by hand and without the use of herbicides.

(Note: Question did not mentioned the restricted term “only when bio-diversity is
needed”)

IELTS Reading Tip - 10

In the article, the sentence is A + some conditions that is (unless or if or provided or but
or for or except… etc statement) than or that of B, but in the question only A no
subordinate clause B,

FALSE

Example:

In the article,

When American economy is compared with Japanese economy, we find similar

consumer behavior, provided the market is global.

In the question,

American economy is similar to Japanese economy in terms of consumer behavior.

IELTS Reading Tip - 11

In the article using possibility words “odd, opportunity, chances, many believe, possible,
likely, probable, seems, appear to, one theory is…. etc”

But question changes to certain words “convinced, fact, definitely, invariably, absolutely,
universally, accepted, well-documented, unanimously, perceived, acknowledged, all of
theories…..etc”

FALSE

Example:

In the article,

Many believe that percentages of people who are involved in accidents are found to be
under the influence of alcohol.
In the question,

Percentages of people who are involved in accidents are found to be under the influence
of alcohol had been well documented.

IELTS Reading Tip - 12

In the article appearing “different, various, varied, versatile, a wide variety of ,

diversified….etc” But in question “only, unique, sole…..etc”

FALSE

Example:

In the article,

Researchers at Bell college of Technology selected different varieties of deeper-

burrowing earthworm species for mineral content improvement.

In the question,

Researchers at Bell college of Technology selected unique variety of deeper-burrowing

earthworm specie for mineral content improvement.

IELTS Reading Tip - 13

In the article “somewhat, somehow, someone…all”

But in question “common, usual, normal, typical, etc”. FALSE

Example:

In the article,

The main town in the region called Southhampton, somehow is the hub of UK ports.

In the question,

The main town in the region called Southhampton, is a typical hub of UK ports.

IELTS Reading Tip - 14

The article uses subjunctive, but the question changes to reality or a fact (would/may+
happen in article --- changed to happened in question)

NOT GIVEN

Example

In the article,

There may be little room for further development in residential accommodation of the
Waterside. In the question,

In the question,

There is a little room for further development in residential accommodation of the

Waterside.

IELTS Reading Tip - 15

There are some possibilities in the articles (not necessarily) But question just give one of
those possibilities or situation (A, B and C leads to pollution in article----- pollution
caused by A in question)

NOT GIVEN

Example

In the article,

Google, yahoo and MSN lead us to the way to information age.

In the question,

The way to information age is led by Yahoo.

(Note: In article three companies; Google, yahoo and MSN are mentioned but in
question, only yahoo is mentioned)

IELTS Reading Tip - 16

All the circumstances in the article appear in the question But the extent, emotion and
scope are different

NOT GIVEN
Example

In the article,

It’s good that some day-dreamers survive the process of conformity.

In the question,

It’s good that tomorrow day-dreamers survive the process of conformity

Example

In the article,

A reasonable thesis statement is a declarative sentence that contains no qualifiers.

In the question,

An exceptional thesis statement is a declarative sentence that contains no qualifiers.

{Note: Extent means, the strength in the words, the emotions used in the words, or the
range used in the information. Also, note that second case shows the example of emotion.
You can clearly observe the difference between reasonable (it’s not very good)and
exceptional(it is brilliant)}

IELTS Reading Tip - 17

The question doesn’t give enough information to make a conclusion

NOT GIVEN

IELTS Reading Tip - 18

The question is a conclusion, but cant be made by the given information in the article

NOT GIVEN

IELTS Reading Tip - 19

Add NOT in the question

After adding NOT: if same with article

FALSE

Example:

In the article,

The main town in the region called Southhampton is not the hub of UK ports.

In the question,

The main town in the region called Southhampton is (not) the hub of UK ports.

IELTS Reading Tip - 20

After adding NOT : If differ with the article

TRUE

Example:

In the article,

The main town in the region called Southhampton is the hub of UK ports.

In the question,

The main town in the region called Southhampton is (not) the hub of UK ports.

IELTS Reading Tip - 21

After adding NOT : Still can’t make conclusion

NOT GIVEN

Reasons and Results

“Lead to, cause, pose, contribute to, result in, affect, influence, effect, impact, bring
about, incur, create, trigger, because, in that, so, therefore, consequently, since, hence,
thus”.

IELTS Reading Tip - 22

Turning point words

“But, however, yet, in fact, on the contrary, whereas, on the other hand, conversely,
although, while, albeit, nevertheless, despite, inspite of, even if”

(Note: Always read the sentence which follows your sentence in which you are looking
for answers. If in next sentence you see, However or Yet, these kind of words, then it
means that the answer you thought for sentence is opposite)