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By Richa Raj > April 15, 2023
Tricks To Finish Faster At Reading Comprehension Tests Accurately With Meticulous Approach of-Skimming And Scanning
The ability to read and comprehend passages accurately while also completing them on time is a crucial skill for anyone preparing for the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) exam. Achieving a high score in the reading section requires not only strong language skills but also efficient skimming and scanning techniques that enable you to quickly understand the contents of the passage.
However, developing these techniques can sometimes be challenging for test-takers. In this blog post, we'll discuss some tips and tricks that can help you finish faster at reading comprehension tests accurately with a meticulous approach of skimming and scanning.
Importance of Efficient Reading Techniques for IELTS Exam
Before we dive into specific techniques, it's important to understand why efficient reading skills are essential when taking the IELTS exam. The reading module is worth 40 points out of 100, which means it makes up a considerable part of your overall score. This module includes three long passages, which are taken from books, journals, or magazines that include complex vocabulary and sentence structure.
You have one hour to complete this module, so being able to read quickly while maintaining accuracy is crucial. This task requires practical skills and extensive practice that will make sure you avoid any surprises during the actual test.
Let's move forward with our topic!
Skimming Technique
Inefficient reading involves intensive concentration throughout every single word in a paragraph or passage, but this isn’t an effective way to complete this type of exam correctly and within allocated time limit.
Skimming involves speed-reading by grasping overviews rather than focusing on details or specific words. Specifically, students need good observation power by looking at headings/subheadings; note-taking with point-form summaries; key-phrases identification; etc.
The objective behind applying skimming technique is not reducing approach accuracy; instead, this approach can help identify the basic concept covered in the passage or paragraph that enables quick and instinctive answers to questions.
Here are a few steps on how to apply efficient skimming technique:
1. Understand the general topic of the passage
Before skimming through a passage, try to develop an overall understanding of the subject area it covers. You might use headings and subheadings or read initial and final paragraphs within passage contents. This helps frame the scope of following paragraphs more effectively.
2. Look for signals
Words such as 'however', 'additionally', 'therefore', are examples of signposts that indicate points being made in a reading passage. These types of words often appear at the beginning of sentences in academic passages, making them easy to spot.
3. Recognize keywords and key phrases.
As you skim through a paragraph, keep an eye for critical terms that express its central meaning or central theme; Usually Search for bold lettering, italics or underlined content since these often highlight important points.
4. Help yourself with visual aids
Graphs, charts, diagrams etc., can provide essential information about topics while fulfilling your time requirements by providing faster coverage during skim reading.
Scanning Technique
Scanning involves searching for specific details rather than reading linearly from beginning-to-end (like we did with skimming). It’s typically used when trying to find one specific answer rather than gaining general understanding.
This is widely-used technique and test-takers confuse this with skimming where they’re both completely different techniques used for different purposes altogether.
Here's How To Apply Effective Scanning Techniques For IELTS:
1. Highlight keywords
Try highlighting question-related vocabulary before scanning each paragraph within text passages because we’re looking for particular information mentioned in question-set only. This can make recognizing critical information like names or dates more comfortable whereas limiting distractions such as unimportant words/phrases/numbers.
2. Be methodical
While you're scanning the paragraphs, keep track of which word appears in comparison with the questions being asked; when the correct answer arrives, mark it immediately on paper and avoid reading other unnecessary textual contents within paragraph itself just because you're curious or for fun.
3. Avoid distraction
It's essential to remember not getting carried away while attempting practice tests - this means avoiding going into details that appear compelling (but are not necessary) while on a quest to find key information.
Tips For Combining Skimming And Scanning Techniques
Now that we’ve discussed these two techniques separately, combining them can lead to even more efficient approaches at comprehensive reading.
Strategies for both skimming and scanning include:
1. Read instructions carefully.
All instructions within the test booklet should be read before beginning since wasting time during taking a long exam can result in needless stress by misinterpreting them - thus planning always saves time.
2. Know where to look.
Skimming helps develop understanding of the entire passage whereas scanning helps locate/dig out answers for specific questions mentioned. A blend of these superpowers leads towards optimal chances at passing IELTS sessions!
Practice Comprehension Tests with Skimming/Scanning Approach
Now that we’ve discussed some strategies for utilizing skimming and scanning effectively let’s talk about practical application!
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The site understands learners’ requirements well through knowledgeable experts, skilled instructors along creatively structured feedback mechanism integrated into learning process-through top-notch tools perfected over the years by consistent analysis amending existing materials based solely on authentic test data collected during years of previous exams taken by unlimited student cases with varying expertise levels globally.
With UnlockIELTS.com, students receive hands-on practiced comprehension tests encompassing techniques like skimming and scanning that usually come-up in actual IELTS tests.
Conclusion
In conclusion, efficient reading skills are essential for achieving a high score on the reading module of the IELTS exam. Through focusing on technique principles like skimming and scanning (having pupils read through passage quickly grasping overview whereas Scanning focuses more specifically/closely looking for key/related words/phrases) while steering clear of unnecessary distractions - aspirants can improve their chances of completing passages accurately but within time threshold!
In addition, UnlockIELTS.com offers study tools that include practical comprehension tests with specific tips advising usage of aforementioned conceptual tools improving chances at passing challenging exams. The application of these techniques could help you to complete it timely and still maintain accuracy-thereby powering aspirants beyond set IELTS minimum requirements!