You all know that the IELTS exam tests language proficiency in four sections. However, the most challenging part for the test takers is to solve the reading section. This is because of the time duration and number of questions. That’s why many people wish to join IELTS coaching in Trivandrum to ace this particular section.

However, in this article, let’s talk about a complete overview of the reading section.

What’s There in Reading Section

The test takers should know what to expect in the reading section. This is because it will help them to make a study plan to prepare well.

However, test takers will encounter three passages in this section. They have to go through the paragraphs and then solve different types of 40 questions using their skills to score well in this section. The test takers will be given 60 minutes out of 2 hours and 45 minutes to complete this particular section.

Overview of All Types of Reading Section Questions

There are 14 different types of questions in the reading section. It makes this section difficult for test takers.

However, let’s go through a complete overview of all the types of questions.

Matching Headings

There will be a list of headings and paragraphs in this task. They both will be numbered and lettered. However, test takers have to match the heading with the correct paragraph and copy the answer into the answer sheet.

Test takers must remember that this task will have more headings than paragraphs, which will make it more challenging for them.

Matching Paragraph Information

However, this task is the same as matching headings. In this task, test takers will have to match the information given in the question with several paragraphs.

Matching Features

In this type of question of the reading section of the IELTS exam, test takers will have to match a group of sentences with the group of features from the passage.

Matching Sentence Endings

Test takers will be given a part of the sentences and they have to match and complete the sentence using the information from the passage.

True/ False/Not Given

These types of questions are the most challenging in the reading section. This is because test takers have to identify the given statement and mark it as True/False or Not Given. In other words, to solve such questions, test takers will have to figure out whether the given sentence is in the passage or not.

Multiple Choice Questions

In such types of questions, test takers will see an incomplete sentence with three to four options from the given passages. However, they have to read the paragraphs and choose the correct answer to solve this section.

List Selection

In this section, there will be several possible options (same as MCQ) from the paragraphs given in the reading section. However, this task is a bit confusing for most of the test takers. So, it is advised that you understand the given paragraphs well.

Choosing a Title

It is an easy task in this section. This is because the test takers just have to write a title for the paragraph based on the information in it.

Note: test takers must have good understanding skills to answer this type of question and even score well.

Short Answer

It is also an easy task in the IELTS exam because test takers have to write short answers for the given questions. Note: The answers must be according to the information given in the paragraphs.

Sentence Completion

Test takers have to complete the sentence with given information based on their reading to answer this type of question.

Summary Completion

In this task, the test takers will be given an incomplete summary of the paragraphs. However, they have to complete it based on their reading.

Note: The answer should not be as it is in the paragraph.

Table Completion

In this task, test takers will find a tale with some missing information. They have to fill in the information with one or two words and complete the summary of the table.

Flow Chart Completion

Test takers will find a flow chart in this type of question. This flow chart contains some misplaced information. However, test takers have to rearrange the flow chart with correct information.

Note: Such types of questions are generally difficult to solve by the test takers.

Diagram Completion

This is the last type of question in the reading section. However, in such questions, test takers will be given one or more diagrams. Their diagrams have some incomplete labels. Test takers just have to fill in the missing information based on the given paragraphs to complete this task.

Know Some Common Challenges and How to Overcome Them

The test takers generally face some challenges while solving the reading section. That’s why they should join IELTS coaching in Trivandrum to get the best assistance. However, after this step, they can solve all the sections and even score well on the exam.

Anyway, you must also know all the challenges and their solutions. This will help you prepare for the exam. Now, let’s discuss some challenges faced by test takers.

Grammar Grasp

The paragraphs in the reading section are taken from local newspaper articles, books and magazines. So, it is hard to understand the intent of the given passages. In addition, they are also full of lexical resources. It makes it more challenging for the students to solve this section.

Time Management

You know that test takers have to solve 40 questions in the reading section of the IELTS exam in just 60 minutes. However, this time is not enough for some test takers, and they fail to solve this section completely. That’s why IELTS trainers in Trivandrum suggest practising time management for the exam.

Solution for Every Kind of Challenge

There are some more challenges that test takers face in this section. However, some of them depend on a person’s skills. But, they must know the skills they should practice to solve this section.

So, let’s know

Know The Structure

First, every test taker should understand the structure of all the sections. This will help them know what they are going to face in each section of the exam, and it will also help them make a timetable to prepare well for the exam.

Practice Skimming & Scanning

Time plays a major role in the reading section of the IELTS. This is because 60 minutes is not enough for many test takers to read the comprehension and answer 40 questions. That’s why experts advise you to practice skimming and scanning. However, this practice will help you manage time for each question in the reading section.

Build Vocabulary

The test takers need to improve their vocabulary and comprehension while reading any paragraph. This is because they will meet with many new words and phrases in the reading section. However, in many cases, test takers struggle with them because they are not able to comprehend the paragraph. Hence, they fail to perform well in this section.

Conclusion

In this article, you read that there are 40 questions that test takers have to solve in the reading section of the IELTS. These 40 questions are of 14 different types which are made from the 3 paragraphs. However, test takers have to read the paragraphs and understand them well to answer all the questions.

However, they follow certain practices, like solving IELTS mock test free online through platforms like gradding.com and more.

However, by solving the mock test papers, test takers are then able to know the structure, build vocabulary, and learn skimming & scanning. It helps them to manage time and all the challenges.