IELTS Reading Section
Introduction to IELTS Reading Section
Before talking about the IELTS Reading section
IELTS (International English Language Testing System) is an English proficiency test for the non-native candidates who intended to either study and work or to migrate in the countries where English is used as a language of communication and this IELTS test, a foremost requirement.
This IELTS test was first conducted in 1938. Since then it is jointly managed and conducted by the British Council; IDP, IELTS Australian and Cambridge English Language Assessment.
With every passing year, the popularity of the IELTS test is touching the sky. This can be evidently seen with the massive record of 3 million test takers in the year 2017.
When the number of test takers across the globe is already touching the heights of million, do you think cracking this exam is going to be a plain sail?
May be or Maybe not. It sounds challenging in, either way. So let’s consider this as one.
If you really want to hit the arrow at the right place, the first rule is to get familiar with your goal I.e. IELTS Test here.
Practice your IELTS with Exam-Practice
Types of IELTS test
Depending upon the reason behind taking this IELTS test, the exam is further categorized into IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training.
1.IELTS Academic Test
This exam is suitable for students who want to pursue a bachelor or postgraduate degree programme or for the ones who are seeking professional registration in the UK.
2. IELTS General Training
This exam is taken by ones who are either planning to study, work or train in an English native land like Australia, Canada, New Zealand or the U.K.
Further, in both the IELTS types, you are going to be evaluated on the basis of 4 major testing skills.
IELTS: Test of four skills
Being a task-based test, not one, two or three but there are four IELTS module on the basis of which you are going to be evaluated:
IELTS Reading Module
So here in this particular article, we are going to have a detailed view of the third testing skill i.e. IELTS Reading Module.
IELTS Reading Module
The IELTS Reading Module is a 60 minutes evaluation. Out of the four above mentioned IELTS module, besides IELTS Writing, this (IELTS Reading Module) is the only one that varies in both of the IELTS types; IELTS Academic Test and IELTS General Training.
Both IELTS Reading Module; Academic and General Training aim to assess the following mentioned skills:
•Whether you are able to understand the inferences and implied meaning.
•Whether you can recognize the central idea.
•Whether you can follow the development of an argument.
•Whether you are able to get details from the texts.
The main distinction between both of the types in the IELTS Reading Module arises on the basis of genre and text.
Let’s see the grounds of the similarities and differences of IELTS Reading Module in the more convenient way with the help of a table below:
|
IELTS Academic |
IELTS General Training |
|
| Time |
60 minutes |
60 minutes |
| Number of questions |
40 questions |
40 questions |
| Sections |
3 sections |
3 sections |
| Text type |
Text from: Journal, Magazines, Newspaper, Books |
Text from: Notice, Manual, Leaflet, Advertisement, Newspaper, Magazines |
| Interest |
General Interest text for the non-specialist audience. |
Texts related to everyday life, work & general interest. |
Now it’s time to have a detailed view on IELTS Academic Reading Module and IELTS General Training Reading Module.
IELTS Academic Reading Module
In this 60 minutes of evaluation of the IELTS Academic Reading Module, you have to answer 40 questions.
With each correct answer, you will be awarded one mark.
There will be three sections, each having different text. That means there sections equal to three texts.
Let’s get to know about the reading passages/texts
The Reading Passages/Texts
There are three texts in this IELTS Academic Reading Module, mounting up 2,150 to 2,750 words.
In all 3 sections of the IELTS Academic Reading Module topics are of general interest at undergraduate or postgraduate level.
They can randomly be taken from any newspaper, magazines, journal and online resources written for non-clerical audiences.
In three of the texts, at least one text will contain a detailed logical argument. Also, from the remaining one of the text may contain non-verbal materials such as graphs, illustrations or diagrams.
There is one great advantage that is given to the candidate if there are technical terms which you are unaware of, then at the end of the text, there is a glossary provided.
After knowing about the reading passages it’s necessary as well as beneficial to know about the types of questions too.
The Questions of IELTS Reading Section: Academics
In the IELTS Reading section of the IELTS Academic test, at first, you are provided with the instructions which are clear and easy to follow.
In fact, you will be provided with examples of any unfamiliar question types.
So, let’s have a proposition about the type of questions you can expect to see in the IELTS Academic Reading Module:
|
Types of questions |
|
1. Multiple Choice Questions |
|
2. Short Answer Questions |
|
3. Identifying Information |
|
4. Identifying Writer’s View |
|
5. Labelling Diagrams |
|
6. Completing a summary using words taken from the text itself. |
The position of questions usually varies, that means some question may come before a passage and some may come after.
One thing that you have to keep in mind from the very start of the IELTS Reading Module – Academic is that you must answer all questions on an answer sheet within 60 minutes itself.
There will be no extra time given at the end to transfer your answer to an answer sheet. So, time management is another key.
IELTS General Training Reading Module
Just like the IELTS Academic Reading Module, the IELTS General Training Reading Module is also a 60 minutes evaluation having 40 Questions and each one worth 1 mark.
Let’s get to know about the reading passages/texts.
The Reading Passages/ Texts
There are three texts mounting up 2,150 to 2,750 words, each text is harder than before.
Unlike of IELTS Reading Module – Academic, the reading passages of IELTS Reading Module – General Training are taken from notice, manual, leaflets, advertisement, newspaper, and magazines.
These are texts about the real-life situations in which you have to deal at a regular basis in an English speaking country.
Let’s have a quick look at the three sections of IELTS Reading Module: General Training
Now after getting familiar with reading passages it will be great to know about the types of questions too.
The Question of IELTS Reading Section: General Training
|
Section |
Description |
Example |
|
Section 1 |
It either has two-three short texts or several shorter text, based on everyday life. |
Timetables or notices – things a person would need to be familiar with while living in a non-native land. |
|
Section 2 |
It has two texts which purely deals with work. |
Work contracts, Job description, and training material. |
|
Section 3 |
It has only one text which is more detailed, complex and longer from above. |
A general text from newspaper, magazines, book or online resources. |
Though the texts in both of the IELTS Reading Module varies but the types of question in both are identical.
|
Types of questions |
|
1. Multiple Choice Questions |
|
2. Short Answer Questions |
|
3. Identifying Information |
|
4. Identifying Writer’s View |
|
5. Labelling Diagrams |
|
6. Completing a summary using words taken from the text itself. |
After getting to know about the question types, isn’t it necessary to know about the score band on which you are going to be evaluated?
So, without delaying more let’s make an addition in your knowledge on the grounds of IELTS Reading Section Band Score.
IELTS Reading Band Score
The IELTS evaluator ensures about the accurate evaluation by applying the strict criteria that help in reflecting the exact level where your communication or writing skills stand.
It follows the 9-band scoring, though there are no set bars to be called as “failed” or “approved”.
Before moving further let’s get a brief on 9-Band Scoring.
9-Band Scoring
IELTS Score ranges between 0-9 (Nonuser to expert).
|
IELTS Band Score |
Skill Level |
| 9 | Expert |
| 8 | Very Good |
| 7 | Good |
| 6 | Competent |
| 5 | Modest |
| 4 | Limited |
| 3 | Extremely Limited |
| 2 | Intermittent |
| 1 | Nonuser |
To see the description of all Band Scores(0-9), have a quick look at British Council Official description of different bands
Now let’s get back to the mainstream of calculating IELTS Reading Section Band Score.
How to calculate the IELTS Reading Section Band Score?
The IELTS Reading section contains 40 questions. With, each correct answer you will be awarded one mark.
You should be careful while writing your answers, as every incorrect spelling and grammar will make you lose marks.
As the IELTS Reading section varies in both the types of IELTS, so the IELTS Reading Module Band Scores also varies.
This will get more clear with the tables showing band scores with the average number of correct answers below:
IELTS Academic Reading Band Score
|
Correct Answer |
Band Scores |
|
40-39 |
9 |
|
38-37 |
8.5 |
|
36-35 |
8 |
|
34-33 |
7.5 |
|
32-30 |
7 |
|
29-27 |
6.5 |
|
26-23 |
6 |
|
22-19 |
5.5 |
|
18-15 |
5 |
|
14-13 |
4.5 |
|
12-10 |
4 |
|
9-8 |
3.5 |
|
7-6 |
3 |
|
5-4 |
2.5 |
IELTS General Training Reading Band Score
|
Correct Answers |
Band Scores |
|
40 |
9 |
|
39 |
8.5 |
|
37-38 |
8 |
|
36 |
7.5 |
|
34-35 |
7 |
|
32-33 |
6.5 |
|
30-31 |
6 |
|
27-29 |
5.5 |
|
23-26 |
5 |
|
19-22 |
4.5 |
|
15-18 |
4 |
|
12-14 |
3.5 |
|
9-11 |
3 |
|
6-8 |
2.5 |
As we have discussed IELTS Band Score above, hopefully, it will help you to have Good IELTS Score.
Finally, from a basic introduction to the IELTS Reading module to its sections, from sections to its Question types followed by the IELTS Reading Module Band Score we have discussed everything here in this particular article.
Hope it will help you in your journey in a more better way. Good luck!
