ielts reading skills workshop_emel ortac

IELTS READING SKILLSWORKSHOP

BY EMEL ORTAC

GLOBAL READİNG SKİLLS

Never read without a purpose

Not every main idea is at the beginning or

end of a paragraph

Use the heading, subheading, introduction

and conclusion to understand the gist of the

topic. DO NOT read all of the passage as

soon as you see it.

Go directly to the questions.

GLOBAL READİNG SKİLLS

Identify the type of question (to remember

the tactic needed) and pay attention to the

instructions.

Start underlining key words, think of possible

synonyms for them.

Unknown words can sometimes be guessed

from context, form or can be skipped in order

to save on time.

GLOBAL READİNG SKİLLS

Skimming: for a general understanding

Scanning: for specific detail

Detailed reading: for the idea

TYPES OF PASSAGES

Narrative Descriptive Discursive / argumentative

At least one text contains detailed logical argument.

Texts may contain non-verbal materials such as diagrams, graphs or illustrations.

If texts contain technical terms then a simple glossary is provided. Ta

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QUESTİONS AND COMMENTS FROM CANDIDATES

1. Can I start from whichever passage I want?

2. I don’t like some of the question types, can I do

the ones I like first?

3. I have to understand EVERYTHING, so I will read

the text in detail before I look at the questions.

Will this save me time?

4. I really hate reading. Everything is boring.

5. I feel like I have to be an expert to understand

these passages, what can I do to change that?

WHİLE TEACHİNG: TASK FOCUS

Multiple choice: tests a wide range of reading skills including detailed understanding of specific points or an overall understanding of the main points of the text.

Identifying information: assesses the candidate’s ability to recognise particular points of information conveyed in the text.

Views/claims: assesses the candidate’s ability to recognise opinions or ideas.

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WHİLE TEACHİNG: TASK FOCUS

Matching information: assesses the candidate’s ability to scan for specific information.

Matching headings: tests the candidate’s ability to recognise the main idea or theme in the paragraphs or sections of a text, and to distinguish main ideas from supporting ones.

Matching features:  assesses the candidate’s ability to recognise relationships and connections between facts in the text and their ability to recognise opinions and theories.

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WHİLE TEACHİNG: TASK FOCUS

Matching sentence endings: assesses the candidate’s ability to understand the main ideas.

Sentence completion:  assesses the candidate’s ability to locate detail/specific information.

Summary, note, table, flowchart completion: assesses the candidate’s ability to understand details and/or the main ideas of a section of the text.

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WHİLE TEACHİNG: TASK FOCUS

Diagram label completion: assesses the candidate’s ability to understand a detailed description, and to relate it to information presented in the form of a diagram.

Short-answer questions: assesses the candidate’s ability to locate and understand precise information in the text.

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BEFORE EACH TACTIC, REMEMBER TO…

Identify the type of question (to remember

the tactic needed) and pay attention to the

instructions.

Start underlining key words, think of possible

synonyms for them.

Unknown words can sometimes be guessed

from context, form or can be skipped in order

to save on time.

FİNDİNG İNFO, MATCHİNG HEADİNGS

Go directly to the questions. Check instructions: Can you use a letter more than once? (NB)

Start underlining key words, think of possible synonyms for them.

Read a paragraph, check list for possible answers.

If you cannot find something in that paragraph, skip to the next paragraph. You can always come back later when your list is shorter.

Go paragraph by paragraph

SUMMARY (WİTH/WİTHOUT BOX) Go directly to the questions. Check instructions: What is

the word count? Check title: Does it refer to the whole text or a part of

it? This type usually follows other questions; you need to

have read the area to activate your short-term memory. (with a box) Look at words in the box, try to find one or

two alternatives for each space. Start underlining key words, think of possible synonyms

for them. Start scanning for words/ideas. Careful of grammatical clues. Copy-paste directly, do

not change the word(s) Read your answer: Does it make sense?

SENTENCE COMPLETİON

Go directly to the questions. Check instructions: What is the word count?

Start underlining key words, think of possible synonyms for them.

Start scanning for words/ideas. Careful of grammatical clues. Copy-paste

directly, do not change the word(s) Read your answer: Does it make sense?

SHORT ANSWER QUESTİONS

Go directly to the questions. Check instructions: What is the word count?

Start underlining key words, think of possible synonyms for them.

Start scanning for words/ideas. Copy-paste directly, do not change the

word(s) Read your answer: Does it make sense?

DİAGRAMS, FLOWCHARTS, TABLES

Go directly to the questions. Check instructions: What is the word count?

Look at the title and/or categories: Those words will help you locate a starting point in the text.

Scan for those words. Once located, start underlining key words, think of possible synonyms for them. Be careful of grammatic clues.

Start scanning for words/ideas. Copy-paste directly, do not change the

word(s)

TRUE/FALSE/NOT GİVEN, YES/NO/NOT GİVEN

Go directly to the questions. Check instructions: Is it T/F/NG or Y/N/NG?

Start underlining key words, think of possible synonyms for them.

Start scanning for words/ideas. TRUE/YES = The same (paraphrased) idea. FALSE/NO = The opposite idea. NOT GIVEN = a) it is not mentioned, b) only

partially mentioned (the word/s, not the idea) If you have read it twice, and are still unable

to answer: a) in might not be there, b) skip it and come back later.

CLASSİFİCATİON

Go directly to the questions. Check instructions: Which categories do I have?

Start underlining key words, think of possible synonyms for them.

Go to the text, underline names/ words of categories.

Read around these found words scanning for keywords/ideas.

PİCKİNG FROM A LİST

Go directly to the questions. Check instructions: How many do I need to find?

This is like a hidden T/F/NG, but you only need to find the TRUE answers.

Start underlining key words, think of possible synonyms for them.

Start scanning for words/ideas.

MULTİPLE CHOİCE

Go directly to the questions. Start underlining key words, think of possible

synonyms for them. Start scanning for words/ideas. There is almost always an option that is the

opposite to what is stated in the passage, another which is completely unrelated and another which may look correct because it may mention the same or a similar word, but is lacking the idea (a “False Friend”).

Never leave an answer unfilled, if need be, make an educated guess.

OUTSİDE THE CLASSROOM

Encourage reading from academic/formal sources:

Wikipedia BBC Learning English TIME Magazine National Geographic www.myenglishpages.com > Reading www.ielts-exam.net > IELTS Practice Tests http://www.marshalladulteducation.org >

Reading Skills for Today’s Adult