Learn IELTS Reading Test with Free Lessons & Tips

1.Adversary (noun)

• MEANING: One who opposes or resists
• SENTENCE USAGE: Joseph hoped to defeat his adversary in the afternoon's tennis match.
• Synonyms: opponent, enemy

2. Absolve (verb)

• MEANING: To forgive; to free from guilt
• SENTENCE USAGE: Maria felt greatly relieved after her mother absolved her for breaking the vase.
• Synonyms: exculpate, pardon

3. Archetypal (adj)

• MEANING: Characteristic of the original model or perfect example
• SENTENCE USAGE: Shakespeare's sonnets are considered archetypal love poems
• Synonyms: classic, consummate

4. Brandish (verb)

• MEANING: To shake or wave menacingly
• SENTENCE USAGE: The baseball player was fined for brandishing his bat at the opposing pitcher.
• Synonyms: flourish, swing

5. Clairvoyance (noun)

• MEANING: Ability to see things beyond ordinary perception
• SENTENCE USAGE: Shawna used her clairvoyance to help Alex find his lost keys.
• Synonyms: divination, foretelling

This task is going to give you several statements in the form of sentences and you have to decide if comments are True/false/ Not given in case information of the statement is not stated in the reading passage.

:- Needless to say, you always find proof in the text to answer the questions.

:- You don't use common sense, generally accepted truths, your logic, or any of that:- you use information that you find in reading Passage.

find in the reading text

here is how a true/ false/ not given task will look like:

see in practice test you will find information

now how to solve it

Always read the instructions carefully.

:- there will be at least one answer to each /- Underline keywords and words that cannot be paraphrased

e.g., -homeschooling

:- Do not expect to see the same words as in the text

the statements will follow the order of Passage

so if you read and underline those words, it will consume less time to solve it

do not stick to one question remember you have to score well

if you find D section easy then do it first

time management in ielts is important

when all your questions r solved, try to solve those questions which you left for last to answer.

Introduction

Reading is one of the best and most essential habits that can be taught. Those who have the habit of reading are those who can truly understand the value and pleasure of reading. Very few are aware of the benefits of reading good books.

Importance of Good Reading Habits

Habits of reading develop lively imagination, knowledge and vocabulary. Here are a few points that describe the importance of good reading habits: the main reason for reading is that we are gaining experience. Books are a rich source of knowledge and information. Reading books on various genres gives you information and a deep insight into the subject you are reading about. You always learn something new when you read.

It is a proven fact that those with good reading habits show signs of higher intelligence. Books open the mind with diverse and abundant genres and enhance creative skills and language skills.

Reading fiction helps build empathy and better relationships with others. You become a part of the story and sympathise with characters naturally. You become more aware of how people in different situations get affected. It enhances your ability to empathise with others in general.

You're also inspired to write good reading. Many writers are inspired by reading more and more and gain expertise. You learn language skills and enjoy playing with words.

Reading is also a kind of motivation in which de-stressing works wonders. Reading motivational books can make a real difference in our lives. Reading autobiographies can also encourage us to work hard to achieve our goals and to remain dedicated. It helps us in life to become a better person.

Conclusion

Good reading habits have many advantages. It keeps your mind active, healthy and robust. Reading is essential for your personal growth and development as a whole. Besides, if you develop good reading habits, you will never feel bored or lonely.

Hello there!

An unlikely title for an IELTS lesson; this is, of course, not intended for my existing students, but for those who are scouting for a trainer for themselves. A right amount of my precious time gets wasted in engaging with people who are looking for the cheapest trainer around, and herein lies the paradox - if one is reaching out to me in the light of the testimonials and success stories of my students in the reviews section, if one is looking for personal attention, exclusivity, trainer commitment et al, or in brief, everything that an institute or a non-certified/inexperienced trainer offers, then it will not be the cheapest course around. So, here I am listing out what I believe should be the relevant questions all prospective IELTS test takers should ask themselves and the trainer, instead of prioritising the fee.

* Are you serious about IELTS and your vision of your career and future?

Yes, that's the most vital question, and no, the answer is not apparent. Are you planning to take IELTS because your friend/colleague attempted it and got his/her intended score and has now successfully relocated to their country of choice? While this can, undoubtedly, be motivational, none of us can replicate others' achievements by merely wishing for it. Your current language proficiency levels may widely vary from your friend's, and while it may have been relatively easy for them, it can be an arduous task for you. Are you willing to work hard for it - consistently, and daily? Because getting your desired score is YOUR job, not the trainers.

If your answer to the above is yes, then the next aspect to reflect on would be the parameters to pick a trainer( I am not bothering to include institutes here because those are just commercial ventures designed for profit, feeding on aspirants' dreams, with no commitment to individuals).

* Is the trainer certified to teach for IELTS?

Although going to a Teachers' Training course does not guarantee the trainer's ability to design and deliver an IELTS course successfully, but those who have been guided by the British Council, certainly have the edge over the others who are merely providing this along with PTE and a bunch of English courses. IELTS has a particular format, assessment criteria etc. that those who are exclusively dedicated to, have a much better hold of.

* Does the trainer have a unique offering?

How has the trainer designed the course? Is the trainer looking to enhance your skills or divide hours among all four modules with no linkages? Listening and speaking skills are closely related, so are reading and writing skills; hence, there can be no clear boundary with lesson delivery as well. While our skills are tested separately in the exam, learning does not happen in isolation.

How much attention is paid to grammar and vocabulary enhancement? For those who are unaware, vocabulary and grammar contribute to 50% of the assessment in the speaking and writing sections; likewise, your comprehension ability in even the listening and reading sections can be limited by your grammar/vocabulary. So, here is why anyone who is offering you a crash course is bluffing you - improvement in grammar/vocabulary takes time. There is no shortcut to it.

Next, is the trainer capable of assessing your current language proficiency level and guide you accordingly to your desired score? The timeline for preparation depends entirely on this. Hardly can two people be ready at the same time. Therefore, even the preparatory materials may vary. What works for the intermediate level indeed is inadequate for the advanced level. It is the biggest challenge for a teacher/trainer - of juggling various levels in a class, and only a very few are adept at this. A good many students come to me needing help exclusively for writing, so if you are one of them, ask the trainer to explain why you could be stuck at band 6.5 and what is needed to cross the barrier. A trainer who can take you there will be able to tell it convincingly.

Finally, is the trainer committed to guiding you through your complete preparatory phase and not just the training hours? Because unless you are already proficient and do not require post-training assessments and feedback periodically, just the training hours will never be enough.

* How important is a demo class?

It is irrelevant if you have asked all the questions mentioned above and are satisfied with the answer. And this is why I don't offer one. A transparent discussion( face-to-face, if possible) is essential, not a random class with no context.

* Can a trainer guarantee specific scores?

No, the trainer can only guarantee their commitment towards you but has no control over your motivation(or lack, thereof) and dedication towards your plans. Their responsibility lies in patiently guiding you, not ensuring results.

I hope the above helps in reaching out to trainers as a sincere learner, and not as a commodity buyer looking for the cheapest bargain.

IELTS is neither a Cakewalk nor a piece of Cake!

English is just another language! Then why do we face difficulty in IELTS exam?

The fact is that most of us either get too scared of it or take it too lightly and in both cases.IELTS becomes a trouble.

Friends...let us just start making ourselves more familiar with the language and follow a simple Mantra-

Follow the five Ps as a mantra to score a good band in IELTS.,and the 5 Ps are

Proper Preparation Prevents Poor Performance

Start Preparing for the exam by using no other language than English. So, Think, Talk and even fight in English!

Read ONLY English reading Material and watch only English shows.

Just do this for a month and see the magic happening!

If you feel, you don't have enough time to practice the tests on your own, then definitely take help of an expert, but make sure this help is lucrative and not just a Timepass.

Most of the candidates are right in one of the pairs mentioned below :

Reading and Listening or 

Speaking and Writing

It is due to an individual's cognitive skills, and it has nothing to do with not knowing the language.

The program that you attend must be tailor made as per your skills, weaknesses and Strengths so that you can achieve the desired result at the earliest. 

Let us start Thinking, speaking, reading, watching, touching and using all our senses to make ourselves comfortable with this lovely language.

All the best!

FOR BAND 8 & 9

1. Skim over and watch for the answers.
2. Watch your time.
3. Is your spelling correct?
4. Keep the order.
5. Underline.
6. Unfamiliar vocabulary? That's ok.
7. Pay attention to the details.
8. No blank boxes.
9. Cross out the wrong answers
10. Choose your own technique.

Hi Students,

Some tips for the use of connectors.

Try to use these words in your graphs or essays and see the band scores increase.

Here are some common connective words indicating:

• ADDITION

In addition, and similarly, likewise, as well as, besides, furthermore, also, moreover, and then, not only, …but even, besides, this /that.

• SEQUENCE

First(ly), initially, second(ly ),etc to begin with, then next, earlier, /later /after this/that ,following this/that ,afterwards, finally.

• CONSEQUENCES

As a result, thus, so, therefore, consequently, it follows that, thereby, eventually, then in that case, admittedly.

• CONTRAST

However, on the other hand, despite, in spite of, though, although, but on the contrary, otherwise, yet, instead of, rather, whereas, nonetheless, even though, compared with, in contrast alternatively