Tips for Scoring Band 9 in IELTS Reading

Keen on scoring band 9 in IELTS reading? Want to know how to achieve your goal?

Here we are to help you.

Before we check with the tips to score band 9 in reading let’s have an insight of the IELTS reading tests pattern and the sources from where the content is taken. 

Reading Test Format 

Test Time - 60 minutes

40 questions, designed to test reading for 

• Gist 
• Main ideas 
• Detail 
• Skimming 
• Understanding logical argument and 
• Recognizing writers' opinions, attitudes and purpose 

IELTS Academic Test 

• Three long texts descriptive & factual or discursive & analytical 
• Texts are taken from books, journals, magazines and newspapers 
• The texts are selected for a non-specialist audience but are suitable for applicants entering university courses or seeking professional registration 

IELTS General Training Test 

Includes extracts from books, magazines, newspapers, notices, advertisements, company handbooks and guidelines. Points applicable to Academic as well as General Training 

• Topics are of general interest. 
• The passages may be narrative, descriptive or discursive/argumentative. 
• At least one text would comprise detailed logical argument. 
• Texts may contain non-verbal materials such as diagrams, graphs or illustrations. 
• In case of technical terms, a simple glossary is provided. 

Effective Practice Time 

Keeping the reading test pattern in mind you need to follow the given guidelines so that you can score Band 9 in reading. You’ll surely have to put in a lot of effort with regular, consistent practice. 

Become a Voracious Reader 

As you’ve seen the texts for the reading test are taken from various sources. So the first and the most important tip is read as much as you can, whatever and wherever you can on various themes. Don’t restrict your reading to one kind of stuff. Read articles or blogs, stories or editorials and focus on covering different kinds of topics. 

Improve your Language Command 

Apart from reading it’s essential to work on grammar, spelling and vocabulary. A grasp on grammar and spelling helps you in the right expression and you develop a command on language by improving on your word power. Your level of comprehension and expression will go high only if you have good vocabulary. 

This will again happen through continuous reading and checking on the words that you do not understand in the first instance. 

Practice Regularly and Consistently 

You have to work every single day in order to achieve your goal. Speed of reading and language command improves only with regular and consistent practice. If you do it irregularly or leave it midway, you can’t attain perfection. 

Work Smartly 

It’s essential to work smartly, which means work on your weaknesses and strengths. Take a mock, in real time and check the results. You will be able to spot the errors because of which you may lose on your score, or identify the kind of reading text that’s difficult to comprehend. Once you analyse what is it that you need to work on you can aim your efforts. Check the improvement in every next real time test you take. 

Develop your Concentration and get rid of Internet Reading 

Many of us today have problems in concentrating which might be due to the “internet pace” we are used to. So if you are also addicted to internet reading, you need to get over it. You should develop the habit of reading books and magazines rather than on the computer. It might be difficult initially, but you’ll gradually get used to it. 

Check points while taking the test

The main goal of IELTS Reading is to test your ability to understand what you have read. So even if you don’t know some words, you don’t have to get stressed, you can guess their meaning and still get band 9! 

Most of the test-takers lose marks not because they lack knowledge, but because of silly errors! So follow these tips while taking the test. 

• Skim the text and check for the answers 
• Pay attention to the details such as capital letters, underlining, italics, figures, graphs and tables 
• Keep track of time 
• Follow the order while answering 
• Underline the most important phrases to save some time while searching for answers 
• Cross out the wrong answers in multiple choice to avoid confusion 
• Check your spelling before answering-you’ll lose score on wrong spelling 
• Answer all the questions- No penalty for wrong answers 

Patience and effort coupled with smart work and diligence will help you achieve your goal