IELTS Reading – Master Every Question Type with Strategy & Practice

Not every strategy works for everyone. I always tell my students to test different techniques and use the one that fits their thinking style.

Here are the ones that consistently help learners boost their scores:

• Strategy 1: Start with the Questions — Then Scan the Text
  • Don’t waste time reading the full passage before you even know what you’re looking for.
  • Start with the questions.
  • Understand what type of answer you need (a name, a date, an opinion).
  • Then scan the passage to find that section and read it carefully.
• Strategy 2: Begin with Easier Question Types
  • Start with questions you can solve faster — like Matching Headings, Sentence Completion, or True/False/Not Given.
  • Leave tricky ones like Diagrams or Multiple MCQs for the end.
  • This builds confidence and saves brain energy for the harder parts.
• Strategy 3: Use the 15–18–27 Time Rule
  • All three passages are not equal.
    • Passage 1: 15 minutes
    • Passage 2: 18 minutes
    • Passage 3: 27 minutes (it’s always the most complex)
  • Track your time closely. Use extra minutes from early sections to give yourself breathing space later.
• Strategy 4: Skim First, Then Scan with Purpose
  • Use skimming to get a feel for the text’s layout — then use scanning to locate answers using keywords.
  • Think of it like using a map before entering a maze.
• Strategy 5: Predict Before You Read
  • Look at the question and guess:
  • “What do I need? A number? A reason? An opinion?”
  • Knowing what to expect helps filter what matters and ignore distractions.
• Strategy 6: Review Backwards – From Answer to Passage
  • After practice tests, don’t just mark right or wrong — go back to the answer and ask:
    • “Why is this correct?”
    • “What was the clue in the passage?”
    • “How was the wording different?”
  • This builds test-awareness faster than doing 100 more questions.