The best way to ace the IELTS test is to do exactly what you are supposed to do during each section of the test. Time given for reading questions should be utilized for doing just that. In the same way, time given for reading passages should be utilized for that. Here are a few tips to score well in the listening and reading sections of the IELTS test.

The IELTS listening test has 4 sections. Before each section begins you will be given some instructions. You will also get some time to look at the questions. Once the tape starts playing you will have to listen to it and write down your answers. Note that you are required to write the answers right in the Listening booklet, next to the appropriate questions.

After each section you will be given some time to read the questions about the next section. Bear in mind that if you don't utilize this time in reading the questions carefully, you will not be able to do well in the next section.

It has been noticed that a lot of test takers waste this time in copying their answers to their Answer sheet. For transferring answers from the Listening booklet to the Answer sheet you will be given 10 whole minutes at the end of the Listening test. There is no need to do it between each section when you should rather be preparing for the next section.

Reading section

More and more employers and immigration authorities now use the IELTS score to determine an applicant's eligibility for employment or immigration purposes. And keeping this in mind, the General Training Reading section of the IELTS test now focuses on work context. That means the passages given for reading are related to topics like company policies, applying for jobs, workplace facilities etc.

To score well in the IELTS reading test, you need to improve your reading speed by reading more and more text. Bear in mind that just reading a lot won't improve your scores. What you need to do is to read the kind of reading passages you will find in the IELTS test.

Where to find the passages for reading?

Passages given for reading in the previous IELTS tests were taken from newspapers and magazines like the Economist, New Scientist, American Scientist, the Economist Technology quarterly, the Geographical Journal and the British museum online publications. Note that this is not an exhaustive list and you may be given passages published elsewhere. But if you are familiar with the kind and level of articles published in these magazines you will considerably improve your chances of scoring well in the reading section.

Manjusha Nambiar is the founder and editor of www.PerfectYourEnglish.com. Visit her site for free English Grammar lessons and IELTS preparation tips.

[Edited by Administrator (admin) Wed, 06 Jul 2011, 03:34 PM]