THEORETICAL ASPECTS IN THE FORMATION OF
PEDAGOGICAL SCIENCES
International scientific-online conference
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A COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE TO IELTS READING: STRUCTURE,
CHALLENGES AND STRATEGIES
Sinjapova Rusana Ruslanovna
PhD, associate professor of the Department of Economics and Socio-
humanitarian Disciplines, Almalyk Branch of NUST «MISIS»
Khurshedova Makhfirat Khurshedovna
1st-year student, Almalyk Branch of NUST «MISIS»
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15036857
Annotation:
This paper explores the IELTS Reading section, its challenges,
and effective preparation methods. It outlines the exam structure, task types,
and key strategies. Focus is placed on time management, speed-reading, and
error analysis. Additionally, it provides recommendations on study materials for
self-preparation, aiming to enhance candidates’ performance.
Keywords:
IELTS, Reading, Vocabulary, Time, Strategies, Practice.
The IELTS Reading section is a major challenge, assessing comprehension,
information retrieval, inference, and text analysis. Success requires a
comprehensive approach: applying strategies, expanding vocabulary, mastering
grammar, and regular practice.
The section lasts 60 minutes, includes three parts, and consists of 40
questions. Answers must be transferred to the answer sheet within the time
limit. The structure varies between IELTS General and Academic.
Differences Between IELTS Academic and General Training in the
Reading Section
1. Types of Texts: Academic texts come from scientific journals, books, and
official sources, often featuring complex content, diagrams, and graphs. General
Training texts are more practical—announcements, instructions, newspaper
articles, and official documents.
2. Difficulty Level: Academic texts use formal language and complex
vocabulary, while General Training texts are simpler and closer to everyday
communication.
3. Scoring: Academic texts are harder, so fewer correct answers are needed
for a high score (e.g., Band 7 requires 30–32 correct answers). In General
Training, texts are easier, but more correct answers are required (Band 7 = 34–
35).
Conclusion: IELTS Academic is for university admission, while IELTS
General Training is mainly for immigration and employment.
Main Question Types in the IELTS Reading Section
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1. True/False/Not Given – Identify if the statement matches, contradicts, or
is absent in the text.
2. Yes/No/Not Given – Similar to True/False/Not Given but assesses the
author's opinion.
3. Matching Headings – Select headings that best summarize paragraphs.
4. Matching Information – Find paragraphs containing specific details.
5. Matching Features – Link information to names, places, or concepts.
6. Matching Sentence Endings – Pair sentence beginnings with correct
endings.
7. Multiple Choice – Choose the correct answer (A, B, C, or D).
8. Summary/Sentence Completion – Fill in blanks using words from the text
or a provided list.
9. Note/Table/Flowchart/Diagram Completion – Complete visual data with
information from the text.
10. Short Answer Questions – Answer briefly using words from the text.
11. Global Multiple Choice – Identify the main idea of the text.
12. Categorisation – Assign information to the correct category.
How the IELTS Reading Test Takes Place:
After the Listening section, the Reading section begins without a break.
Candidates receive a booklet with texts and an answer sheet. The examiner gives
instructions, then candidates can open the booklet and start answering the
questions. Answers must be written immediately, as there is no extra time for
transfer. When the signal is given, writing must stop immediately.
Challenges of the IELTS Reading Test.
Limited time and large text volume – Three long texts and 40 questions in
60 minutes require fast reading and effective time management.
Complex topics and academic vocabulary – Texts often contain terms from
science, economics, history, and ecology, while questions use synonyms and
complex structures.
Paraphrased questions and traps – Questions rarely repeat exact phrases
from the text, so it’s important to recognize synonyms and hidden meanings.
Stress and concentration – High workload, time pressure, and challenging
questions can cause stress, making it harder to focus.
How to Prepare for the IELTS Reading Test.
1. Practice with Official Tests – Use Cambridge IELTS materials to
familiarize yourself with the format, question types, and vocabulary. Start
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without a time limit to understand the answers, then practice under timed
conditions.
2. Improve Reading Speed and Comprehension – Regularly read complex
texts from different fields. Allocate time wisely:
20 minutes per section
60 minutes for the entire test
3. Master Skim Reading – Focus on quickly identifying key information
rather than deep reading.
4. Read a Variety of Texts – Start with simpler literature and gradually move
to articles, magazines, and books to expand vocabulary and comprehension.
5. Enhance Vocabulary – Learn prefixes, suffixes, and word formation
patterns to understand unfamiliar words.
Negative prefixes: un-, ir-, mis- → responsible – irresponsible
Noun-forming suffixes: -ion, -ment, -ness → agree – agreement
How to Pass the IELTS Reading Test: Tips and Hacks
Identify key words - First, highlight important words in the questions, then
look for them (or their synonyms) in the text.
Follow the order of the questions – Answers appear in the same sequence
as the questions, making it easier to locate information.
Pay attention to details – True/False/Not Given and Yes/No/Not Given
tasks often contain traps that slightly change the meaning.
Improve your speed-reading skills – Scan the text to find relevant sections
instead of reading everything in detail.
Don’t waste time on difficult questions – If unsure, skip and return later. It’s
better to answer more easy questions first.
Write answers immediately – There is no extra time at the end to transfer
answers.
Practice under exam conditions – Solve tests with a timer to get used to the
time limit.
Common Mistakes in the IELTS Reading Section
1. Spelling Errors – Even one incorrect letter makes an answer wrong.
❌
neigbor → incorrect
✔️
neighbor → correct
2. Wasting Time on Difficult Questions – Spend no more than a minute on a
tough question. Move on and return later if time allows.
3. Guessing Headings Without Understanding – Read the full text before
choosing headings. Avoid random guessing.
4. Incorrect Word Choice in Gaps – Ensure the word fits grammatically.
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❌
China made a huge sky scraper in urban construction → incorrect
✔️
China made huge progress in urban construction → correct
5. Poor Time Management – Stick to a schedule:
Text 1: 9:06 – 9:26
Text 2: 9:26 – 9:46
Text 3: 9:46 – 10:06
If short on time, focus on multiple-choice and True/False/Not Given
questions. Practice completing the test in 60 minutes.
IELTS Reading Test Scoring
In IELTS Reading, the score depends on the number of correct answers. The
grading scale differs slightly between the Academic and General Training
modules.
9.0: ~39–40 correct answers
8.0: ~35–37 (Academic) / 36–38 (General)
7.0: ~30–32 (Academic) / 32–34 (General)
Useful Resources and Books for Improving Reading Skills and
Preparing for IELTS
Best Books:
The Official Cambridge Guide to IELTS – official guide with
tests and strategies.
Cambridge IELTS (Series 1–18) – real exam tests.
Barron’s IELTS Superpack – a set of materials with vocabulary and practice
tests.
Collins Reading for IELTS – a reading guide with practical exercises.
Best Websites British Council Learn English – exercises and texts for IELTS
preparation.
BBC News, The Economist, National Geographic – academic vocabulary in
real contexts.
Useful Apps
: IELTS Prep App (British Council) – official materials and
practice tests.
BBC Learning English – texts, audio, and video lessons.
News in Levels – news articles at three difficulty levels.
Conclusion:
High IELTS Reading scores require strategy, speed, and strong
analytical skills. The key challenges are time constraints, complex wording, and
specialized vocabulary. To achieve a high score, it is essential to practice
regularly, use effective preparation methods, and analyze mistakes. Proper time
management, understanding the test structure, and confidence in your abilities
will help improve your results.
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Experiment: The Impact of Reading Strategies on IELTS Success
Objective:
Assess how reading strategies affect IELTS Reading performance.
Method: 10 students took an IELTS Reading practice test (Cambridge IELTS
14, Test 2).
Group A (Traditional Reading): Read texts fully without strategies.
Group B (Strategy-Based Reading): Used skimming, scanning, and keyword
identification.
Results: Group A: 23/40, struggled with time.
Group B: 30/40, completed faster with higher accuracy.
Conclusion: Reading strategies significantly improve efficiency and scores
in IELTS Reading.
Future research could explore how different reading strategies affect
specific question types or compare their effectiveness across various English
proficiency levels. Additionally, a larger sample size could provide more
comprehensive insights into strategy efficiency.
The list of used literature:
1.Rush & Engl. IELTS Academic vs General Training: Key Differences. Retrieved
from rushengl.com.
2. Stegmax. IELTS Reading: Academic vs General Training. Retrieved from
ru.stegmax.com.
3. Your IELTS. IELTS Reading Scoring System. Retrieved from yourielts.ru.
4. EngInform. Differences Between IELTS Academic and General Training.
Retrieved from enginform.com.
5. IELTS Materials. IELTS Reading: Tips and Strategies. Retrieved from
ieltsmaterials.com.
