IELTS Reading has 40 questions and 60 minutes. That gives you about 1.5 minutes per question — and some question types require reading long, complex passages. Trying to read everything carefully is a recipe for running out of time. Smart candidates use strategies to find answers efficiently.
Skim first, then scan. Spend two to three minutes skimming each passage: read the title, the first sentence of each paragraph, and any headings. You do not need to understand every detail — just get the general topic and structure. Then look at the questions and scan for specific information.
Read the questions before the passage. This is the single most important IELTS Reading strategy. When you know what the question is asking, your brain searches for the relevant information instead of trying to absorb everything. Underline keywords in each question before you start scanning.
Locate answers in order. For many question types — especially True/False/Not Given and matching — the answers appear in the same order as the passages. If question 15 matches paragraph 3, question 16 is likely in paragraph 3 or 4. This saves enormous time.
Watch out for traps. IELTS Reading is designed to trick you. Words from the passage appear in wrong answers to tempt you. Always check that the full meaning matches — not just one or two words. True/False/Not Given questions are especially tricky: "Not Given" means the passage does not mention it at all, not that you cannot find it.
Practice speed reading daily. Read an English article every day — news, a blog post, or a short essay. Time yourself. Aim to read 250 to 300 words per minute while still understanding the main idea. This builds the reading speed you need for IELTS.
Shaista includes timed reading exercises in every IELTS preparation session at LEWS Academy. Students who practice these strategies consistently see their Reading scores improve by one full band within four to six weeks.
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