General Training Reading

IELTSLuisa MogollónSantiago MorenoNatalia Benavidez

READING (60 MINUTES)

It is divided in three sections with texts that are authentic taken from advertisements, notices, booklets, official documents, leaflets, newspapers, timetables, instruction manuals, books and magazines.

The Questions1. Short-answer questions

2. Multiple choice

3. Sentence completion

4. Notes/summary/diagram/flow chart/table completion

5. Choosing a heading for a paragraph

6. Identification of writer's views/claims - yes, no or not given

7. Identification of information - true, false or not given

8. Classification

9. Matching lists/phrases.

strategies SCANNINGREADING

FOR DETAILSKIMMING

SECTION 1Contains two or three short factual texts, one of which may be composite (consisting of 6-8 short texts related by topic, e.g. hotel advertisements). Topics are relevant to everyday life in

an English-speaking country.

Types of Questions (SECTION 1)

•Matching pieces of specific information or Multiple choice

•Identification of information - true, false or not given

•Short answer of no more than three words

Matching pieces of specific information skill:making inference

true, false or not given skill: Identification of information (SKIMMIMG, SCANNING)

TOPIC:TARGET AUDIENCEWRITER’S PURPOSE

•Short answer of no more than three wordsSKILL: LOCATING AND EXTRACTING SPECIFIC INFORMATION (SCANNING)

Section 2Contains two short factual texts focusing on work-related issues (e.g. applying for jobs, company policies, pay and conditions, workplace facilities, staff development and training). This have longer sentences with more complex language than in section 1.

SECTION 2● Step 1: Survey the text

● Step 2: Read The Questions

● Step 3: Answer the questions by scanning for specific information or identify main ideas by skimming.

QUESTIONS ABOUT SPECIFIC INFORMATION

COMPLETING SENTENCES

● Words in bold at the beginning

true, false, not given

● Quickly

matching pieces of specific information

Skimming, synonyms

MATCHING HEADING WITH PARAGRAPHS

MATCHING HEADING WITH PARAGRAPHS

QUESTIONS ABOUT MAIN IDEAS

Title, and beginning in bold

Section 3 Contains one longer, more complex text on a topic of general interest.

• 20 minutes

• Scanning and Skimming

Text

TYPE OF QUESTIONS

1. Matching lists/phrases.

Skill: Recognise the key information (Scanning, skimming)

2. Table completion

Skill: Locating and extracting specific information (Scanning)

3. Summary completion

4. Sentence completion

5. List of characteristics

Skill: Identifying the relationship between pieces of information / Locating and extracting specific information