Bài giảng Tiếng Anh - IELTS reading - Trương Văn Ánh

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1. IELTS READING Trương Văn Ánh Trường Đại học Sài Gòn
2. The types of tasks are: 1. Multiple Choice 2. Short-answer questions 3. Sentence completion 4. Notes/table/summary flow-chart/diagram completion 5. Yes, no, not given or True, false, not given 6. Classification 7. Matching lists/phrases 8. Choosing headings for paragraphs/sections of a text 9. Scanning and identifying location of information 10. Labelling a diagram which has numbered parts
3. There are 40 questions in total. Each of the three sections has around 10-15 questions and there are at least two types of questions in each section.
4. Marking You are given a mark for each of the 40 questions. Your result is converted into a score which corresponds to one of the bands from 1-9. You will see the band on your result sheet. You can be awarded a whole band or a half band for the reading section.
5. 1. Multiple Choice The Questions There are three types of multiple choice questions in the IELTS reading exam. Type 1. Where there is one possible answer. Type 2. Where there are multiple answers for only one mark. Type 3. Where there are multiple answers and one mark for each.
6. For these questions you may be given the start of a sentence which you have to complete with one out of four choices. Or you may be presented with a question and asked to find two, three or four items in a list of answers.
7. You could be asked to identify facts or opinions in the texts. Multiple choice questions can test both your global understanding of the text or ask you for specific information. This means you will have to make the decision yourself whether to skim or scan the text.
8. How to do the multiple choice questions Read the instructions carefully and check how many letters you need to circle. Skim all the questions and the answer choices quickly. As you do this, • underline the key words (the words that give you the most information). • try to get an idea of the topic you will be reading about from the vocabulary of the questions. • look at any illustrations or diagrams that go with the text.
9. • Go back to the first question. Decide if you are looking for specific information or whether the question requires you to understand the whole text . Then either scan or skim the text, as appropriate, to find the answer. • Read the relevant part of the text very carefully. • Don’t leave any questions unanswered.
10. 2. Short answer questions The Questions There are two types of short answer questions in the IELTS reading exam. • Type 1. Questions • Type 2. Lists These questions will usually tell you to write your answers in NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS. So you can answer with one word, two words or three words but no more. However, this is not always the case, so check the rubric carefully.
11. For these questions, like the multiple choice questions, you have to apply both skimming and scanning techniques. Also note that the answers should not require a hyphenated word (e.g. non-smoker ) or a contraction (e.g. They’ve). If the answer requires a number, you can write it as a numeral (e.g. 6) or a word (e.g. six) or a combination of a numeral and a word(e.g. 6 million).
12. How to do short answer questions Read the instructions carefully. Skim all the questions quickly. As you do this: • underline the key words. • decide what information you need to find in the text. • look out for question words like ‘where’ and ‘who’ which indicate you should listen for specific things like places and people.
13. Go back to the first question and decide what part of the text you need to read. Read the part carefully to find the answer. You may use your own words. You don’t have to write a complete sentence but it does have to be grammatically correct.
14. Remember • if you don’t know the meaning of any of the words in the questions, look at the other questions. They might have some associated vocabulary in them to help you guess the meaning. • the answer could be one word, two words or three words but not four or more. • if you think you need more than three words your answer is probably incorrect.
15. 3. Sentence completion questions The questions There are two types of sentence completion questions in the reading exam. Type 1. With a selection of possible answers. Type 2. Without a choice of possible answers. These questions require you to complete the end of a sentence. The questions appear in the same order as the information in the text.
16. Type 2 questions are similar to the short answer questions in that they will always tell you to write your answers in NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS. So you can answer with one word, two words or three words but not more. They will also tell you to use words from the reading passage.
17. As with short answer questions: Also note that the answers should not require a hyphenated word (e.g. non-smoker) or a contraction (e.g. They’ve). Also, if the answer requires a number, you can write it as a numeral (e.g. 6) or a word (e.g. six) or a combination (e.g. 6 million). Look at the example below and the one on the next page.
18. How to do sentence completion questions Read the instructions carefully. Quickly read through all the sentences halves. As you do this • underline the key words. • try to work out what information you need. • think about the grammatical form as well as the vocabulary that should follow immediately from the stem.
19. • Go back to the first sentence and decide what information you need to complete it. • Find the place where the information should be in the text and read it carefully. • Look out for synonyms and parallel expressions because the questions are not likely to use the same words as those in the text. • Make sure your sentences make sense both logically and grammatically.
20. Remember • for type two, the answer could be one word, two words or three words but not four or more. • if you think you need more than three words your answer is probably incorrect.
21. 4. Notes/table/form/summary/flow chart/diagram completion questions The questions These questions ask for specific information. There are two types of these completion questions in the IELTS reading exam. Type 1. With a selection of possible answers. Type 2. Without a choice of possible answers.
22. These questions require you to: • insert a word or phrase in the middle of a sentence • insert a word in the middle and another word at the end of a sentence • write words or phrases that are not in sentences • write a letter that represents a word or phrase
23. For Type 1 questions the words or phrases provided will be different from the words in the text. There will be more words than gaps. Type 2 questions are similar to the short answer questions in that they will tell you to write your answers in NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS. So you can answer with one word, two words or three words but no more.
24. As with short answer questions: Also note that the answers should not require a hyphenated word (e.g. non-smoker) or a contraction (e.g. They’ve). If the answer requires a number, you can write it as a numeral (e.g. 6) or a word (e.g. six) or a combination (e.g. 6 million).
25. How to do these completion questions Read the instructions carefully. Look at the table or form etc carefully: • examine any headings or subheadings. • Try to get an idea of the topic. • decide what section of the passage the exercise covers. • anticipate grammatical form as well as vocabulary. • if a box of answers is given, see if you can guess any of the matches & eliminate unlikely answers.
26. • if the question is in the form of a table, work out which way it is best to read it – horizontally or vertically. • If the question is in the form of a summary, read through it first and see if you can guess any of the missing words. Take each gap one by one and search the text for the best word(s) to fill the gap.
27. Remember • if there is a box of answers, there will be at least two you don’t need. • if there is no box, the answer could be one word, two words or three words but not four or more. • if you think you need more than three words your answer is probably incorrect. • there may be alternative rubrics for these completion questions e.g. ‘complete the notice’ or ‘complete the explanation’ or ‘complete the news report’.
28. 5. Yes, no, not given or True, false, not given The questions These tasks either ask you to identify the writer’s views or claims in the text or identify information in the text. You will be given a list of statements which are either opinions or facts and you have to decide for: Type 1 if they are opinions, whether they are the opinions of the writer or not or not given in the text. Type 2 if they are facts, whether they are true, false or not given in the text.
29. For type 1 the writers views may not be directly stated, so you may have to work out what is implied. The questions will be in the same order as the text.
30. How to do Yes, no, not given or True, false, not given questions • Read the instructions carefully. • Quickly read through all the statements to get an idea about the topic. • Read the first statement more carefully. Underline the key words so you understand the main point.
31. • Search for the section of the text which deals with the idea or fact. • Once you have found the relevant section, read it carefully. For type 1, if the statement disagrees with the writer’s opinion, then select ‘no’ and if the author doesn’t give an opinion, select ‘not given’. For type 2, if the statement is the opposite to the information in the text, then select ‘false’ and if there is no mention of it, select ‘not given’. • Continue with the rest of the statements.
32. 6. Classification questions The questions These questions ask you to classify information given in the reading text. Classifications are often according to the writer’s opinion or according to a period of time or place. You will be asked to identify a letter which represents one of the classifications for each item in a list of statements.
33. How to do these classification questions • Read the instructions carefully. • Make sure you know how many classifications there are and what letters you have to use. (E.g. US, J, G & UK in the exercise above.) • Read the classifications carefully and make sure you don’t confuse the letters which represent each one. • Read the statements/phrases or words beside the question numbers and underline key words.
34. • Start with the first statement and work your way through them one by one, searching the text to find where the information is mentioned. • The questions will not necessarily be in the same order as the text and the wording will probably be different in the text so look out for synonyms and parallel expressions. • When you’ve located the reference in the text, read it carefully and select your answer. • Don’t leave any statements without a letter.
35. 7. Matching The questions These questions require you to match a list of opinions to sources mentioned in the text. These questions are used with texts which present a number of different people’s opinions. The sources are usually numbered and the opinions are given a letter each. In the answer booklet you write the letter(s) beside the numbers.
36. There could be more opinions than sources. If so, you will need to write more than one letter beside the question in the answer booklet. If there are more sources than opinions, then one of more or the opinions will be used more than once.
37. How to do Matching questions • Read the instructions carefully. • Take the names of the sources one by one and find them in the text and underline them. • When you have located a name, read carefully to see what is said about his/her opinions. • Look at the list of opinions and see if you can make a match.
38. • Remember that the text is not likely to use the same words as the questions, so look for synonyms and parallel expressions. • Also, be aware that the sources may be referred to in more than one place in the text. • The opinions in the task are not listed in the same order as they appear in the text. • Phrases like ‘he said’ or ‘in his opinion’ should help you locate the arguments.
39. 8. Choosing headings The questions There are two types of headings questions. Type 1. Choosing headings for paragraphs or sections of a text. Type 2. Choosing a heading for the whole text.
40. Type 1 questions require you to sum up the meaning of a paragraph in order to match it to a bank of possible headings. You may be asked to match every paragraph or section of the text or just a selection of paragraphs. Type 2 questions require you to sum up the whole text.
41. How to do choosing headings questions • Read the instructions carefully. • Make sure you know which paragraphs or sections you have to sum up. • Read the first paragraph or section and try to sum up, in your own words, what it is about.
42. • Then search through the bank of headings for the best answer. • Make sure the heading you have chosen sums up the entire paragraph and not just one idea within it. • If you have to sum up the entire text. Read the whole text before looking at the bank of headings. Try to think of your own heading and then look at the options.
43. 9. Scanning and identifying location of information The questions These questions require you to scan the text to find the location of information. You will be given a set of statements and you need to find the paragraph each one comes from.
44. How to do scanning and identifying location of information questions • Read the instructions carefully. • Quickly read the statements to get an idea of what the text is about. • Take the statements one by one. Underline the key words. • Next search the text to find where the information is mentioned. • Remember to look for synonyms and parallel expressions because it is likely that the statements express the ideas differently to the way they are expressed in the text.
45. 10. Labelling a diagram which has numbered parts The questions You will be given a diagram and asked to label it with words from the text or labels given.
46. How to do labeling the diagram questions • Read the instructions carefully. • Study the diagram and the labels if they are given. • See if you can guess any of the answers. • The information will be given in the same order as the numbers on the diagram. • Scan the text to find the information. If labels are not provided, make sure you use words from the text.
47. General Tips – Reading Before the Exam • Make sure you are familiar with the instructions for the different question types so you can quickly glance at the questions and know what to do. • Read as much as possible. • Work on your reading skills such as ‘guessing the meanings of unknown words’, ‘understanding reference words in texts’ and reading quickly.
48. Read newspaper articles and practise the following: • dividing the content into facts and opinions • finding the topic sentences of paragraphs • writing summaries • interpreting any diagrams or tables • thinking of headings you could give to paragraphs • underlining the pronouns and working out what they refer to • underlining unknown words and seeing if you can work out what they mean • reading the first paragraph and seeing if you can predict what will come next
49. • Work on expanding your vocabulary. Look at the either Focus on IELTS or Insight into IELTS or the glossary in 101 Hints p.172- 174 and choose 5 new words from the vocabulary sections or articles to learn each day. Write the words on cards and test yourself on the bus or the MTR, on your way to City U. • Do as many practice tests as you can to get used to the rubric and the task types.
50. During the Exam Look through the whole reading module first. Quickly look at the texts. Study any: • Titles • Headings • sub headings • Illustrations • Diagrams • words in bold type or italics Read the questions carefully. Identify the question type. Make sure you do exactly what they say.
51. Read the glossary beside the passage, if there is one. Don’t spend too long on one question. If you don’t know the answer, guess. Incorrect answers are not penalised. Make sure you copy all words taken from the texts correctly as incorrect spelling is penalised. Don’t forget your answer may be given in a diagram, graph or illustration.
52. Good luck!