Taking an IELTS course to prepare for the high-stakes exam? Then
you probably heard of active reading. It is, after all, one of the tips that
most instructors recommend when tackling the reading sub-test.
The Advantages of Active Reading
Active reading involves
going through a text with the goal of understanding and assessing it its
relevance to your needs. Not all IELTS students are raring to take up this
strategy.
Some are
confident that their current reading style can get them a high score. Others are
just not up for sudden change in reading approach mid-way their test
preparations. If you’re one of these people, consider the benefits that you can
acquire from taking up active reading. Here are some of them.
·
It’ll help you retain information
longer, minimizing the
instances when you have to backtrack and re-read the text to double-check
something—a useful advantage when you’re taking a time-limited exam like the IELTS Philippines.
·
It’ll give you a better understanding of
the text. Active
reading trains your mind to be critical and thorough. If you do it right,
you’ll be able to pick up implied messages and other subtle themes the first
time you read something.
·
It’ll enhance your social awareness. As mentioned in the previous point,
active reading simultaneously makes you more critical and understanding—in
general, not just when reading. This, in turn, will make you more tactful and
intuitive.
5 Active Reading Tips for IELTS Test Takers
Elevate your
performance in the IELTS exam. Use the following strategies to hone your active
reading skills.
1.
Read the questions first. Once the time starts for the IELTSreading exam, don’t jump straight to reading the texts. Read the questions
first. That way, you’ll know what you’re looking for when you read the
text.
2.
Highlight keywords and phrases. Take note of the keywords and phrases
mentioned in the questions. Then, whenever you encounter them in the texts,
mark them. You can underline or encircle them. But, be selective. Highlighting
everything will only confuse you later.
3.
Jot down notes as you go. Condense text-heavy paragraphs into a
single sentence or phrase. Write your summary on the paragraph’s margin. You
can also make other useful annotations (e.g., your own examples and thoughts
about the concept) on the margins. Develop good note-taking practices during
your IELTS course period.
4.
Pay attention to signal words. Phrases like “in contrast,” “most
importantly,” and “in a nutshell,” will give you a clear idea of what the next
sentences will tackle. So, pay attention. Most of the time they indicate a transition,
a change of perspective or focus. Consider encircling or underlining them so
you can find them easily later.
5.
Be critical. Don’t just absorb the text. Question its
points. Who wrote it? Does the author’s identity affect the text’s contents in
any way? Who are the author’s intended readers? While it’s not wise to employ
this strategy during the exam (stick to finding the answers to the test
questions), it is a useful technique for everyday readings.
Make every
second of your IELTS exam attempt count. Use these active reading techniques to
supercharge your test performance. Enroll in an IELTSPhilippines review center to learn more tips and tricks that’ll help you
ace the exam.
References:
"11 Steps to
Becoming An Active Reader." The Odyssey Online. August 28, 2017. Accessed
May 04, 2018. https://www.theodysseyonline.com/11-steps-to-becoming-an-active-reader.
“Skills for OU
Study: Active Reading.” The Open University. Accessed May 04, 2018. http://www2.open.ac.uk/students/skillsforstudy/active-reading.php.
"Become a
More Active Reader." Bright Knowledge. Accessed May 04, 2018. https://www.brightknowledge.org/study-skills/become-a-more-active-reader.
Fleming, Grace.
"7 Active Reading Strategies for Students." ThoughtCo. Accessed May
04, 2018. https://www.thoughtco.com/active-reading-strategies-1857325.
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