IELTS reading tips : What should be Read ?
In the last article we have understood why reading is immensely important to improve the band score. Now, in this chapter we would see what sort of reading you should do.
Generally students have got the mindset of merely giving the tests. They think this is the only way to improve the score. This perception is obvious. However, the students alone cannot be held responsible for this. Almost all the classes, websites and videos emphasize only on giving the tests.
You have to give this a serious consideration. You may be preparing for IELTS exam now. but,before that, you must have obtained a formal education. I would like to ask the question to all of you in this regard.
“Did you used to give tests only when you were studying in your college or school? “ No, a big No.
The standard procedure which is followed in any school or college is learning for a month or two on a particular subject and then the tests are taken.
Now think about IELTS exam preparation,
What are you told by the classes the day you took an admission in any class or when you open any website or other sources for preparing IELTS exam?
“Just give 50 or 100 tests and you will get required band score.” And we are gullible enough to believe it.
See,you can only improve the techniques by giving the tests. But what about knowledge. Where do get the knowledge from?
By learning techniques you will find the key words but what if you don’t understand the paraphrasing of sentences, or construction of sentences or simply a word.
Would it be possible for you to get the right answer?
Most of the students follow this weird pattern of blindly giving test after test hoping in vain that the band score will be improved.after giving certain amount of tests they get stuck at certain level and by learning all the tips and tricks they are not able to improve their score. Why this has happened because they have missed the core thing ‘Reading”.
The students worked hard on different tips and tricks but they don’t work on the cornerstone which is reading.
Tips, tricks and techniques will help you only when you have a proper understanding of words, sentence construction and paraphrasing. IELTS reading passages are the toughest as far as the difficulty in any English exam is concerned. They are normally taken from newspapers, magazines, books and journals which are highly advanced in terms of vocabulary and construction.
Hence, a person needs to be advanced enough to get the proper understanding. he should understand fair amount of advanced words. so here,our question has become our answer. As these passages are taken from newspapers, magazines, books and journals. We can definitely improve our comprehension by reading them. You have to spend time for advanced and quality reading if you want to improve your band score.
Reading is a matter of interest so you can read anything as per your choice and interest. I am enlisting magazines, books and newspapers here which are authentic and reliable both for knowledge and improvement of English.
The list here has been meticulously selected. It will help you to improve not only the score in reading But the other facets such as speaking, writing and vocabulary as well.
Points to be considered while reading.
- Start with ‘national geographic’ and ‘reader’s digest.’
- As far as the newspapers are concerned read opinions and editorials which would be helpful for essay writing.
- Every week aim for finishing one magazine or a book.
- As far as the books are concerned you can select any.
- Read to enjoy.
- Read some articles for speed, some for knowledge.
- Get a good dictionary to see the meaning every now and then.
- Make it a habit to read two hours a day on different topics.
Magazines
- National geographic: World leader in magazines, best for improving reading and writing.
- Readers digest: more suitable for improving speaking.
- India today.
- The week.
- Any magazine of your interest.
Newspapers
- NY times.
- LA times.
- The guardian.
- Times of India –Read epiphany of ideas first
- Any newspaper of your interest.
Books:
- Perry mason mysteries :Erle Stanley gardener – more suitable for improving speaking.
- Harry potter series: J. k. rowling.
- The casual vacancy: J. k. rowling.
- Twenty thousand league under the sea : Jules Verne.
- Sherlock Holmes – Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
- Any novel from James Hadley chase.
- Any novel from Agatha Christie.
- Any book or novel from your interest.