I keep getting Band 5.5 in Reading, but I need 7.0. What should I do?
First, find out why you’re losing marks. Are you running out of time, misunderstanding questions or choosing answers without checking the evidence?
Practising tests helps you become familiar with the exam, but repeatedly doing tests won’t necessarily improve your Reading skills.
Try this approach:
- Skim the passage to identify the main topics.
- Highlight keywords in the questions.
- Scan for those keywords or similar expressions.
- Read carefully to check the evidence.
- Review every incorrect answer and work out why you got it wrong.
Remember, IELTS Reading is largely about finding and understanding information. You don’t need to understand every word.
You can also try our free IELTS Reading First Aid Kit.