A band 9 in the IELTS Reading section is quite difficult, but it’s achievable with the right strategies and consistent practice. This blog will contain the key steps to maximize your reading score.
Table of Contents
1. Develop a Daily Reading Habit
If you want to score a perfect 9 band in IELTS Reading, you must realize that consistency is key. You have to immerse yourself in the English language daily. Try to make it a habit to read or listen to English content regularly. This could range from news articles to novels to podcasts or YouTube videos. Just remember that consistency is key.
Example: If you are interested in learning about technology, you can search for a tech magazine or blog and subscribe to it. Make sure to set a goal, such as spending 20 minutes every day reading articles from sources like TechCrunch. This habit will not only improve your reading speed but also your reading comprehension
2. Expand Your Vocabulary
A broad IELTS vocabulary bank is essential to scoring a 9 band in IELTS Reading. This is because your progress can be derailed if you encounter many unfamiliar words. The more words you know, the less likely you will get bogged down by difficult vocabulary. Make sure to note the new words you encounter, take the time to learn them, and try to use them in your daily life.
Example: You can create a dedicated vocabulary journal to write down new words you do not know and their meanings. You can also include an original example sentence using the new word you learned. Try to review this journal regularly, at least once per 2 days, and try to use these words in your net conversations and writings. You can also use apps like Quizlet and Anki to create flashcards for the new words. These apps promote spaced repetition, which will help you remember the vocabulary effectively.
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3. Master Reading Skills
There are numerous reading skills that you can use to help you get a 9 band in IELTS reading. One of these skills is Skimming and Scanning. This skill is essential to quickly help you identify the text’s main idea and if you need to find specific information within the text. Skimming can help you get a general idea of what the text is saying, and scanning can help you find finer details.
Example: You can practice this skill on any text. Try to find a text like a news article and skim by reading the first and last sentence of each paragraph. Then, recall and try to guess the main idea of the text. For scanning, you can try to locate specific information like names of people, dates, or statistics.
After you skim, scan and locate the relevant section to focus on, then you can now practice close reading. This means that you carefully read this particular passage to understand it fully so you can answer any questions asked about this section of the reading test.
Example: You can try and find an academic article or text and then choose a random paragraph. Now focus on this paragraph and underline key points, identify the main point or idea, and summarize it later in your own words. This will help you get used to close reading.
4. Develop Targeted Strategies
Since there are over 10 different types of IELTS Reading questions, you should develop specific strategies for each of the question types.
Example: For questions that contain you determining if the statement is true/false/not given, focus on making sure that you grasp the understanding of the precise meaning of the statements nad match them to the text. For questions with matching the headings, you can identify the main idea of each paragraph and then match it to the headings.
After you determined the strategies for each of the reading question types, make sure to practice and refine. Knowing exactly what approach to use for each question type will save time and improve accuracy.
Example: Take practice tests and apply specific strategies to each question type. Review your answers to understand what worked and what didn’t, and adjust your strategies accordingly.
5. Identify and Address Weaknesses
Try to analyze your mistakes after practicing. Make correction notes and write down why you thought the answer you selected was correct and why you got it wrong. Maybe it was because of a misunderstanding of the passage, or a hard vocabulary word that gave you trouble.
Example: If you consistently get certain questions wrong, focus on that area. If vocabulary is the issue, spend extra time building your vocabulary. Make sure to focus on your weaknesses.
You must focus on turning your weaknesses into your strengths. For example, if you struggle with focus, then make sure that you spend a lot of time to make sure you know how to concentrate better. If it’s vocabulary that you are having an issue with, then leave time to revise new words
Achieving a band 9 in IELTS Reading requires a lot of dedication, strategies, and practice. By following the given advice, we hope you are steps closer to getting the 9 in IELTS Reading.
