READING METHODS

READING METHODS

by Chinh Bảo

OVERVIEW

​ 40 QUESTIONS - 1 HOUR

​3 SECTIONS

​QUESTION TYPES

• ​1. Fill the gaps

• 2. True, false, not given / Yes, no, not given

• 3. Multiple choice

• 4. Short answer questions

• 5. Complete the sentences with correct endings

• 6. Matching paragraph headings

• 7. Matching paragraph information

• 8. Matching other information (e.g. names)

​9 STEPS

1. Start with passage 1, and make sure you only spend 20 minutes on this passage.

2. ​Read the title of the passage, so that you have an idea about what the topic is.

3. ​Don’t read any more. Go straight to question. Don’t waste time reading the whole text or even just the first sentence of each paragraph. Just start answering questions!

4. I​f the first set of questions asks you to ‘match paragraph headings’ or ‘match paragraph information’, miss that section and return to it later

5. ​Otherwise, start with question 1. Don’t waste time reading any of the other questions. Do one question at a time

​9 steps

• 6. The “keyword technique” begins: Read question 1 and underline the main words that communicate its meaning (keywords are usually nouns, verbs and adjectives i.e. ‘content words’).

• ​Then read the passage at normal speed from the beginning. Keep reading until you find the keywords from the question, or any words that communicate a similar meaning i.e. look out for paraphrasing. Underline the keywords that you find in the passage.

• ​If you find the keywords (either the same words or some paraphrasing), you’ve probably found the answer. Read carefully and check against the question until you’re sure that your answer is correct.

​9 steps

​9. When you’ve answered question 1, move on to question 2. Almost all answers can be found in order in the passage, so there’s no need to read from the beginning when looking for the answer to subsequent questions. Just continue reading from where you found the previous answer.

​Note

​Almost all answers are in order

Steps 1 to 9 above will work for the first five question types that you can see on the list at the beginning of this slide. So, for example, if you have to fill gaps or answer multiple choice questions, just use the “keyword technique” described above. 99% of the answers will be in order.

​TO SUM UP

• Just go straight to the first question and underline keywords

• Then read the text at normal speed from the beginning until you find the keywords or anything similar. Underline these words, so that you don’t lose your place when you check back with the question.

• Check the question and the relevant section of the passage carefully before deciding on your answer (in this case it’s ‘false’).​