Reading for IELTS Geyte

Introduction
Who is this book for?

Reading for IELTS will prepare you for the IELTS Academic Reading test whether you are taking the test for the first time, or re-sitting the test. It has been written for learners with band score 5-5.5 who are trying to achieve band score 6 or higher.

The structured approach and comprehensive answer key have been designed so that you can use the materials to study on your own. However, the book can also be used as a supplementary reading skills course for IELTS preparation classes. The book provides enough material for approximately 50 hours of classroom activity.

Content

Reading for IELTS is divided into 12 units. Each unit focuses on a topic area that you are likely to meet in the IELTS exam. This helps you to build up a bank of vocabulary and ideas related to a variety of the topics. As in the IELTS test, the texts are taken from authentic sources. These may contain narratives, logical arguments, descriptions or discussions. Some of texts contain visuals.

Units 1-11 cover the types of question that you will see in the IELTS test. Each unit focuses on a particular type of question, for example, matching questions, short-answer questions, completion questions, multiple choice, questions asking you to identify information or identify writers’ views or claims.

The exercises in the unit are relevant to the test. The aims listed at the start of each unit specify the key skills, techniques and language covered in the unit. You work towards Unit 12, which provides a final practice IELTS Reading test.

Additionally, the book provides examination strategies telling you what to expect and how best to succeed in the test. Exam information is presented in clear, easy-to-read chunks. ‘Exam tips' in each unit highlight essential exam techniques and can be rapidly reviewed at a glance.

Unit structure

Each of the first 11 units is divided into 3 parts.

Part 1 introduces vocabulary related to the topic, often in the context of short texts. There are a range of exercises to help you to understand and use the vocabulary. The focus is on strategies and activities that are useful in the context of reading skills, for example working out the meaning of unknown words through the meaning of word components, or by examining word forms. The vocabulary is presented using Collins COBUILD dictionary definitions.

Part 2 provides information and practice on the task types you will come across in the IELTS Reading test. An explanation on each task type is followed by exercises of increasing difficulty. These exercises give you the opportunity to practise the skills that are needed to complete the task, and they help you to develop strategies for completing these tasks in the test. For example, in the unit about completing notes, and summaries, you develop strategies such as predicting what words may be missing by using your knowledge of grammar. You can then use this strategy when sitting the test.

Part 3 provides exam practice which focuses on the task that you practised in the unit. There is a text with questions. The number of questions is simitar to the number in the actual test for the particular task type. You can use this as a way of assessing your readiness for the actual exam.