Table of Contents

I. INTRODUCTION V. HOW TO ANSWER READING PASSAGES FROM START TO

A. Welcome Aboard → 4 FINISH
B. Fundamentals → 15 A. Reading Passage #1 (PDF with answers)
C. Types of Questions → 27 B. Reading Passage #2 (PDF with answers)
C. Reading Passage #3
II. HOW TO ANSWER “ALWAYS IN ORDER” QUESTIONS 1. PDF (questions only - without answers)
A. How to Answer Fill-in-the-Blank Questions → 45 2. PDF (with answers)
B. How to Answer Short Answer Questions → 56
C. How to Answer Yes/No/Not Given Questions → 66
D. How to Answer Multiple Choice Questions → 77

III. HOW TO ANSWER “MOSTLY IN ORDER” QUESTIONS

A. How to Answer Sentence Completion Questions → 86
B. How to Answer Table Questions → 96
C. How to Answer Diagram Questions → 107
D. How to Answer Flowchart Questions → 117
E. How to Answer Summary Questions → 127

IV. HOW TO ANSWER “NOT IN ORDER” QUESTIONS

Click on the page numbers to
A. How to Answer Matching Questions → 138 jump to any section
B. How to Answer Paragraph Location Questions → 148
C. How to Answer Headings Questions → 158
D. How to Answer Pick From List Questions → 167
E. Final Tips → 176
2
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 Welcome Aboard!
IELTS Reading Masterclass

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 Short Answer questions

Fill-in-the-Blank Yes/No/Not Given questions

Fundamentals questions

Multiple Choice questions

Table questions

Diagram questions Sentence Completion Pick from List questions

questions

Headings questions
Flowchart questions
Full Reading Test &
Final Tips
Paragraph Location questions
Matching questions
Summary
questions
About me

● Hi, I’m Shay

● IELTS instructor and the captain of our ship
● 8+ years of IELTS teaching experience
● CELTA English teaching certification
● B.A. in Communication & Language
● Taught in 11 countries around the world
● Helped many students to score Band 7+
● Read testimonials at mastership.co/testimonials
● Contact us at ielts@mastership.co
What is IELTS?

● A test of English proficiency

● It stands for “International English Language Testing System”
● Two main types:
○ Academic (mainly used by college and universities for admission decisions)
○ General (mainly used by employers and for immigration purposes)

● Find out which IELTS test you need before taking it

Who makes the IELTS?

IELTS is jointly owned by:

● IDP Education
● The British Council
● Cambridge English Language Assessment
For this reason, we will practice using the Cambridge
books. I strongly suggest you get the Cambridge
IELTS books, because IELTS is a paper-based test.
How can you take the IELTS?

● Use this link to register: ielts.org/book-a-test/how-do-i-register

● Regular testing dates are available each month
○ You may need to register 2 weeks ahead of time
● Select time/date/location
● Fill out an application and pay the fee
○ Currently, it costs USD 200, EUR 190 or GBP 115
● Provide a copy of your passport
Exam Overview

● IELTS takes 2 hours and 45 minutes to finish

● 4 parts (with equal scoring): Reading, Listening, Writing, Speaking
● Exam is divided into two major sections:
○ Paper Exam: Includes Listening, Reading and Writing (all must be finished in one
session)
○ Speaking Exam: Includes Speaking test only (scheduled separately)

● This is an English test. You don’t need any specialized background knowledge
Exam Overview

● No breaks in between
○ Develop your stamina by practicing with full-length practice tests

● It is a paper-based exam, so handwriting and spelling are important!

○ You will not get points for wrong spelling

● No penalty for wrong answers. Guess when you don’t know the answer!
 Listening
4 sections, 40 items
30 minutes

Academic Reading
Breakdown 3 sections, 40 items
60 minutes

of Sections Academic Writing

and Timing 2 tasks, 60 minutes

Speaking
11 to 14 minutes

Total Test Time

2 hours 44 minutes
Reading & Listening Answer Sheet Writing Answer Sheet
Next stop is…

Fundamentals of IELTS Reading

 IELTS Academic
Reading
Fundamentals

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 Scoring

Academic Reading

SCORE 39-40 37-38 35-36 33-34 30-32 27-29 23-26 19-22 15-18 13-14 10-12 8-9 6-7 4-5

BAND 9 8.5 8 7.5 7 6.5 6 5.5 5 4.5 4 3.5 3 2.5

Basics

● 3 passages. 60 minutes total. Only 20 minutes for each passage.

● 13-14 questions for each reading passage
● All questions are variations of Multiple Choice or Fill-Blank
● Level of English required gets progressively more difficult - Reading passage
1 will be easier than passage 3.
● Examiners create a question from only 1-2 sentences from a passage
● You only have 1.5 minutes (90 seconds) per question.
Basics

● Each question is worth 1 point. So don’t waste precious time on doing

difficult questions first.
● No extra time for transferring answers
● You must use correct spelling and grammar
● Essentially, this is a test of whether you can understand synonyms.
● IELTS Reading is a test of only 2 things:
○ Can you find the part of the text that has the answer?
○ Do you understand that part of the text?
Common Mistakes

● Reading too much text from the passage and applying extra information to
a question
● Spending too much time on one answer
● Going over the word count
● Changing the answer from how it appears in the reading passage
○ Plurality
○ Abbreviations
Common Mistakes

● Reading the passage before the questions

● Doing the difficult questions before the easy ones
● Not writing the answers on the answer sheet in a timely manner
● Only searching for exact keywords rather than synonym language
● Reading every single word
● Not understanding the question
4 Keys to Success

1. Vocabulary: You need to know IELTS vocabulary and especially synonyms

2. “IELTS Scan”: You need to be able to identify keywords in a question and
then scan for the synonyms of those keywords in the passage
3. Time Management: You only have 1.5 minutes per question.
4. Question Strategy: You need to know how to answer different types of
questions
How to Scan

● Identify 1-3 keywords from the question and/or answer choices

● Look for keywords and synonyms. Don’t read full sentences
● There are 3 main ways to scan. Use the ones that work best for you:
○ Horizontally

○ Vertically

○ Diagonally

● Only read the sentence which has the keywords

Basic Approach to Reading Questions

① Identify Keywords ② Scan ③ Apply Specific

Question Strategy
Underline or circle the Scan the passage and find
keywords in the questions those keywords or The answers to some
(nouns and verbs) synonyms of those questions will be in order and
keywords some will be out of order
 DO THIS DON’T DO THIS

1. Always start directly with the 1. Never read the passage first
questions

2. Do in-order questions first 2. Never do out-of-order questions first

3. Do easiest questions first 3. Never waste your time on doing
difficult questions first.

4. When answering a question, focus on 4. Don’t read too much or apply extra
the matching sentence(s) information

5. Write the answer exactly as it 5. Don’t change the plurality of your

appears in the reading passage answer or abbreviate it
Next stop is…

Types of Questions
 Types of Questions
Introduction to Academic IELTS Reading

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Question Types

● Different versions of either Fill-in-the-Blank or Multiple Choice questions

● Certain question types appear in particular reading passages, because
reading passages get progressively more difficult
● Easier question types in Passage 1 and harder questions in Passage 3
● Examiners design the questions (with varying difficulty levels) to classify
students by their level of English
Which Question Types Are In Order?

ALWAYS IN ORDER MOSTLY IN ORDER NOT IN ORDER

1. Fill-in-the-Blank 1. Flow Charts 1. Matching

2. Multiple Choice 2. Sentence Completion 2. Classification
3. Short Answer 3. Table 3. Headings
4. Yes (True), No (False), 4. Diagram 4. Pick 2-4 from List
Not Given 5. Summary 5. Paragraph Location

Do these first (easy)

Do these next (medium)
Do these last (hard)
Easy Way to Remember In-Order Questions

Memorize the following statement:

“Yes, I will fill multiple short charts and complete diagrams on the table in summer.”

Yes/No/Not Given Flow Charts

Fill-in-the-Blank Sentence Completion

Multiple Choice Diagrams

Short Answers Table

Summary

Always in order Mostly in order

Fill-in-the-Blank (Always In Order)

Complete the sentences below.

Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer.
Write your answers in boxes 1-7 on your answer sheet

Indoor Farming
1. Some food plants, including …………………………., are already grown indoors.
2. Vertical farms would be located in …………………………., meaning that there would be less
need to take them long distances to customers.
3. Vertical plants could use methane from plants and animals to produce ………………………….
4. The consumption of …………………………. would be cut because agricultural vehicles would
be unnecessary.
5. The fact that vertical farms would need …………………………. light is a disadvantage.
Multiple Choice (Always In Order)

Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.

Write the correct letter in boxes 31-36 on your answer sheet

31. Compared with today's museums, those of the past

A. did not present history in a detailed way.
B. were not primarily intended for the public.
C. were more clearly organised.
D. preserved items with greater care.

32. According to the writer, current trends in the heritage industry

A. emphasise personal involvement.
B. have their origins in York and London.
C. rely on computer images.
D. reflect minority tastes.
Short Answer (Always In Order)

Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer.
Write your answers in boxes 8-13 on your answer sheet

8. Before Perkin's discovery, with what group in society was the colour purple associated?
9. What potential did Perkin immediately understand that his new dye had?
10. What was the name finally used to refer to the first colour Perkin invented?
11. What was the name of the person Perkin consulted before setting up his own dye
works?
12. In what country did Perkin's newly invented colour first become fashionable?
13. According to the passage, which disease is now being targeted by researchers using
synthetic dyes?
Yes/No/Not Given (Always In Order)

Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage 1?
In boxes 9-13 on your answer sheet, write

TRUE if the statement agrees with the information

FALSE if the statement contradicts the information
NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this

9. Michael Faraday was the first person to recognise Perkin's ability as a student of
chemistry.
10. Michael Faraday suggested Perkin should enrol in the Royal College of Chemistry.
11. Perkin employed August Wilhelm Hofmann as his assistant.
12. Perkin was still young when he made the discovery that made him rich and famous.
13. The trees from which quinine is derived grow only in South America.
Flow Chart (Mostly In Order)

Complete the flow-chart below.

Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER from the passage for each answer.
Write your answers in boxes 33-40 on your answer sheet.

Freya Stark

Born in Paris in 1893.

First formal education at 33 ........................... .

Worked as a 34 ........................... in Italy.

Sentence Completion (Mostly In Order)

Complete each sentence with the correct ending, A-E, below.

Write the correct letter, A-E, in boxes, 38-40 on your answer sheet.

38. Thinking like a successful iconoclast is demanding because it

39. The concept of the social brain is useful to iconoclasts because it
40. Iconoclasts are generally an asset because their way of thinking

A. requires both perceptual and social intelligence skills.

B. focuses on how groups decide on an action.
C. works in many fields, both artistic and scientific.
D. leaves one open to criticism and rejection.
E. involves understanding how organisations manage people.
Diagram (Mostly In Order)

Label the diagram below.

Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer.
Write your answers in boxes for 9-13 on your answer sheet.

Raising the hull of the Mary Rose: Stages one and two
Table (Mostly In Order)

Complete the table below.

Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer.
Write your answers in boxes 27-31 on your answer sheet.

Test Findings

Observing the 27 …………………. of Russian- Bilingual people engage both languages

English bilingual people when asked to select simultaneously: a mechanism known as 28
certain objects ………………….

A test called the 29 …………………., focusing on Bilingual people are more able to handle
naming colours tasks involving a skill called 30 ………………….

A test involving switching between tasks When changing strategies, bilingual people
have superior 31 ………………….
Summary (Mostly In Order)

Complete the summary below.

Choose ONE WORD ONLY from the passage for each answer.
Write your answers in boxes 21-24 on your answer sheet.

Jared Diamond's View

Diamond believes that the Polynesian settlers on Rapa Nui destroyed its forests, cutting
down its trees for fuel and clearing land for 21 ………...…………. Twentieth-century discoveries
of pollen prove that Rapu Nui had once been covered in palm forests, which had turned into
grassland by the time the Europeans arrived on the island. When the islanders were no
longer able to build the 22 ……………...……. they needed to go fishing, they began using the
island's 23 ………...…………. as a food source, according to Diamond. Diamond also claims that
the moai were built to show the power of the island's chieftains, and that the methods of
transporting the statues needed not only a great number of people, but also a great deal of 24
……………...…….
Matching (Not In Order)

Match each statement with the correct person or people, A-E.

Write the correct letter, A—E, in boxes 20-23 on your answer sheet.

20. A sense of identity can never be formed without relationships with other people.
21. A child's awareness of self is related to a sense of mastery over things and people.
22. At a certain age, children's sense of identity leads to aggressive behaviour.
23. Observing their own reflection contributes to children's self awareness.

List of Researchers
A. James
B. Cooley
C. Lewis and Brooks-Gunn
D. Mead
E. Bronson
Classification (Mostly In Order)

Classify the following as typical of

A. both Chinese and Japanese pagodas
B. only Chinese pagodas
C. only Japanese pagodas

Write the correct letter, A, B or C, in boxes 5-10 on your answer sheet.

5. easy interior access to top
6. tiles on eaves
7. use as observation post
8. size of eaves up to half the width of the building
9. original religious purpose
10. floors fitting loosely over each other
Headings (Not In Order)

Choose the correct heading for paragraphs B—E from the list of headings below.
Write the correct number, i—vii, in boxes 14-17 on your answer sheet.

List of Headings
i. Seeking the transmission of radio signals from planets
ii. Appropriate responses to signals from other civilisations
iii. Vast distances to Earth's closest neighbours
iv. Assumptions underlying the search for extra-terrestrial intelligence
v. Reasons for the search for extra-terrestrial intelligence
vi. Knowledge of extra-terrestrial life forms
vii. Likelihood of life on other planets
Pick From List (Not In Order)

Choose TWO letters, A-F.

Write the correct letters in boxes 11 and 12 on your answer sheet.
The list below includes factors contributing to classroom noise.
Which TWO are mentioned by the writer of the passage?

A. current teaching methods

B. echoing corridors
C. cooling systems
D. large class sizes
E. loud-voiced teachers
F. playground games
Paragraph Location (Not In Order)

Reading Passage 2 has seven paragraphs, A-G.

Which paragraph contains the following information?
Write the correct letter, A-G, in boxes 14-17 on your answer sheet.

14. examples of different ways in which the parallax principle has been
applied
15. a description of an event which prevented a transit observation
16. a statement about potential future discoveries leading on from transit
observations
17. a description of physical states connected with Venus which early
astronomical instruments failed to overcome
Next stop is…

How to Answer Fill-in-the-Blank

Questions
 Fill-in-the-Blank
Learn how to answer this question type

mastership.co Learn from the world’s best IELTS course.

Fill-in-the-Blank (Always In Order)

Complete the sentences below.

Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer.
Write your answers in boxes 1-7 on your answer sheet

Indoor Farming
1. Some food plants, including …………………………., are already grown indoors.
2. Vertical farms would be located in …………………………., meaning that there would be less
need to take them long distances to customers.
3. Vertical plants could use methane from plants and animals to produce ………………………….
4. The consumption of …………………………. would be cut because agricultural vehicles would
be unnecessary.
5. The fact that vertical farms would need …………………………. light is a disadvantage.
Explanation

● Goes in order! Easy to do

● Do these questions first
● Each question is formed from only 1-2 sentences in the reading passage
● The right answer will connect to the words before and/or after the blank line
● You must be able to scan for keywords and understand synonym language
Types of Directions

Type 1 Type 2

Complete the sentences using words from Complete the sentences below.
the box
Choose NO MORE THAN ONE WORD
(answer choices)
from the text for each answer.
A
B Pick answer choices from the …………………………………..
C box. If there are extra answer
D choices, some will not be used. Write the word(s) Up to 3 words
that fit into the and/or a
blank line number
 Basic Strategy

1. Underline or 2. Identify the easy 3. Scan passage to 4. Find the word(s) 5. Write the
circle keywords questions to do find keywords and that connect to the question number
(names, places, them first. You can synonyms. Mark word(s) before next to the
numbers) in the mark them with a keywords in the and/or after the matching sentence
questions check (optional) matching sentence blank line in the passage
Examples
 Pay attention to how
Complete the sentences below. many words you can write

Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the passage for each answer.
Repetitive Keyword (not very useful)
11. In Greece, tourism is the most important ........................ .

12. The travel and tourism industry in Jamaica is the major ........................ .

13. The problems associated with measuring international tourism are often
reflected in the measurement of ........................ .

Easiest Keywords Connecting Words

 source of income .
11. In Greece, tourism is the most important …........................................

Synonym Language

Once the exclusive province of the wealthy, travel and tourism have become an
institutionalised way of life for most of the population. In fact, McIntosh and
Goeldner (1990) suggest that tourism has become the largest commodity in
international trade for many nations and, for a significant number of other
countries, it ranks second or third. For example, tourism is the major source of
#11 income in Bermuda, Greece, Italy, Spain, Switzerland and most Caribbean
countries.
Matching Sentence
 employer .
12. The travel and tourism industry in Jamaica is the major ........................

Synonym Language

In addition, Hawkins and Ritchie, quoting from data published by the American
Express Company, suggest that the travel and tourism industry is the number one
#12 ranked employer in the Bahamas, Brazil, Canada, France, (the former) West
Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Singapore, the United Kingdom and
the United States.

Matching Sentence
 13. The problems associated with measuring international tourism are often
domestic tourism .
reflected in the measurement of ………………........................

Synonym Language

However, because of problems of definition, which directly affect statistical

measurement, it is not possible with any degree of certainty to provide precise,
valid or reliable data about the extent of world-wide tourism participation or its
economic impact. In many cases, similar difficulties arise when attempts are made
#13 to measure domestic tourism.

Matching Sentence
Next stop is…

How to Answer Short

Answer Questions
 Short Answer
Learn how to answer this question type

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Short Answer (Always In Order)

Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer.
Write your answers in boxes 8-13 on your answer sheet

8. Before Perkin's discovery, with what group in society was the colour purple associated?
9. What potential did Perkin immediately understand that his new dye had?
10. What was the name finally used to refer to the first colour Perkin invented?
11. What was the name of the person Perkin consulted before setting up his own dye
works?
12. In what country did Perkin's newly invented colour first become fashionable?
13. According to the passage, which disease is now being targeted by researchers using
synthetic dyes?
Explanation

● Goes in order! Easy to do

● Do these questions first
● Each question is formed from only 1-2 sentences in the reading passage
● Similar to Fill-in-the-Blank questions
● It asks for very specific information
● You must be able to scan for keywords and understand synonym language
 Basic Strategy

1. Underline or 2. Identify the easy 3. Scan passage to 4. Find the word(s) 5. Write the
circle keywords in questions to do find keywords and that connect to the question number
the questions them first. You can synonyms. Mark specific information next to the
and/or answer mark them with a keywords in the being asked in the matching sentence
choices check (optional) matching sentence questions in the passage
Examples
 Pay attention to how many
Choose ONE WORD from the passage for each answer. words you can write

6. Which part of some stepwells provided shade for people?

7. What type of serious climatic event, which took place in southern Rajasthan,
is mentioned in the article?

8. Who are frequent visitors to stepwells nowadays?

Easiest Keyword

We need to find very

specific information
 7. What type of serious climatic event, which took place in southern Rajasthan,
is mentioned in the article?
Synonym Language

Down the centuries, thousands of wells were constructed throughout

north-western India, but the majority have now fallen into disuse; many are
derelict and dry, as groundwater has been diverted for industrial use and the
wells no longer reach the water table. Their condition hasn't been helped by
recent dry spells: southern Rajasthan suffered an eight-year drought between
#7
1996 and 2004.
Matching Sentence
 6. Which part of some stepwells provided shade for people?

Synonym Language

Some wells are vast, open craters with hundreds of steps paving each sloping
side, often in tiers. Others are more elaborate, with long stepped passages
leading to the water via several storeys. Built from stone and supported by
#6
pillars, they also included pavilions that sheltered visitors from the relentless
heat. But perhaps the most impressive features are the intricate decorative
sculptures that embellish many stepwells, showing activities from fighting and
dancing to everyday acts such as women combing their hair or churning butter.

Matching Sentence
 8. Who are frequent visitors to stepwells nowadays?

Synonym Language

Today, following years of neglect, many of these monuments to medieval

engineering have been saved by the Archaeological Survey of India, which has
recognized the importance of preserving them as part of the country's rich
#8 history. Tourists flock to wells in far-flung corners of north-western India to gaze
in wonder at these architectural marvels from hundreds of years ago, which
serve as a reminder of both the ingenuity and artistry of ancient civilizations and
of the value of water to human existence.
Matching Sentence
Next stop is…
How to Answer Yes/No/Not
Given Questions
 Yes/No/Not Given
Learn how to answer this question type

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Yes/No/Not Given (Always In Order)

Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage 1?
In boxes 9-13 on your answer sheet, write

TRUE if the statement agrees with the information

FALSE if the statement contradicts the information
NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this

9. Michael Faraday was the first person to recognise Perkin's ability as a student of
chemistry.
10. Michael Faraday suggested Perkin should enrol in the Royal College of Chemistry.
11. Perkin employed August Wilhelm Hofmann as his assistant.
12. Perkin was still young when he made the discovery that made him rich and famous.
13. The trees from which quinine is derived grow only in South America.
Explanation

● Goes in order! Easy to do, but some questions can be tricky

● Do these questions before the difficult out-of-order questions
● Each question is formed from only 1-2 sentences in the reading passage
● You must compare two sentences - i.e. the question and the matching
sentence from the passage
● You must be able to scan for keywords and understand synonym language
● Very common question - makes up about 20% of the Reading test questions
 Basic Strategy

1. Underline or 2. Identify the easy 3. Scan passage to 4. Compare the two 5. Write the
circle keywords questions to do find keywords and sentences (i.e. the question number
(names, places, them first. You can synonyms. Mark question and the next to the
numbers) the mark them with a keywords in the matching sentence) matching sentence
questions check (optional) matching sentence to find the answer in the passage
How to Compare Sentences

● Compare the two sentences by examining the Parts of Speech (noun, verbs, adverbs,
adjectives)
● Pay attention to the use of Extreme Words (always, never, only, all, every), if present

Parts of Speech and Extreme Parts of Speech or Extreme Parts of Speech or Extreme
Words (if present) are SAME Words are DIFFERENT Words are MISSING

Yes (True) No (False) Not Given

Examples
Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage 1?

In boxes 9-13 on your answer sheet, write

TRUE if the statement agrees with the information

Questions #10 and
FALSE if the statement contradicts the information #11 are the easiest
NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this to answer, so we’ll
do these first

9. The metal used in the float process had to have specific properties.

10. Pilkington invested some of his own money in his float plant.

11. Pilkington's first full-scale plant was an instant commercial success.

Easiest Keywords
 10. Pilkington invested some of his own money in his float plant.
Synonym Language

#10 Pilkington built a pilot plant in 1953 and by 1955 he had convinced his company
to build a full-scale plant. However, it took 14 months of non-stop production,
costing the company £100,000 a month, before the plant produced any usable
glass. Furthermore, once they succeeded in making marketable flat glass, the
machine was turned off for a service to prepare it for years of continuous
production. When it started up again it took another four months to get the
process right again.

Matching Sentence Parts of Speech or Extreme

Not Given
Words are MISSING
 11. Pilkington's first full-scale plant was an instant commercial success.

Pilkington built a pilot plant in 1953 and by 1955 he had convinced his company
to build a full-scale plant. However, it took 14 months of non-stop production,
costing the company £100,000 a month, before the plant produced any usable
#11
glass. Furthermore, once they succeeded in making marketable flat glass, the
machine was turned off for a service to prepare it for years of continuous
production. When it started up again it took another four months to get the
process right again.

Matching Sentence Parts of Speech or Extreme

No (False)
Words are DIFFERENT
 9. The metal used in the float process had to have specific properties.
Synonym Language

The float process for making flat glass was invented by Alistair Pilkington. This
process allows the manufacture of clear, tinted and coated glass for buildings, and
clear and tinted glass for vehicles. Pilkington had been experimenting with
improving the melting process, and in 1952 he had the idea of using a bed of
molten metal to form the flat glass, eliminating altogether the need for rollers
within the float bath. The metal had to melt a temperature less than the
#9 hardening point of glass (about 600°C), but could not boil at a temperature below
the temperature of the molten glass (about 1500°C).

Matching Sentence Parts of Speech and Extreme

Yes (True)
Words (if present) are SAME
Next stop is…

How to Answer Multiple

Choice Questions
 Multiple Choice
Learn how to answer this question type

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Multiple Choice (Always In Order)

Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.

Write the correct letter in boxes 31-36 on your answer sheet

31. Compared with today's museums, those of the past

A. did not present history in a detailed way.
B. were not primarily intended for the public.
C. were more clearly organised.
D. preserved items with greater care.

32. According to the writer, current trends in the heritage industry

A. emphasise personal involvement.
B. have their origins in York and London.
C. rely on computer images.
D. reflect minority tastes.
Explanation

● Goes in order! Easy to do

● Do these questions first
● Each question is formed from only 1-2 sentences in the reading passage
● You must be able to scan for keywords and understand synonym language
 Basic Strategy

1. Underline or 2. Identify the easy 3. Scan passage to 4. Find the word(s) 5. Write the
circle keywords questions to do find keywords and that connect to the question number
(names, places them first. You can synonyms. Mark information being next to the
numbers, etc.) in mark them with a keywords in the asked in the matching sentence
the questions check (optional) matching sentence question in the passage
Examples
Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.

19. When discussing the theory developed by Louis Dollo, the writer says that
A it was immediately referred to as Dollo's law.
B it supported the possibility of evolutionary throwbacks.
C it was modified by biologists in the early twentieth century.
D it was based on many years of research.

20. What is said about 'silent genes'? Easiest Keywords

A Their numbers vary according to species.
B Raff disagreed with the use of the term.
C They could lead to the re-emergence of certain characteristics.
D They can have an unlimited life span.
 19. When discussing the theory developed by Louis Dollo, the writer says that
A it was immediately referred to as Dollo's law.
B it supported the possibility of evolutionary throwbacks.
C it was modified by biologists in the early twentieth century.
D it was based on many years of research.
Synonym Language

In 1890, Louis Dollo proposed that evolution was irreversible: that 'an organism
is unable to return, even partially to a previous stage already realized in the ranks
of its ancestors.' Early 20th-century biologists came to a similar conclusion,
#19
though they qualified it in terms of probability, stating that there is no reason why
evolution cannot run backwards - it is just very unlikely.
Matching Sentence
 20. What is said about 'silent genes'?
A Their numbers vary according to species.
B Raff disagreed with the use of the term.
C They could lead to the re-emergence of certain characteristics.
D They can have an unlimited life span.

Synonym Language

Rudolph Raff and his colleagues reasoned that while some evolutionary changes
involve the loss of genes and are therefore irreversible, others may be the result
of genes being switched off. If these silent genes are somehow switched back on,
#20
they argued, long-lost traits could reappear.
Matching Sentence
 Next stop is…

How to Answer Sentence

Completion Questions
 Sentence Completion
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Sentence Completion (Mostly In Order)

Complete each sentence with the correct ending, A-E, below.

Write the correct letter, A-E, in boxes, 38-40 on your answer sheet.

38. Thinking like a successful iconoclast is demanding because it

39. The concept of the social brain is useful to iconoclasts because it
40. Iconoclasts are generally an asset because their way of thinking

A. requires both perceptual and social intelligence skills.

B. focuses on how groups decide on an action.
C. works in many fields, both artistic and scientific.
D. leaves one open to criticism and rejection.
E. involves understanding how organisations manage people.
Explanation

● Mostly in order, and you should assume it goes in order! Not difficult
● Each question is formed from only 1-2 sentences in the reading passage
● You are given the first part of a sentence and you have to find the second part
● Keywords may be found in the questions and/or the answer choices
● Some answer choices may not be used and some may not exist at all
● You must be able to scan for keywords and understand synonym language
 Basic Strategy

1. Underline or 2. Identify the easy 3. Scan passage to 4. Find the second 5. Write the
circle keywords in questions to do find keywords and half of the sentence question number
the questions them first. You can synonyms. Mark that connects to next to the
and/or answer mark them with a keywords in the the first half of the matching sentence
choices check (optional) matching sentence sentence in the passage
Examples
Complete each sentence with the correct ending, A-G, below. Which keywords are
easiest to locate? The
ones in the questions or
19. According to Dingle, migratory routes are likely to the answer choices?

20. To prepare for migration, animals are likely to

21. Arctic terns illustrate migrating animals' ability to Start by locating the
easiest keywords - from
questions first!

Repetitive
A be discouraged by difficulties.
Keyword
(not very
useful) B follow a straight line.

C eat more than they need for immediate purposes.

D ignore distractions.
 19. According to Dingle, migratory routes are likely to

A be discouraged by difficulties.
B follow a straight line.
C eat more than they need for immediate purposes.
D ignore distractions.

Synonym Language
The biologist Hugh Dingle has identified five characteristics that apply, in varying degrees
and combinations, to all migrations. They are prolonged movements that carry animals
#19
outside familiar habitats; they tend to be linear, not zigzaggy; they involve special behaviors
concerning preparation (such as overfeeding) and arrival; they demand special allocations
of energy. And one more: migrating animals maintain an intense attentiveness to the
greater mission, which keeps them undistracted by temptations and undeterred by
challenges that would turn other animals aside. Matching Sentence
 21. Arctic terns illustrate migrating animals' ability to

A be discouraged by difficulties.
B follow a straight line.
C eat more than they need for immediate purposes.
D ignore distractions.

Synonym Language

An arctic tern, on its 200,000 km flight from the extreme south of South America to the
Arctic circle, will take no notice of a nice smelly herring offered from a bird-watcher's boat
along the way. While local gulls will dive voraciously for such handouts, the tern flies on.
#21 Why? The arctic tern resists distraction because it is driven at that moment by an
instinctive sense of something we humans find admirable: larger purpose.
Matching Sentence
 20. To prepare for migration, animals are likely to

A be discouraged by difficulties.
B follow a straight line.
C eat more than they need for immediate purposes.
D ignore distractions.

Synonym Language

#20
Birds will fatten themselves with heavy feeding in advance of a long migrational flight. The
value of his definition, Dingle argues, is that it focuses attention on what the phenomenon
of wildebeest migration shares with the phenomenon of the aphids, and therefore helps
guide researchers towards understanding how evolution has produced them all.

Matching Sentence
Next stop is…

How to Answer Table Questions

 Tables
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Table (Mostly In Order)

Complete the table below.

Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer.
Write your answers in boxes 27-31 on your answer sheet.

Test Findings

Observing the 27 …………………. of Russian- Bilingual people engage both languages

English bilingual people when asked to select simultaneously: a mechanism known as 28
certain objects ………………….

A test called the 29 …………………., focusing on Bilingual people are more able to handle
naming colours tasks involving a skill called 30 ………………….

A test involving switching between tasks When changing strategies, bilingual people
have superior 31 ………………….
Explanation

● Mostly in order, and you should assume it goes in order! Not difficult
● If there are 2 questions right next to each other, then their order may be
reversed
● Similar to Fill-in-the-Blank questions
● Each question is formed from only 1-2 sentences in the reading passage
● You must be able to scan for keywords and understand synonym language
Types of Directions

Type 1 Type 2

Complete the Table using words from the Complete the Table.
box.
Choose NO MORE THAN ONE WORD
(answer choices)
from the text for each answer.
A
B If there are extra answer …………………………………..
C choices, some will not be used Can be more
D Write the word(s) that than ONE
fit into the blank line
 Basic Strategy

1. Underline or 2. Identify the easy 3. Scan passage to 4. Find the word(s) 5. Write the
circle keywords in questions to do find keywords and that connect to the question number
the questions and them first. You can synonyms. Mark word(s) before next to the
Title of questions (if mark them with a keywords in the and/or after the matching sentence
present) check (optional) matching sentence blank line in passage
Examples
Complete the table below. Pay attention to how
many words you can write

Choose ONE WORD from the passage for each answer.

Connecting Words

GEO-ENGINEERING PROJECTS
Procedure Aim

put a large number of tiny spacecraft into to create a 1 ……………….... that would reduce
orbit far above Earth the amount of light reaching Earth

place 2 ……………….... in the sea to encourage 3 ……………….... to form

release aerosol sprays into the stratosphere to create 4 ……………….... that would reduce
the amount of light reaching Earth

Easiest Keywords The order of #2 and #3 may be reversed in passage

 Procedure Aim

release aerosol sprays into the stratosphere Clouds that would

to create 4 ………………....
reduce the amount of light reaching Earth

Synonym Language

Some look specifically at reversing the melting at the poles, particularly the Arctic. The
reasoning is that if you replenish the ice sheets and frozen waters of the high latitudes,
more light will be reflected back into space, so reducing the warming of the oceans and
atmosphere. The concept of releasing aerosol sprays into the stratosphere above the Arctic
has been proposed by several scientists. This would involve using sulphur or hydrogen
#4 sulphide aerosols so that sulphur dioxide would form clouds, which would, in turn, lead to a
global dimming.
Matching Sentence
 Procedure Aim

put a large number of tiny spacecraft into Sunshade that would reduce
to create a 1 ………………....
orbit far above Earth the amount of light reaching Earth

Synonym Language

Many of the schemes now suggested look to do the opposite, and reduce the amount of
sunlight reaching the planet. The most eye-catching idea of all is suggested by Professor
Roger Angel of the University of Arizona. His scheme would employ up to 16 trillion minute
spacecraft, each weighing about one gram, to form a transparent, sunlight-refracting
#1
sunshade in an orbit 1.5 million km above the Earth. This could, argues Angel, reduce the
amount of light reaching the Earth by two percent.
Matching Sentence
 Procedure Aim
iron in the sea
place 2 ……………….... algae to form
to encourage 3 ………………....

Synonym Language

The majority of geo-engineering projects so far carried out – which include planting forests
#2
in deserts and depositing iron in the ocean to stimulate the growth of algae – have focused
#3 on achieving a general cooling of the Earth. But some look specifically at reversing the
melting at the poles, particularly the Arctic. The reasoning is that if you replenish the ice
sheets and frozen waters of the high latitudes, more light will be reflected back into space,
so reducing the warming of the oceans and atmosphere.
Matching Sentence
Next stop is…

How to Answer Diagram Questions

 Diagrams
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Diagram (Mostly In Order)

Label the diagram below.

Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer.
Write your answers in boxes for 9-13 on your answer sheet.

Raising the hull of the Mary Rose: Stages one and two
Explanation

● It is mostly in order, and you should assume that it goes in order! Not difficult

● If there are 2 questions right next to each other, then their order may be reversed

● Diagram questions in Passage 1 will likely go in order, but may not in Passage 3.

● Diagrams (and their Titles) make it easy to locate the matching paragraph

● Similar to Fill-in-the-Blank questions

● Each question is formed from only 1-2 sentences in the reading passage

● No background knowledge on diagrams is needed! This is an English test

 Basic Strategy

1. Underline or 2. Identify the easy 3. Scan passage to 4. Find the word(s) 5. Write the
circle keywords in questions to do find keywords and that connect to the question number
the questions and them first. You can synonyms. Mark word(s) before next to the
Title of questions (if mark them with a keywords in the and/or after the matching sentence
present) check (optional) matching sentence blank line in the passage
Examples
 Choose ONE WORD from the passage for each answer
Pay attention to how
many words you can
How a boat is lifted on the Falkirk Wheel write

Keywords in the Title may be useful

for locating the matching paragraph Easiest Keywords

21 ……………….... raise boat

A 20 ……………….... is taken
11m to level of Union Canal
out, enabling Wheel to
rotate

Diagrams are useful

because the correct
A pair of 22 ……………….... matching paragraph
are lifted in order to shut will explain what the
out water from canal basin diagram is about

Connecting Words
 Locks raise boat 11m to level
21 ………………....
of Union Canal

Synonym Language

The remaining 11 metres of lift needed to reach the Union Canal is achieved by means of a
#21
pair of locks. The Wheel could not be constructed to elevate boats over the full 35-metre
difference between the two canals, owing to the presence of the historically important
Antonine Wall, which was built by the Romans in the second century AD. Boats travel under
this wall via a tunnel, then through the locks, and finally on to the Union Canal.
Matching Sentence
 gates are lifted in
A pair of 20 ………………....
order to shut out water from canal basin

Synonym Language

Boats needing to be lifted up enter the canal basin at the level of the Forth & Clyde Canal
and then enter the lower gondola of the Wheel. Two hydraulic steel gates are raised, so as to
#20
seal the gondola off from the water in the canal basin. The water between the gates is the
pumped out. A hydraulic clamp, which prevents the arms of the Wheel moving while the
gondola is docked, is removed, allowing the Wheel to turn.
Matching Sentence
 clamp
A 22 ……………….... is taken out, enabling
Wheel to rotate

Synonym Language

Two hydraulic steel gates are raised, so as to seal the gondola off from the water in the canal
basin. The water between the gates is the pumped out. A hydraulic clamp, which prevents
#22
the arms of the Wheel moving while the gondola is docked, is removed, allowing the Wheel
to turn. In the central machine room, an array of ten hydraulic motors then begins to rotate
the central axle. The axle connects to the outer arms of the Wheel, which begin to rotate at
a speed of 1/8 of a revolution per minute.
Matching Sentence
Next stop is…

How to Answer
Flowchart Questions
 Flowcharts
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Flow Chart (Mostly In Order)

Complete the flow-chart below.

Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER from the passage for each answer.
Write your answers in boxes 33-40 on your answer sheet.

Freya Stark

Born in Paris in 1893.

First formal education at 33 ........................... .

Worked as a 34 ........................... in Italy.

Explanation

● It is mostly in order, and you should assume that it goes in order! Easy to do
● This question is formed from only 1-2 sentences in the reading passage
● Correct answer will connect to the words before and/or after the blank line
● Similar to Fill-in-the-Blank and Diagram questions
● Describes a process or sequence of events (from beginning to end)
● You must be able to scan the passage and understand synonym language
Types of Directions

Type 1 Type 2

Complete the Flowchart using words from Complete the Flowchart.

the box
Choose NO MORE THAN ONE WORD
(answer choices)
from the text for each answer.
A
B Pick an answer from …………………………………..
C the options in a box
D Write the word(s) that Can be more
fit into the blank line than ONE
 Basic Strategy

1. Underline or 2. Identify the easy 3. Scan passage to 4. Find the word(s) 5. Write the
circle keywords questions to do find keywords and that connect to the question number
(names, numbers, them first. You can synonyms. Mark word(s) before next to the
places) in the mark them with a keywords in the and/or after the matching sentence
questions check (optional) matching sentence blank line in the passage
Examples
Complete the flowchart below. Pay attention to how
many words you can
Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the text for each answer. write

The Production Process Title may

have useful
keywords
Repetitive Keyword (not very useful)

The newspaper is compiled at the editorial headquarters by the journalists.

Easiest Question

The final version of the text is 1 ........................... to the printing centre.

Connecting Words

The pages are converted into 2 ...........................

 transmitted electronically to the
The final version of the text is 1 ..................................................................
printing centre.

Synonym Language

#1
B. Once the finished newspaper has been created for the next morning’s
edition, all the pages are transmitted electronically from the prepress centre to
the printing centre. The system of transmission is an update on the sophisticated
page facsimile system already in use on many other newspapers. An imagesetter
at the printing centre delivers the pages as film. Each page takes less than a
minute to produce, although for colour pages four versions, once each for black,
cyan, magenta and yellow are sent. The pages are then processed into
photographic negatives and the film is used to produce aluminium printing plates
ready for the presses.
Matching Sentence
 photographic negatives
The pages are converted into 2 .........................................................

Synonym Language

B. Once the finished newspaper has been created for the next morning’s
edition, all the pages are transmitted electronically from the prepress centre to
the printing centre. The system of transmission is an update on the sophisticated
page facsimile system already in use on many other newspapers. An imagesetter
at the printing centre delivers the pages as film. Each page takes less than a
minute to produce, although for colour pages four versions, once each for black,
cyan, magenta and yellow are sent. The pages are then processed into
#2
photographic negatives and the film is used to produce aluminium printing plates
ready for the presses.
Matching Sentence
Next stop is…

How to Answer Summary Questions

 Summary
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Summary (Mostly In Order)

Complete the summary below.

Choose ONE WORD ONLY from the passage for each answer.
Write your answers in boxes 21-24 on your answer sheet.

Jared Diamond's View

Diamond believes that the Polynesian settlers on Rapa Nui destroyed its forests, cutting
down its trees for fuel and clearing land for 21 ………...…………. Twentieth-century discoveries
of pollen prove that Rapu Nui had once been covered in palm forests, which had turned into
grassland by the time the Europeans arrived on the island. When the islanders were no
longer able to build the 22 ……………...……. they needed to go fishing, they began using the
island's 23 ………...…………. as a food source, according to Diamond. Diamond also claims that
the moai were built to show the power of the island's chieftains, and that the methods of
transporting the statues needed not only a great number of people, but also a great deal of 24
……………...…….
Explanation

● Mostly in order, and you should assume it goes in order! Challenging question

● Summary questions in Passage 1 will probably go in order, but may not in Passage 3.

● Do this last so you have a better understanding of what the Passage is about

● Can be made up of sentences from just one paragraph or from a combination of 2-4
different paragraphs in the passage

● Answer it like Fill-in-the-Blank question (scan for keywords/synonyms and find an

answer that connects to the word(s) before and/or after the blank line

● Each question is formed from only 1-2 sentences in the reading passage
Types of Directions

Type 1 Type 2

Complete the Summary using words from Complete the Summary.

the box
Choose NO MORE THAN ONE WORD
(answer choices)
from the text for each answer.
A
Use keywords from questions, …………………………………..
B
not the answer choices (unless
C
answers choices include names, Write the word(s) Up to 3 words
D
dates or numbers) that fit into the and/or a number
blank line
 Basic Strategy

1. Underline or 2. Do other 3. While scanning 4. After finishing 5. Start with

circle keywords in easy/in-order for easy/in-order other easy/in-order questions for which
Summary questions questions first (such questions first, questions first, then you’ve already
and leave them for as Fill-Blank, keep an eye out for return to Summary found keywords
last Multiple Choice, keywords from questions while scanning for
Yes/No, etc.) Summary questions answers to other
questions
Examples
Complete the summary using the list of words and phrases, A-J, below.

Title may have useful keywords The Éfaté burial site Easiest Keywords

A 3,000-year-old burial ground of a seafaring people called the Lapita has been
found on an abandoned 1 ........................ on the Pacific island of Éfaté. The Lapita
explored and colonised many Pacific islands over several centuries. They took
many things with them on their voyages including 2 ....................... and tools.
A team of researchers, led by Matthew Spriggs from the Australian National
University, are helping with the excavation of the site. Spriggs believes the burial
urn which was found at the site is very important since it confirms that the 3
....................... found inside are Lapita. Connecting Words

A proof B plantation C harbor D bones E data

F maps G burial urn H source I animals J archaeological discovery
 A 3,000-year-old burial ground of a seafaring people called the Lapita has been found on an
abandoned 1 ........................ on the Pacific island of Éfaté.

A proof B plantation C harbor D bones E archaeological discovery

F data G burial urn H source I animals J maps

Synonym Language

An important archaeological discovery on the island of Éfaté in the Pacific archipelago of

Vanuatu has revealed traces of an ancient seafaring people, the distant ancestors of today's
Polynesians. The site came to light only by chance. An agricultural worker, digging in the
#1 grounds of a derelict plantation, scraped open a grave - the first of dozens in a burial ground
some 3,000 years old. It is the oldest cemetery ever found in the Pacific Islands and it
harbors the remains of an ancient people archaeologist call the Lapita.

Matching Sentence
 A team of researchers, led by Matthew Spriggs from the Australian National University, are
helping with the excavation of the site. Spriggs believes the burial urn which was found at
the site is very important since it confirms that the 3 ....................... found inside are Lapita.

A proof B plantation C harbor D bones E archaeological discovery

F data G burial urn H source I animals J maps

Synonym Language
The Lapita left precious few clues about themselves, but Éfaté expands the volume of data
available to researchers dramatically. The remains of 62 individuals have been uncovered so
far, and archaeologists were also thrilled to find six complete Lapita pots. Other items
included a Lapita burial urn with modeled birds arranged on the rim as though peering down
at the human remains sealed inside. 'It's an important discovery,' says Matthew Spriggs,
professor of archaeology at the Australian National University and head of the international
#3 team digging up the site, 'for it conclusively identified the remains as Lapita.'

Repetitive Keyword (not very useful) Matching Sentence

 The Lapita explored and colonised many Pacific islands over several centuries. They
took many things with them on their voyages including 2 ......................... and tools.

A proof B plantation C harbor D bones E archaeological discovery

F data G burial urn H source I animals J maps

Synonym Language

Lapita were daring blue-water adventurers who used basic canoes to rove across the ocean.
But they were not just explorers. They were also pioneers who carried with them everything
#2 they would need to build new lives - their livestock, taro seedlings and stone tools. Within
the span of several centuries, the Lapita stretched the boundaries of their world from the
jungle-clad volcanoes of Papua New Guinea to the loneliest coral outliers of Tonga.

Matching Sentence
 Next stop is…

How to Answer Matching Questions

 Matching
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Matching (Not In Order)

Match each statement with the correct person or people, A-E.

Write the correct letter, A—E, in boxes 20-23 on your answer sheet.

20. A sense of identity can never be formed without relationships with other people.
21. A child's awareness of self is related to a sense of mastery over things and people.
22. At a certain age, children's sense of identity leads to aggressive behaviour.
23. Observing their own reflection contributes to children's self awareness.

List of Researchers
A. James
B. Cooley
C. Lewis and Brooks-Gunn
D. Mead
E. Bronson
Explanation

● Not in order, but easy to do!

● Underline/circle keywords in the questions and/or answer choices, depending
on which has better keywords!
● This question is formed from only 1-2 sentences in the reading passage
● Answer choices may be used more than once, if directions state this.
Otherwise, answer choices can only be used once.
● You must be able to scan for keywords and understand synonym language
Basic Strategy

1. Underline or 2. Identify the easy 3. Scan passage to 4. Find the word(s)

circle keywords in questions to do find keywords and that connect to the
the questions them first. You can synonyms. Mark information being
and/or answer mark them with a keywords in the asked in the
choices check (optional) matching sentence question
Examples
Match each statement with the correct person or people, A-E

18. Less time can be spent on exercises with gifted pupils who produce accurate work.

19. Self-reliance is a valuable tool that helps gifted students reach their goals.

20. Gifted children know how to channel their feelings to assist their learning.

List of People Which keywords are

easiest to locate? The
A Freeman ones in the questions
or the answer choices?
B Shore and Kanevsky
C Elshout
D Simonton Keywords in answer
choices are easiest
E Boekaerts to locate in this case!
18. Less time can be spent on exercises with gifted pupils who produce accurate work.

List of People
A Freeman Synonym Language
B Shore and Kanevsky
C Elshout
D Simonton
E Boekaerts Matching Sentence

High achievers have been found to use self-regulatory learning strategies more often and
more effectively than lower achievers, and are better able to transfer these strategies to
deal with unfamiliar tasks. This happens to such a high degree in some children that they
appear to be demonstrating talent in particular areas. Overviewing research on the thinking
process of highly able children, (Shore and Kanevsky, 1993) put the instructor's problem
succinctly: 'If they (the gifted) merely think more quickly, then we need only teach more
quickly. If they merely make fewer errors, then we can shorten the practice'.
 19. Self-reliance is a valuable tool that helps gifted students reach their goals.

List of People
A Freeman
Synonym Language B Shore and Kanevsky
C Elshout
D Simonton
E Boekaerts
Matching Sentence

But scientific progress is not all theoretical; knowledge is also vital to outstanding
performance: individuals who know a great deal about a specific domain will achieve at a
higher level than those who do not (Elshout, 1995). Research with creative scientists by
Simonton (1988) brought him to the conclusion that above a certain high level,
characteristics such as independence seemed to contribute more to the reaching the
highest levels of expertise than intellectual skills, due to the great demands of effort and
time needed for learning and practice.
20. Gifted children know how to channel their feelings to assist their learning.

List of People
A Freeman
B Shore and Kanevsky Synonym Language
C Elshout
D Simonton
E Boekaerts Matching Sentence

To sum up, learning is affected by emotions of both the individual and significant others.
Positive emotions facilitate the creative aspects of learning and negative emotions inhibit it.
Fear, for example, can limit the development of curiosity, which is a strong force in scientific
advance, because it motivates problem-solving behaviour. In Boekaerts' (1991) review of
emotion in the learning of very high IQ and highly achieving children, she found emotional
forces in harness. They were not only curious, but often had a strong desire to control their
environment, improve their learning efficiency, and increase their own learning resources.
Next stop is…

How to Answer Paragraph

Location Questions
 Paragraph Location
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Paragraph Location (Not In Order)

Reading Passage 2 has seven paragraphs, A-G.

Which paragraph contains the following information?
Write the correct letter, A-G, in boxes 14-17 on your answer sheet.

14. examples of different ways in which the parallax principle has been
applied
15. a description of an event which prevented a transit observation
16. a statement about potential future discoveries leading on from transit
observations
17. a description of physical states connected with Venus which early
astronomical instruments failed to overcome
Explanation

● Not in order - Challenging question

● Do this last so you have a better understanding of what the Passage is about
● Made up with information from different paragraphs
● You have to search for very specific information from the passage. This is
different from the Headings question, which asks for the main idea.
● This specific information will be written in synonym language
● Each question is formed from only 1-2 sentences in the reading passage
 Basic Strategy

1. Underline or 2. Do other 3. While scanning 4. After finishing 5. Start with

circle keywords in easy/in-order for easy/in-order other easy/in-order questions for which
Paragraph Location questions first questions first, questions first, then you’ve already
questions and leave (such as Fill-Blank, keep an eye out for return to Paragraph found keywords
them for last Multiple Choice, keywords from Location questions while scanning for
Yes/No, etc.) Paragraph Location answers to other
questions questions
Examples
 Underline/circle keywords
Reading Passage 3 has eight paragraphs A-H. and then leave these
questions for last! Finish
Which paragraph contains the following information? other easy/in-order
questions first!
These questions are asking for very specific information

1. mention of a geo-engineering project based on an earlier natural

phenomenon
Repetitive Keyword
2. an example of a successful use of geo-engineering (not very useful)
3. a common definition of geo-engineering

Start by answering the

Easiest Question questions which you’ve already
located in the passage
3. a common definition of geo-engineering

Synonym Language

A. Such is our dependence on fossil fuels, and such is the volume of carbon
dioxide already released into the atmosphere, that many experts agree that
significant global warming is now inevitable. Consequently, an increasing number
of scientists are beginning to explore the alternative of geo-engineering - a
term which generally refers to the intentional large-scale manipulation of the
environment.
Matching Sentence

H. The main reason why geo-engineering is supported by many in the scientific

community is that most researchers have little faith in the ability of politicians to
agree - and then bring in - the necessary carbon cuts. Even leading conservation
organizations see the value of investigating the potential of geo-engineering.
1. mention of a geo-engineering project based on an earlier natural phenomenon

Synonym Language

C. The majority of geo-engineering projects so far carried out - which include

planting forests in deserts and depositing iron in the ocean to stimulate the
growth of algae - have focused on achieving a general cooling of the Earth. But
some look specifically at reversing the melting at the poles, particularly the Arctic.

D. The concept of releasing aerosol sprays into the stratosphere above the
Arctic has been proposed by several scientists. This would involve using sulphur
or hydrogen sulphide aerosols so that sulphur dioxide would form clouds, which
would, in turn, lead to a global dimming. The idea is modelled on historic volcanic
explosions, such as that of Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines in 1991, which led
to a short-term cooling of global temperatures by 0.5°C.
Matching Sentence
2. an example of a successful use of geo-engineering
Synonym Language

B. Geo-engineering has been shown to work, at least on a small localised scale.

For decades, May Day parades in Moscow have taken place under clear blue skies,
aircraft having deposited dry ice, silver iodide and cement powder to disperse
clouds. Many of the schemes now suggested look to do the opposite, and reduce
the amount of sunlight reaching the planet. Matching Sentence

D. The US National Center for Atmospheric Research has already suggested

that the proposal to inject sulphur into the atmosphere might affect rainfall
patterns across the tropics and the Southern Ocean. 'Geo-engineering plans to
inject stratospheric aerosols or to seed clouds would act to cool the planet, and
act to increase the extent of sea ice,' says Rasch. 'But all the models suggest some
impact on the distribution of precipitation.'
Next stop is…

How
Head to
ings Q Answer
uestio
ns
 Headings
Learn how to answer this question type

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Headings (Not In Order)

Choose the correct heading for paragraphs B—E from the list of headings below.
Write the correct number, i—vii, in boxes 14-17 on your answer sheet.

List of Headings
i. Seeking the transmission of radio signals from planets
ii. Appropriate responses to signals from other civilisations
iii. Vast distances to Earth's closest neighbours
iv. Assumptions underlying the search for extra-terrestrial intelligence
v. Reasons for the search for extra-terrestrial intelligence
vi. Knowledge of extra-terrestrial life forms
vii. Likelihood of life on other planets
Explanation

● Not in order - Challenging question

● Do this last so you have a better understanding of what the Passage is about

● This is a main idea question. Examiners want to know if you can understand the main
idea (gist) of different paragraphs.

● Be careful of the exact language trap! Don’t choose an answer just because the same
keywords are used. The correct answer will use synonym language.

● The most important sentence in a paragraph is the first sentence

● Each heading can only be used once! The example heading will not be used.
 Basic Strategy

1. Underline or 2. Go to the 3. Read the first & 4. Go to Headings 5. Move onto the
circle keywords shortest paragraph second sentence of questions & choose next shortest
(names, numbers, in the passage - this the paragraph first. the answer choice paragraph & repeat
places) in the will be the easiest If you still don’t find that captures the the process until
answer choices to answer the answer, read same meaning you finish
the last sentence
Examples
 Choose the correct heading for paragraphs B and D-F from the list of headings below.
Pay attention to which
Write the correct number, i-ix, in boxes 14-15 on your answer sheet. paragraphs will be used

Cross out the

answer choice, List of Headings
that has already
been used for
i. How past climatic conditions can be determined Each heading
the example (answer choice)
ii. A growing need for weather records can only be used
once!
iii. A study covering a thousand years

iv. People have always responded to climate change

Example Answer 14. Paragraph C Start with the

shortest paragraph
Paragraph A iv. 15. Paragraph D in the passage!
 List of Headings

i. How past climatic conditions can be determined

ii. A growing need for weather records
iii. A study covering a thousand years

15. Paragraph D Synonym Language Main Idea

D. This book is a narrative history of climatic shifts during the past ten centuries, and
some of the ways in which people in Europe adapted to them. Part One describes the
Medieval Warm Period, roughly 900 to 1200. During these three centuries, Norse voyagers
from Northern Europe explored northern seas, settled Greenland, and visited North
America. It was not a time of uniform warmth, for then, as always since the Great Ice Age,
there were constant shifts in rainfall and temperature. Mean European temperatures were
about the same as today, perhaps slightly cooler.
Read first & second sentence first. If you still don’t find the answer, read the last sentence.
 List of Headings

i. How past climatic conditions can be determined Main Idea

ii. A growing need for weather records
iii. A study covering a thousand years

14. Paragraph C Synonym Language

C. Reconstructing the climate changes of the past is extremely difficult, because systematic
weather observations began only a few centuries ago, in Europe and North America. Records
from India and tropical Africa are even more recent. For the time before records began, we
have only ‘proxy records' reconstructed largely from tree rings and ice cores, supplemented
by a few incomplete written accounts. We now have hundreds of tree-ring records from
throughout the northern hemisphere, and many from south of the equator, too, amplified with
a growing body of temperature data from ice cores drilled in Antarctica, Greenland, the
Peruvian Andes, and other locations. We are close to a knowledge of annual summer and
winter temperature variations over much of the northern hemisphere going back 600 years.
 Next stop is…

How to Answer Pick From

List Questions
 Pick From List
Learn how to answer this question type

mastership.co Learn from the world’s best IELTS course.

Pick From List (Not In Order)

Choose TWO letters, A-F.

Write the correct letters in boxes 11 and 12 on your answer sheet.
The list below includes factors contributing to classroom noise.
Which TWO are mentioned by the writer of the passage?

A. current teaching methods

B. echoing corridors
C. cooling systems
D. large class sizes
E. loud-voiced teachers
F. playground games
Explanation

● Not in order - Challenging question

● Do this last so you have a better understanding of what the Passage is about
● First, scan for main keywords the question; and then from answer choices
● Answer may be found in the one paragraph or multiple paragraphs
● Some information presented in the answer choices may not exist
● You must be able to scan the passage and understand synonym language
● Each question is formed from only 1-2 sentences in the reading passage
 Basic Strategy

1. Underline or 2. Do other 3. While scanning 4. After finishing 5. Start with

circle keywords in easy/in-order for easy/in-order other easy/in-order questions for which
the Pick From List questions first questions first, questions first, then you’ve already
questions and leave (such as Fill-Blank, keep an eye out for return to Pick From found keywords
them for last Multiple Choice, keywords from Pick List questions while scanning for
Yes/No etc.) From List questions answers to other
(and mark them) questions
Examples
 Start by answering the
Choose TWO letters, A-E. Answered separately - One
questions which you’ve
letter per question!
already located in the
Write the correct letters in boxes 18-19 on your answer sheet. passage

Which TWO of these advantages of online social networking are mentioned in Reading Passage 3?

Keywords in the
question will likely
A. Social networking sites can be accessed on any day and at any time. be more useful
than keywords in
B. Online socialising is an efficient way of keeping touch with a lot of people. answer choices

C. It is very easy to establish new friendships online.

D. It can be reassuring to be part of an online social network.

E. Online social networking can solve problems in real-world relationships.

Underline/circle keywords and then
leave these questions for last! Finish
Repetitive Keyword (not very useful)
other easy/in-order questions first!
Which TWO of these advantages of online social networking are mentioned in Reading Passage 3?

A. Social networking sites can be accessed on any day and at any time.
B. Online socialising is an efficient way of keeping touch with a lot of people.
C. It is very easy to establish new friendships online.
Synonym Language
D. It can be reassuring to be part of an online social network.
E. Online social networking can solve problems in real-world relationships.
Matching Sentences

A. Today our number of weak-tie contacts has exploded via online social networking. 'You
couldn't maintain all of those weak ties on your own,' says Jennifer Golbeck of the
University of Maryland. 'Online sites, such as Facebook, give you a way of cataloguing them.'

E. Online social networking may also have tangible effects on our well-being. People are
readily sharing personal feelings and experiences to a wider circle than they might once
have done. 'The ability to broadcast to our social group means we need never feel alone,'
says Sandy Pentland. 'The things that befall us are often due to a lack of social support.
There's more of a safety net now.’
Which TWO of these disadvantages of online social networking are mentioned in Reading Passage 3?

A. Information from online social contacts may be unreliable.

B. We may become jealous of people who seem to have wide circle of friends.
C. We may lose the ability to relate to people face-to-face.
D. It is easy to waste a lot of time on social networking sites.
E. Using social network sites may result in a lack of privacy. Synonym Language

B. The explosion of weak ties could have profound consequences for our social structures
too, according to Judith Donath. For example, many people now turn to their online social
networks ahead of sources such as newspapers and television for trusted and relevant news
or information. What they hear could well be inaccurate, but the change is happening
nonetheless. Matching Sentence

F. Henry Holzman points out that increased visibility also means our various social
spheres - family, work, friends - are merging, and so we will have to prepare for new societal
norms. 'We'll have to learn how to live a more transparent life,' he says. 'We may have to give
up some ability to show very limited glimpses of ourselves to others.'
Next stop is…

Final Tips
 Final Tips
What to do before your exam…

mastership.co Learn from the world’s best IELTS course.

The Day Before the Test

● Lightly review any content you’re still struggling with

○ Don’t use this day (or night) as an intense study session
○ Spend no more than 1-2 hours for review
○ Use this day to relax and refresh your mind and body
● Know where the test is and how to get there
○ Check the map and make sure you know how long it will take to get there
● Don’t stay up at night to prepare for your exam! Get a good night’s sleep
○ Research shows that students who sleep at least seven hours the night before a
test typically score higher than those who get only six hours of sleep.
○ Get as much sleep as you need to feel well rested and prepared for your test.
The Day Before the Test

● Set an alarm (or two or three)

○ Try not to set more than three alarms, and keep them at most 10-15 minutes
apart so that you don't end up accidentally oversleeping.
● Get together everything you’ll need for the test
○ Prepare all the materials you’ll need for your test the night before
○ So what do you need to bring to the test?
What things to bring for the IELTS exam?

● Your original and valid passport.

○ Driving licences and student IDs are not accepted as identification.
● Print out of the confirmation email for the test
○ This document will be stamped
● 2 colored photocopies of your passport
○ In case you have not sent the photocopies or uploaded them with your
application
● 4 colored passport-sized photographs of yourself
○ In case the photo uploaded in the registration form is not clear
What things to bring for the IELTS exam?

● Stationary items
○ Carry your own pencils, sharpener, erasers and pens (ballpoint pen with
black/blue ink) in case your test center does not provide them
● Water bottle (optional)
○ Should be transparent without any writing or labels on it
○ Not allowed in some test centers. In this case, a water facility will most probably
be available.
● Snacks (optional)
○ Not allowed in the test room, but you can eat while waiting to go into the
examination hall (sometimes, it can be a long wait)
The Day of the Test

● Eat a healthy, filling breakfast

○ Good brain foods to eat before a test include:
■ Whole grains (oatmeal, granola, quinoa, etc.)
■ Fresh fruit and vegetables

● Confirm that you have everything you need to take with you to the test
● Be on time
○ Aim to get to your test center at least 30 minutes before your test
○ If you arrive after the test starts, you will not be allowed to take the test
● Go to the bathroom
○ Use the restroom before leaving your house
Right Before the Test

● Gotta pee?
○ Use bathroom before the test, as there are no bathroom breaks in the exam.
○ To use the restroom during the test, raise your hand to ask the examiner.
○ Don’t go during your listening test, because the listening test will not stop and
you will miss the answers (and get a lower score as a result).
○ If you must, then go to the toilet during your reading or writing test.
● Stay calm and positive
○ It’s normal to feel nervous before an exam, just relax and do your best
○ Focus on deep breathing to calm your nerves and reduce your anxiety
○ If possible, stretch your arms and legs to get your blood flowing.
We have arrived!
Congratulations!
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