At the beginning of the reading test, it’s very important to spend five minutes skimming for the

main topic and key ideas in the passage. This will help you later when you answer the question.
Scanning for names and numbers can help you locate the information you need quickly.
Remember to look out for synonyms and paraphrases.
Check the number of words you are asked to use. Make sure you use the correct number.
Look for paraphrases of key words to follow the themes through the text and check for linking
words to trace the argument.
Your own knowledge of the subject must not infuence your choice. You are being asked to take the
information from the text.
You can do the questions in any order. You may like to do the questions that help your general
comprehension before you do the questions that ask you to find detailed information.

Matching headings to paragraphs

There are more headings than paragraphs in this type of question. Although the first sentence of a
paragraph is usually the topic sentence, look for more details to make sure you have understood the
main ideas of the paragraph, which will be reflected in the heading.

Multiple-choice questions

The key to answering these questions is finding the relevant part of the text quickly.
For multiple-choice questions that ask you to select from a list of four to eight items the two or
three items whish appear in the text, use skimming for gist and scanning for detail to answer them.
Remember to look out for synonyms and paraphrases.
Use this step-by-step approach to multiple-choice questions:
- underline the key words in the question stem and the options;
- scan the text for the key words;
- compare the options and check with the text to make sure you have found the correct details.

Summarising and paraphrasing

By identifying synonyms and paraphrases throughout the text you will be able to:
- recognise he main ideas in each section;
- distinguish the main ideas from the supporting ideas or examples.

Matching statements to paragraphs

Skim the whole text and underline the key points before trying to answer these questions.
Pay particular attention to the first sentence in each paragraph.
When two paragraphs seem to match a statement, scan the paragraphs again for similar ideas and
parallel expressions to those in the statement and underline them. Read those sentences carefully to
help you choose.
Its easy to find a title for the whole text after matching paragraphs to their headings.
True/False/Not given
In these questions you have to say whether or not the statements agree with the informations in the
text. Write True if the statement matches information in the text. Write False if the statement
contradicts information in the text. If the text contains no clear information about the statement,
write Not given.
As you read the passage, underline the part that answers the questions. If you cannot underline it,
the answer is probably Not given.
For each statement, locate the relevant part of the text. Only write True or False if the statements
agree with or contraddict information in the text.
If the text contains no clear information about the statement, write Not given.
The question and the text may use different words.
Since these questions focus on details, it may be helpful to answer them after you have answered
questions about the general meaning of the passage.

Identifying the writer’s point of view

‘No’ means the writer expresses clear disagreement with the statement. ‘Not given’ means that the
information is not in the text.

Pictures and diagrams

In some questions you will match pictures to labels provided. In others, you will have to find the
correct words in the text to complete a diagram.
First scan for figures, key words or their synonyms. Then read more carefully to identify the
relationships between the figures and the ideas.