• Explain topics from your syllabus in depth - medical, taxation, law, finance, science, etc.
• Summarize textbooks and study materials from my library (I have access to medical textbooks, CA taxation books, and more)
• Answer past paper questions and walk through solutions
• Find recent research via PubMed for evidence-based answers
• Create study materials - flashcards, notes, summaries, presentations
• Help you understand what topics are commonly tested and why they matter

IELTS Academic Reading - Tips & Strategies

How the test works (quick recap)

• 3 passages, 40 questions, 60 minutes
• Passages get progressively harder
• Band 6.0 = roughly 23-26 correct answers out of 40
• Band 7.0 = roughly 30-32 correct - that's the realistic next target

The #1 mistake at the 6-band level

Questions first, passage second.

Strategy by Question Type

• "True" = the passage confirms it explicitly
• "False" = the passage directly contradicts it
• "Not Given" = the topic is simply absent - don't infer, don't assume
• Work in passage order - statements follow the text sequentially
• The most common error: choosing "False" when it's actually "Not Given"

• Read the first and last sentence of each paragraph only - that's where the main idea lives
• Eliminate headings you've already used
• Save the hardest paragraph for last - by then you have fewer options

• These are NOT in order - scan each paragraph for specific names, numbers, or concepts
• Use capital letters and numbers as anchors; they're easy to spot while scanning

• Predict the grammar type before searching (noun? adjective? number?)
• Copy words directly from the passage - do not paraphrase or you risk being marked wrong
• The word limit ("no more than two words") is strict

• Eliminate obviously wrong options first
• Beware of "distractor" answers - words that appear in the passage but in a different context

Time Management (strict)

Building Vocabulary (the silent score-killer)

1. Read one academic article daily - BBC Science, The Guardian's science section, or National Geographic. These mirror IELTS passage style almost exactly.
2. Learn word families, not just single words. If you know "signify," also learn "significant / significance / insignificant."

Skimming vs. Scanning (know the difference)

• Skimming = reading quickly for the general idea (use for headings questions and getting passage gist - 2 minutes max)
• Scanning = searching for a specific word, name, date, or number (use for most other question types)

Practice Resources (free)

• British Council IELTS Reading practice - official quality
• IELTS.org practice materials - from the exam makers
• Cambridge IELTS books 14-19 (the gold standard for realistic practice)

Quick weekly plan to move from 6 to 7

1. YES / NO / NOT GIVEN

The core rule - memorize this:

The trap most people fall into:

• NO = You can find a sentence in the passage that says the opposite
• NOT GIVEN = You search the whole passage and the idea simply does not exist there

Think of it like a court case. NO = there's evidence against. NOT GIVEN = the witness was never called.

Step-by-step method:

1. Read the statement carefully - identify the claim being made
2. Find the relevant section in the passage (use keywords)
3. Ask yourself: Does the author express an opinion here?
4. If yes - does the passage agree (YES) or disagree (NO)?
5. If you genuinely cannot find the idea anywhere - NOT GIVEN

The golden rule:

Never use your own knowledge. If you personally know something is true or false but the passage doesn't say it - it's NOT GIVEN.

Practice example:

• Statement: "Green spaces definitely improve mental health" → NO (passage says "many believe," not a proven fact - the writer is hedging)
• Statement: "Urban planning rarely considers green spaces" → NOT GIVEN (passage never says this)

2. MATCHING HEADINGS

The method that works:

• The first sentence (topic sentence - tells you what the paragraph is about)
• The last sentence (often wraps up or signals the main point)
• If still unclear, read the first sentence of the middle too

Common traps:

• Distractor words: A heading might use a word that appears in the paragraph - but the paragraph is actually about something else. Always match the main idea, not a single keyword.
• Example-heavy paragraphs: If a paragraph is full of examples, the heading describes what those examples illustrate - not the examples themselves.
• Do the easy ones first. Leave the ones you're unsure about. With fewer options left, the hard ones become easier.

What paragraphs to watch:

• First paragraph - often introductory, sometimes no heading is assigned
• Last paragraph - often a conclusion or recommendation

3. MATCHING INFORMATION TO PARAGRAPHS

Key difference to understand:

• Matching Headings = what is the paragraph mostly about?
• Matching Information = where in the passage is this specific fact/idea mentioned?

The method:

Critical rules:

• Answers are NOT in order - unlike most other question types. Don't assume paragraph A answers question 1.
• One paragraph can be the answer to multiple questions. This is common.
• Some paragraphs may not be used at all. Don't force a match.

What to anchor on:

Putting It Together - Your Practice Plan

1. Do NOT do full timed tests yet. Isolate these question types.
2. Take any Cambridge IELTS passage (books 14-19) and do only the matching headings and Y/N/NG questions.
3. After each attempt, don't just check if you got it right - read the explanation for every single question, right or wrong. Understanding why matters more than the score.
4. After 1 week of isolated practice, return to full timed tests.

Your 3-Day IELTS Reading Rescue Plan

The mindset shift first:

DAY 1 (Today) - Monday

Morning (1.5 hrs)

• Re-read the Y/N/NG rules above slowly. Write them on a piece of paper and stick it in front of you.
• Do one full passage that has Y/N/NG questions (Cambridge IELTS 14-19, any passage)
• Time yourself - 20 minutes max
• After finishing, go through EVERY answer and ask: "Can I point to the exact sentence that proves this?"

Evening (1 hr)

• Do a second passage with Y/N/NG only
• This time, for every NOT GIVEN answer, physically scan the entire passage to confirm the idea truly isn't there

Key rule to drill today:

If you're debating between NO and NOT GIVEN - ask: "Can I find a sentence that says the opposite?" If yes = NO. If no sentence contradicts it = NOT GIVEN.

DAY 2 - Tuesday

Morning (1.5 hrs) - Matching Headings

• Do 2 passages with matching headings
• Use the first + last sentence only method strictly
• Time: 20 min per passage

Afternoon/Evening (1 hr) - Matching Information

• Do 1 passage with matching information to paragraphs
• Before starting, circle every proper noun, number, and unusual word in the question list - these are your anchors
• Scan for anchors, don't read fully

Tonight - make this cheat sheet:

DAY 3 - Wednesday (day before exam)

Morning (1 hr)

• Do one complete full reading test under strict exam conditions
• 60 minutes, no pausing, no phone
• Prioritise Passage 1 (easiest) - get those marks banked first

Afternoon (30 min)

• Review only your wrong answers - identify if you made a pattern mistake
• Fix the pattern in your head

Evening - STOP studying by 7 PM

• Light reading only (newspaper, magazine)
• Sleep early - being well-rested adds more marks than last-minute cramming

On Exam Day - Quick Reminders

1. Passage 1 first - easiest, build confidence and bank marks
2. Questions before passage - always
3. Stuck for 90 seconds? - Guess and move on
4. Y/N/NG? - Find the sentence or it's NOT GIVEN
5. Matching Headings? - First + last sentence, eliminate used options
6. Matching Info? - Anchor words, scan, remember answers are NOT in order
7. Copy words exactly for fill-in questions - don't paraphrase

Realistic Expectation

Revised Plan

Do this tonight (30 min max):

Y/N/NG - Find the sentence. No sentence = NOT GIVEN. Opposite sentence = NO.

Matching Headings - First + last sentence of paragraph only.

Matching Info - Circle anchor words first. Answers NOT in order.

IELTS Speaking - How Long to Talk

Part 1 - Introduction & Interview (4-5 min total)

• Per answer: 2-3 sentences - don't over-explain
• Give a direct answer + 1 reason + 1 small detail or example
• Don't monologue - it's a conversation

"Do you like reading?" → "Yes, I enjoy it quite a lot. I usually read before bed - mostly fiction because it helps me unwind after a long day."

Part 2 - Long Turn / Cue Card (3-4 min total)

• Talk for the full 2 minutes - this is the target, don't stop early
• You get 1 minute to prepare - use every second of it, jot bullet points
• If you finish early, add more detail - when, where, why, how you felt
• The examiner will stop you at 2 min

Part 3 - Discussion (4-5 min total)

• Per answer: 4-6 sentences - this is where you show depth
• Structure: Opinion + Reason + Example + (optional) contrast or concession
• These are abstract/societal questions - think out loud, show reasoning

"I think... because... For instance... On the other hand..."

One rule for all 3 parts:

Never give one-word or one-sentence answers. Always extend. But never ramble without a point.