IELTS Topic Articles that feature in the IELTS test for Vocabulary and Topic Awareness

Without topic awareness, you can’t fully answer the question

Without vocabulary, the question can’t be fully answered

I’ve prepared a selection of good articles to read according to their topic area. I am adding to this list all the time.

Daily chart - The stark relationship between income inequality and crime | Graphic detail | The Economist

Both theory and data suggest that if you’ve got it, don’t flaunt it

This is one of the many articles I’ve listened to or read this week which, from experience, I know feature heavily in the Reading and Writing IELTS test.

Why should I invest time in reading for IELTS

Having an awareness of IELTS topic areas indicates in your writing and speaking that your opinions can be relevant. Being prepared means that you are better positioned to give an opinion on any number of popular topic areas. This is especially the case in writing; the ability to generate ideas under the pressure of the exam is usually down to a lack of knowledge around the key topic areas.

Common IELTS Topics

So, I’ve created a page for IELTS worthy reading and listening articles. These will be featured around the most common topic areas I have seen in IELTS reading, writing and listening. Using some of these resources is not only good for increasing vocabulary levels, reading comprehension and speed, but will help provide a foundation of ideas important for topic awareness and idea generation. 

If you want a list of the main topic areas and the subheadings, you can find out more here  but this is the new link I am creating. 

I recommend you identify areas you’re not familiar with and flick through some of the topics postings below. Choose a few to read or listen to if they’re podcasts.

If your vocabulary is a weak spot, note down words and phrases you can reuse in the future. 

Crime and Punishment

I’ve noticed that this topic area can be divided into the following sub-topics

I’ve collected a selection of recent articles for IELTS topic development and ideas.

The pervasive problem of ‘linguistic racism’

Not everyone who speaks English is treated the same way. What happens when accent discrimination creeps in to our conscious and unconscious – and what do we do about our biases?

Can political violence be justified?

Is political violence ever justifiable?

A political philosopher on why denying the right to resistance poses a far greater threat to a society than embracing it.

Why resilience isn’t always the answer to coping with challenging times

Why resilience isn’t always the answer to coping with challenging times

Hope may be a better option.

The EU is on a collision course with Poland over hate crime

The EU is on a collision course with Poland over hate crime

In her first state of the union speech, Commission president Ursula von der Leyen took a confrontational stance over discrimination, singling out Poland in particular.

Organised crime: the UK shouldn’t focus on it as a national security threat

Organised crime: the UK shouldn’t focus on it as a national security threat

The Home Office’s new strategy to tackle organised crime is more reactive than proactive.

How organised crime in the UK has evolved beyond the mafia model

How organised crime in the UK has evolved beyond the mafia model

Gangs of career criminals in Britain look very different to the stories told by Scorcese or Coppola. They are fluid, multi-cultural and recent research sheds new light on how they use the dirty money.

‘High risk’ cyber-crime is really a mixed bag of threats

‘High risk’ cyber-crime is really a mixed bag of threats

If cyber-crime is the tier one (most serious) threat that we are told it is, and we are experiencing upwards of 2-3 million cyber-threats each year, then why have we only had 350 or so prosecutions under…

Why disability hate crimes are under-reported

Why disability hate crimes are woefully under-reported

Victimisation, fear of reprisal and the need for more police support mean thousands of hate crimes against disabled people go unreported

Is there a link between youth poverty and crime? 

Is there a link between youth poverty and crime? The answers may surprise you

Despite economic hardships, young people haven’t been pushed into crime. But can we trust the data?

When crooks get rich, the entire ‘crime-organised economy’ benefits

When crooks get rich, the entire ‘crime-organised economy’ benefits

Gangsta rappers are experts in micro-economics. Their particular specialism being the micro-economics of crime, an expertise gained, apparently, through a thorough knowledge of street corners. Such experience…

Immigration and crime.

Immigration and crime, is there a link?

Does immigration lead to more crime? Here’s what the research says.

Fighting organised crime.

Fighting organised crime: lessons to learn from how Italy tackles the mafia

Police should take a wider view to join the dots that link the networks behind slavery and drugs.

Knife crime and gangs.

Knife crime and gangs: how a decade of bad policy left deprived young people without real choice

View from an expert in criminal justice – who also lives in one of the UK’s most deprived areas.

This new fingerprint technique could revolutionise the way we solve gun crime

This new fingerprint technique could revolutionise the way we solve gun crime

It could even help crack long-forgotten cold cases.

Violent crime: decades of research shows punishing ‘risky’ young people does not work – here’s what does

Violent crime: decades of research shows punishing ‘risky’ young people does not work – here’s what does

Nations like Scotland and New Zealand have pioneered community-centred strategies to tackle knife crime – it’s time for the rest of the UK to follow suit.

Treating young people like criminals actually makes violent crime worse

Treating young people like criminals actually makes violent crime worse

Efforts to regulate social media and censor drill music are wasted. Instead, teachers and police need to give young people opportunities to grow.

Modern slave trade: how to count a ‘hidden’ population of 46 million

Modern slave trade: how to count a ‘hidden’ population of 46 million

The number of people in slavery across the world is on the rise, or maybe researchers are just getting better at counting.

How do you judge a crook who uses a laptop instead of a gun?

How do you judge a crook who uses a laptop instead of a gun?

Some recent high-profile crimes have got people thinking about how we should handle those who break the law using digital technologies. Criminal sentencing is decided by the type of crime and a range of…

Why young people commit crime and how moral education could help – new research

Why young people commit crime and how moral education could help – new research

Having poor morals doesn’t mean that a young person is inherently bad.

There’s no evidence that death penalty is a deterrent against crime

There’s no evidence that death penalty is a deterrent against crime

Not only does capital punishment not deter crime but it’s more expensive than keeping a convicted murderer in prison for life.

Street drinking, fly-tipping and nuisance neighbours: who experiences anti-social behaviour?

Street drinking, fly-tipping and nuisance neighbours: who experiences anti-social behaviour?

New analysis reveals the most common types of anti-social behaviour, and who the victims are.

Air pollution increases crime in cities – here’s how

Air pollution increases crime in cities – here’s how

Pollutants can increase stress levels, which in turn affects judgment and makes some people more likely to commit crime.

Why rehabilitation – not harsher prison sentences – makes economic sense

Why rehabilitation – not harsher prison sentences – makes economic sense

The effective response to crime has always been a matter of debate. But evidence is mounting in favour of treatment and support, rather than punishment.

Crime and conmen in the black out: the violent side of the World War I home front

Crime and conmen in the black out: the violent side of the World War I home front

From serial killers to attacks on prostitutes and soldiers, not everyone back in Britain during the war was heroic.

Is capital punishment morally justified?

Death penalty: is capital punishment morally justified?

What are the arguments for and against the death penalty and do they stand up to examination?

The war on wildlife crime

Chopping off the rhino’s horn and the war on wildlife crime

As the electric saw cuts into the base of the horn of the live rhino lying at my feet, I feel an uncomfortable guilt. The rhino shakes and judders and there is an unpleasant smell reminiscent of burning…

Why Singapore’s claim that the death penalty works for drug offences is fake news

Trump take note – why Singapore’s claim that the death penalty works for drug offences is fake news

Singapore claims to have nearly eliminated drug use and crime thanks to capital punishment - but the data tells a very different story.

Shopping mall design could nudge shoplifters into doing the right thing 

Shopping mall design could nudge shoplifters into doing the right thing – here’s how

Architects should experiment with cues that encourage potential thieves to make unconscious decisions not to steal.

Should all victims of crime have the right to meet the perpetrator?

Should all victims of crime have the right to meet the perpetrator?

MPs have proposed that restorative justice should eventually become a right in the UK.

The science of street lights: what makes people feel safe at night

The science of street lights: what makes people feel safe at night

Street lighting may not actually reduce crime – but it can make people feel safer at night.

Does gun control work?

Hard Evidence: does gun control work?

This week brought news of yet another gun massacre in the United States at Washington Navy Yard. It is the latest in a string of 146 mass shootings, with more than 900 victims since 2006. The tragedy gives…

Illegal wildlife trade is one of the biggest threats to endangered species

Illegal wildlife trade is one of the biggest threats to endangered species – and the UK is a key player

This multi-billion pound industry increasingly involves organised crime groups, who see wildlife as a low risk route to profit.

Could your contactless bank card be vulnerable to a new type of crime?

Could your contactless bank card be vulnerable to virtual pickpocketing?

There’s a simple way to protect your contactless card being swiped in your pocket.

Crime and nourishment – the link between food and offending behaviour

The link between food and offending behaviour

If the UK is to break the cycle of reoffending, it needs to meet the basic needs of young people in prison and respect the basic human right of adequate nutrition.

How organised crime affects everyday life in the city

Mafia in Naples is still going strong – and we must not forget how it affects everyday life in the city

Suggestions that the Camorra has been usurped are exaggerated.

Are teenagers are misrepresented in society

Three ways teenagers are misrepresented in society

Dangerous, vulnerable or just plain stupid – these are some of the stereotypes which young people face when they come in contact with the law.

Should a nation apologise for the crimes of its past?

Should a nation apologise for the crimes of its past?

Why saying sorry should be just a starting point.

The real causes of conflict

Climate change is not a key cause of conflict, finds new study

We looked at ten countries in East Africa and found poverty and politics were much more important drivers of conflict and displacement than climate change.

Other IELTS reading Sections

IELTS Topic Areas - Education

IELTS Reading Topics and Articles that feature in the IELTS test. ″Without topic awareness, you can’t fully answer the question

IELTS Topic Areas - The Environment

IELTS Reading – Topic Articles that feature in the IELTS test.  I am adding to this list all the time so students can acquire vocabulary […]

Family and Children ‘Coming Soon’

Food ‘Coming Soon’

Health ‘Coming Soon’

Language ‘Coming Soon’

Reading ‘Coming Soon’

Advertising and Media ‘Coming Soon’

Art and Design ‘Coming Soon’

Business and Money ‘Coming Soon’

Communication and Personality ‘Coming Soon’

Economics ‘Coming Soon’

Family and Children ‘Coming Soon’

Food ‘Coming Soon’

Health ‘Coming Soon’

Language ‘Coming Soon’

Reading ‘Coming Soon’

IELTS Reading – Topics and Articles that feature in the IELTS test.

″Without topic awareness, you can’t fully answer the question

Without vocabulary, the question can’t be fully answered″

I’ve prepared a selection of good articles to read according to their topic area. I am adding to this list all the time.

When English becomes the global language of education we risk losing other – often better – ways of learning

The language gap in international education is also a wealth gap that leaves too many students with limited options.

This is one of the many articles I’ve listened to or read this week which, I’ve gathered from experience feature heavily in the IELTS test.

Why should I invest time in IELTS reading

An awareness of IELTS topic areas indicates in your writing and speaking that your opinions can be relevant. Being prepared means that you are better positioned to give an opinion on any number of popular topic areas. This is especially the case in writing; the ability to generate ideas under the pressure of the exam is usually down to a lack of knowledge around the key topic areas.

Common IELTS Topics

So, I’ve created a page for IELTS worthy reading and listening articles. These will be featured around the most common topic areas I have seen in IELTS reading, writing and listening. Using some of these resources is not only good for increasing vocabulary levels, reading comprehension and speed, but will help provide a foundation of ideas important for topic awareness and idea generation. 

If you want a list of the main topic areas and the subheadings, you can find out more here  but this is the new link I am creating. 

I recommend you identify areas you’re not familiar with and flick through some of the topics postings below. Choose a few to read or listen and if your vocabulary is a weak spot, note down words and phrases you can reuse in the future. 

Education

I’ve noticed that this topic area can be divided into the following sub-topics

The benefits of universities to communities

Universities enrich communities, as well as educating students – new research

Universities expand economies, support democracy and promote sustainability.

The benefits of multilingualism 

English in England: we should celebrate different languages, not write hate mail about them

The unpleasant ‘Happy Brexit Day’ poster misses the fact that the vast majority of people in the UK recognise the benefits of multilingualism.

9 Things Teachers learnt after the lockdown

The Secret Life of Teachers - 9 things teachers learned when they went back to school after lockdown

Ex-teacher Mehreen Baig quizzes her cohort of anonymous teachers who’re back in school.

Why Pakistani students benefit the most from going to university

The government’s race report suggests ethnic minority graduates gain less from university because of poor course choices. Our findings show that’s not quite true.

Can a university education online offer value for money

Universities have invested in online learning – and it can provide students with value for money

Online learning is not automatically inferior to face-to-face teaching.

Teach critical thinking and community values to combat conspiracy theories

To combat conspiracy theories teach critical thinking – and community values

Combating conspiracy theories with correct information is not enough.

The value of an international education

Why international students are choosing the UK – despite coronavirus

Shifts in global politics and other countries’ response to the coronavirus may have made the UK a more attractive option for international students.

The benefits of learning by heart

Learning by Heart

The benefits of learning by heart

What is the point of education if everything is at your fingertips?

What’s the point of education if Google can tell us anything?

The way schools and universities teach and test has to keep up with the way young people are processing information.

Despite coronavirus, how can universities ensure a positive university experience

How universities can ensure students still have a good experience, despite coronavirus

Students can still have a good experience at university this year – if universities take their needs and concerns seriously.

Does how students’ work is assessed need to be changed?

Learning from exam results crisis: the way students’ work is assessed needs to change

The outcry over exam results has exposed underlying problems in how we assess educational performance.

Is it worth taking a gap year?

Is it worth taking a gap year? - BBC Sounds

6% of students delay university by a year. Is it still worth doing that?

What can the UK learn about education from around the world?

What Should We Teach Our Kids? - Top of the Class

What can UK schools learn from education around the world?

How an online education can help bridge the education gap for international students

Here’s how online classes can bridge the current education gap for international studies

Here we have different ways through which online classes can bridge the current education gap for international studies.

Are there positive effects on school closures on teenagers’ mental health?

School closures had positive effects on some teenagers’ mental health, our new research suggests

Being away from school may have had benefits for some teenagers.

Outdoor classes and ‘forest schools’ gain new prominence 

Outdoor classes and ‘forest schools’ gain new prominence in Bay Area amid distance learning struggles

Can these outdoor schools offer lessons to other preschools and K-12 public schools at a time when being indoors is so risky?

Why young people continue to value a university education?

Why young people still want to go to university, even though it’ll be very different to usual

Even under changed circumstances, universities can still provide students with the things they find important.

Can we learn to be happier?

How you can learn to be happier

Life lessons of happiness to learn how you can hack your happiness back.

Podcasts that will make your smarter

Back to school with the podcast university

15 podcasts that will make you smarter.

5 books to read to understand the future of work

5 Books to Read if You Want to Understand the Future of Work

An Oxford economist recommends the best books to get up to speed on the future of work.

Why Australia’s international students are being driven away

‘Don’t come here’: The blunt message international students are sending back home

Exploitation, racism, lack of government support and border closures are all contributing to drive international students away — the toll of which could be enormous.

Why more of us are taking career breaks

Why more of us are taking a career break - BBC Sounds

Every year, around 100,000 people in the UK take a career break.

Can nursery schools fight inequality?

Why nursery schools are a secret weapon in the fight against inequality

State-funded nursery schools now fill significant gaps in welfare provision in England.

Why private schools are a social problem

Why Britain’s private schools are such a social problem

Only 9% of people in the UK are privately educated, and yet they occupy an especially high share in positions of public influence.

Four ways to stop you being distracted

Four ways to stop yourself getting distracted

Are we facing a distraction crisis? And if we are, what can we do about it?

Ways to read an academic paper

How to read and learn from scientific literature, even if you’re not an expert

Scientific articles are the way in which scientists communicate their results to their peers.

IELTS Topic Areas - The Environment

IELTS Reading – Topic Articles that feature in the IELTS test.  ″Without topic awareness, you can’t fully answer the question Without vocabulary, the question can’t be fully answered″ I’ve prepared a selection of good articles to read according to their topic. I am adding to this list all the time so students can acquire vocabulary […]

IELTS Topic Areas - Crime and Punishment

IELTS Topic Articles that feature in the IELTS test for Vocabulary and Topic Awareness Without topic awareness, you can’t fully answer the question Without vocabulary, the question can’t be fully answered I’ve prepared a selection of good articles to read according to their topic area. I am adding to this list all the time. This […]

Family and Children ‘Coming Soon’

Food ‘Coming Soon’

Health ‘Coming Soon’

Language ‘Coming Soon’

Reading ‘Coming Soon’

Advertising and Media ‘Coming Soon’

Art and Design ‘Coming Soon’

Business and Money ‘Coming Soon’

Communication and Personality ‘Coming Soon’

Crime and Punishment ‘Coming Soon’

Economics ‘Coming Soon’

Education ‘Coming Soon’

Family and Children ‘Coming Soon’

Food ‘Coming Soon’

Health ‘Coming Soon’

Language ‘Coming Soon’

Reading ‘Coming Soon’

IELTS Reading – Topic Articles that feature in the IELTS test. 

″Without topic awareness, you can’t fully answer the question

Without vocabulary, the question can’t be fully answered″

I’ve prepared a selection of good articles to read according to their topic.

I am adding to this list all the time so students can acquire IELTS vocabulary and awareness of IELTS topic areas.

What China’s plan for net-zero emissions by 2060 means for the climate | Barbara Finamore

Though the country is a huge polluter, it leads the world in the clean technologies that could make this feasible, says Barbara Finamore, author of Will China Save the Planet?

This is one of the many articles I’ve listened to or read this week which feature heavily in the IELTS test.

Why should I invest time in reading

A good awareness of IELTS topic areas indicates in your writing and speaking that your opinions can be relevant. Being prepared means that you are better positioned to give an opinion on any number of popular topic areas. This is especially the case in writing; the ability to generate ideas under the pressure of the exam is usually down to a lack of knowledge around the key topic areas.

Common IELTS Topics

So, I’ve created a page for IELTS worthy reading and listening articles. These will be featured around the most common topic areas I have seen in IELTS reading, writing and listening. Using some of these resources is not only good for increasing vocabulary levels, reading comprehension and speed, but will help provide a foundation of ideas important for topic awareness and idea generation. 

If you want a list of the main topic areas and the subheadings, you can find out more here  but this is the new link I am creating. 

I recommend you identify areas you’re not familiar with and flick through some of the topics postings below. Choose a few to read or listen and if your vocabulary is a weak spot, note down words and phrases you can reuse in the future. 

IELTS Reading – The Environment

I’ve noticed that this topic area can be subdivided into the following areas.

Articles for Topic development

The incredible rise and remarkable fall of plastic

The extraordinary story of how plastic became a major player before its fall from favour.

Knowledge of medicinal plants at risk as languages die out

Loss of linguistic diversity means less chance to discover age-old remedies not known to science, study warns

BBC Radio 4 - 39 Ways to Save the Planet - Podcast

39 ideas to relieve the stress that climate change is exerting on the planet.

Would you use public transport if it was free?

Would you ditch your car if public transport was free? Here’s what researchers have found

Fare free public transport exists in at least 98 cities and towns around the world.

The world’s first ‘infinite’ plastic

The way we normally recycle plastics is a downward spiral of waste and degraded materials, but there is another option – turning plastic back into the oil it was made from.

Built environment planning reforms to make cities dense but more pleasant

Where should we build new homes?

Government proposals in the UK to introduce planning reforms have been met with a mixed reaction.

China’s Unexpected commitment to becoming Zero-carbon by 2060

China pledges to become carbon neutral before 2060

Unexpectedly forthright pledge will boost UN efforts to galvanise action on climate crisis

Global policies need to be connected on environmental areas

The ocean is swimming in plastic and it’s getting worse – we need connected global policies now

What groups like the G20 can do to help fix the problem.

Ranked: the environmental impact of five different soft drink containers

Here’s how to quench your thirst in an environmentally responsible way.

‘I’m seen as the fool’: the farmers putting trees back into the UK’s fields

It’s hoped a 12-year trial in Devon will persuade policymakers to back silvopasture to benefit the soil, livestock and climate

Experts identify ‘super-plant’ that absorbs roadside air pollution

Bushy variety of cotoneaster works best in areas of heavy traffic, say researchers, while other plants can cool buildings or reduce flooding

Biodegradable standard set for plastic

New British standard for biodegradable plastic introduced

Products will have to prove they break down into harmless wax containing no microplastics

The the problem with plastic?

What is the problem with plastic? - CBBC Newsround

More than eight million tonnes of plastic goes into the world’s oceans each year. That’s a lot of plastic which can harm animals and the environment. So what’s being done about it?

What China’s climate plans means for the world.

What China’s plan for net-zero emissions by 2060 means for the climate | Barbara Finamore

Though the country is a huge polluter, it leads the world in the clean technologies that could make this feasible, says Barbara Finamore, author of Will China Save the Planet?

Are fake plants bad for the environment?

Are fake plants bad for the environment? - BBC Sounds

Peter Gibbs investigates the trend for fake turf and artificial plants.

How the environment effects behaviour

Air pollution increases crime in cities – here’s how

Pollutants can increase stress levels, which in turn affects judgment and makes some people more likely to commit crime.

Glitter litter

Glitter litter ‘could be damaging rivers’

Glitter contains microplastics, which can get into rivers and seas, taking years to degrade.

Does planting a tree make a difference?

How much difference does planting a tree make? - BBC Sounds

There has been a sudden surge in nations encouraging mass tree planting and reforestation

Overconsumption rather than plastic is the problem

The war against plastic is distracting us from pollution that cannot be seen

We need to focus on causes like overconsumption, not the material itself.

Reasons we fell in love with plastic

Eight reasons we fell in love with plastic

An exploration of the importance of plastic and how it came to pervade our lives.

The design of building might effect our behavior

Shopping mall design could nudge shoplifters into doing the right thing – here’s how

Architects should experiment with cues that encourage potential thieves to make unconscious decisions not to steal.

China will become nearly Zero Carbon

China pledges to be ‘carbon-neutral’ by 2060

Surprise move at UN by world’s biggest emitter increases pressure on US over climate commitments

Should we worry about ‘microplastics‘?

Microplastics: Seeking the ‘plastic score’ of the food on our plates

Microplastics are everywhere, but how worried should we be? Scientists are on a mission to find out more.

Are weeds more important than we realise?

Are weeds more important than we realise?

A pavement safari in search of weeds and plants tucked into the cracks of our urban areas.

Reducing the carbon footprint of the home

Five cost-effective ways to reduce your carbon footprint at home

As the UK heads into a recession, here are some simple - and cheap - tips to reduce utility bills and make less of an impact on the planet.

What the world is able to learn from clean energy transitions in India, China and Brazil

What the world can learn from clean energy transitions in India, China and Brazil

Research has identified three key lessons.

The vegan food trends that are bad for the environment

The vegan food trends that are bad for the environment - BBC Sounds

Food writer Joanna Blythman gives her opinion on the rush to adopt a plant-based diet.

How can white good be made greener

How can we make our white goods greener - BBC Sounds

Reporter Dougal Shaw visits a recycling plant in the UK handling 700,000 fridges a year.

Poverty and politics are drivers towards conflict, not climate change

Climate change is not a key cause of conflict, finds new study

We looked at ten countries in East Africa and found poverty and politics were much more important drivers of conflict and displacement than climate change.

The environment and making citizens feel safer

The science of street lights: what makes people feel safe at night

Street lighting may not actually reduce crime – but it can make people feel safer at night.

China to the Rescue

Business Daily - China to the rescue?

Has President Xi just fired the starting gun on a global race to decarbonise the economy?

Cheap plastic is flooding developing countries –new biodegradable materials to help

Cheap plastic is flooding developing countries – we’re making new biodegradable materials to help

By combining plastic waste with durian wood sawdust, we may have found a way to slow the rise of plastic pollution in Indonesia.

How the lockdown has helped bees

Why bees are finally getting a break

Lockdowns have put a number of insect-harming practices on hold, creating a friendlier world for wild bees – and conservationists hope some of these changes could be here to stay.

Can industry be used to protect oceanic environments?

Protecting ocean habitats isn’t easy when industries are booming – but can they be part of the solution?

Multiple ocean industries are rapidly growing, but efforts to protect vulnerable habitats are stalling.

How we can make the planet a more sustainable place

Future Planet

As we face the world’s greatest environmental challenges, what we need most is solutions. Future Planet brings you stories of the people who are working to make the world a sustainable place.

Turning waste plastic into a building material

Why plastic waste is an ideal building material

What if we turned the world’s growing wastelands of disused plastics into a new kind of sustainable building?

Autonomous transport is shaping the environment we live in

Driverless cars are forcing cities to become smart

Cities are adapting to the needs of driverless cars. Here’s how.

Do low emission zones work?

Do low emission zones work? - BBC Sounds

What are low emission zones targeting, and are we able to measure if they’re working?

India’s solar farms that avoid using valuable land

The ‘solar canals’ making smart use of India’s space

Solar energy is clean, but it usually takes up huge tracts of land. In India, an alternative is turning the country’s canals into glittering trails of solar panels.

What net-zero carbon might really mean?

What ‘net-zero carbon’ really means for cities

A city historically known for its lethal 20th-Century smogs has committed to reaching net zero carbon emissions by 2050 – how will London get there?

Trees that can reduce pollution

The best trees to reduce air pollution

Urban trees can help cut air pollution from New York to Beijing, but which trees do the best job? Future Planet weighs up the options.

Can holidays be made sustainable?

Five ways to make your holidays more sustainable

Here’s how to travel with purpose and be a more responsible tourist.

Could this electric car be India’s pollution solving solution?

Delhi’s inventive answer to the electric car

The rise of the electric three-wheeler could help to reduce India’s emissions and improve air quality, but how can this niche vehicle compete on Delhi’s busy streets?

IELTS Topic Areas - Crime and Punishment

IELTS Topic Articles that feature in the IELTS test for Vocabulary and Topic Awareness Without topic awareness, you can’t fully answer the question Without vocabulary, the question can’t be fully answered I’ve prepared a selection of good articles to read according to their topic area. I am adding to this list all the time. This […]

IELTS Topic Areas - Education

IELTS Reading – Topics and Articles that feature in the IELTS test. ″Without topic awareness, you can’t fully answer the question Without vocabulary, the question can’t be fully answered″ I’ve prepared a selection of good articles to read according to their topic area. I am adding to this list all the time. This is one […]

Family and Children ‘Coming Soon’

Food ‘Coming Soon’

Health ‘Coming Soon’

Language ‘Coming Soon’

Reading ‘Coming Soon’

Advertising and Media ‘Coming Soon’

Art and Design ‘Coming Soon’

Business and Money ‘Coming Soon’

Communication and Personality ‘Coming Soon’

Crime and Punishment ‘Coming Soon’

Economics ‘Coming Soon’

Education ‘Coming Soon’

Family and Children ‘Coming Soon’

Food ‘Coming Soon’

Health ‘Coming Soon’

Language ‘Coming Soon’

Reading ‘Coming Soon’

Share

Pin2

Share

Tweet

2 Shares

SENTENCE COMPLETION TASKS

The reading section lasts for one hour and the exam format for the Reading section is 3 reading passages and 40 questions.

Each reading passage has 3 or 4 different types of question to answer.

Therefore, in order to be best prepared for your test, you should make sure you have practised each type of questions.

I have given you an example of a Sentence Completion Questions and summarised the question type for you below by describing the skills you need and the tips you can use to improve your score.

Here is the example of the task.

And here are the Task Requirements, Skills and Tips.

The Task:

You need to complete sentences by filling in the gaps with words from the passage.

Skills Needed:

You need to be able to scan for specific information.

You need to be able to select appropriate words.

You need to be able to understand specific information.

Hints and Tips

Remember to identify the type of word needed for the gap, i.e. is it a noun, a verb, an adjective etc.

Locate the information area of the text in the reading and then

Remember to check the words grammatically match the gap.

Remember to check how many words can be used in the answer and not use any more than required.

You can use tips and information on this website to help make it easier to obtain a higher score, but remember you still need to work at learning the language to be successful.

Please share to someone you know and in the meantime take a look at my Facebook Page and Website for IELTS answers and you can also join my Facebook Group here too.

Good Luck

Jonathan

I’m Jonathan

I’ve taught IELTS and University English in more than a dozen universities and schools around the world.

I’m a parent, traveller and passionate about language teaching and helping students achieve their dreams.

Whilst living in Austria or working in Asia, I run IELTS courses to help students get to where they want to be.

If you are serious about IELTS, connect with me to see how I can help you.

Sign up to the Newsletter

The Best Approach to Task 2 Writing

Paragraphing in Task 2 Writing

Strong Arguments for Task 2

Writing the Introduction

Writing a Line of Argument

Cohesion for Task 2 Writing

Writing – Benefits of a Foreign University Education

IELTS Reading

The Reading test is the second part of the IELTS test, and lasts for 60 minutes. This includes the time needed to transfer your answers to an answer sheet. Students are given either an Academic Reading test, or a General Training Reading test.

Structure of the Test

There are three sections in the reading test. Each section contains a text (which is called a ‘reading passage’ in the exam).

This might come from a magazine, journal, book or newspaper.

Each section is a little more difficult than the one before and features authentic reading passages.

The Academic module contains three long texts of an academic nature.

The General Training module features a mixture of long and short texts of a more general nature, as well as texts related to work situations.

You will be asked a total of 40 questions. In order to access how much of the reading passages you understand, the questions will usually paraphrase (use different words with the same meaning) the words that are in the text.

Question Types

In each section, you have to do several different tasks. These include:

• Answering multiple choice questions
• Writing short answer to questions
• Completing sentences, notes, a summary, a flow chart or a table
• Labelling a diagram
• Classifying ideas into different categories
• Matching (e.g. headings to paragraphs or people to ideas)
• Deciding if ideas or opinions are correct, incorrect or not given

The questions test a variety of reading skills including your ability to do the following:

• Identify the writer’s overall purpose.
• Follow key arguments in a text.
• Identify opinions and attitudes.
• Locate specific information.
• Distinguish main ideas from supporting details.
• Extract information from a text to complete a diagram, summary, table or set of notes.

Academic Reading Module

The IELTS Reading module consists of three reading passages taken from books, magazines, journals or newspapers.

The passages cover academic topics from scientific to historical interests, though the material will be targeted at a general, non-specialist audience.

You don’t need to have specialised knowledge of the topics, as any specialised vocabulary needed for the task will be explained in the text or in a glossary.

The first two reading passages have 13 questions each, and the last one has 14 questions.

The text will include titles and sometimes captions, photos and illustrations, which can help you to grasp the general meaning of the text.

If a text contains technical terms, a simple glossary is provided.

The total word length of all the texts can vary between 2,000 and 7,500 words. At least one passage contains arguments and/or views. This is usually Section 3.

General Training Reading

The texts are about more general topics or related to work. The General Training Reading paper has three sections, each of increasing difficulty.

Section 1: contains two or three short factual texts, one of which may be composite (consisting of 6-8 short texts related by topic, e.g. hotel advertisements). Topics are relevant to everyday life in an English-speaking country.

Section 2: contains two short factual texts focusing on work-related issues (e.g. applying for jobs, company policies, pay and conditions, workplace facilities, staff development and training).

Section 3: contains one longer, more complex text on a topic of general interest.

You’ll be reading real passages taken from notices, advertisements, company handbooks, official documents, books, magazines and newspapers.

Marking and Assessment

The Reading test contains 40 questions and each correct answer is given one mark. The Academic and General Training Reading Tests are graded to the same level.

However, because the texts in the Academic Reading Test are more challenging overall than those in the General Training Test, more questions need to be answered correctly on a General Training Test to receive the same grade.

Any answer which is above the word limit specified for the task will not receive a mark, so it is important to read the instructions carefully.

For questions where you have to write letters or Roman numbers, write only the number of answers required.

For questions where you have to complete a gap, write only the missing word(s) on the answer sheet. Spelling and grammar must be correct.

The final score is converted to a whole or half band on the IELTS band scale.

What can you do to improve your performance at the Reading test?

• Make sure you answer the questions asked. It might help to read the questions before you read the passage.
• Manage your time. Do not spend too much time on a question you find difficult. Answer the others and then come back to it.
• Look at visuals and subtitles to get a general idea of what the passage is about.
• Identify the topic sentence in each paragraph. This will give you a clue to the answers.
• Use reading strategies such as skimming and scanning to help you find the answers. Don’t worry if you do not know the meaning of every single word in the text. Try to guess the meaning of the words you don’t know from the context.
• Correct grammar and spelling are important.
• Make sure you go through your answers to check if they are relevant to the questions asked and if the language used is correct.

You can use tips and information on this website to help make it easier to obtain a higher score, but remember you still need to work at learning the language to be successful.

Please share to someone you know and in the meantime take a look at my Facebook Page and Website for IELTS answers and you can also join my Facebook Group here too.

Good Luck 

Jonathan