Running out of time in IELTS Reading? Skim Reading can save you. Skim Reading is very useful and powerful technique to identify the key ideas in a passage without reading every word quickly.
IELTS Reading success is based on mastering the art of skim reading, as it helps you save time, locate answers faster, and improve comprehension. By practicing Skim Reading regularly, you can boost your speed, enhance understanding, and increase your chances of achieving a higher band score.
Table of Contents
What is Skim Reading?
Skim Reading means to get through quickly from the passages to create understanding with the topic sentence and key ideas available in the passage. Passages in IELTS are quite lengthy so skim reading exercise can save a lot of time, as compare to reading which is done word by word. For example Newspapers are the always lengthy and have much details about the new, but we normally get through the main idea , headings and the key sentence which shows intent of the news and we get to the next page by understanding every thing so quickly, so is the reading in IELTS, we quickly try to know what this news was about.
Skim vs Scan: Know the Difference
Some people confuse about Skim vs scan , Skim is basically to get the idea about the whole text without prior target. where as scan is always done for a specific reason to find out the targeted words and phrases to match the answer.
| Feature | Skim | Scan |
| Purpose | Main Ideas | Specific details |
| Speed | Fast | Targeted |
| Technique | Read headings, first/last lines | Look for keywords/numbers |
Develop Understanding with the IELTS Reading Test Format
Knowing about the IELTS Reading test format is essential to develop more understanding, The Reading test consists of three different passages with 40 questions to answer in different aspects in 60 minutes.
Question Types are
- Fill in the Blanks
- Yes/No/Not Given
- True/False/Not Given
- Multiple Choice Questions
- Sentence Completion
- Matching Headings
- Short answer questions
- Summary/note/flow-chart/table completion
Passages are of different nature in both IELTS academic and General Module. The nature of the text in academic IELTS is more analytical, Complex and Formal, which is taken from Generals, magazines, Books and research papers and articles. This is designed for people looking for University education or for doctors or researchers. Passages are more scientific with 700 – 900 words in each passage.
On the other hand General Reading passages are more easy because it is about everyday life, work and general interest. The passage is always in short paragraphs like Advertisement, Sales and Discounts at the Stores, Apply for jobs, or job vacancies, and one paragraph is long like academic and a little complex as well.
Why Skim Reading Matters ?
The mastery art of Skimming is important in the IELTS Reading test, because the IELTS Reading is considered to be the most difficult and time consuming module. Most of the student face difficulty in attempting the test as whole in 60 minute duration.
Reading every single word is not an easy way to solve the reading questions, Skimming is the best art to focus on the main idea, collect information quickly about the passage. It boosts confidence in finding the answers.
Step-by-Step Guide to Effective Skim Reading
There are four step to be followed for effective skimming techniques
- Read the tile first to know what is the text about, if it includes headings read them carefully.
- Read the topic sentence to get more clear idea about the passage.
- While go through the passage do not forget to highlight the important information, keywords
- Ignore unnecessary details in the text to save time.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
There are few things which you need to avoid while doing the reading test
- avoid reading every single word, as it is time wasting and result in the end to miss some questions, each passage is about 700-900 words so reading each single word is not possible in the time frame of 60 minutes for three passages.
- Try to ignore the question keywords in the passage.
- Do not Skip practice the reading test.
Practice Strategies
To score high in IELTS reading, practice is the basic part specially the skimming practice
- Read News papers, Blogs, Book or any piece of writing everyday, Spending at least 10 minutes minimum to boost skim reading skills.
- Use IELTS practice tests to practice on the same pace you need to appear in the exam
- Practice Reading with the set timer to meet the time requirements.
- try to solve one passage in minimum time like 15 minutes to manage time frame in the exam
- Avoid other activities/thoughts while doing the reading test
- As IELTS is now totally computer based test like PTE, so try practicing on computer as well.
Bonus Tips to Combine Skimming with Scanning
If you have good hand on skimming, then it can be helpful to scan the exact answers for you quickly saving a lot of time. so Skimming and scanning have the main role to boost the score.
Always start highlighting the keywords in question to help you skim reading and scan the answers.
Without reading questions first it is useless to go through the passage, at least first get some idea then start taking the idea of the text what it is about.
Conslusion
in the end again, it is found that Reading everything word by word in the passage could kill a lot of time, resulting in lower bands and finding difficulty to match the right answers, but boosting Skim reading skills can enhance your chances to score high in less time. Skim and Scan can solve the question easily without memorizing anything in the passage. Reading anything on daily basis can increase your understanding with the English text and makes you comfortable while reading the passage.
FAQS About Skim Reading
1. What is skim reading?
Skim reading is a fast reading technique used to grasp the main ideas of a text without focusing on every word. It helps you identify key points quickly.
2. How is skim reading different from scanning?
Skim reading is used to understand the overall meaning of a passage, while scanning is used to locate specific information like dates, names, or numbers.
3. Why is skim reading important for IELTS Reading?
In the IELTS Reading test, time is limited. Skim reading allows you to understand the passage structure quickly, so you can locate answers faster and save time.
4. What is the best strategy for effective skim reading?
Focus on titles, headings, topic sentences, and keywords. Skip unnecessary details and keep your eyes moving rapidly across the text.
5. How can I practice skim reading daily?
Read newspapers, blogs, or academic articles and set a timer. Try to summarize the main idea after one quick read without rechecking the text.
6. Can skim reading improve my reading speed?
Yes. Regular practice of skim reading trains your eyes to recognize patterns and key phrases, which naturally increases your reading speed and comprehension.
7. Should I skim read the questions or the passage first in IELTS?
Experts recommend skimming the passage first to understand the topic and layout, then reading the questions to scan for specific answers.
8. What are common mistakes to avoid while skim reading?
Common mistakes include reading every word, skipping headings, and not paying attention to keywords. Avoid rereading sentences unless necessary.
9. Is skim reading suitable for all types of texts?
Skim reading works well for informational or factual texts like articles, reports, and exam passages, but it’s less useful for complex literature or poetry.
10. How long should skim reading take in the IELTS exam?
For each passage, aim to skim read in about 2–3 minutes to get an overview before you start scanning for specific answers.