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Part 2: Core Strategies

Part 2 focuses on practical techniques to improve speed and accuracy. It covers skimming, scanning, keyword hunting, paraphrasing, elimination strategies, and dealing with unknown vocabulary. Learners also get guidance on time management to handle all 40 questions within 60 minutes.

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Chapter 5: Skimming and Scanning

Skimming

Skimming is reading quickly for the main idea. You don’t read every word. Skimming helps with:

  • Matching headings

  • Understanding paragraph topics

  • Deciding where to focus your time

How to skim effectively:

  1. Read the first and last sentence of each paragraph.

  2. Notice names, dates, numbers, or repeated keywords.

  3. Ignore unnecessary details (adjectives, examples, anecdotes).

Example:
Passage:
“Tourism in Venice has exploded over the last decade. The city’s canals and historic architecture attract millions of visitors each year. However, this has led to environmental concerns.”

Skimmed main idea: Venice has many tourists → causing environmental problems.

Scanning

Scanning is reading quickly for specific information. It helps when questions ask for:

  • Dates

  • Names

  • Numbers

  • Facts

How to scan effectively:

  1. Identify keywords from the question.

  2. Move your eyes down the passage searching for the word or its synonym.

  3. Read 1–2 sentences around the keyword to find the answer.

Mini Practice (Skim + Scan)

Passage Excerpt:
“Plastic pollution has increased dramatically since the 1950s. In 1960, only 1 million tons were produced, but today the figure exceeds 300 million tons annually. Governments worldwide are introducing measures to reduce plastic waste.”

Question: How much plastic was produced in 1960?

  • Step 1: Keyword = 1960

  • Step 2: Scan → “In 1960, only 1 million tons were produced.”

  • Answer: 1 million tons

Chapter 6: Keyword Hunting & Paraphrasing

Most IELTS questions never use the exact same words as the passage. You must recognize synonyms.

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Examples of common paraphrases:

         Question Word →    Passage Word / Synonym

  • important   →    significant

  • people   →   population

  • reduce   →   cut / decrease

  • began   →   started

  • show   →   demonstrate / reveal

 

Strategy:

  • Pick 2–3 keywords per question.

  • Look for synonyms and related words in the passage.

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Mini Practice:
Question: “Tourism has increased in Venice over the last ten years.”
Passage: “Tourism in Venice has exploded over the last decade.”

  • Keywords = increased / last ten years → exploded / last decade

  • Answer: True / matches passage

Chapter 7: Elimination Strategy

Sometimes more than one answer looks possible. The elimination strategy saves time and reduces mistakes.

 

Steps:

  1. Check if the answer matches the keywords.

  2. Check parts of speech (noun, verb, adjective).

  3. Remove answers that are too extreme or unrelated.

  4. If stuck, guess intelligently and move on.

 

Mini Practice:
Question: “The Eiffel Tower is older than the Statue of Liberty.”

  • Passage: “The Eiffel Tower was built in 1889. The Statue of Liberty was completed in 1886.”

  • Eliminate: Incorrect if date comparison is wrong.

  • Answer: False

Chapter 8: Dealing with Unknown Vocabulary

You do not need to understand every word.

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Strategies:

  • Focus on keywords and context.

  • Use grammar clues (noun, verb, adjective) to guess meaning.

  • Ignore words that don’t affect the answer.

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Mini Practice:
Passage: “The festival was a kaleidoscope of colors and sounds, attracting thousands.”
Question: “The festival attracted few people.”

  • Unknown word = kaleidoscope

  • Keywords = attracted thousands → contradicts “few people”

  • Answer: False

Chapter 9: Time Management

60 minutes for 40 questions → 1.5 minutes per question.

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Tips:

  • Skim the passage once.

  • Answer easier questions first.

  • Don’t spend more than 2–3 minutes on a single question.

  • If stuck, mark and return later.

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Mini Exercise:

  • Set a timer for 90 seconds per question.

  • Practice scanning and answering quickly.

End of Part 2

60 minutes for 40 questions → 1.5 minutes per question.

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Tips:

  • Skim the passage once.

  • Answer easier questions first.

  • Don’t spend more than 2–3 minutes on a single question.

  • If stuck, mark and return later.

​

Mini Exercise:

  • Set a timer for 90 seconds per question.

  • Practice scanning and answering quickly.

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