IELTS Reading: matching similar words

To find answers in the reading test, look for words or phrases in the passage that are similar to words in the questions.

In the test mentioned below, you need to know that 'exaggerate' is similar to 'overstate', or that 'urgent' is similar to 'pressing'.

The table below shows similar words/phrases for the test on page 24 of Cambridge IELTS book 5.

Comments

[Ajay]

Hi Simon,
I am become fan of you, but why you don't give reading passage to solve later you can disclose keywords and other things, Secondly do you know any website that can help to improve vocabulary and grammar.

Regards
Ajay

[mehmood]

hi musharaf can u please give your contact no or e mail address.i am from liverpool and preparing for ielts and need your help.

regards
mehmood.

[Qizhi Huang]

Hi Simon,

First of all, I would like to thank you for your excellent website and mentoring. I just passed the test and get the score I need (7 for each sesson and 7.5 for average).

Listening: 8.5,
Reading: 8.5,
Writing: 7 !!!
Speaking: 7.
Average: 8.

This is my second try. The first exam was taken in sept. and I only got 6 for writing. Writing is always my weakest. I would like to share some of my experience in writing. Please note, this is only my experience. Everyone is different. It may not suit you.

1. Practising.
The first time when I took the test, I didn't do much preparation. I was very stressed during the test, worrying about the time, thinking of mistakes I made in the previous sessions, in short, I wasn't in a good situation.

2. Planning.
During my first exam, I rushed into writing after only 2 minutes or so thinking. This costed me dearly. Soon I ran out of ideas, started to make grammar mistakes and became panic. It was a total mess. At the end, I didn't write enough words and the essay wasn't structured properly. In the second time, as Simon has always mentioned, planning!! Yes, before writing, I started to brainstorm for a good 10 minutes. Believe me, this is not a waste of time, it helps you structure the essay, put ideas into order, and you can also list the vocabulary that can be used. Once these 'bricks' are at hand, writing is just like to put them together. This is quick and you would find yourself fly through.

3. Don't try to memorise sentences, increasing vocabulory might be more helpful.
Unless you have a good memory to remember the whole essay, trying to put one or two sentences you have remembered into the essay is not a good idea. It would in fact prevent you from writing smoothly. You would find your writing very uncomfortable.

4. Do remember the types of the questions in writing and corresponding structure for the essay. -- Simon is a star!
English writing has its own style. Your essay need to be writen in such a way that suits that style because it is evaluated in that way. Simon really is a star! He tells us the facts, the 'secrets' of how to write an English essay.

So guys, keep reading simon's website, keep practising, and wish you all good luck!

Thank you very much again, Simon.

[Mrs Shakeel]

hi simon
in second part of my speaking test, i was asked to write on a topic ""a most important incident of history". i lost my mind and thought that i have to write n an event of my past, and i did so....
what is it, right or wrong.... kindly reply soon, or any one else here can tell me???

[Justin Jin]

Hi, simon, I just want to thank you for your excellent website here. After I study your website writing section for 2months, I got 7 this time in writing compared to 5.5 got last time. But I only got 6 in speaking, maybe due to the reason I have not got the chance to read your speaking section. Anyway, thanks for your fantastic work. I really appreciate your effort to build this valuable website which means a lot to our non-native English speakers. Thanks again !

[SImon]

Congratulations Qizhi and Justin!

Qizhi:

Thanks for sharing such useful tips - I'm really happy that you followed my advice and got the scores you needed, and I hope that other students read your tips!

[kuldeep]

how can we improve reading

[kuldeep]

how can we improve reading

[pej]

Hi Qizhi Huang

could you share your experiences in reading and listening as well, include your practices

thanks

[pamela]

Thanks for sharing your article that is very educative and informative. i enjoyed reading it.