The IELTS Reading test is one of the most challenging components of the exam, requiring test-takers to process large amounts of text under strict time constraints.
If you’re taking the Academic or General Training version, you’ll need to read multiple passages and answer 40 questions in just 60 minutes.
This article has the insights of the best strategies from IELTS experts worldwide to help you double your reading speed while maintaining or even improving your accuracy.
Understanding the IELTS Reading Challenge
In IELTS Reading, you need to read a lot… in IELTS Academic, you’ll be expected to read three passages… in IELTS General Training, the passages will be shorter but you’ll get five of them”.
The key realization is that you don’t actually need to read every word with equal attention – only about 30% of the text contains the answers you need.
The passages in the Academic test come from books, journals, magazines and newspapers, written for a non-specialist audience but containing academic vocabulary and complex sentence structures.
General Training texts are more practical but still require efficient reading strategies.
The Mindset Shift: Intensive vs. Extensive Reading
There are two reading approaches:
- Intensive reading: Slow, careful reading where you try to understand every word (common in school English lessons)
- Extensive reading: Fast reading where you skim for general meaning (how you read newspapers in your native language)
For IELTS, you should use extensive reading for about 70% of the text (background information) and intensive reading only for the parts containing answers.
This balanced approach is echoed by IDP IELTS experts who recommend “skimming during your first reading then scanning when answering questions”.
6 Proven Techniques to Double Your Reading Speed
1. Word Chunking: Read Groups of Words
Instead of reading word-by-word, train yourself to process 3-5 words at a time using your peripheral vision . This means “train your eyes to read in chunks in word groups because you can see several words at the same time”.
Practice exercise: Take a sentence and divide it into meaningful chunks with your eyes, moving just 3-4 times per line rather than 8-10 times.
2. Eliminate Subvocalization
Subvocalization (hearing words in your head as you read) significantly slows you down.
Let me tell you a hack: “say ‘um’ while reading and you won’t hear words anymore”.
This disrupts the internal speech habit that limits reading speed.
3. Stop Rereading
When you encounter confusing parts that don’t seem to contain answers, keep moving forward.
Do not reread the words… run your finger across a sentence as you read without going back.
If you don’t understand something but you still don’t think that is the answer, don’t stop to reread”.
4. The Speed Training Technique
Let me shares a powerful exercise from my job-hunting experience in the early days:
- First read an article at very high speed (extensively)
- Then reread the same article slowly (intensively)
This “accelerate first, then slow down” method, likened to highway driving speeds, helps reset your perception of what “fast” reading feels like.
For IELTS preparation, use texts from sources like The Guardian’s science section or official practice tests.
5. Strategic Highlighting
Another secret is highlight keywords in questions… highlight keywords in the passage, such as names, dates, names of places”.
This aligns to our persistence advice to “identify keywords and use them correctly”.
Effective highlighting creates visual markers that help you locate answers quickly during scanning.
6. Question-First Approach
Always know what you’re looking for. This means:
- For in-order questions (most question types): Read Q1 → find answer → read Q2 → continue text → find answer, etc.
- For out-of-order questions (like matching headings): Read paragraph → match heading → next paragraph
Questions always go in the same order as the answers are found in the text (apart from matching headings/statements).
Additional Expert-Recommended Strategies
I have talked to some top IELTS educators and they recommend:
- Develop vocabulary systematically: “One of the biggest stumbling blocks of slow reading is not understanding what the word means”. Create topic-specific word lists from practice tests.
- Master all question types: With different question types in IELTS Reading, each requires specific strategies. For example:
- True/False/Not Given: Focus on whether information is present, contradicted, or absent
- Matching headings: Look for paragraph topic sentences
- Summary completion: Check grammar clues for missing words
- Practice with authentic materials: Use Cambridge IELTS books as they contain real past papers. IDP and British Council also offer free practice tests.
- Time management: Allocate no more than 20 minutes per passage. If stuck, make an educated guess and move on.
- Build reading stamina: Read English daily – books, news (BBC, The Economist), academic articles. The more information you consume in English, the faster your brain will be able to process it”
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
- Perfectionism: You don’t need 100% understanding – just enough to answer questions.
- Over-reliance on skimming: “Skimming and scanning will NOT help you if you don’t understand the words”.
- Ignoring instructions: Note word limits (e.g., “NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS”)
- Poor answer sheet management: Transfer answers as you go – no extra time is given
Sample Training Routine
Combine techniques from the transcript and expert sources:
- Daily (30-60 minutes):
- Read one IELTS-style article extensively then intensively
- Learn 10-15 new vocabulary words from context
- Every 2-3 days:
- Complete a full practice test under timed conditions
- Analyze mistakes and identify weak question types
- Weekly:
- Review all vocabulary learned
- Focus practice on weakest question types
Final Tips for Test Day
- Preview first: Quickly skim titles, headings, and questions before detailed reading
- Pace yourself: If a question takes >1.5 minutes, guess and mark for review
- Watch for paraphrasing: Answers will use synonyms, not exact question words
- Trust your preparation: The techniques work if practiced consistently
With regular practice you will see results. By combining these speed-reading techniques with targeted IELTS strategies,
You can confidently approach the Reading test knowing you can process texts twice as fast while maintaining – or even improving – your accuracy and band score.
Also Check:
Resources:
https://ielts.idp.com/prepare/article-free-practice-tests
https://ielts.org/take-a-test/test-types/ielts-academic-test/ielts-academic-format-reading