As an IELTS instructor, I'm asked repeatedly how to improve reading skills in IELTS, which is notoriously difficult to complete in the allotted time. The chapters contain some foreign languages, making understanding the gist and answering the questions much more difficult. The third passage is often the most challenging.
If time is not properly distributed across the three paragraphs, the third passage, which requires more time to answer, will probably be missed. So, if implemented, here are some strategies that will ensure that you complete all of the questions within the time limit.
Don't leave blanks
Answer all of the questions honestly, even if you're not sure. You have nothing to lose by answering all the questions; there are no penalties for erroneous responses. I guessed three answers during my IELTS exam since I couldn't find them in the paragraph and didn't want to waste time looking for them.
Cross out the wrong answers
Cross out any answers that you believe are incorrect. This narrows your options and makes finding or matching the answers easier. You will not be perplexed, and you will be able to save time.
Mark the keywords
Mark or circle the most important phrases or terms over the text. It will assist you in saving time when looking for answers. Look for unique characteristics such as capital letters, underlining, italics, figures, graphs, and tables in the title and headings.
Don't assume
The IELTS reading exam will assess your comprehension of the English language rather than your knowledge. You may be familiar with the subject or theme of the text, but that doesn't mean you should guess or predict answers to save time. My first paragraph, for example, was about the extinction of the KT, which I already knew about. Though I could predict several of the answers accurately, I was incorrect on two occasions. Thankfully, I investigated the section for the answer and discovered the proper answers.
Be cautious when transferring your answers.
You will not be granted additional time to transmit your answers to the answer sheet during the reading test. Spending too much time reading and answering questions while allowing little time to transfer the answers is a common mistake. It is suggested that if you finish the answers to one section during this period, you write them down immediately in the answer sheet and then move on to the next passage.