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Skimming and Scanning are two essential skills that you need to develop in order to do well in the IELTS exam. These skills are particularly important for the reading section of the test, which is designed to assess your ability to read and understand written English.

What is Skimming?

Skimming is a technique used to quickly read through a text to get a general idea of what it is about. When you skim a text, you are looking for the main idea or the overall topic of the passage, without paying much attention to details or specific information. This technique is particularly useful when you have limited time and need to quickly understand the main points of a text.

How to Skim a Text?

To skim a text effectively, follow these steps:

• Read the title: The title of the text can often give you a good idea of what the passage is about.


• Read the introduction: The first paragraph of the text usually gives you an overview of what the text is about.


• Read the first sentence of each paragraph: The first sentence of each paragraph can give you a clue about what the paragraph is about.


• Look for headings, subheadings, and bold words: These can help you to identify the main points of the text.


• Look at the pictures, graphs, and charts: These can give you an idea of what the text is about.

What is Scanning?

Scanning is a technique used to quickly locate specific information in a text. When you scan a text, you are looking for particular words, phrases, or information without reading the entire text. This technique is particularly useful when you need to find specific details or answers to questions.

How to Scan a Text?

• Identify the keywords: These are the words that are likely to contain the information you are looking for.


• Focus on these keywords: Look for these keywords in the text and scan for the information you need.


• Use headings and subheadings: These can help you to quickly locate the information you need.


• Look for numbers, dates, and names: These can help you to locate specific information in the text.


• Use your intuition: Sometimes, you may need to use your intuition to guess where the information you are looking for is located.

Why are Skimming and Scanning Important for IELTS?

Skimming and scanning are important skills for IELTS because they allow you to:

• Manage your time: You will have limited time to read the passages and answer the questions, so you need to be able to quickly identify the main points and locate specific information.


• Understand the main idea: Skimming can help you to understand the main idea of the text, which is essential for answering the questions.


• Locate specific information: Scanning can help you to quickly locate the specific information you need to answer the questions.

In conclusion, Skimming and Scanning are two important skills that you need to develop in order to do well in the IELTS exam. These skills will not only help you to manage your time effectively but also to understand the main idea of the text and locate specific information. With practice and patience, you can master these skills and improve your chances of success in the IELTS exam.