IELTS Preparation : Tips, Strategy & Guide

International English Language Testing System ( IELTS )

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Avleen Kaur

Avleen KaurSr. Executive Training

Updated on Jan 6, 2025 17:29 IST

In IELTS Reading Short answer questions are one of the questions which appear regularly in the IELTS exam Reading module.. Many IELTS candidates are easily able to find the answers for these kinds of questions. But we still need a proper approach and important IELTS Reading Tips for these questions to achieve the maximum score because sometimes reaching the correct answer might be daunting as one has to read the whole passage in detail.

IELTS Reading Short Answer Questions

IELTS Reading- Short Answer Questions

In Short Answer Questions the candidate is asked to answer the questions by choosing one to three words maximum from the reading passage. The answer must fall within the word limit given in the instructions. These are open-ended questions. The IELTS candidate cannot write the answer on his own, rather he should pick up the words from the text which requires strong skimming and scanning skills.

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IELTS Reading Tips-Skills Required:

  • Skimming and Scanning skills needed
  • Scanning appropriately to find the essential data.
  • Underlining the identified keywords
  • Looking out for synonyms and paraphrasing.








IELTS Reading Tips for answering Short Answer Questions

Please follow the below mentioned IELTS ReadingTips to enhance on your IELTS score and overall bands in the IELTS exam.

1.Read the questions first and then the passage to save on the timings.

2.The answer will always follow the order of the text.

3.Keep a very strict eye on the instructions as you cannot go beyond the word limit.

4.Do not use synonyms or words by your own choice, choose the words only from the text.

5.Look out for the synonyms because most of the questions will be paraphrased.







Sample Answer Questions

Vancouver

Vancouver is quite different from virtually any other city in North America. Despite the fact it is a large modern cosmopolitan city, it seems to have a relaxed, small-town, close-to-nature feel about it. There is little comparison with other large Canadian cities such as Toronto or Montreal, which are more akin to the large eastern US centres like New York and Chicago. Vancouver, like all large North American cities, is a conglomerate of high-rise cubic office towers, although urban planners have kept the heights down. There are, however, some notable exceptions such as the Marine Building at the north foot of Burrard Street, once the tallest structure in the British Empire, the courthouse at Howe & Robson, and the library at Georgia & Hamilton.


Vancouver offers a wide range of attractions catering to all tastes but those with only a day to spare cannot be better advised than to take one of the many organized excursions recommended by the Vancouver Tourist Office.


Stanley Park, a 1,000-acre nature preserve, is Vancouver’s best-known landmark and a must for any visitor. It was established in 1887 and, in the opinion of many, is the most beautiful urban park in the world. Contrary to popular belief, this park was not established through the foresight of the city council of the day, but at the urging of a real estate developer called Oppenheimer. He is now considered the father of Stanley Park. All areas of the park are accessible to the public except for Dead Man’s Island, which has a small naval base.


The Eco Walk is a fun and informative way to see the park. The guide gives information on the trees, plants, birds and animals as well as on the rich aboriginal culture and legends of the park. The walking is medium paced, taking 3 hours to complete and covering 5 miles of relatively flat paved and gravelled trails over the selected seawall and forest paths. This walk is suitable for families, including active seniors.
There is also a world-class aquarium in the park and was the first to have killer whales in captivity and probably the first one to stop making them into a side-show. The aquarium feels the purpose of keeping the whales, namely re-educating the public and stopping the hunting of them, has been accomplished. In 2000, the last remaining killer whale at the aquarium was sold to Sealand in California, where it died shortly after arriving. The main threat to the park is the sheer volume of people who want to be in it. Efforts are being made to restrict the amount of automobile traffic passing through it. One of the ultimate goals is to eliminate the causeway leading to Lions Gate Bridge, but this will not likely occur until well into the 21st century.


Beaches are also a big attraction and temperatures are usually high enough to tempt most people to have a swim. However, one of the biggest days on these beaches is on New Year’s Day when the annual “Polar Bear Swim” attracts several hundred die-hard individuals out to prove that Vancouver is a year-round swimming destination.


Chinatown is North America’s third largest, in terms of area, after San Francisco and New York. It is steeped in history and is well worth walking around. It is most active on Sundays when people head to any of a wide selection of restaurants that offer dim sum. Chinatown also contains the world’s thinnest building at only 1.8 metres wide.

 

 

Questions 1-6

Answer the questions below.

Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER from the passage for each answer.

  1. What makes Vancouver like the big cities of North America?
  2. What famous building was once the highest in the British Empire?
  3. What was the profession of the park’s founding father?
  4. What is one of the final aims of the park?
  5. What event tries to encourage people to swim?
  6. What can you eat in Chinatown?
  7. Answers:
1. cubic office towers

Explanation: Paragraph 1 – Vancouver, like all large North American cities, is a conglomerate of high-rise cubic office towers

2. Marine Building

Explanation: Paragraph 1 – …the Marine Building at the north foot of Burrard Street, once the tallest structure in the British Empire, the courthouse at Howe & Robson,…

3. Real estate developer

Explanation: Paragraph 3 – … at the urging of a real estate developer called Oppenheimer. He is now considered the father of Stanley Park.

4. eliminate the causeway

Explanation: Paragraph 5 – One of the ultimate goals is to eliminate the causeway leading to Lions Gate Bridge, but this will not likely occur until well into the 21st century.

5. Polar Bear Swim

Explanation: Paragraph 6 – However, one of the biggest days on these beaches is on New Year’s Day when the annual “Polar Bear Swim” attracts several hundred die-hard individuals out to prove that Vancouver is a year-round swimming destination.

6. dim sum

Explanation: Paragraph 7 – Chinatown is North America’s third largest, in terms of area, … It is most active on Sundays when people head to any of a wide selection of restaurants that offer dim sum.

This article explains in depth about the Short Answer questions and gives major essential IELTS Reading Tips and strategies to help you boost up your score and get the maximum bands in the IELTS exam.

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I am an associate professor in Physics and Awarded Ph.D. ( Tech) in Electronics and Communication Engineering (ECE). I am looking for Postdoctoral Position/ Course in Physics/Engineering on online /hybrid mode in prestigious universities abroad ( USA, UK, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia etc.) / Indi

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Tajkia Sultana

8 months ago

Hii, I want to complete my Bachelors in Malaysia from Bangladesh. But I am not understanding which books to choose for taking preparation as I want to take preparation at home.Pls help me to choose the best books and let me know if there is any free-student scholarship in Malaysia.

Reply to Tajkia Sultana

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Rahul Singha

8 months ago

Hello Tajkia. I would highly recommend that you opt for books/ study material that is available on the official website of IDP - the conducting body of the IELTS exam. The books would have the latest syllabus and cover everything you would need to know to ace your IELTS exam.

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TOM Titus

a year ago

Hi I have a query. I completed my 12th on 2017 and I been working from 2018 to 2023 can I get admission on Diploma course

Reply to TOM Titus

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Rahul Singha

12 months ago

Hello Tom. Admission processes are university-specific. And since you have been working from 2018 to 2023 - this would only add to your resume as work experience. You can also look for assistance with university admissions from our counsellors here.

Hello shiksha I just finish my B A in political science. I want to study abroad now? Can I complete MA here. And then what kind of work will I get. I would be very happy if you answer. Thank you

Reply to Mustafijur molla

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Rahul Singha

a year ago

Hello Mustafijur. If you are looking for assistance with applying to universities abroad. Get in touch with our Shiksha Study Abroad Counsellors and book a counselling session absolutely free, Click Here

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Aditi

a year ago

Hi Shiksha Study Abroad, I have a query, I completed my bachelors in the year 2020 with first division, so can I apply on the basis of MOI?

Reply to Aditi

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Rahul Singha

a year ago

Hello Aditi. Thank you for writing in. A Medium of Instruction Certificate (MOI) is accepted proof of English proficiency. However, whether your preferred university/ college would be considering the MOI is something you will have to check. This is entirely at the discretion of the university and th

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