Student can scan a text for specific targets like names, numbers, and unusual phrases to locate evidence.
Teach scanning for specific targets.
Many IELTS students lose time because they try to read the passage to find an answer. Scanning is a completely different physical action. It is the act of hunting for specific visual targets without trying to understand the surrounding words.
Think of scanning like looking for a specific face in a crowded room. You do not stop to examine everyone's outfit; your eyes just glide until they lock onto the target.
Gallery: question keyword to passage keyword to nearby sentence to answer.
Follow this exact path to locate evidence without getting lost in the text.
Card grid of scan targets.
Learner identifies the exact sentence containing evidence.
To succeed in the IELTS Reading test, you must locate concrete in the text to support your answers. Relying on outside knowledge or making will often lead to incorrect choices. Begin by identifying and underlining the in each question to guide your scanning. Because the exam tests your vocabulary, you should actively look for rather than expecting exact word matches. For instance, if a question mentions a 'rapid decline', the passage might describe a 'sharp '. When transferring your answers, always check that you have not exceeded the strict given in the instructions.
Fill missing evidence words from the passage.
In 1993, marine biologist Dr. Sylvia Earle launched an expedition to study deep-sea ecosystems in the Pacific Ocean. During this mission, her team discovered a new species of bioluminescent jellyfish at a depth of 3,000 meters. The project, funded by the Oceanographic Institute, concluded in 1995 with groundbreaking findings. When scanning this text for IELTS questions, you would look for specific evidence words. For instance, the name of the scientist is , and the ocean they explored is the . The exact depth where the discovery occurred was meters. Furthermore, the organization that provided the money was the . Finally, the expedition officially ended in the year .
AI checks whether learner chose the answer from the exact evidence sentence.
Scanning is only half the job. After finding the visual target, many students guess the answer without verifying the context. Answer the questions below to reflect on your strategy.
Identify a common trap of skimming too fast.
Define a clear action to switch from hunting mode to reading mode.