Reading is an important part of exams like IELTS, OET, USMLE, or PLAB. There is a whole subtest of Reading in OET and IELTS.

Some points have been gathered that have been tested and trusted by expert professionals to improve your English Reading Skills.

» You should practice reading various text types in English to become familiar with a wide range of language and organizational features. Candidates who do this regularly are more confident in understanding the overall function and message of texts and in following a line of argument in a text.

» Although it is helpful to practice exam techniques using exam materials and course books, you should also use real-life sources to develop your reading skills. Following up on your own professional or personal interests is an excellent way to increase your exposure to different types of texts.

» Practise dealing with texts in a variety of ways. For example, you could read a text once for the gist and produce a summary of the main ideas or attitudes expressed by the writers. You could then read the text a second time to retrieve specific information or focus on helpful language.

» At a high level in OET Reading, it is not enough to be able to pick out particular words or specific details. You need to be able to understand the overall meaning of the text. It is essential to practice following a writer’s line of argument and identifying specific pieces of information.

» Take the sample test under test conditions beforehand, so you know what it feels like. For Part A, set yourself a strict time limit of 15 minutes. For Part B, set your timer for 45 minutes.