1. Survey the text.
Before reading each text, spend one minute looking at any pictures and headings, and finding the topic and main idea(s) of the text.

2. Read the introduction and questions.
Begin by reading the introduction and questions. This will tell you what to look for when you read.

3. If you do not know an answer, move on.
Each question in IELTS is worth one mark. Some questions will be easier than others. If a question is very difficult, save time by moving on to other questions that you can answer more quickly.

4. If all else fails, guess!
You will not lose marks for wrong answers, so in the last minute or two of the test, go back to any questions you have not done and guess the answers. You might get an extra mark!

There are many other strategies for different kinds of questions, and you will learn these as you work through the practice texts.