skim-reading for matching headings

1. Question type: Matching
headings
Skim-Reading
IELTS reading

2. Exam information: Matching headings
It tests your ability to recognise the main idea in the paragraph and to identify supporting ideas.
You will find a numbered list with headings and a text devided into sections a, b, c, …
Headings are short statements wich summarise the information in a section. You need the text
sections and decide for the best heading to each section.

3. A tricky question type:
• The question type can be tricky because of the following reasons:
• It takes a little more time than other questions to complete.
• Often, there are more headings than paragraphs.
• Some paragraphs don't need headings.
• There are some similarities between headings.
• Headings that only include specific details rather than the main idea
may mislead you.
• Some headings have the same words that are in a paragraph but
don't match.

4. Strategy #1: Read the question first
1. First, read each heading. Try to completely understand the meaning of each heading by reading all of them
thoroughly. Understanding the main idea of the heading can be made easier by paraphrasing.
2. Circle keywords within the headings. Underline or circle keywords in each heading such as names, places, dates,
and nouns, once you have read them fully. Connecting the correct heading to the appropriate paragraph may become easier
with this step.
3. Any similarities or differences between the headings should be noted. In this type of question, headings
are often very similar or completely opposite. Similarities and differences will become clearer among the headings, once you
have picked out keywords. This will make choosing an option clearer.
4. Read the first and last sentence of the paragraph. The first and/or last sentence of a paragraph often contains
the main idea. It is good practice to read these sentences carefully as it will save time. It is also important to skim the other
sentences quickly within the paragraph because the main idea might not be apparent until the second or third sentence.
5. The heading that is most suitable for the paragraph should be chosen. Choose the heading that most
closely matches the paragraph once you have read through them again. Make a note if you are unsure of the difference
between multiple headings, and move on. You may be able to cross some heading options out and answers may become
clearer once you’ve read all of the paragraphs. Remember, a heading is the main idea of the paragraph, NOT a specific detail.
The same detail in the paragraph such as a matching word may be in the heading, but it may not be the main idea. This can
be confusing to test takers.

5. Strategy #2: Read the text first
Some test takers prefer to skim through the text reading each paragraph quickly to get the general gist of what the
text is about and what the main idea of each paragraph is. However, be very careful with timing. Remember you only
have 20 minutes per Reading part, so you don't want to spend the full 20 minutes on one question type.
1. Read one paragraph at a time. Again, spend more time on the first and last sentences of a paragraph, trying to
identify the main idea.
2. Create your own heading. As soon as you have skimmed through the paragraph, think of your own heading or short
sentence that summarises what you have read. Your heading should encompass the main idea and not just specific details.
3. Read each individual heading. For a complete understanding of the meaning, read the headings thoroughly. This
time, try to choose a heading that is closely related to the heading that you made up for the same paragraph. Again, make
note of multiple options that may fit the paragraph and move on. As you read more paragraphs you may be able to eliminate
options. Mark keywords that note similarities and differences as this will aid in eliminating headings with similar meanings.