📖 What is Skimming?
Skimming is reading quickly to get the general idea or main points of a text. You read for the "gist" rather than details, focusing on headings, topic sentences, and key words.
🎯 When to Use Skimming:
- To understand the main topic and overall structure
- To get a general overview before detailed reading
- For questions asking about the main idea or purpose
- To match headings to paragraphs
📝 Skimming Techniques:
- Read the title, subtitle, and any headings
- Read the first and last sentences of each paragraph
- Look for repeated key words and phrases
- Pay attention to bold, italic, or highlighted text
- Don't stop to understand every word
💡 Pro Tip:
Spend only 2-3 minutes skimming a passage. Your goal is to understand what the text is about, not the specific details.
Example: Skimming Practice
Title: "The Impact of Social Media on Modern Communication"
First sentence: "Social media platforms have revolutionized the way people communicate..."
Key words noticed: social media, communication, technology, relationships, impact
From skimming, you know this text discusses how social media has changed communication patterns.
Common Skimming Question Types:
- What is the main purpose of this passage?
- Which heading best fits paragraph 3?
- What is the writer's overall opinion about...?
- The passage mainly discusses...
🔍 What is Scanning?
Scanning is looking quickly through a text to find specific information, facts, or details. Your eyes move rapidly over the text until you find what you're looking for.
🎯 When to Use Scanning:
- To find specific facts, dates, names, or numbers
- To locate particular information mentioned in questions
- For True/False/Not Given questions
- To find examples or supporting details
📝 Scanning Techniques:
- Identify key words from the question first
- Look for synonyms and paraphrases of those key words
- Focus on numbers, dates, proper nouns, and capitalized words
- Use your finger or pen to guide your eyes quickly
- Don't read every word - just search for your target
💡 Pro Tip:
Questions often use different words than the passage. For example, if the question mentions "automobiles," scan for "cars," "vehicles," or "motor vehicles" in the text.
Example: Scanning Practice
Question: "In which year did the company start operations?"
Key words to scan for: year, date, started, began, established, founded, operations
What you might find: "The business was established in 1995" or "Operations commenced in 1995"
Common Scanning Question Types:
- According to the passage, when did...?
- How many people participated in...?
- What percentage of...?
- Which country/city/person...?
- Complete the sentence: The research showed that...
🎯 Practice Test
Test your skimming and scanning skills with these IELTS-style questions!
The Future of Urban Transportation
Cities around the world are facing unprecedented challenges with traffic congestion and pollution. Electric vehicles (EVs) represent a promising solution, with sales increasing by 45% in 2023 compared to the previous year. Major automotive manufacturers like Tesla, BMW, and Volkswagen have committed to producing only electric vehicles by 2030. However, the transition requires significant investment in charging infrastructure, with experts estimating that 50 million charging stations will be needed globally by 2035.
Question 1: (Skimming) What is the main topic of this passage?
Marine Conservation Efforts
The Great Barrier Reef, located off the coast of Australia, spans approximately 2,300 kilometers and is home to over 1,500 species of fish. Recent studies conducted by the Australian Institute of Marine Science revealed that coral bleaching events have affected 60% of the reef system since 2016. Conservation groups are implementing various strategies including water quality improvement programs and tourist education initiatives to protect this UNESCO World Heritage site.
Question 2: (Scanning) How many species of fish live in the Great Barrier Reef?
Digital Learning Revolution
The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the adoption of online education platforms worldwide. Universities reported a 300% increase in enrollment for online courses during 2020-2021. While digital learning offers flexibility and accessibility, educators emphasize the importance of maintaining student engagement through interactive technologies such as virtual reality simulations and gamified learning experiences. Research indicates that students retain 75% more information when learning through interactive methods compared to traditional lectures.