Reading References to Help Widen Your Vocabulary

You are planning to take the IELTS exam because you want to study abroad to earn a master’s degree. But here is the case: you are not a reader. To be honest, it is difficult to pass any exam if you are not much of a reader. Why? Most information are published and disseminated via what we call “books.” Then again, technology has made these books accessible via web, eBooks, Adobe Reader, etc.

Since you are planning to study abroad and pursue a higher degree, you have to take the IELTS Academic exam. This type of exam, as the name implies, is academic in nature. One of the ways to help you achieve a high band score is to widen your vocabulary. How? First, enlist the services of an IELTS review center in Baguio. Second, do some self-studying—read.

Here are some reading references to help widen your vocabulary:

Literary Works – Read novels, short stories, poems, among others. Doing so not only exposes you to various culture and literary and philosophical movement but also encourages you to read based on a text’s context. You can also engage literary works through various critical approaches.

Newspapers/Magazines – Be updated with current events. In the IELTS exam, you will be asked to express an opinion regarding an argument, problem or point of view involving a current issue. If you are unaware of the happenings around you, it may be difficult for you to ace this task. (Tip: Look for IELTS review centers in the Philippines as they offer assessment and coaching services to help you improve your writing skills.)

Encyclopedia – An encyclopedia is a book or a set of books that contain various articles arranged in alphabetical order. Nowadays, it is accessible online. If you want to know something (e.g., history), it is just a click away.

Dictionary – This is helpful especially when looking for a word’s definition and function. Keep a dictionary handy so that when you encounter a difficult word, you can easily look it up.

Scholarly Journals – These materials are difficult to read. Authors usually employ jargons as these are intended for a specific audience. Choose a scholarly article depending on your expertise and experience. Observe how technical terms are used. Then produce a write-up using those words and have a friend or colleague critique your work. (Tip: Join an IELTS review center in Baguio as qualified instructors evaluate students’ writing tasks.)

Reading may be a challenge to some people. A piece of advice: read something that you like. This way, you will not find reading a boring or a daunting task. Moreover, think of it as travelling—the only thing you spend your money on that makes you rich. You can also do the same in enrolling in an IELTS review center in the Philippines. It may cost you a little more, but it can provide you with an accurate assessment of your language skills.