IELTS assesses the four language skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing, which candidates need to study or practice in the medium of English (IELTS Handbook, 1999: 2). The IELTS test consists of two modules: the Academic and General training modules. As the Academic Module is designed for those seeking admission to undergraduate and postgraduate courses like all the candidates involved in this essay, so this study focuses on the academic reading module. The IELTS reading test assesses a wide range of reading skills of candidates, including reading for gist, reading for main ideas, reading for detail; understanding inferences and implied meaning; recognizing a writer’s opinions, attitudes and purpose; and following the development of an argument (Information for IELTS Candidates Booklet, see www.ielts.org ).
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IELTS reading preparation courses in language schools provide lessons to improve candidates’ reading skills and test-taking skills to help them gain a high score in this part.