Transcription
How can I improvemy reading?A brief guide with tips for improvingreading in EnglishFOR STUDENTS & PARENTSENGLISH
Contents1Introduction2Reading in general3Reading in exams4A reading tipfor the updated2020 exams
1 IntroductionThis guide provides tips and general advice tohelp prepare for a Cambridge English Qualificationsuch as A2 Key or A2 Key for Schools,B1 Preliminary or B1 Preliminary for Schools.P ARENTSThe guide contains somepractical steps to help your childimprove their reading in Englishand develop their reading skillsand strategies in a reading test.STUDE N T SThe guide contains somepractical steps to help youimprove your reading in Englishand develop your reading skillsand strategies in a reading test.K E Y AN D P R EL IM IN A R Y . C A MBRI DGE E N GLI S H. ORGT I P S FOR IMPROVING LISTENING IN ENG LISH
2 Reading in generalARead as much as possible.Try to read in English as often aspossible. A little bit every day ortwo helps a lot. Go back and re-readtexts a second time and a third time.This helps to familiarise you with theuse of English in real sentences andexpressions.BRead for fun.Reading is at its most enjoyable whenthe flow is uninterrupted, when youget absorbed in a good story or aninteresting article, when time fliesby. It’s no different when you readin a another language. If a text is toodifficult, if there are too many wordsor phrases you don’t understand, thenreading becomes difficult, it stops beingfun. Where possible, don’t just read forstudy and work purposes, read thingsthat interest you too.K E Y AN D P R EL IM IN A R Y . C A MBRI DGE E N GLI S H. ORGT I P S FOR IMPROVING LISTENING IN ENG LISH
CKeep on reading.It’s natural to stop in a text at a word orexpression we don't understand and freeze.Unfamiliar words can disrupt the flow ofreading and understanding. Don't stop!When you arrive at an unfamiliar word thenskip it and keep reading. When you get tothe end of the passage, read it a secondtime using the same technique. The contextwith the words you do understand shouldhelp you to unlock the general meaning ofthe whole text. You can revisit words youdon’t know later and look them upin a dictionary or ask someone.DReading improves everything.Lots of research has been carried outon reading in a foreign language andit clearly shows that reading practicedoesn’t just improve reading. It alsohelps you to get better at English inwriting, speaking and listening as youbecome more familiar with words andhow words are used in context.P A R E N TSReading is infectious.If your children see you reading, the chances are they aregoing to pick up the habit themselves, in any language!K E Y AN D P R EL IM IN A R Y . C A MBRI DGE E N GLI S H. ORGT I P S FOR IMPROVING LISTENING IN ENG LISH
3 Reading in examsABe prepared.Know exactly what each type of questionis asking you to do. Is it a multiplechoice? Is it filling in the gaps of a text?How many words do you have to write?How much time do you have? It's a goodidea to underline important words in anyexam question to help you focus on theinstructions.BSpeed up.In exam situations you will often needto read a text more quickly than before.Practise reading texts quickly: you cantime yourself. For example, give yourself3 minutes to read 300 words, then giveyourself 2 minutes to read 300 words,then try in 1 minute. You can repeatthis idea with the same text at first, butthen try it with different texts as you getbetter at it.K E Y AN D P R EL IM IN A R Y . C A MBRI DGE E N GLI S H. ORGT I P S FOR IMPROVING LISTENING IN ENG LISH
CDon’t freeze.Remember, in an exam you aren’t allowedto ask someone or look up a new word.If you don’t know a word, and you can’t guessa general meaning from the other wordsaround it, then skip it, don’t waste time!DMake predictions.When a question gives you multipleanswers to choose from, try to answerthe question without looking at theanswers first. Then look at the answersand check if one matches your prediction.EPractise.There are lots of materials available tohelp you prepare for Cambridge EnglishQualifications such as A2 Key or B1Preliminary. Get as much practice as you canwith different question types from the readingpaper. You can find information on our booksfrom Cambridge University Pressin www.cambridge.org and links to extraresources, sample tests, and more fromCambridge Assessment English inwww.cambridgeenglish.orgP A R E NT SIt’s really important that a student is familiar with the exam format.You can help by assisting with homework, and checking they understandwhat they have to do. Make sure they have time to study and time to rest!K E Y AN D P R EL IM IN A R Y . C A MBRI DGE E N GLI S H. ORGT I P S FOR IMPROVING LISTENING IN ENG LISH
4 A reading tip for theupdated 2020 examsNew exam formats will start being usedfrom January 2020 for A2 Key and A2 Keyfor Schools and B1 Preliminary andB1 Preliminary for Schools.The Reading and Writing paper in A2 Keyand A2 Key for Schools will be shortenedfrom 9 parts to 7 parts.READING PART 1AB What is it?Six short texts with multiple choicesentences.What do you have to do?Read each text and choose the correctsentence: A, B or C.This tip is for the updated Reading andWriting Part 1. The activity in this tip alsoworks with B1 Preliminary and B1 Preliminaryfor Schools Reading Part 1.K E Y AN D P R EL IM IN A R Y . C A MBRI DGE E N GLI S H. ORGT I P S FOR IMPROVING LISTENING IN ENG LISH
Follow these three,simple steps to help answerReading Part 1Step1First look at the six texts quickly.Don’t read the A,B,C sentences yetIs therea picture?What kindof text is it?Where canyou see textslike this?notice? email? text message? sign?.K E Y AN D P R EL IM IN A R Y . C A MBRI DGE E N GLI S H. ORGT I P S FOR IMPROVING LISTENING IN ENG LISH
Step2Now, try to think of onesentence that gives the purposeof the textWhat's themain purposeof the text?K E Y AN D P R EL IM IN A R Y . C A MBRI DGE E N GLI S H. ORGWhat is thetext tellingyou?T I P S FOR IMPROVING LISTENING IN ENG LISH
Step3Finally, read the sentencesA, B and C and choose the answerWhichsentencedescribes thetext best?K E Y AN D P R EL IM IN A R Y . C A MBRI DGE E N GLI S H. ORGT I P S FOR IMPROVING LISTENING IN ENG LISH
For more tips and lessons on reading for exams visitpracticemakesperfect.cambridge.orgNobody knows Cambridgebetter than CambridgeOur goal is to help you get the best result in everything you do. Ourcourses each have a unique exam journey ensuring every student isready on exam day – from first experiences of exam tasks to skillsdevelopment, from language discovery to understanding how Englishworks in the real world.Experts togetherOur aim is to deliver the materials you tell us you need.Exclusive insights from test development and candidateperformance guarantee expert content. The result is a uniqueExam Journey in each course, ensuring every student is readyon exam day. From skills development to exam tasks, languagediscovery to real-world usage, we create better learningexperiences, together.--
it clearly shows that reading practice doesn’t just improve reading. It also helps you to get better at English in writing, speaking and listening as you become more familiar with words and how words are used in c
