How to Ace IELTS Reading with 'Keyword Technique'

Time is your biggest enemy in the IELTS Reading test. With just 60 minutes to answer 40 questions across three long texts in the IELTS Academic test—or various short and long texts in the IELTS General Training version, many test-takers feel overwhelmed. But there’s a simple and powerful strategy that can change the game: the Keyword Technique.

This blog will guide you through how to use keywords and their synonyms effectively to boost your IELTS band score in the IELTS Reading section.

Why Is the IELTS Reading Test So Challenging?

The IELTS Reading section evaluates not just your comprehension but your ability to locate and interpret information quickly. Questions vary in type—multiple choice, matching headings, true/false/not given, sentence completion—and demand both speed and accuracy.

What makes it harder is that the answers are not always straightforward. The examiners love to paraphrase and disguise correct answers using synonyms and parallel expressions. That’s where the keyword technique becomes essential.

What Are Keywords in IELTS Reading?

Keywords are the most important words in a question. They hold the key to finding the relevant part of the passage. These are typically:

• Nouns and verbs
• Proper names (e.g., places, people, scientists)
• Dates, years, and numbers
• Words in italics or capitals
• Unique or unusual vocabulary

When you identify these keywords in the question, they can help guide your eyes to the matching section in the passage. However, don’t expect them to be copied word-for-word. IELTS often paraphrases them.

The Power of Keyword Synonyms

Since IELTS Reading often tests your understanding through paraphrasing, you need to develop the ability to recognize synonyms or parallel expressions—words or phrases with similar meanings. Here’s an example to illustrate:

So, when reading the questions, always pause and think: What are the possible ways this word or idea might be rephrased?

Keyword Technique: A Step-by-Step Strategy

Here’s how to apply the keyword technique efficiently during your IELTS Reading practice and the actual test:

Step 1: Read the Question Carefully

Identify key nouns, verbs, dates, or proper names in the question.

Step 2: Predict Synonyms

Think about how those keywords could be paraphrased in the text. For example, “researchers” could appear as “scientists,” or “cause” as “reason.”

Step 3: Skim and Scan the Passage

Use skimming to get the general idea and scanning to hunt down specific keyword matches or their synonyms.

Step 4: Underline or Highlight Keywords

As you read the passage, underline or highlight keywords or relevant phrases to help you come back to them easily.

Step 5: Match Meaning, Not Just Words

Always check the surrounding sentences to confirm that the meaning matches the question. Don’t just rely on a word match.

Step 6: Choose Your Answer and Move On

Once you’ve found the matching section and confirmed it logically fits the question, select your answer and keep going. Don’t dwell too long on one question.

Keyword Table: A Quick Reference Tool

Here’s a mini keyword reference table to show how IELTS often rephrases question content: