Strategies for Dealing with Difficult or Unfamiliar Vocabulary in the Reading Section

1. Skim the Passage First
- Before diving into the questions, quickly skim the passage to get a general understanding of the topic and identify any challenging vocabulary.
- Look for keywords, headings, and subheadings that can give you a clue about the content.

2. Use Context Clues
- Look for surrounding words, phrases, or sentences that can provide hints about the meaning of the unfamiliar vocabulary.
- Pay attention to synonyms, antonyms, or explanations that might be given in the same sentence or paragraph.

3. Break Down Words
- If you come across compound words or unfamiliar terms, try breaking them down into smaller parts to identify familiar prefixes, roots, or suffixes.
- This can give you a clue about the meaning of the word as a whole.

4. Look for Definitions or Explanations
- In some instances, the passage may provide definitions or explanations for difficult words or phrases.
- Look for phrases like "also known as," "meaning," "refers to," or any other indication that a definition or explanation is being provided.

5. Use a Thesaurus or Dictionary
- If you are really struggling to understand a particular word and it is hindering your comprehension of the passage, consider using a thesaurus or dictionary.
- Look up the word and read its definition, synonyms, and example sentences to gain a better understanding.

6. Guess Based on the Context
- Even if you don't know the exact meaning of a word, you can still make an educated guess based on the context.
- Consider the overall theme of the passage, the tone of the surrounding sentences, and any other contextual clues to infer the meaning.

7. Practice Vocabulary Building
- Enhance your vocabulary skills by regularly reading books, articles, and other English texts.
- Make a habit of noting down unfamiliar words and looking up their meanings.
- Use flashcards or vocabulary-building apps to review and memorize new words.

By following these strategies, you can improve your ability to deal with difficult or unfamiliar vocabulary in the Reading section of the IELTS exam. Remember to practice these techniques during your preparation to enhance your reading comprehension skills.