READING SECTION (60 mins)

• 3 written passages
• 40 question items

• SKILLS

  • identify the writer’s overall purpose, target audience, sources etc.
  • identify and follow key arguments in a text
  • identify opinions and attitudes as opposed to facts
  • locate specific information
  • read for detailed information
  • extract relevant information
  • distinguish the main idea from supporting detail
  • recognise key points for a summary
  • group pieces of information in a text in accordance with salient criteria
  • extract information from a prose text to put into a diagrammatic representation
  • make inferences
  • use correct spelling and correct grammar in their answers

• TYPES OF TEXTS
  The passages used in the test are based on authentic texts, and are taken from sources such as magazines, journals, books and newspapers. They are designed to present the candidate with materials similar to those which they might need to read on a university course. Passages may also contain non-verbal material such as diagrams, graphs, illustrations etc. The passages may be written in a variety of styles, for example narrative, descriptive or discursive/argumentative. They deal with issues which are interesting, recognizably appropriate, and accessible to candidates entering postgraduate or undergraduate courses or seeking professional registration. At least one of the passages will contain detailed argument.