4 must-do strategies for 'paragraph heading' questions on the reading test

These questions test your ability to ready quickly and understand the main idea contained in each paragraph. Apply these strategies to get a perfect score for this section.

(1) Cross the options off the list as you match them to the paragraphs. A caveat: if you are not confident that you have matched the heading to paragraph correctly, don’t cross it off. Instead just mark it with the paragraph letter of your guess, together with a question mark. This should indicate to yourself that the heading might be matched with a different paragraph, and you should consider it if none of the other uncrossed or unmarked headings seems appropriate for another paragraph. Note that an example answer is given, so you can immediately cross one of the options off the list.

(2) Try to do the questions paragraph-by-paragraph as you read through the article for the first time. There is no real advantage in reading through the complete article once and then coming back to answer questions. And don’t just read paragraphs randomly. Read them in order. In this way you will understand the general meaning of the text as a whole, which his will help you with the other questions that test your comprehension of details.

(3) The first sentence in each paragraph is where the biggest clues to the right answers can be found. Look for key words (and their synonyms) that occur in both places. If the answer isn't in the first sentence, the next place to look for it is in the second sentence or the last. (As a practice activity: try to answer the questions based on the first sentence of each paragraph only.) Note that this strategy will probably not apply to the first sentence of the first paragraph.

(4) Don’t waste time reading details of dates, numbers, percentages and so on. The main idea of a paragraph will not be found in these specific details. Skimming means you read quickly be reading selectively. It doesn't mean you read every word. Don’t waste time trying to work out the meaning of unfamiliar vocabulary (unless it is in the first sentence of the paragraph.)