Active Skills for Reading - Conquering IELTS Reading Quickly

Finding study materials for IELTS Reading skills is not easy because many websites provide low-quality resources. In this article, PREP will introduce to you the book set "Active Skills for Reading" - a reputable resource for conquering IELTS Reading that every IELTS candidate should possess. Let's find out together with PREP what outstanding features this book set has!

I. Overview of the book "Active Skills for Reading"

1. General Introduction

Active Skills for Reading is a book set consisting of 6 volumes, compiled by Professor Neil J Anderson to help learners develop their reading skills in English. This book is designed to assist learners in improving their ability to read and comprehend English texts while enhancing vocabulary and grammar knowledge.

With a combination of interesting readings and practical exercises, the "Active Skills for Reading" book set provides a comprehensive method for developing reading skills in English. This book is suitable for learners at all levels, from beginners to those who want to enhance their reading skills.

2. Structure and main content of the book

The book set "Active Skills for Reading" with 6 volumes will cover different contents. Let's explore together with PREP to see what each book will encompass!

From the volume "Active Skills for Reading Intro" to "Active Skills for Reading 5," the book provides a continuous and structured system for learners to enhance their English reading skills from basic to advanced levels.

3. Target audience for using the book

• Basic English learners: This book provides suitable readings and activities for beginners of English. It helps build basic vocabulary, understand simple grammar structures, and develop fundamental reading comprehension skills.
• Students: Students who want to improve their academic English reading skills will find this book useful. It provides readings and exercises related to fields such as science, sociology, economics, and culture, helping students develop the ability to read and understand academic materials.
• Adults seeking to improve reading skills: This book offers interesting readings and practical exercises suitable for adults who want to enhance their English reading ability. It can be used for self-study or in English courses for adults.
• English learners preparing for international exams: If you are preparing for international English exams such as TOEFL, IELTS, or Cambridge exams, this book provides readings and exercises similar to what you may encounter in the reading sections of these exams.

II. Advantages and disadvantages of the book "Active Skills for Reading"

Let's explore together with PREP to discover the advantages and disadvantages of this book!

1. Advantages

• Clear objectives: The book focuses on developing English reading comprehension skills through relevant readings and exercises. It helps learners have clear goals and stay focused on improving their reading comprehension abilities.
• Diverse topics: The book provides readings on various topics, ranging from science to culture, helping learners expand their knowledge and vocabulary in different fields.
• Detailed practice exercises: The book offers exercises and activities to apply the learned knowledge. Each exercise comes with detailed explanations to help learners understand each step and how to apply the knowledge in practical situations.
• Vocabulary and grammar development: The book helps learners expand their vocabulary and grasp grammar principles through readings and corresponding exercises.
• Suitable for all levels: The book provides readings and exercises with varying difficulty levels, catering to learners at different levels. This allows learners to progress gradually and build confidence in reading more challenging English texts.

2. Disadvantages

• Limitations in grammar explanations: While the book introduces grammar principles, it may be limited in providing detailed explanations for more complex grammar aspects. This can pose challenges for beginners.
• Need to determine one's proficiency level before selecting the appropriate book for study: Some readings and exercises may be quite challenging for beginners or those at a basic English level. This can create pressure and reduce learner motivation.
• Lack of up-to-date content: The book was published some time ago, so it may not include recent IELTS reading topics.

III. Effective Steps for Developing Reading Skills with Active Skills for Reading

Below, PREP will reveal some ways for you to master reading skills effectively with the Active Skills for Reading series!

1. Study the Active Skills for Reading books in order

As we have just learned, the Active Skills for Reading series consists of 6 books: 

• Active Skills for Reading Intro
• Active Skills for Reading 1
• Active Skills for Reading 2
• Active Skills for Reading 3
• Active Skills for Reading 4
• Active Skills for Reading 5

Each book is arranged by the author to cover knowledge from basic to advanced levels. Therefore, you should study the books to grasp the foundational knowledge before moving on to more advanced books.

2. Combine learning other skills while studying the Active Skills for Reading series

Instead of solely focusing on the Reading skill in the Active Skills for Reading series, you should also incorporate learning other skills such as Speaking, Writing, and Listening to avoid monotony and develop all four skills evenly.

Furthermore, you can utilize the knowledge gained from the reading materials in the Reading skill to enhance your performance in the other skills.

For example, in Unit 4: The World of Sports - "Active Skills for Reading Intro," you will learn a lot of vocabulary related to the sports topic and information relevant to this topic. From there, you can practice Listening, engage in Speaking activities, and write Writing pieces with the sports theme.

Here are some suggested questions for IELTS Speaking and IELTS Writing related to the topic of "Sport":

3. Complete all the exercises in the book and carefully check the answers

To truly internalize the knowledge, it is essential to complete as many exercises as possible. While studying the theoretical knowledge in the Active Skills for Reading book, there will be interspersed exercises, and you should make sure to complete all of them.

Furthermore, there will be a review after every 3 units, where you should revisit and review all the knowledge covered in those 3 units. You need to review vocabulary, and readings, and complete all the exercises to ensure a comprehensive understanding of the material.

Moreover, after completing the exercises, it is important to thoroughly check the answers to see which questions were correct and which ones were wrong. For the incorrect answers, you need to identify the reasons for the mistakes to learn from them for future exercises.

IV. Conquer IELTS with online courses from prepedu.com

To fully master the 4 skills: Listening - Speaking - Reading - Writing in the IELTS exam, you can visit the comprehensive IELTS course with all 4 skills at PREP! Proud to be an online English learning platform that applies AI technology to the teaching process. PREP always strives to provide students with the best quality lectures. 

• First and foremost, when you join the comprehensive IELTS course with all 4 skills at PREP, you will have a personalized learning roadmap based on your current proficiency level and the band score you wish to achieve.
• All lectures are compiled by A-level teachers with years of experience in teaching IELTS. They are clear, concise, and effective for students.
• The 20-minute video lectures will include core theoretical knowledge and quick practice sessions to help students deepen their understanding and remember the knowledge they have just learned.
• The user-friendly web interface can be easily accessed on both smartphones and computers, allowing students to study IELTS anytime, anywhere.
• Moreover, with the IELTS course at PREP, you will be provided with additional learning materials to expand your knowledge.

Furthermore, you will be provided with opportunities to experience two exclusive features of prepedu.com: Practicing speaking in the Virtual Speaking Room and practicing writing in the Virtual Writing Room. Click on the link below to experience these professional features at PREP!

EXPERIENCE THE VIRTUAL SPEAKING ROOM AND VIRTUAL WRITING ROOM WITH prepedu.com

V. Where to buy Active Skills for Reading books?

To help you save time, PREP has collected and searched for links for you to purchase quality books as well as PDF files for you to download and practice while reading this article!

In this article, PREP has introduced the content and structure of the Active Skills for Reading book series to you. We hope you can choose the book that suits your proficiency level to start practicing right now. Wish you success!