Reading · Unit 4: Band 7 to 8.5
R40: A daily reading habit with free sources
Target band 7.5 to 8.5
There's no strategy that can replace reading. Students who read English every day, outside of tests, improve faster at everything: speed, vocabulary, paraphrase spotting and even Writing. This lesson gives you a simple daily plan and free sources to use.
Why this matters
Cambridge books give you test practice. But there are only a limited number of tests. Real reading gives you endless practice with the same kind of language IELTS uses. Twenty minutes a day for three months adds up to around 30 hours of reading. That changes how English feels.
Free sources
| Source | Good for |
|---|---|
| BBC News and BBC Future | Clear British English, science and society topics |
| The Guardian | News, long features and opinion pieces |
| The Conversation | Short articles by academics, very close to IELTS style |
| National Geographic | Nature, animals and history |
| The Daily Star (Bangladesh) opinion pages | Arguments about topics you know, in English |
| Wikipedia, on a topic you love | Easy entry into new subjects |
Some sites limit free articles. If one blocks you, move to another. There's more free English reading online than you could ever finish.
The 20-minute daily routine
- Read one article (10 to 12 minutes). No dictionary while reading.
- Write one sentence about the main idea.
- Write the writer's view in one line, if it's an opinion piece.
- Note five useful words or phrases. Look them up now.
A weekly topic plan
| Day | Topic |
|---|---|
| Saturday | Science and health |
| Sunday | Environment |
| Monday | History |
| Tuesday | Technology |
| Wednesday | Psychology and society |
| Thursday | Education and work |
| Friday | Free choice: something you enjoy |
This rotation covers most IELTS passage topics. After a few weeks, nothing in the test will feel completely unfamiliar.
Make it easy to keep going
- Same time every day. Maybe with morning tea, or before bed.
- On your phone is fine. But do at least two longer articles a week on a laptop, to prepare for the computer test.
- Read things you're curious about. Cricket, football, technology, food. Interest keeps you reading.
- Keep a reading log. Date, title, one-line summary. Seeing the list grow is motivating.
Try it yourself
Find one article on The Conversation today about any topic. Do the 20-minute routine.
Honest note
You won't see results in a week. Reading is a slow-building habit. But if you stick with it for six to eight weeks, IELTS passages usually start to feel less heavy. Be patient with yourself.
Your task today
Bookmark three of the sources above. Start your reading log today with one article.