IELTS Reading strategy lessons, one for each Part
Lessons in Xplodia teach IELTS Reading strategy before you practice.
One lesson for each Part
On the Study page, the lesson sits after the pretest and before the practice sets. Learn the strategy first, then practice it.
- Part 0: an introduction to the test
- Parts 1 to 5: one family of question types
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On the Study page, Reading is organized by Part. Part 0 holds only the introduction lesson. In Parts 1 to 5, the lesson sits after the pretest and before the practice sets, so you can learn the strategy before you practice it.
| Part | Lesson | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Part 0 | Introduction to IELTS Academic Reading | The test format, a map of the question types, skimming and scanning, order and timing, the answer rules |
| Part 1 | True / False / Not Given and Yes / No / Not Given | True/False/Not Given and Yes/No/Not Given |
| Part 2 | Matching | Matching headings, information, features and sentence endings |
| Part 3 | Multiple Choice | Multiple choice with one answer and Choose TWO |
| Part 4 | Short Answer Questions | Short answer |
| Part 5 | Completion | Sentence, summary, note, table, flow chart and diagram completion |
One idea per page
Each section holds short pages that cover one idea each. Move through them with Previous and Next, and press Finish on the last page.
- Contents marks the pages you have finished
- On small screens, open it from the top bar
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Each lesson is made of sections, and each section holds short pages that cover one idea each. Move through them with Previous and Next, and press Finish on the last page.
On a wide screen, the Contents list sits on the left and marks the page you are on and the pages you have finished. On smaller screens you open it from the top bar.
Interactive exercises and checks for understanding
Between the explanations are exercises you can do on the spot. If your answer is not quite right, you get a hint and can try again.
- Not part of your mastery score
- Never locks a practice set
- Ask Dio for a hint
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Between the explanations are exercises you can do on the spot: pick one answer, type a short answer (with a warning if you go over the word limit), or write in your own words. Where a writing box has an example answer, the example appears under Answer review after you press Submit.
Some lessons also have checks for understanding. If your answer is not quite right, you get a hint and can try again, show the answer, or ask Dio for a hint. None of this is scored, so it does not affect mastery and never locks a practice set.
Dio reads the same page
Press Ask Dio in the top bar to open the Dio panel. Dio reads the page you are on, including your answers to its exercises.
- A simpler explanation, another example, or a quiz
- Dio does not get the exercise answer keys
- Uses the same weekly limit
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Press Ask Dio in the top bar to open the Dio panel, or on a wide enough screen it opens by itself. Dio reads the page you are on, including your answers to its exercises, so you can ask for a simpler explanation, another example, or a quick quiz on that page.
Dio does not get the answer keys to the interactive exercises, and it only sees the key to a check for understanding after you have answered it. Every question to Dio counts towards the same weekly limit as in practice.
Pick up where you left off
The pages you have read, your answers and your last page are saved on the server. If you are not signed in, Xplodia creates a guest account so nothing is lost.
- Pick up from your last page
- A Lesson complete summary after Finish
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The pages you have read, your answers and the last page you opened are saved on the server. If you stop halfway, the lesson picks up from that page. If you are not signed in, Xplodia creates a guest account so your progress is still saved.
After you press Finish, the Lesson complete summary shows how many pages you finished, how many questions you got right on the first try (First try), and the pages worth another look before practice. A finished lesson reopens blank from the first page, and it stays marked as finished.
What it does not do yet
Dio does not grade what you write
Not part of your mastery score
Reading only for now
Written in English
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- Dio does not grade what you write in a lesson. The example under Answer review is part of the lesson material, not a grade on your answer.
- Lesson exercises and checks for understanding do not count towards mastery. Mastery comes from practice sets only.
- Lessons are available for Reading only. Listening, Writing and Speaking have no lessons yet.
- Lessons are in English, like the app.
Frequently asked questions
What are lessons in Xplodia?
Lessons in Xplodia teach IELTS Reading strategy before you practice. There are 6 lessons, one for each Part: an introduction to the test in Part 0, then one family of question types in each of Parts 1 to 5. Every lesson is split into short pages, with interactive exercises, ungraded checks for understanding, and Dio in the side panel.
Do I have to read the lesson before practicing?
No. Lessons do not lock anything. Practice sets open once the Part's pretest is done, whether or not you have read the lesson. The lesson comes before the practice sets so you can learn the strategy first.
Do my lesson answers affect my mastery score?
No. The exercises and checks in a lesson help you understand the strategy, but the mastery score is calculated from practice sets only.
Can I finish a lesson later?
Yes. The pages you have read, your answers and the last page you opened are saved on the server, so the lesson picks up from that page.
Can I open a lesson without an account?
Yes. If you open a lesson without signing in, Xplodia creates a guest account to save your progress, and you can use Dio there too. If you later sign up with Google from that guest account, your progress comes with you, as long as that Google account has not been used on Xplodia before.
Start with one practice
Free. No account needed for your first practice.