IELTS Band 5 – Reading Comprehension

Reading Passage (IELTS Band 5)

A small language school wanted to improve how students learn academic words. The teachers had a clear rationale for change: learners needed a more comprehensive plan, not just random word lists. They hypothesized that a simple but steady methodology could help average students remember more words and use them correctly in class discussions.

They implemented three steps. First, short daily practice to facilitate recall. Second, diverse activities (reading, speaking, and quick writing) so students could integrate new words into real sentences and articulate ideas in simple English. Third, a clear classroom protocol so everyone knew what to do each day. Teachers evaluated progress every Friday using easy-to-understand criteria.

After one month, a preliminary check showed small gains. Subsequently, the school ran a six-month longitudinal review to validate the results. Scores rose significantly, and improvement was evident in classroom tasks. Nonetheless, motivation did fluctuate for some students, so teachers modified tasks (shorter texts, more pair work) to sustain effort, thereby enhancing outcomes.

Overall, the project suggests that steady practice and a coherent plan can transform vocabulary learning at this level. Success has an inherent link to student effort: learners who persist and accumulate new words each week can express ideas more precisely. Next term, the school will continue to evaluate the course and try to maximize the learning capacity of each class.