Omani Student’s Awareness and Application of Reading Strategies in the IELTS-Based Reading Exams

Abstract

Students who know the exam format and the reading strategies of the IELTS or IELTS-based reading exams are at an advantage. They can quickly locate answers that are not explicitly stated in complex texts. Consequently, they get good scores, which help students secure a place in higher education. According to the British Council report, Omani students score below Band 5 in IELTS reading exams. Similarly, not many Omani students score high in the IELTS-based reading exams at the branches of the University of Technology and Applied Sciences (UTAS), Oman. Hence, this study seeks to answer the research questions of whether Omani students studying at level four are aware of the reading exam format and apply general and task-based reading strategies in the IELTS-based reading exams. The study adopted a quantitative research method, and data was collected from students (N=78) studying at level four in the preparatory studies center of UTAS-Ibra. This study is significant because it has implications for students, teachers, and policy-makers. The study findings confirm that students are aware of the exam format and apply general and task-based reading strategies in the IELTS-based reading exams.

Omani Students’ Familiarity with IELTS-based Reading Exam Format and Strategies: A Qualitative Phenomenological Study

“…High achievers apply these reading strategies more frequently than moderate achievers and become successful in the reading exams. This confirms the study findings of Chinnathambi et al (2024) that students who appy reading strategies more perform better in exams. They go through several levels of understanding of a text and apply reading strategies to score high.…”

“…14, No. 5;2024 Published by Sciedu Press 350 ISSN 1925-0703 E-ISSN 1925 Addressing this gap could provide valuable insights for educators and researchers who aim to improve students' performance in Academic IELTS reading tests.…”