Welcome to our IELTS Reading practice session focused on the topic “How to foster a growth mindset in students.” This subject has been increasingly popular in educational discussions and has appeared in several IELTS Reading tests over the past few years. Given its relevance to modern educational practices and its frequency in past exams, there’s a good chance you might encounter a similar topic in your upcoming IELTS test.
The IELTS Reading section requires you to demonstrate your ability to understand complex texts, identify main ideas, and locate specific information. Today, we’ll practice these skills with a passage about fostering a growth mindset in students, a concept that’s crucial for academic success and personal development.
Reading Passage
Nurturing a Growth Mindset: The Key to Unlocking Student Potential
A. In recent years, the concept of a “growth mindset” has gained significant traction in educational circles. Coined by psychologist Carol Dweck, this term refers to the belief that abilities and intelligence can be developed through dedication, hard work, and resilience. This stands in contrast to a “fixed mindset,” where individuals believe their talents and abilities are innate and unchangeable. The implications of fostering a growth mindset in students are profound, potentially revolutionizing how we approach education and student development.
B. At its core, a growth mindset encourages students to view challenges as opportunities for growth rather than insurmountable obstacles. This perspective shift can lead to increased motivation, improved academic performance, and enhanced emotional well-being. Students with a growth mindset are more likely to persevere in the face of setbacks, embrace feedback as a tool for improvement, and take on more challenging tasks to expand their capabilities.
C. Implementing strategies to foster a growth mindset in the classroom requires a multi-faceted approach. First and foremost, educators must model this mindset themselves. By openly discussing their own learning processes, challenges, and strategies for overcoming obstacles, teachers can demonstrate that growth and improvement are ongoing processes for everyone, regardless of age or expertise.
D. One effective strategy is to reframe the language used in the classroom. Instead of praising intelligence or natural talent, educators should focus on effort, strategy, and progress. For example, rather than saying “You’re so smart!” when a student succeeds, a teacher might say, “I can see how hard you worked on this. Your strategy really paid off!” This approach helps students associate success with effort and perseverance rather than innate ability.
E. Another crucial aspect of fostering a growth mindset is teaching students about neuroplasticity – the brain’s ability to form new neural connections throughout life. Understanding that the brain can literally grow and change in response to challenge and practice can be a powerful motivator for students. It provides a scientific basis for the idea that intelligence and abilities are not fixed traits but can be developed over time.
F. Creating a classroom environment that embraces mistakes as learning opportunities is also vital. When students feel safe to take risks and make errors, they’re more likely to engage in challenging tasks that promote growth. Teachers can achieve this by openly discussing their own mistakes, encouraging students to share theirs, and reframing errors as valuable steps in the learning process.
G. Implementing effective feedback practices is another key strategy. Feedback should be specific, focused on the process rather than the person, and offer clear guidance for improvement. For instance, instead of a general comment like “Good job,” teachers might say, “Your use of vivid descriptors really brought your story to life. Next time, try varying your sentence structure to make your writing even more engaging.”
H. Goal-setting is another powerful tool in developing a growth mindset. Encouraging students to set challenging yet achievable goals, and then reflecting on their progress, helps them see tangible evidence of their growth over time. This process reinforces the idea that abilities can be developed through effort and persistence.
I. It’s important to note that fostering a growth mindset is not about denying the existence of natural talents or differences in abilities. Rather, it’s about emphasizing that everyone can improve and develop their skills, regardless of their starting point. This approach can be particularly powerful for students who have traditionally struggled academically or who come from disadvantaged backgrounds.
J. While the benefits of a growth mindset are clear, implementation can be challenging. It requires a shift not just in teaching practices but in the entire culture of a school or educational institution. Parents, administrators, and the wider community all play a role in reinforcing growth mindset principles.
K. In conclusion, fostering a growth mindset in students is a powerful way to unlock their potential and prepare them for lifelong learning. By embracing challenges, valuing effort, learning from mistakes, and understanding the malleability of the brain, students can develop resilience, motivation, and a love for learning that will serve them well beyond their school years. As educators continue to refine their approaches to implementing growth mindset principles, the potential for positive impact on student achievement and well-being is immense.
Questions
Task 1: Matching Headings
Choose the correct heading for paragraphs B-F from the list of headings below.
List of Headings:
i. The science behind brain plasticity
ii. Redefining success in the classroom
iii. The core principle of growth mindset
iv. Strategies for implementing growth mindset
v. The importance of embracing mistakes
vi. Contrasting fixed and growth mindsets
vii. The role of feedback in fostering growth mindset
- Paragraph B
- Paragraph C
- Paragraph D
- Paragraph E
- Paragraph F
Task 2: True/False/Not Given
Do the following statements agree with the information given in the reading passage?
Write:
TRUE if the statement agrees with the information
FALSE if the statement contradicts the information
NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this
- A growth mindset believes that intelligence is fixed and unchangeable.
- Teachers should openly discuss their own learning challenges with students.
- Praising a student’s intelligence can reinforce a growth mindset.
- Understanding neuroplasticity can motivate students to embrace challenges.
- All students start with the same level of ability in any given subject.
Task 3: Matching Sentence Endings
Match the beginnings of sentences with the correct endings.
- Effective feedback should be
- Goal-setting helps students
- A growth mindset approach acknowledges that
A. focused on the person rather than the process.
B. see tangible evidence of their improvement over time.
C. everyone has the same abilities and talents.
D. specific and offer clear guidance for improvement.
E. natural talents and differences in abilities exist.
Task 4: Short Answer Questions
Answer the following questions using NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the passage for each answer.
- What term is used to describe the brain’s ability to form new neural connections throughout life?
- According to the passage, what should mistakes be viewed as in a growth mindset classroom?
Answer Key
- iii
- iv
- ii
- i
- v
- FALSE
- TRUE
- FALSE
- TRUE
- NOT GIVEN
- D
- B
- E
- neuroplasticity
- learning opportunities
Explanations
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Paragraph B discusses the core principle of a growth mindset, which is viewing challenges as opportunities for growth.
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Paragraph C introduces strategies for implementing a growth mindset in the classroom.
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Paragraph D focuses on reframing language in the classroom, which is essentially redefining how success is communicated.
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Paragraph E specifically mentions teaching students about neuroplasticity, which is the science behind brain plasticity.
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Paragraph F discusses the importance of creating an environment that embraces mistakes as learning opportunities.
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The passage states that a growth mindset believes abilities and intelligence can be developed, contradicting this statement.
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The passage explicitly states that educators should openly discuss their own learning processes and challenges.
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The passage advises against praising intelligence, suggesting it doesn’t reinforce a growth mindset.
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The passage states that understanding neuroplasticity can be a powerful motivator for students to embrace challenges.
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The passage doesn’t provide information about students’ starting levels of ability.
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The passage states that feedback should be specific and offer clear guidance for improvement.
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The passage mentions that goal-setting helps students see tangible evidence of their growth over time.
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The passage acknowledges that natural talents and differences in abilities exist, but emphasizes that everyone can improve.
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The term “neuroplasticity” is used to describe this concept in the passage.
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The passage states that mistakes should be viewed as “learning opportunities” in a growth mindset classroom.
Common Mistakes
When tackling reading passages like this one, students often make the following mistakes:
- Overlooking key words: In questions like number 6, missing words like “fixed” can lead to incorrect answers.
- Confusing similar ideas: For example, in question 8, students might confuse praising effort (which is recommended) with praising intelligence (which is discouraged).
- Making assumptions: For questions marked as “Not Given,” students sometimes infer information that isn’t explicitly stated in the text.
- Misinterpreting matching tasks: In the sentence matching task, students might match based on similar words rather than overall meaning.
- Exceeding word limits: In short answer questions, going over the word limit can result in lost marks, even if the answer is correct.
Vocabulary
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Traction (noun) /ˈtrækʃən/: Popularity or acceptance.
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Innate (adjective) /ɪˈneɪt/: Inborn or natural.
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Insurmountable (adjective) /ˌɪnsərˈmaʊntəbəl/: Too great to overcome.
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Persevere (verb) /ˌpɜːrsəˈvɪr/: Continue in a course of action despite difficulty.
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Neuroplasticity (noun) /ˌnʊəroʊplæˈstɪsɪti/: The brain’s ability to form new neural connections.
Grammar Focus
Complex sentences with relative clauses are common in academic texts like this one. For example:
“This stands in contrast to a ‘fixed mindset,’ where individuals believe their talents and abilities are innate and unchangeable.”
Structure: Main clause + relative clause (introduced by ‘where’ in this case)
Practice: Create your own sentences using relative clauses to describe educational concepts.
Tips for IELTS Reading Success
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Time management is crucial. Allocate your time wisely among the different sections of the reading test.
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Always read the instructions carefully. Each task type requires a different approach.
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Skim the text first to get a general idea, then read more carefully when answering specific questions.
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For matching tasks, eliminate options as you go to make final decisions easier.
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In True/False/Not Given questions, stick strictly to the information in the text. Avoid using outside knowledge.
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Practice regularly with various types of texts and question formats to improve your speed and accuracy.
Remember, developing your reading skills is a process that requires consistent practice and patience. Just like fostering a growth mindset, improving your IELTS Reading performance is about embracing challenges and learning from each practice session. Keep persevering, and you’ll see improvement over time!
For more tips on enhancing your IELTS performance, check out our articles on creating a supportive learning environment and enhancing creativity in problem-solving. These skills can complement your academic preparation and contribute to your overall success in the IELTS exam.