How We Read

When we first look at a text, we glance over it quickly to get the main ideas. We do this in daily life to decide if we wish to read the text in more detail. In tests such as the IELTS reading test we do this for the same basic purpose: to find the main ideas.

Here's some very interesting information and graphics showing how our eyes move when we first look at a webpage:

F-Shaped Pattern For Reading Web Content

Summary:
Eyetracking visualizations show that users often read Web pages in an F-shaped pattern: two horizontal stripes followed by a vertical stripe.

http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/4VFCbm/www.useit.com/alertbox/reading_pattern.html

If you write a blog or write websites, you'll find this information very useful in helping you understand how to structure your writing to maximise reader attention. The same general principle applies to many other kinds of writing, including the IELTS writing tasks. Make sure your main ideas are clearly summarised!