IELTS Reading Test- Tips And Tricks For Sentence Completion Questions

IELTS Reading test seems to be one of the trickier test. A booklet of 40 questions is given which is needed to be solved in a time period of an hour. In my previous articles, you got to know the different types of questions which are asked in the booklet. One of these question types is fill ups in IELTS Reading where sentence completion is its subtype.

In this particular article, some tips and strategies to solve the sentence fill ups will be discussed. Further, there will be some sample passages followed by some exercises.

Points to Remember

• Take care of the word limit. If instructions will ask you to write no more than 2 words, then the same will be expected otherwise it will cost you a band.
• Take care of the grammar and spelling mistakes. Initially predict that what kind of part of speech is expected as an answer. If it is a noun or adverb or adjective.
• Spellings also play an important role in writing answer on an answer sheet. If spellings are wrong, the answer will be marked wrong.
• Do not get panic after watching difficult vocabulary. Ignore the difficult words in the passage and keep in mind all the keywords while reading the questions.
• Remember to read the questions first and then skim and scan the passage not thoroughly but carefully.
• Prediction of an answer is very important as it will lead you to a correct answer.

I. Pattern of this Particular Question Type:-

• A set of four or five sentences will be given and there will be some gaps in it. You will be required to fill these gaps.
• Gaps should be filled in such a way that the meaning of the sentence is completed.

So above is an example of this type of question set. Clearly seen that it asks you to write no more than 2 words. So you are expected to write 1 or 2 words as an answer.

II. Procedure to solve this particular question type:-

• First of all, read the instructions carefully.
• Read the questions first means the incomplete sentences.
• Predict what kind of word can be written in the blank.
• Mark the keywords of the sentences to locate them in the passage.
• Find out where the information can be possibly located in the passage by the usage of Keywords.
• Read the incomplete sentence again.
• Try to find out the answer and write it in the blank.
• Check your grammar and spelling.
• Repeat it with rest of the sentences too.

III. Synonyms and Paraphrasing

In IELTS reading test, questions have some synonyms and sentences are paraphrased in order to make it trickier. Remember students, the questions which are asked in the booklet do not have the same exact words as in the passage. These are changed bit with the same meaning or instead of using same words, synonyms will be given. Do not get confuse and keep on marking your keywords in order to locate the answer.

Below are the some examples of paraphrasing or usage of synonyms.

Sentence completion questions are basically asked to check your abilities regarding paraphrasing and skimming scanning of the text. It needs practice as other modules or other question types. I hope that aforementioned strategies will work positively for you. Do mot get panic after watching difficult words. Practice for time management and do well.

Best of luck!

Some Important Samples of IELTS Reading Sentence Completion Task-

Sample No. 1-

Complete the sentence. Choose no more than 2 words and /or a number from the passage for each answer.

1. ___________ is the most recent strategy to tackle the problem of smoking.

2. The large number of new smokers, particularly under the 16’s makes certain that cigarette companies will always have a _________.

3. In some countries, packaging is the only method that cigarette companies have for___________.

4. Packets are seen as being the ___________ in the cigarette industry.

How to reach for the answers:-

1.

• Read the first sentence and mark the keywords. These are (most recent strategy, tackle smoking). Predict what is expected?
• It is noun which can be a name of a strategy or a technique.
• Locate the keywords related to this in the passage.
• These are
• Most recent strategy- the latest front
• Tackle problem of smoking- war against smoking
• So it has been demanded that 2 words have to be written, answer is plain packaging.

2.

• Keywords are new smokers, under 16’s, cigarette companies
• Prediction is- companies will have something means noun or name is to be written.
• In the passage

Large number- more than 200000

Certain- ensure

Cigarette companies- manufacturers

So in this way, you will be able to find out the answers for all sentences gaps.

Answers

3. Plain packaging

4. Viable market

5. Promotion

6. Silent salesman

Sample No. 2-

Complete the following statements using no more than three words-

1. Australia was originally founded as a ________.

2. The major consideration in colonizing Australia was Britain’s ______.

3. It was thought that _______ could be gained in that part of the world due to the access provided via Australia.

4. Lord Sydney took every factor into account when he gave official permission for the _______ of Australia.

5. Botany bay was abandoned by the settlers due to lack of cover and _________.

Answers

1. European settlement

2. Overcrowded prisons

3. Economic opportunities

4. Colonization

5. Poor soil

Sample No. 3-

Choose no more than two words from the passage to complete the sentences

Hydroelectric plants produce energy by passing 1. __________ through a turbine. Electricity is produced by delivering water 2.__________ to a generator. The amount of electricity that can be produced at a hydroelectric plant relies upon 3. __________ and 4._________. Hydroelectric power plants do not release any pollutants into the atmosphere ,so they do not cause 5.________.

Answers

1. Flowing water

2. Turbine rotation

3. Product

4. Flow rate

5. Global warming

Sample No. 4-

Complete the following sentences and choose no more than two words from the passage to fill the gaps

1. A place in _______ is now said to be the place that extends the furthest down from the earth’s surface.

2. However, ________ located in the sea are said to extend even further.

3. An _________ map called the white continent, shows this new discovery in a very close detail.

4. The shore of the dead sea is the ________ visible land.

5. _______ located at the deepest point will help to limit the recession of glaciers due to the effects of global warming.

Answers

1. East Antarctica

2. Valleys

3. Unprecedented

4. Lowest

5. Ridges