IELTS Reading Sentence Completion: Tips and Practice

Quick Answer: Sentence completion questions in IELTS Reading require you to fill gaps in sentences using words from the passage. Success depends on identifying key words, understanding paraphrasing, and managing spelling. This guide covers step‑by‑step techniques, band‑specific sample answers, and common pitfalls to avoid.

Table of Contents

What Are Sentence Completion Questions?

Step‑by‑Step Strategy

Band Score Comparison Table

Sample Answers (Band 7, 8, 9)

Common Mistakes

Top Tips

Resources

FAQ

Key Takeaways

What Are Sentence Completion Questions?

Sentence completion tasks appear in all three sections of the IELTS Reading test. You are given a set of sentences with one or two blanks, each to be filled with words from the passage. Unlike multiple choice, you must locate the exact word(s) from the text – no synonyms allowed unless the instructions say “NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER”.

Key features:

Usually 5–7 questions per passage.

Words must be taken directly from the reading text.

Instructions often specify a word limit (e.g., “ONE WORD ONLY” or “NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS”).

Questions follow the order of information in the passage (sequential).

Example question:

The earliest known form of writing appeared in ________.

Step‑by‑Step Strategy

1. Read the instructions carefully

Check the word limit (one word, two words, etc.) and whether numbers are allowed. Misreading this is a common source of lost marks.

2. Skim the questions to understand the topic

Read all the incomplete sentences first. This tells you what kind of information you need (dates, names, processes, etc.) and helps you locate the relevant section faster.

3. Predict the answer type

Before searching, guess what form the answer will take: a noun, a number, a proper noun, a verb? This narrows your search.

4. Scan the passage using keywords

Underline key words in the question (e.g., “earliest known form of writing”). Then scan the passage for synonyms or related phrases. For example, the passage might say “the first writing system” instead of “earliest known form”.

5. Identify the exact wording

Once you find the relevant sentence in the passage, copy the exact word(s) that fill the blank. Do not change tense, plural/singular, or spelling.

6. Check the remaining questions

Because questions are in order, after answering one you know where to look for the next – a few lines below.

7. Transfer answers with care

Write the words exactly as they appear, including capital letters if required (rarely, unless the word is a proper noun). Use clear handwriting in the test booklet.

Band Score Comparison Table

Band	What Examiner Wants
6	Can locate some answers but may use the wrong word limit or misspell. Answers are sometimes incomplete or taken from the wrong part of the text.
7	Finds most answers correctly. May occasionally pick a synonym instead of the exact word, or misjudge the word count. Spelling errors are rare.
8	Selects the exact word(s) from the passage with near‑perfect spelling. Understands paraphrases well and only loses marks on tricky items.
9	Answers every question accurately. No spelling mistakes, no wrong word forms, and no exceeding the word limit. Demonstrates complete control of scanning and paraphrasing.

Sample Answers

Band 7: Question: The first writing system was invented in the region of ________. Passage excerpt: “The Sumerians developed cuneiform around 3200 BCE in Mesopotamia.” Answer: Mesopotamia (correct). But if the student wrote “Mesopotamia.” (with a full stop) or “Mesopotamia about 3200 BCE” (exceeding word limit), it would be marked wrong. A Band 7 student usually writes the core word but may include extra details. Band 8: Question: The ________ of the clay tablets were used to record transactions. Passage: “The surface of the clay tablets was inscribed with symbols for trade goods.” Answer: surface (exact word, singular, correct spelling). No extra punctuation. The student also noticed the question uses “were” but the passage says “was” – because the answer is singular “surface”, the plural verb in the question is a red herring. Band 9: Question: Cuneiform was initially used for ________ purposes. Passage: “The earliest cuneiform documents served administrative and commercial functions.” Answer: administrative and commercial (exact two words allowed if limit says “NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS”). Or if the limit is “ONE WORD ONLY”, the student would recognise that the passage contains “administrative” and “commercial” but must choose only one – impossible; therefore the question likely expects “commercial” or “administrative” alone. A Band 9 student checks the word limit before answering.

Common Mistakes

❌Using a synonym – The passage says “vehicle”, but you write “car”. This is wrong. IELTS requires the exact word from the text.

❌Exceeding the word limit – If the instruction says “ONE WORD ONLY”, writing “the ancient city” costs marks.

❌Spelling errors – IELTS penalises misspelled words, even if the meaning is clear. “Mesopotamia” → “Mesopotamia” is fine; “Mesopotamiaa” is wrong.

Top Tips

💡 Before scanning, underline the key word in the question and think of one or two possible synonyms. This speeds up your search.

💡 If you can’t find an answer after 30 seconds, move on. The questions are in order, so later answers may give you clues.

💡 After writing your answer, quickly check the word limit and spelling. Even one extra space can cost you.

Resources

Check out IELTS Active for free practice tests and study materials tailored to sentence completion tasks.

FAQ

Q: Can I use contractions or hyphenated words? A: Only if they appear in the passage exactly that way. Normally, avoid contractions; write numbers as digits if allowed. Q: What if the answer is a proper noun? Should I capitalise? A: Copy the exact form from the passage. If the passage has “Sumer”, don’t write “sumer”. But IELTS usually does not penalise capitalisation errors unless the word is a proper name. Q: How many sentence completion questions are there in the test? A: Typically 5–7 per passage, but some passages may have up to 9. The total varies between 40 questions overall. Q: Is it better to write the answers in the booklet first? A: Yes. Write them directly on the answer sheet, but you can underline the passage first. Avoid transferring later to save time.

Key Takeaways

✅Always read the word limit and copy the exact words from the passage.

✅Use keywords and paraphrases to locate the relevant sentence.

✅Practice scanning and identifying exact matches under time pressure.

✅Double‑check spelling and word count before moving on.

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