IELTS Reading Sentence Completion: Grammar and Spelling – The Hidden Keys to Success

Quick Answer: In IELTS Reading sentence completion questions, grammar and spelling are as critical as finding the right words. You must match the grammatical structure of the sentence (e.g., singular/plural, tense, part of speech) and spell the answer exactly as in the passage. Even one letter wrong or a missing article can cost you a point.

Table of Contents

Why Grammar and Spelling Matter

The Grammar Rules You Must Know

Spelling Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them

Step-by-Step Strategy for Sentence Completion

Band Score Comparison Table

Why Grammar and Spelling Matter

Many IELTS candidates focus only on finding the right words from the passage, but they forget two essential rules:

Grammar: The answer must fit the sentence grammatically. If the sentence says “a ______” you need a singular noun. If it says “______ are” you need a plural noun. If the verb is past tense, your answer must match.

Spelling: You must copy the word exactly as it appears in the text. No changes. No British vs. American spelling unless the text uses it. No typos.

The examiners are strict. Even if you find the correct word but spell it wrong or use the wrong form, you get zero points.

The Grammar Rules You Must Know

1. Noun Number (Singular/Plural)

Look at the sentence structure. If the sentence uses “a/an” before the blank, you need a singular countable noun.

- Example: “The study found a significant ______.” → Answer must be singular (e.g., “increase” not “increases”).

If the blank is followed by “are” or “were,” you need a plural noun.

- Example: “The results showed that ______ are essential.” → Answer must be plural (e.g., “factors” not “factor”).

2. Verb Tense

The sentence tense tells you the verb form.

- Example: “The experiment was conducted in ______.” → Past tense, so answer might be a noun like “2020” or an adjective like “controlled”. - Example: “Researchers have ______ the theory.” → Present perfect, so answer must be a past participle (e.g., “supported” not “support”).

3. Part of Speech

Is the blank a noun, verb, adjective, or adverb?

- If the blank is after “the” and before a verb, it’s likely a noun. - If it’s after “to” and before a noun, it’s likely a verb (infinitive). - Example: “The goal is to ______ emissions.” → Verb (e.g., “reduce”). - Example: “The ______ method was effective.” → Adjective (e.g., “new”).

4. Prepositions and Articles

If the blank follows a preposition (e.g., “in,” “on,” “at”), the answer is usually a noun or noun phrase.

If the blank is preceded by “the,” the answer is a specific noun.

Example: “The study focused on the ______ of climate change.” → Noun (e.g., “effects”).

5. Parallel Structure

If the sentence lists items with “and” or “or,” the blank must match the grammatical form of the other items.

- Example: “The process involves collecting, analyzing, and ______ data.” → Gerund (e.g., “interpreting”).

Spelling Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them

1. British vs. American Spelling

The IELTS test uses British English. But if the passage uses American spelling (e.g., “color” instead of “colour”), copy that exactly.

Common differences: “centre” (Br) vs. “center” (Am), “analyse” (Br) vs. “analyze” (Am), “organisation” (Br) vs. “organization” (Am).

2. Hyphenated Words

Some words are hyphenated in the passage (e.g., “long-term”). Do not remove the hyphen.

Example: “The ______ effects were studied.” → “long-term” not “long term”.

3. Capital Letters

Proper nouns (names, places, dates) are capitalised in the passage. Copy them exactly.

Example: “The study was conducted by Dr. Smith.” → “Dr. Smith” not “dr. smith”.

4. Numbers and Symbols

If the answer is a number, write it as it appears (e.g., “5” not “five”).

If the passage uses symbols (e.g., “%”), use them.

5. Common Spelling Errors

“Their” vs. “there” – but the passage will use only one.

“Practice” (noun) vs. “practise” (verb) – British English uses “practise” for verb.

Double letters: “accommodation” (two c’s, two m’s), “occurred” (two r’s).

Step-by-Step Strategy for Sentence Completion

Read the instructions – How many words? Can you use numbers? Usually “NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER.”

Skim the questions – Understand the topic and type of word needed (noun, verb, etc.).

Predict the answer – Based on grammar, guess the part of speech and possible word.

Scan the passage – Look for keywords from the sentence.

Find the exact words – Copy them without changing anything.

Check grammar – Does it fit the sentence? Singular/plural? Tense?

Check spelling – Is it exactly as in the text?

Band Score Comparison Table

Band	What Examiner Wants
6	Can find the right word but often makes grammar or spelling mistakes. Answers may be singular when plural needed, or misspelled.
7	Mostly correct grammar and spelling. Minor errors (e.g., one letter wrong) but overall answer fits the sentence.
8	Accurate grammar and spelling. Answers match part of speech, tense, and number. No typos.
9	Perfect grammar and spelling. Answers are exact copies from the text. Even hyphenated words and capital letters are correct.

Sample Answers

Band 7: Question: “The research found that ______ were the main cause.” Passage: “Researchers discovered that environmental factors were the primary cause.” Answer: “environmental factor” (wrong – missing “s” and “factors” is plural) Why: Grammar error – sentence uses “were” so answer must be plural. Band 8: Same question: “environmental factors” (correct) Why: Plural noun matches “were,” spelling is correct. Band 9: Same question: “environmental factors” (exact copy from passage) Why: Perfect grammar, spelling, and no changes.

Common Mistakes

❌Changing the word form – “reduce” instead of “reduction” because you think it fits better. Always copy exactly.

❌Adding or removing articles – “a” or “the” that aren’t in the passage.

❌Using synonyms – “big” instead of “large” from the text. The examiner wants the exact word.

❌Ignoring hyphenation – “long term” instead of “long-term.”

❌Misspelling common words – “accomodation” instead of “accommodation.”

Top Tips

💡 Always read the sentence before and after the blank – This gives you grammar clues like tense, number, and part of speech.

💡 Use the “grammar check” before you write – Mentally insert your answer into the sentence. Does it sound right? If not, re-check.

💡 Double-check spelling against the passage – Even if you’re sure, look back. One letter can cost you a point.

💡 For numbers, copy exactly – “5” not “five,” “1990s” not “1990.”

💡 Practice with real IELTS tests – Use official Cambridge books to get used to the format.

Resources

Check out IELTS Active for practice tests and study materials that focus on grammar and spelling in sentence completion tasks.

FAQ

Q: Can I change the word form (e.g., plural to singular) if it fits the sentence better? A: No. You must copy the exact words from the passage. Changing the form is a mistake. Q: What if the passage uses British spelling but I write American spelling? A: It will be marked wrong. Copy the spelling as it appears in the passage. Q: How many words can I use? A: Usually “NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER.” Read the instructions carefully. Q: Do I need to write “a” or “the” if it’s in the passage? A: Yes, if the passage includes an article, copy it. If not, don’t add one. Q: What if I find two possible answers? A: Choose the one that fits the grammar and is closest to the keywords. Only one answer is correct.

Key Takeaways

✅Grammar is non-negotiable – match tense, number, and part of speech.

✅Spelling must be exact – no changes, no typos, no alternative spellings.

✅Predict the answer type before scanning.

✅Check your answer by reading the completed sentence aloud.

✅Practice with official tests to build speed and accuracy.

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[IELTS Reading True False Not Given: Strategies That Work]

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[IELTS Reading Multiple Choice: How to Avoid Traps]