IELTS Reading Summary Completion: Paraphrasing Strategies

Quick Answer: Summary completion questions in IELTS Reading test your ability to recognise paraphrasing—when the passage and summary use different words to express the same idea. Master skimming for synonyms, scanning for rephrased clauses, and focusing on keywords to predict the correct word from the text. Practice regularly with past papers to spot patterns like noun-verb swaps.

Table of Contents

Why Paraphrasing is Key to Summary Completion

Common Types of Paraphrasing in IELTS Reading

Step-by-Step Strategy for Summary Completion

Band Score Comparison Table

Why Paraphrasing is Key to Summary Completion

Summary completion tasks require you to fill in gaps in a short summary using words from the reading passage. The summary rephrases the original text heavily. The examiners deliberately change the wording to test your ability to understand meaning rather than just spotting exact words.

If you try to match word-for-word, you will waste time and likely miss the correct answer. For instance, the passage might say “the decline in bee populations has accelerated over the last decade,” but the summary says “the number of bees has fallen more quickly in recent years.” The key words are different, but the meaning is identical. Recognising this is the core skill.

Paraphrasing shows up in all question types, but summary completion is particularly challenging because the gaps force you to identify a single specific word or phrase. Mastering paraphrasing strategies can directly improve your score by 1–2 bands in this question type.

Common Types of Paraphrasing in IELTS Reading

1. Synonym Substitution

The simplest form: a key word is replaced with a synonym.

Passage: “The experiment yielded significant results.”

Summary: “The experiment produced important findings.”

Word in gap: “significant” might become “important” in the summary, but you must find the original word from the passage.

2. Word Form Changes

The part of speech changes.

Passage: “The analysis of data showed a correlation.”

Summary: “Analysing the data revealed a correlated pattern.”

Gap word might be “analysis” (noun) or “correlation” (noun). The summary uses “analysing” (gerund) and “correlated” (adjective). You must match the original form.

3. Sentence Structure Rearrangement

The order of information is changed.

Passage: “Because of rising temperatures, the ice caps are melting.”

Summary: “The melting of ice caps is caused by temperature increases.”

The gap word is “rising temperatures” (in passage) but “temperature increases” (in summary). The original phrase is used in the answer.

4. Addition of Extra Words

The summary might include extra modifiers or different prepositions.

Passage: “The population of the city grew rapidly.”

Summary: “There was a rapid growth in the city’s population.”

“Growth” vs “population”—you need to match the original word.

5. Opposite Meaning via Negation

Sometimes the summary uses a negative form of the opposite.

Passage: “The process was inefficient.”

Summary: “The process was not effective at conserving energy.”

Word in gap: “inefficient” from passage.

Step-by-Step Strategy for Summary Completion

Step 1: Read the summary first Do not read the whole passage. Look at the summary and identify the instructions (e.g., “Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage”). Underline keywords around the gaps, such as nouns, verbs, and adjectives that seem central. Step 2: Predict the meaning, not the exact word Before scanning, think: What kind of word is missing? Is it a noun, verb, adjective? What is the logical meaning? For example: “The discovery of [gap] fossils in the desert confirmed earlier theories.” The missing word is likely a noun describing what was found. Step 3: Skim the passage for related ideas Use the keywords from the summary to locate a paragraph that covers the same idea. Look for synonyms or rephrased sentences. For instance, if the summary says “benefits of exercise,” scan for “advantages,” “positive effects,” or “improvements” in the text. Step 4: Match the exact wording from the passage Once you find the right section, read the original sentences carefully. The answer must be exactly as it appears in the passage, so copy the word(s) without changing their form. Check word limits (e.g., “ONE WORD” or “TWO WORDS”). Step 5: Check grammar and spelling Ensure the word fits grammatically into the summary (e.g., singular/plural, tense, article). A wrong form will lose marks.

Band Score Comparison Table

Band	What Examiner Wants
6	Can sometimes identify paraphrases but often selects incorrect words due to over-reliance on matching exact words. Fails to spot complex rephrasing.
7	Consistently recognises common synonyms and basic rephrasing. Handles word form changes moderately well but may struggle with abstract or longer paraphrases.
8	Quickly identifies a wide range of paraphrasing types, including sentence restructure and negation. Answers are accurate and grammatically correct.
9	Effortlessly matches any paraphrasing, even subtle changes. Demonstrates advanced understanding of context and inference.

Sample Answers

Band 7: Summary: “The study found that sustainable farming practices reduce the need for chemical [gap].” Passage: “By adopting organic methods, farmers can minimise reliance on synthetic pesticides.” Answer: “pesticides” (correct but straightforward synonym match). Band 8: Summary: “The increase in global temperatures is linked to a [gap] in carbon emissions.” Passage: “The rise in global temperatures correlates with higher levels of carbon emissions.” Answer: “rise” (recognises “increase” → “rise” as synonym, but word form changed to noun). Band 9: Summary: “Without immediate intervention, the species may face [gap] within the next decade.” Passage: “Unless action is taken soon, the species could become extinct by 2030.” Answer: “extinction” (understands “become extinct” rephrases as “face extinction” – noun form).

Common Mistakes

❌Scanning for exact words only – You waste time and miss correct answers because the summary rephrases. Always look for synonyms and similar meaning.

❌Choosing words from the passage that don’t fit grammatically – For example, using a verb when the gap needs a noun. Check the summary’s structure.

❌Ignoring word limits – If asked for “ONE WORD,” copying a two-word phrase from the passage will cost marks. Read the instructions carefully.

Top Tips

💡 Practice with a dictionary app – When reading, note common synonyms for academic words (e.g., “increase” → “rise,” “growth,” “surge”). This builds your paraphrasing radar.

💡 Use the ‘key noun’ trick – In a gap, name the noun that fits the context. Then scan for that noun in the passage. It often appears in a different form.

💡 Read the summary backwards – Start from the end of the summary after a gap. This helps you see the logical flow and predict the missing idea better.

Resources

Check out IELTS Active for practice tests and study materials. Their reading modules include targeted exercises for summary completion with timed drills and answer keys.

FAQ

Q: Can I use words that are not in the passage? A: No. The answer must come directly from the passage. Changing words (e.g., “big” to “large”) is not allowed if the original word is “big.” Q: What if the gap is a number or date? A: Numbers and dates are acceptable as long as they appear in the passage. The word limit still applies, but digits count as one unit (e.g., “2020” is one word). Q: How do I handle gaps with multiple options? A: Sometimes several words from the passage could fit. Choose the one that matches the meaning of the summary exactly. Avoid synonyms of your own. Q: Should I read the whole passage first? A: No, it wastes time. Read only the summary and the relevant paragraphs. Skim the passage with the summary’s keywords in mind. Q: What if I can’t find the answer? A: Guess logically. If you have no idea, choose a word that makes sense in context. Never leave a blank. You have a 1 in 3 chance of guessing correctly.

Key Takeaways

✅Paraphrasing is the key skill for summary completion—focus on meaning, not exact words.

✅Use a step-by-step approach: read summary, predict, skim, match, and check grammar.

✅Avoid common pitfalls like scanning for exact words or ignoring word limits.

✅Practice with varied synonyms and sentence structures to build speed and accuracy.

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