What is Sentence Completion in IELTS Reading?
Sentence completion is an IELTS reading task where incomplete sentences are given, and you fill in the blanks using words or phrases directly from the passage. This tests your ability to locate relevant information and understand context.
In sentence completion, you read incomplete statements and find the exact words from the text that complete them correctly. Accuracy and finding the precise context are essential.
Step-by-step worked examples
Incomplete: 'The temperature rise has caused _____ in polar regions.' Passage: 'Global warming has resulted in rapid melting of glaciers in polar regions.' Fill the blank.
Identify the context: cause of temperature rise effects Look for words after 'caused' in similar sentences Found: 'resulted in rapid melting of glaciers' Answer: rapid melting of glaciers
Incomplete: 'Successful athletes train for _____ hours daily.' Passage: 'Elite athletes often dedicate 6 to 8 hours each day to rigorous training regimens.' Complete the sentence.
Identify the blank: how many hours? Scan for duration information: found '6 to 8 hours' Answer: 6 to 8 hours
Incomplete: 'The new policy aims to reduce _____ by 50%.' Passage: 'The initiative targets a 50% reduction in carbon emissions within five years.' Fill the blank.
Find what is being reduced by 50% From passage: 'carbon emissions' Answer: carbon emissions
Flashcards
Quick quiz
Q1.Incomplete: 'Coffee sales have increased by _____ over the last decade.' Passage: 'The global coffee market has expanded by 35% in the past ten years.' Answer?
Q2.What is the most important rule for sentence completion?
Q3.Incomplete: 'Dolphins are known for their _____ abilities.' Passage: 'Dolphins are renowned for their exceptional intelligence and complex communication skills.' What completes it?
Q4.How should you handle a word limit instruction (e.g., 'NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS')?
The full card deck, worked steps and AI-tutor support for “What is Sentence Completion in IELTS Reading?” are in Notek — study by hand before your exam.
Common mistakes
Writing your own paraphrased answer instead of copying from the text. — Correct: Always extract the exact words or phrases directly from the passage.
Not checking the word limit instruction (e.g., 'two words max'). — Correct: Always count words and respect the maximum specified in the question.
Using grammar adjustments (e.g., changing verb tense or plurals). — Correct: Copy the exact form from the passage; grammatical changes make answers incorrect.
Picking words that are close but don't exactly match the context. — Correct: Find the precise phrase in the passage that fits both grammatically and semantically.
FAQ
Can I paraphrase the answer?
No — you must use exact words or phrases from the passage. Paraphrasing will be marked incorrect.
What if the passage has multiple possible answers?
Choose the phrase that fits best contextually and respects any word limits. Re-read the full sentence for clarity.
How do I locate the answer in the passage quickly?
Identify keywords in the incomplete sentence, then scan the passage for those keywords or synonyms in the same context.
Sentence completion scoring: how many marks per question?
Typically 1 mark per correct answer (no partial credit). Accuracy and exact wording are essential.