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What is Summary Completion in IELTS Reading?

Summary completion is an IELTS reading task where you fill gaps in a passage summary using words from a provided word bank. This task tests your ability to understand key information, locate relevant details, and apply vocabulary in context.

Short answer

Summary completion is a reading task where gaps in a summary must be filled with words from a word bank. It tests comprehension, vocabulary, and scanning skills to match words to their correct context.

Summary Completion Strategy

1
Skim Summary
Scan the summary to identify topics and what each gap requires
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2
Review Word Bank
Look at all available words and identify their parts of speech
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3
Scan Passage
Find the section of text that matches each summary segment
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4
Match Words
Select the correct word based on grammar, meaning and context
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5
Verify
Check that each answer makes sense grammatically and contextually

Step-by-step worked examples

Fill: 'The research took place over ___ months.' Word bank: [three, studied, lasted, period]

Read the summary: 'over ___ months' needs a time period noun.
Review word bank: 'three' is a number, 'studied' is past verb, 'lasted' is past verb, 'period' is a noun.
The context 'over X months' requires a number or duration.
Answer: 'three' fits the grammatical structure.

Fill: 'The company's _____ increased by 40%.' Word bank: [revenue, profitable, income, business]

The gap follows a possessive and needs a noun: 'company's _____ increased'.
'revenue', 'income' and 'business' are all nouns, 'profitable' is an adjective.
Scan the passage for which term appears: typically 'revenue' or 'income' for financial growth.
Answer depends on passage language; both could work — use passage as guide.

Fill: 'A new _____ species was identified in the forest.' Word bank: [previously, unknown, rare, discover]

The gap is between 'new' and 'species' — needs an adjective.
'previously' is an adverb, 'unknown' is an adjective, 'rare' is an adjective, 'discover' is a verb.
Both 'unknown' and 'rare' are adjectives; check passage context.
Answer: 'unknown' emphasizes the discovery of something not previously identified.

Flashcards

Quick quiz

Q1.In summary completion, the words you fill blanks with come from where?

Correct answer: B. Summary completion always includes a specific word bank of words to choose from.

Q2.What part of speech fits: 'The project showed _____ improvement'?

Correct answer: C. Before a noun ('improvement'), you need an adjective to describe it.

Q3.Which strategy is best for summary completion?

Correct answer: B. Understanding the passage context first helps you choose the correct word for each blank.

Q4.If two words seem correct for a blank, what should you do?

Correct answer: C. Careful re-reading of both the passage and summary reveals why one word is the better choice.

📄Download this topic as a printable worksheet (PDF)Summary + 10 questions + answer key — print it, share it in class.↓

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Common mistakes

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Filling gaps without checking the passage. — Correct: Always refer to the passage to verify the context and meaning.

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Using words not in the word bank. — Correct: You can only use words provided in the word bank.

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Ignoring grammar and focusing only on meaning. — Correct: Check both: the word must fit grammatically AND make sense.

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Using the same word twice in one task. — Correct: Each word is typically used once; check instructions for exceptions.

FAQ

What is summary completion in IELTS reading?

A task where you fill gaps in a passage summary using only words from a provided word bank.

How many gaps are in a typical summary completion task?

Usually 5–7 gaps, depending on passage length and difficulty level.

Can you use words from the word bank more than once?

Normally no — each word is used only once unless the instructions specify otherwise.

What's the key strategy for summary completion?

Skim the passage first, understand the summary context, check grammar, then match words carefully.