Sentence & Summary Completion

Sentence completion and summary completion are two closely related question types in the IELTS Academic Reading test. Both require you to fill in gaps using words directly from the passage (or, in some cases, from a provided list). These questions test your ability to find specific information and express it within a grammatical constraint.

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Sentence Completion

How It Works

You are given incomplete sentences that paraphrase information from the passage. You must complete each sentence using words from the passage, within a specified word limit.

Example
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Complete the sentences below.
Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer.

1  The earliest known maps were created by the ____________.
2  Ptolemy's maps were based on a system of ____________.
3  During the Middle Ages, maps served primarily as ____________.

Key Rules

1. Word limit: The instruction specifies the maximum (e.g., "NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS" or "NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER"). Exceeding this limit means a wrong answer.
2. Words from the passage: Your answer must use the exact words as they appear in the passage. Do not paraphrase or rephrase.
3. Grammar: Your answer must complete the sentence grammatically. This is a helpful check — if your answer does not make grammatical sense, it is probably wrong.
4. Order: Sentence completion questions generally follow the passage order.

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Summary Completion

How It Works

You are given a summary of part or all of the passage with gaps. You must fill each gap using either:

• Words from the passage (within a specified word limit), or
• Words from a provided list (selected from options A–L or similar)

Example (words from passage)
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Complete the summary below.
Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer.

Early cartography was driven by practical needs. The
Babylonians created maps to record ___1___ , while
the Greeks developed a more ___2___ approach using
mathematics and astronomy. Ptolemy's work, which
included a system of ___3___ , remained influential
for over a thousand years.

Example (from a list)
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Complete the summary below.
Choose the correct letter, A–H, from the list.

A  mathematical     B  artistic       C  land ownership
D  latitude         E  political      F  religious
G  longitude        H  navigation

Early cartography was driven by practical needs. The
Babylonians created maps to record ___1___ , while the
Greeks developed a more ___2___ approach. Ptolemy's
system of ___3___ and longitude shaped mapmaking for
centuries.

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Strategy for Sentence Completion

Step 1: Read the Incomplete Sentence

Read the sentence and identify:

• The topic of the sentence
• The grammatical requirements of the gap (noun? adjective? verb?)
• Keywords that will help you locate the relevant section of the passage

Step 2: Locate the Relevant Section

Use scanning to find the part of the passage that contains the same information. Remember that the sentences are likely paraphrased — look for synonyms of the keywords.

Step 3: Read the Relevant Section Carefully

Once you find the section, read 2–3 sentences around it to understand the full context.

Step 4: Select Your Answer

Choose the exact words from the passage that:

1. Complete the sentence grammatically
2. Match the meaning of the original passage
3. Stay within the word limit

Step 5: Double-Check

Read the complete sentence with your answer inserted. Does it make grammatical sense? Does it accurately reflect the passage?

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Strategy for Summary Completion

Step 1: Read the Entire Summary First

Before filling any gaps, read the whole summary to understand its overall topic and structure. This gives you context for each individual gap.

Step 2: Identify Which Part of the Passage the Summary Covers

The summary usually covers a specific section of the passage (e.g., paragraphs 3–5), not the entire text. Identifying this section saves time.

Step 3: Work Through Gaps in Order

For each gap:

1. Read the sentence containing the gap
2. Determine the grammatical requirement (noun, verb, adjective, etc.)
3. Use the surrounding context in the summary and the passage to find the answer

Step 4: Use Grammar as a Filter

If the gap requires a noun (e.g., "the researchers discovered a new ___"), then your answer must be a noun. This immediately eliminates many options.

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Common Traps