Summary completion questions in IELTS reading are among the more challenging tasks. These typically appear in Section 3, though they may occasionally occur in Section 2. The question presents a summarized paragraph, either reflecting the entire passage or a specific section, rewritten using paraphrasing techniques and alternative vocabulary. This complexity often requires significant time to interpret accurately.
There are two variations of summary completion questions: one provides answer options (frequently synonyms) below the summary, while the other offers no choices. For the first type, candidates must not only locate relevant terms in the text but also match them to synonymous alternatives in the options. The second type demands direct extraction of answers from the passage while adhering to specified word limits.
Thorough Question Analysis for Contextual Linking
Prioritizing comprehension of the summary’s content remains crucial before attempting answers. The paraphrased nature of the summary can obscure its connection to specific passage sections, making initial interpretation vital for success.
Identifying Key Terms Through Highlighting
While summary sentences rephrase passage content, certain keywords—either identical or thematically related—often persist. These terms help locate corresponding paragraphs in the original text. Underlining such keywords assists in efficiently tracing relevant sections.
Grammatical Consistency in Answer Selection
For questions with provided options, grammatical analysis proves beneficial. Nouns, verbs, or plural forms required in blanks allow elimination of incompatible choices. Additionally, passive voice structures in summaries may contrast with active voice in passages, necessitating verb-form adjustments for accuracy.
Strategic Option Narrowing
When multiple options exist, initially shortlisting plausible candidates based on contextual clues improves efficiency. For instance, reducing ten options to two likely choices allows focused reevaluation of both the passage and question statement. Prioritizing answers with higher contextual relevance enhances selection accuracy.
Sequential Answer Alignment
Answers in summary completion questions generally follow the passage’s information order. The structured flow of the summary mirrors the original text’s progression, enabling systematic tracking of responses through the passage.
Practice summary completion questions here: Summary, form completion (mini-ielts.com)
