🧩 IELTS Reading – Matching Headings to Paragraphs

One of the most common — and most misunderstood — question types in the IELTS Reading test is Matching Headings to Paragraphs. These questions test your ability to understand the main idea of each paragraph, not just individual words. In this article, you'll learn how to approach heading matching with a logical strategy that avoids common traps.

📌 What Does “Matching Headings” Test?

This question type checks whether you can:

• Understand the overall purpose or topic of a paragraph
• Distinguish main ideas from examples or details
• Choose from 5–10 headings, usually more than the number of paragraphs

📋 Sample Question Format

You will see a list of headings (i, ii, iii...) and be asked to match each to a paragraph (A, B, C...).

🧠 Step-by-Step Strategy

✅ 1. Skim the Paragraph First (NOT the Headings)

Read Paragraph A quickly. Focus on the first sentence and any summarizing sentence near the end. Ignore examples, dates, or names — they are distractions.

✅ 2. Identify the Main Idea

Ask: “What is the point of this paragraph? What is the author trying to explain or argue?”

✅ 3. Then Read the Headings

Only after understanding the paragraph, scan the list of headings and eliminate clearly wrong ones.

✅ 4. Match by Theme — Not Keywords

This is critical. Headings often use synonyms or more general phrasing than the paragraph itself.

Example: Paragraph talks about how children improve brain function through sports → Heading: “Cognitive Benefits of Physical Activity.”

✅ 5. Repeat for Each Paragraph

Be systematic. You don’t need to do the headings in order — some will be easier to identify first.

⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

• ❌ Matching based on repeated words, not ideas
• ❌ Reading the headings first (this creates bias)
• ❌ Not noticing when two paragraphs seem similar — look closer at emphasis
• ❌ Forgetting that some headings may not be used

🔍 Practice Tip: Rephrase the Paragraph

Before choosing a heading, say to yourself: “This paragraph is mainly about ____.” That summary will help you identify the correct heading logically.

💡 Headings Vocabulary You’ll See Often

• “The History of...” → chronological paragraph
• “A Criticism of...” → negative evaluation
• “Reasons Why...” → argument-based paragraphs
• “The Role of...” → function or purpose is explained
• “An Unexpected Result of...” → effect paragraph

📝 Final Advice

Matching Headings is not about reading every sentence in detail. Focus on the structure, tone, and purpose of the paragraph. Always choose the most general heading that fits the paragraph — not a specific example.

With consistent practice, you’ll begin to “feel” the structure of IELTS paragraphs more easily and approach these questions with greater confidence.

See also IELTS Reading – Sentence Completion Questions Explained

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