📝 IELTS Reading – Sentence Completion Questions Explained

Sentence Completion questions are common in the IELTS Reading section and require you to fill in missing words using information from the passage. To answer them correctly, you need strong scanning skills, grammar awareness, and attention to word limits. This guide shows you exactly how to approach these questions for both Academic and General Training tests.

📌 What Are Sentence Completion Questions?

You are given incomplete sentences and must choose words directly from the passage to complete them. These questions test:

• Your ability to find specific information quickly
• Your understanding of grammar and sentence structure
• Your attention to instructions (especially word limits)

🧠 Key Rules

• Answers must be taken from the text only
• They must be grammatically correct in the sentence
• You must follow the word limit strictly (e.g., "NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS")

📋 Sample Instruction Types

• "Write NO MORE THAN ONE WORD"
• "Write ONE WORD ONLY"
• "Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER"

✅ Step-by-Step Strategy

1. Read the Instructions Carefully

If it says “NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS,” writing three will score zero — even if the answer is correct in meaning.

2. Analyze the Sentence

Before you look at the text, try to predict the type of word that fits the gap — noun, verb, number, date, etc.

3. Scan the Text for Keywords

Look for synonyms and paraphrases of the sentence — IELTS rarely uses the exact words. Use names, numbers, and adjectives as anchors.

4. Check for Grammatical Accuracy

Does your answer fit grammatically and logically into the sentence? Read it again after inserting your answer.

🔍 Example

Sentence: In the early 20th century, the ________ of the disease increased due to poor sanitation.

Passage: "In the early 1900s, the spread of the illness accelerated, largely as a result of unsanitary living conditions."

Correct Answer: spread (Matches meaning and grammar)

⚠️ Common Mistakes

• ❌ Using your own words instead of words from the passage
• ❌ Going over the word limit
• ❌ Not checking grammar after filling the blank
• ❌ Including unnecessary articles or prepositions

💡 Tips for Success

• ✔️ Always underline keywords in the question first
• ✔️ Be aware of sentence connectors like "however," "as a result," "therefore" — they signal contrast or cause
• ✔️ Use scanning (for location) and skimming (for understanding) together
• ✔️ Review wrong answers from practice tests to understand your patterns

🧪 Practice Activity

Take 3–4 IELTS articles and remove random words to create your own sentence completion exercises. This reinforces prediction, vocabulary recognition, and structure matching.

🎯 Final Advice

Sentence Completion may look simple — but it demands a mix of reading speed, grammar sense, and accuracy. Stick closely to the instructions and text, and use logic when predicting the answer. With regular timed practice, you'll find this question type becomes easier and faster to complete.