IELTS Academic Reading – Task Type 3 – Sentence Completion
Task Description
What are candidates required to do?
There are two variations of this task type.
- Type A: candidates are asked to complete the sentence in a given number of words taken from the passage.
- Type B: candidates are given the first half of a sentence based on the text and asked to complete it from a list of possible options.
In Type A candidates will be told in the instructions the maximum number of words that they can use to complete the sentence. The instructions for this type usually state ‘NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER’, but sometimes candidates may be asked to write ‘ONE WORD’, or NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS. Numbers can be written as figures or words.
In Type B candidates will have to choose the best option from a list. Candidates will have more options to choose from than there are questions.
What text type is used with this task type?
It may be used with any text type.
How are candidates asked to write their answers?
Where candidates are required to supply the words to complete the sentence, the words should be taken directly from the passage and written in the space on their answer sheet as they work through the questions. When choosing an answer from a list of possible answers, candidates should write the letter of their chosen answer on the answer sheet.
Are candidates penalised for writing more than the required number of words?
Yes. If candidates write more than the number of words asked for, they will lose the mark even if their answer includes the correct words.
What about contractions, or hyphenated words?
The rules relating to Short-answer Questions also apply here. Contracted words will not be tested. Hyphenated words count as single words.
Understanding the Task
To see examples of this task type please click on the link below
Things to consider
- How would you go about locating the answers?
- When you begin the second question, would you scan from the beginning of the passage?
- Is the structure of the sentence halves useful in joining them together?
- What skills are being tested in this task type?
