IELTS Academic Reading – Task Type 6 – Choosing Headings for Paragraphs or Sections of a Text
Task Description
What are candidates required to do?
In this task type, candidates are given a list of headings, usually identified with lower-case Roman numerals (i, ii, iii etc). A heading will refer to the main idea of the paragraph or section and candidates must match the heading against paragraphs or sections of the text which are marked alphabetically. They are asked to write the appropriate Roman numerals in the boxes on their answer sheets.
Are there the same number of headings as there are paragraphs or sections to be matched with them?
There will always be more headings than there are paragraphs or sections, so that some headings will not be used. It is also possible that some paragraphs or sections may not be included in the task. One or more paragraphs or sections may already be matched with a heading as an example for candidates.
What text type is used in this task?
It is used with passages that contain paragraphs or sections with clearly defined themes.
Understanding the Task
To see an example of this task type please click on the link below
To understand better how candidates need to approach this task, it may help you to do the task yourself and analyse what you had to do to find the right answer.
Look at this Sample Task Type 6. Complete the task, thinking about how you are doing it.
Sample
Task Type 6 Task (PDF)
Answers
Things to consider
Now look at these questions about how you approached the task and consider your answers.
- Did you read the whole passage carefully before beginning?
- How should you attempt the task?
- Did you scan the passage for words contained in each heading?
- Did you find any part of a paragraph especially useful in answering?
- What skills are being tested in this task type?
