IELTS Listening – Task Type 4 – Sentence Completion

Task Description

What are candidates required to do?
Candidates read a set of sentences summarising key information from all the listening text or from one part of it. They have to complete a gap in each sentence using information from the listening text. They usually have to write no more than three words and/or a number.

How are candidates asked to write their answers?
The words should be taken directly from the listening text and written in the space on their Question Paper to be transferred later.

Are candidates penalised for writing more than the stated 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 word(s).

What about contractions, or hyphenated words?
The rules for Short-answer Questions also apply here. Contracted words will not be tested. Hyphenated words count as single words.

Understanding the Task

To see an example of this task type please click on the link below.

Example of Task Type 4

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 4. Complete the task, thinking about how you are doing it.

Sample Task Type 4 Task (PDF)
Recording
Tapescript
Answers

Things to consider

Now look at these questions about how you approached the task and consider your answers.

1. What type of information is summarised in these sentences?
   
   
2. How many words can you write for each answer?
   
   
3. Are the sentences on the Question Paper exactly the same as the sentences you hear in the recording?
   
   
4. Do you have to write down the words in exactly the same form as you hear them?
   
   
5. Do the missing words have to be spelled correctly?
   
   
6. Should the completed sentences be grammatically correct?