IELTS Reading Matching Feature
I. DESCRIPTION
Type 1 Type 2
- You see a set of numbered statements. There is - You see a set of numbered features (people's
a box with a set of options (people's names, names, organisations or any other feature in the
organisations or any other feature in the passage). There is a box with a number of
passage) options (a list of features), for example a list of
theories mentioned in the passage.
- You read the passage and match the statements
- You read the passage and match the features
to the options
Basic rules:
- Items in the box (A, B, C) are usually in passage order, but the statements (1,2,3) are in random
order.
- The statements do not use the same words and phrases as the passage because these words have
been paraphrased.
- You should use all the letters in the box
- The letters may be used more than once
II. STRATEGIES
Before you read
Read the list of statements and features and underline keywords.
SKIM the passage. Underline the names of the features where they occur
While you read
SCAN the text for key words / syno and underline when you find them
Read around the key words carefully to analyse and find the information
Mark and number the sections that contain the ideas in the statements (Type 1)
Go through the questions and the section one by one. Look for the underlined features in
this section.
Read the sections carefully to see if the ideas match precisely.
Quickly read the rest of the paragraph / section again to make sure you haven't missed
anything.
Remember in Type 2, you have two sets of features. You need to underline both sets of
features in the passage, and then match them, e.g. the numbered achievements to the
lettered names.
After you read
Remember to write only the correct letter on the answer sheet.
IELTS Reading Summary Completion
I. DESCRIPTION
You see a short summary on the same subject as the long reading passage. The summary usually
includes the main points of information from one section of the passage. You read both the
passage and the summary and complete the gaps in the summary
There are two types:
Summary Completion: You complete the gaps in the summary by writing the required
number of words from the passage in each gap
Summary Completion with a Box: You complete the gaps in the summary by choosing
the correct answer from a box of options (single words or short phrases). There are some
extra words that are not needed.
Basic rules:
- The summary reports the main ideas from the relevant section of the passage, but the
information may not be presented in the same order.
- You can’t find the exact keywords as you identify in the questions because these words
have been paraphrased in the passage
- When you read the passage, you sometimes see the words from the box, but sometimes
the words are different from those used in the passage because the summary is reporting
the main ideas using different language.
- The summary usually relates to one section of the passage, but may also report the
meaning of the whole passage.
II. STRATEGIES
Before you read
SKIM the passage
Read the summary and underline the main words and ideas.
While you read
Note any GRAMMATICAL CLUES that help you decide what kind of words is needed
to complete the gaps or find the answer
Identify TYPES OF INFORMATION for each blank (e.g. Plural/ single noun, Adjective,
Adverb, number, name, time...)
Read the passage and find the main words and ideas you underlined in the summary.
Go through the summary, gap by gap, and read the relevant sections of the passage
Some words from the box will fit each gap logically and grammatically. Choose the one
that reports the meaning of the passage exactly.
Don't just choose the first word you find that fits the gap - keep reading and thinking
about the meaning.
Remember that sometimes the answer may have a different form to the way it is used in
the passage.
After you read
Re-read and check the meaning / grammar of the answers in the summary carefully
