At a glance
| Question type | What it asks | In passage order? | Key tip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Multiple choice | Pick the right option from three or more | Usually | Rule out wrong options with evidence |
| True / False / Not Given | Does the passage agree with a fact? | Yes | False needs a contradiction |
| Yes / No / Not Given | Does the writer agree with a claim? | Yes | Look for the writer’s opinion words |
| Matching information | Which paragraph contains a detail? | No | A paragraph can be used more than once |
| Matching headings | Which heading fits each paragraph? | Paragraphs yes, headings no | Match the main idea, not a keyword |
| Matching features | Match statements to people, dates or places | No | Underline every name in the passage first |
| Matching sentence endings | Complete a sentence from a list of endings | Yes | Check grammar as well as meaning |
| Sentence completion | Fill a gap with words from the passage | Yes | Respect the word limit |
| Summary, note, table, flow-chart completion | Fill gaps in a summary or chart | Usually | Predict the word type before reading |
| Diagram label completion | Label a diagram with words from the text | Usually | Find the part of the text that describes the diagram |
| Short-answer questions | Answer a question in a few words | Yes | Copy words exactly as spelled |
1Read the instructions every time
Instructions change from set to set. "NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER" allows "3 hours" but not "three long hours". "ONE WORD ONLY" means exactly that. Exceeding the limit makes the answer wrong even when the meaning is right.
2Which types to practise first
Start with the types that follow passage order, since they are easier to locate. Then move to True False Not Given and Matching Headings, which cost students the most marks. Leave diagram labelling for last because it appears less often.
Up next
True, False, Not Given
The question type students lose most marks on
Written by the AdmitVerse team. Last reviewed on . AdmitVerse is not affiliated with IELTS, the British Council or IDP. For official rules and test dates, see ielts.org.