IELTS Reading: Note, Sentence and Summary Completion

Introduction

Imagine this—you’re watching your favourite crime show, and the detective is just about to reveal the murderer. But instead of saying, "The culprit is…!", they just go silent. You’re left shouting at the screen, trying to fill in the blank yourself. Annoying, right?

Well, welcome to Note Completion, Sentence Completion, and Summary Completion in the IELTS Reading test! Unlike that crime show, there is a correct answer waiting to be discovered—you just have to find it. These tasks are all about spotting the missing pieces and inserting the right words, kind of like being an IELTS detective (minus the trench coat and magnifying glass, unfortunately).

Why Do These Question Types Matter?

Think of it as life training. Ever filled out a form at the airport, guessed song lyrics when you forgot the words, or tried to complete your best friend's sentences? That's real-world completion practice right there! The IELTS just takes it up a notch—except instead of guessing the next line of your favourite song, you’ll be identifying the perfect word to complete a sentence in an academic passage.

The good news? You don’t need psychic powers—just a few smart strategies and a sharp eye for details. Ready to crack the case of the missing words? Let’s dive in!

What is Note Completion?

Note Completion is a common question type in the IELTS Reading section, where you are given incomplete notes based on a passage. Your task is to fill in the missing words using information from the text. The answers must match the word limit specified in the instructions.

This type of question tests your ability to locate specific details in a passage quickly and understand how information is structured.

Example of Note Completion

Passage Excerpt:
"The Amazon rainforest, often called the 'lungs of the Earth,' produces around 20% of the world’s oxygen. It is home to an estimated 10 million species of plants and animals. However, deforestation has led to a significant loss of biodiversity, with nearly 17% of the forest disappearing in the last 50 years."

Question: (Complete the notes below using NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS.)

The Amazon rainforest:

• Produces ______ of the world’s oxygen
• Home to ______ species of plants and animals
• Has lost ______ of its area due to deforestation

Solution

1. Produces 20% of the world’s oxygen
2. Home to 10 million species of plants and animals
3. Has lost 17% of its area due to deforestation

How to Solve Note Completion Questions

Step 1: Read the Instructions Carefully

Step 2: Skim the Notes First

Step 3: Scan the Passage for Keywords: Look for numbers, dates, and key terms

Step 4: Check for Synonyms and Paraphrasing

Step 5: Confirm Grammar and Meaning

What is Sentence Completion?

Sentence Completion is a type of question in the IELTS Reading section where you need to complete an incomplete sentence using words from the passage. The key challenge is to ensure that your answer fits grammatically and contextually while adhering to the word limit given in the instructions.

Example of Sentence Completion

Passage Excerpt:
"The Great Wall of China was built to protect the Chinese empire from invasions. The construction began in the 7th century BC and continued for several dynasties. Today, it stands as one of the most famous historical structures in the world."

Question: (Complete the sentence below using NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS.)

The Great Wall of China was originally built to prevent ______.

Solution:

• invasions

How to Solve Sentence Completion Questions

✔ Step 1: Read the Instructions Carefully

✔ Step 2: Skim the Sentences Before Reading the Passage

✔ Step 3: Scan for Keywords in the Passage

✔ Step 4: Ensure Correct Grammar and Meaning

What is Summary Completion?

Summary Completion questions require you to fill in the blanks in a short summary of a passage using words from the text. This tests your ability to recognize key ideas and find paraphrased information in the reading passage.

Example of Summary Completion

Passage Excerpt:
"A balanced diet is essential for good health. It should include a variety of nutrients such as proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals. People who consume too much junk food may suffer from obesity and other health issues."

Question: (Complete the summary below using NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS.)

A ______ diet is necessary to maintain health, consisting of important nutrients like ______ and vitamins. However, excessive consumption of ______ can lead to serious health problems.

Solution:

1. balanced
2. proteins
3. junk food

How to Solve Summary Completion Questions

Step 1: Read the Summary Before the Passage

Step 2: Scan the Passage for Keywords and Synonyms

Step 3: Choose the Correct Word(s) from the Passage

Step 4: Verify Meaning and Spelling

Common Pitfalls & How to Overcome

Note Completion Exercises

Exercise 1:

Passage Excerpt:

"The Amazon rainforest, often referred to as the planet's lungs, produces approximately 20% of the world's oxygen. It spans over 5.5 million square kilometers and is home to an estimated 390 billion individual trees divided into 16,000 species. However, deforestation poses a significant threat, with nearly 17% of the forest lost in the past five decades."

Questions:

1. The Amazon rainforest is known as the planet's ______.
2. It covers over ______ square kilometers.
3. It contains about ______ trees.
4. Deforestation has resulted in a ______ loss over the last 50 years.

Exercise 2:

Passage Excerpt:

"Regular physical activity has numerous health benefits. It can help control weight, reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease and diabetes, and improve mental health by reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety."

Questions:

1. Engaging in regular exercise can assist in ______.
2. Physical activity lowers the chance of developing ______.
3. Mental health benefits of exercise include reducing ______.

Exercise 3:

Passage Excerpt:

"The Great Wall of China was built to protect the Chinese empire from invasions. The construction began in the 7th century BC and continued for several dynasties. Today, it stands as one of the most famous historical structures in the world."

Questions:

1. The primary purpose of the Great Wall was to prevent ______.
2. Its construction started in the ______ century BC.
3. The Great Wall is now considered a significant ______ structure.

Sentence Completion Exercises

Exercise 1:

Passage Excerpt:

"Photosynthesis is the process by which green plants and some other organisms use sunlight to synthesize foods with the help of chlorophyll. This process converts carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen, providing energy for the plant."

Questions:

1. Photosynthesis uses sunlight and ______ to create food.
2. The process produces ______ as a by-product.
3. Chlorophyll is essential for ______.

Exercise 2:

Passage Excerpt:

"Marie Curie was a pioneering physicist and chemist who conducted ground breaking research on radioactivity. She was the first woman to win a Nobel Prize and remains the only person to have won Nobel Prizes in two different scientific fields."

Questions:

1. Marie Curie conducted significant research on ______.
2. She was the first woman to receive a ______.
3. Curie uniquely won Nobel Prizes in two separate ______.

Exercise 3:

Passage Excerpt:

"The invention of the printing press by Johannes Gutenberg in the 15th century revolutionized the spread of information. It allowed for mass production of books, making literature more accessible and fostering an increase in literacy rates."

Questions:

1. Gutenberg's printing press enabled the mass production of ______.
2. This invention made literature more ______.
3. As a result, ______ rates increased.

Summary Completion Exercises

Exercise 1:

Passage Excerpt:

"Renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind power, are essential in combating climate change. They provide sustainable alternatives to fossil fuels, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and dependence on non-renewable resources. Investing in renewable energy not only benefits the environment but also creates economic opportunities and jobs."

Questions:

Renewable energy sources, including solar and wind power, are crucial for addressing ______. They offer sustainable options that decrease ______ and reliance on finite resources. Moreover, investing in renewable energy leads to economic growth and ______.

Exercise 2:

Passage Excerpt:

"A balanced diet is essential for good health. It should include a variety of nutrients such as proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals. People who consume too much junk food may suffer from obesity and other health issues."

Questions:

A ______ diet is necessary to maintain health, consisting of important nutrients like ______ and vitamins. However, excessive consumption of ______ can lead to serious health problems.

Exercise 3:

Passage Excerpt:

"The Industrial Revolution, which began in the late 18th century, marked a significant turning point in history. It led to the development of new manufacturing processes, urbanization, and changes in living conditions. While it brought about economic growth, it also resulted in challenging working environments."

Questions:

The ______ Revolution initiated new manufacturing processes and spurred ______. Despite economic growth, it led to difficult ______ conditions.

Note Completion Answers

Exercise 1:

1. lungs
2. 5.5 million
3. 390 billion
4. 17%

Exercise 2:

1. control weight
2. chronic diseases
3. symptoms of depression and anxiety

Exercise 3:

1. invasions
2. 7th
3. historical

Sentence Completion Answers

Exercise 1:

1. chlorophyll
2. oxygen
3. photosynthesis

Exercise 2:

1. radioactivity
2. Nobel Prize
3. scientific fields

Exercise 3:

1. books
2. accessible
3. literacy

Summary Completion Answers

Exercise 1:

1. climate change
2. greenhouse gas emissions
3. jobs

Exercise 2:

1. balanced
2. proteins
3. junk food

Exercise 3:

1. Industrial
2. urbanization
3. working

Conclusion

Congrats, you’ve made it to the end of the guide! Now, armed with all these note, sentence, and summary completion tips and tricks, you're ready to tackle the IELTS Reading section like a pro.

Remember, the key is practice and patience (though we’d recommend plenty of coffee too). With a little bit of dedication, you'll soon find yourself breezing through those tricky questions, confidently filling in those blanks like a word-filling wizard.

So, take a deep breath, grab your materials, and turn those practice exercises into victories. Because, as they say, a journey of a thousand words begins with one blank space... (okay, we just made that up, but it sounds good, right?).

Keep calm, keep practicing, and soon enough, you’ll be laughing in the face of note, sentence, and summary completions.