Sentence completion questions in IELTS Reading require you to complete a partial sentence by filling in words taken directly from the passage (word limit typically 'no more than two/three words'). Unlike T/F/NG, where you interpret meaning, sentence completion tests your ability to locate and extract specific language from the text. This guide provides the scan-verify-check method for high accuracy.
1The Scan-Verify-Check Method
Step 1 — Scan: Identify 1–2 keywords from the incomplete sentence (not words from the passage — words that are specific enough to scan for, such as proper nouns, numbers, or distinctive content words). Scan the passage rapidly for those keywords. Step 2 — Verify: When you find the relevant section, read 2–3 sentences around it carefully. Confirm this is the correct location by matching the overall meaning to the incomplete sentence. Step 3 — Check: Extract the answer and verify: (a) it fits grammatically in the sentence, (b) it is within the word limit, and (c) it uses the exact words from the passage — not synonyms or paraphrases.
2Grammatical Compatibility
The answer must complete the sentence grammatically. This is a free precision check: (1) After 'the', expect a noun or adjective+noun. (2) After 'to', expect an infinitive verb or noun (e.g. 'to improve outcomes'). (3) After a modal verb, expect a base-form verb ('could reduce'). (4) After a comparative ('more'), expect a noun or adjective. (5) The answer must match the number (singular/plural) of the surrounding sentence. Using grammatical compatibility as a filter eliminates many wrong answers immediately — if the extracted phrase from the passage does not fit grammatically, look again.
3Paraphrase Recognition
The sentence you are completing paraphrases the relevant passage text — it uses synonyms and different sentence structure. Your task is to recognise this paraphrase and locate the source. Practise by identifying paraphrase pairs: 'made the situation worse' in the question = 'exacerbated the problem' in the passage. 'Studies show' = 'research demonstrates'. 'Started' = 'commenced' / 'initiated' / 'began'. The more synonym pairs you know, the faster you can match question sentences to passage locations. Maintain a paraphrase vocabulary log during practice sessions.
4Word Count Discipline
Word limit compliance is mandatory. Always recount your answer before writing it in the answer sheet. Remember: hyphenated words ('well-being', 'decision-making') count as one word. Numbers ('2.5 million') count as one word. Contracted forms ('don't', 'it's') count as one word. If your extracted phrase is one word over the limit, identify whether the extra word is an article, preposition, or adjective that can be omitted without changing the meaning. If removing a word changes the meaning — look for a shorter phrase in the passage that conveys the same information.
🎯 Key Takeaway
Sentence completion is one of the most reliable question types to score well on because the answer is literally in the passage — you just need to find it. The scan-verify-check method, combined with grammatical checking, makes errors rare. Practise until this method feels automatic under timed conditions.