Matching sentence endings is a less common type of question that you can come across in the Reading section of IELTS Academic. Such tasks as matching features, matching headings, true or false questions, multiple-choice come up more often, but that does not mean you needn’t know how to complete this task. It also requires applying a certain strategy and knowing some tips. So, we are going to provide you with some useful tips and tricks to help you get a higher score.
Looking at the task
This type of task requires the candidates to complete the sentences, but they often despise this type of question because they see that there are a lot of options and these options are quite long.
So, what does the task look like? Usually, you will see two lists in the task: a list of sentences that you have to complete and a list of possible sentence endings to choose from. For example:
You have to match the items from the lists together based on reading the passage. If you look at the task above, you will notice that there are more options than sentences. This means that you will have to read the text, find the corresponding information, and choose the correct answer.
It’s a common misconception that this type of reading task can be answered without actually reading the passage. This type of task does not check whether you know how to combine sentences. What it tests is if you are able to understand how the ideas in the sentences are connected to the ideas in the reading passage.
To complete this task successfully you will need to scan the passage, notice various grammatical structures, spot paraphrased sentences and recognize synonyms, and be able to make predictions based on the particular context.
Once again, if you try doing the task without reading the passage, you are likely to fail it. Follow the suggested steps to know how to approach this task.
READ ABOUT: How to do matching tasks in IELTS Listening
Steps to be followed
The way we suggest answering the matching sentence endings questions is the most effective. Try and check if it works for you.
Step 1. Read the passage quickly.
Scanning the text is important because it gives you a general idea, and you can also see how it is organised.
Step 2. Underline the keywords in the sentences.
After reading the passage, go to the list of incomplete sentences, and highlight the most important words in them. By doing so you will concentrate on the meaning of the sentence and will be able to find the right words when you will be scanning the text later on. Remember, you won’t be looking for the exact words in the text, instead, you will have to find synonyms and paraphrasing.
Step 3. Make predictions and check them by reading the passage.
As you read the sentences try to think about what can be the endings. Next, read the endings and make any possible matches. Focus on meaning and grammatical connection between sentence halves. For example, this can be tense forms, number of verbs, gerunds, or infinitives that go after particular verbs, collocations, etc.
After that, read the text to find the information about each question in the passage. Check your predictions. Choose the best answer.
Step 4. Read the complete sentence.
As you match the beginning of each sentence to the correct ending, read the sentence again. Does it have correct grammar? Does it make sense? If so, you have completed the task.
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READ ABOUT: How to deal with unexpected questions in the IELTS Speaking test
General tips
- Remember that questions follow the order of the text. Once you have found the first answer, the rest will come in order in the passage you are reading.
- All options will appear in the text but not all will match one of the incomplete sentences. They are distractors. And they are here to check if you really understand the main idea of the passage and the sentences.
- When underlining the keywords, pay attention to the name and dates. They will help you locate the answers in the reading passage.
- Grammar is important. The grammatical structure of the sentence once you complete it has to be correct. If it is not, you have probably made a mistake.
- Meaning is important. Look for synonyms and paraphrasing not the exact words in the text.
- Make sure you read far enough in the text to cover everything in the question.
Go to our course where we provide a detailed explanation of this strategy and more examples based on real exam tasks. You will also practise doing this and other types of IELTS Reading tasks, get instant feedback from our IELTS experts and improve not only reading but other skills for the IELTS exam. Our course is designed for those who want to learn IELTS essentials, practise anytime from anywhere, as much as possible, receive valuable feedback, and build confidence. Besides the ongoing support, you will take full mock Speaking and Writing tests with detailed feedback to feel the taste of a real exam.
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