8 question types in IELTS reading and ways to answer them

Knowing question types and dealing them is an important skill in IELTS reading. Similarly
following instructions is another key part in reading module. Being familiar to these skills in
advance contributes a lot to your reading score.
QUESTION TYPES
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

Matching
Multiple choice question
Short-answer questions
Sentence completion
Chart/Table completion
True/False/Not Given question
Gap-fill
Diagram labelling

Matching
What you need to know :

There is a list of headings, your job is to choose the most suitable heading for every paragraph of
the text.
Usual instructions :

Choose the most suitable heading for each paragraph from the list of headings below.
Multiple choice questions
What you need to know :

There is a question and a number of answers (three, four or five), your job is to pick the right one
(sometimes more than just one).
Usual instructions :

Choose the appropriate letter.

Short-answer question
What you need to know :

Answer in 3 words, as the instructions say

Usual instructions :

Using NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS answer the following questions.

Sentence completion
What you need to know :

Complete a sentence according to what you read

Usual instructions :

Complete the sentences below with words taken from the reading passage. Use NO MORE
THAN THREE WORDS for each answer.
Chart/Table completion
What you need to know :

A table with some blank cells is given; your job is to fill them according to the passage you read.
Usual instructions :

Complete the table/chart below using information from the Reading Passage. Use NO MORE
THAN THREE WORDS for each answer.
True/False/Not Given question
What you need to know :

There is a statement, which can be correct, incorrect or Not mentioned in the passage; you need
to decide according to what you read
Usual instructions :

Read the passage and look at the statements below. Write TRUE if the statement is true, FALSE
if the statement is false and No Given if the information is not given in the passage.
Gap-fill
What you need to know :

There are several sentences with missing words, you should pick the correct word and fill it in
the gap. Choose from the list (if there is one), or from the text.
Usual instructions :

complete the summary below (chose your answers from the box at the bottom of the page)
Diagram labelling
What you need to know :

Write description in 1 to 3 words for different parts of a drawing according to what you read
Usual instructions :

Labelling the diagram below. Use NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from passage for each
answers.