IELTS ACADEMIC READING

IELTS Reading summary completion: how to answer, with practice questions

Summary completion gives you a paraphrased summary of part of the passage with gaps. You fill each gap with words from the passage or choose from a box of options, depending on the instructions.

Complete a summary of part of the passage, either with words from the text or from a box of options. The summary paraphrases the passage, so look for the same ideas in different words.

80 practice questions of this type in the full bank.

Try 3 free sample questions

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How to answer

  1. Check the instructions: the word limit (for example NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS) or whether you choose from a box.
  2. Read the summary through and predict the type of word for each gap: a noun, a number, an adjective or a verb.
  3. Find the part of the passage the summary covers; the gaps usually follow the order of the text.
  4. Fill each gap and reread the sentence: it must be grammatical and mean the same as the passage.

Common mistakes

  • Going over the word limit. An answer with too many words is marked wrong even if the idea is right.
  • Copying a word that fits the meaning but not the grammar, such as a singular noun where a plural is needed.
  • With a box of options, choosing a word because it appears in the passage; the correct option is often a synonym.

One practice question with the answer

Read the passage, decide your answer, then open the explanation. Each question is from the examplat bank, written in the same format as the test.

Read the passage

Most research on plastic pollution has focused on the oceans, but scientists are increasingly concerned about plastic in farmland. Tiny fragments, known as microplastics, reach fields from several sources. Thin plastic sheets laid over crops to keep in moisture break down in sunlight and are difficult to remove completely after harvest. Sewage sludge, which is spread on land as fertiliser in many countries, contains fibres washed from synthetic clothing. Once in the soil, microplastics can change its structure. Some studies have found that fragments make soil looser and allow it to dry out faster, while others report little effect; the outcome seems to depend on the shape and type of plastic. Earthworms that swallow particles have been observed to grow more slowly, which is a concern because their burrowing helps air and water move through the soil. Measuring the problem is difficult. Unlike seawater, soil contains a great deal of organic matter, which must be removed before plastic particles can be counted, and standard methods have not yet been agreed. As a result, estimates of the amount of plastic in farmland vary widely between studies, and researchers say comparisons should be made with caution.

Complete the summary using the list of words, A–F, below. Choose the correct letter. Microplastics reach farmland partly through sewage sludge, which is used as (1) ______ and contains fibres from synthetic (2) ______. Some studies report that plastic fragments make soil (3) ______, so that it dries out more quickly. Comparing estimates is difficult, partly because researchers have not agreed on standard (4) ______. Question: What goes in gap (3)?

  1. A fertiliser
  2. B clothing
  3. C looser
  4. D heavier
  5. E organic matter
  6. F methods
Show the answer and explanation

C (looser) is correct. 'Some studies have found that fragments make soil looser and allow it to dry out faster'.

  1. Incorrect. 'Make soil fertiliser' is ungrammatical; an adjective is needed after 'make soil'.
  2. Incorrect. Clothing is a noun and cannot describe the soil's state.
  3. Correct. 'Make soil looser, so that it dries out more quickly' matches 'make soil looser and allow it to dry out faster'.
  4. Incorrect. 'Heavier' is the right part of speech but is not what the passage reports, and heavier soil would not logically dry out faster.
  5. Incorrect. Organic matter is a noun and is discussed only in relation to measurement.
  6. Incorrect. Methods is a noun and is unrelated to soil structure.

Tip: When two options have the right grammar (looser / heavier), the passage decides. Never choose on general knowledge.

That's the free sample. The rest of the questions are available with a paid plan.

That's the free sample. The rest is available with a plan.

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FAQ

Do I have to use words exactly as they appear in the passage?

When the instructions say to choose words from the passage, copy them exactly, with correct spelling. When there is a box of options, choose from the box.

Does a hyphenated word count as one word?

A hyphenated word is usually counted as one word, and numbers can be written as figures. Check the word limit in the instructions.

IELTS is a registered trademark of the British Council, IELTS Australia and Cambridge University Press & Assessment. examplat is an unofficial question bank written by Sakakikaen Co., Ltd. and is not affiliated with or endorsed by them. Back to IELTS Reading practice.