What Is a Sentence Completion Question?

In this question type, you are given incomplete sentences and must fill in the missing words using information from the passage.

You may see two variations:

With a word limit (e.g., “No more than two words and/or a number”)
With no word list, so you must scan and write the correct word(s)

Each answer must be exactly as it appears in the passage.

What Is the Examiner Testing?

The examiner wants to assess whether you can:

Understand key information in context
Accurately locate and extract details from the text
Use grammar awareness to complete a sentence correctly
Follow instructions like word limits

Common Mistakes Students Make

Ignoring the word limit (e.g. writing three words when “two” is allowed)
Changing the form of the word (e.g. “educating” instead of “education”)
Using their own words, not from the passage
Matching keywords without checking the whole sentence meaning
Writing more than one possible answer (only one is accepted)

Step-by-Step Strategy

Step 1: Read the Instructions Carefully
- Check the word limit. If it says “No more than TWO words,” and you write three — it’s wrong, even if correct in meaning.
Step 2: Read All Sentences and Predict
- Before you search the passage, try to guess what type of word is missing:
  - A noun?
  - A number?
  - A place?
  - A verb?
- This improves your scanning speed.
Step 3: Use Keywords to Locate the Answer
- Use the known part of the sentence to locate the matching section in the passage.
- Remember: synonyms and paraphrasing are common.
Step 4: Confirm Meaning + Grammar Fit
- Even if the word fits grammatically, check if it matches meaning. And vice versa.
Step 5: Copy the Answer Exactly from the Text
- Don’t change the form, and double-check your spelling.

Cambridge-Style Example with Explanation

Passage Excerpt:

The Great Fire of London began in 1666 in a bakery on Pudding Lane. Due to dry weather and wooden buildings, the fire spread rapidly, destroying thousands of homes. Surprisingly, few lives were lost.

1. The fire started in a

2. Most of the buildings in London were made of

3. A surprisingly small number of occurred

Show Answer

Answers:

bakery
wood or wooden
deaths

Why?

“Bakery” appears directly in the passage.
“Wooden buildings” → correct form depends on sentence structure.
“Few lives were lost” = paraphrased as “small number of deaths.”

Band 5 vs Band 8 Thinking

Band 5 Learner	Band 8 Learner
Copies incorrect number of words	Follows word limit strictly
Focuses on keywords only	Confirms context and grammar
Changes word form	Uses word exactly as in passage
Tries to use own logic	Uses only text-based answers

Tricky Traps

Trap	Why It’s Wrong
Writing more than allowed	Breaks rule → instantly wrong
Changing the word form	E.g. “educating” instead of “education”
Guessing based on partial match	Sentence must make full sense
Spelling mistakes	Can lower score if answer is unclear

Quick Tips – Do vs Don’t

Do	Don’t
Stick to the word limit	Add extra or optional words
Check grammar and sentence flow	Copy blindly without checking
Use exact wording from passage	Use synonyms or rephrasing
Spell correctly	Guess spelling if unsure

Mini Quiz (Practice)

Passage:

Tomatoes are native to South America but are now grown globally. In the 18th century, they were introduced to Europe. They are high in vitamin C and can be eaten raw or cooked.

Instructions: Complete the sentences with no more than TWO words.

1. Tomatoes are originally from

2. They became known in Europe in the

3. Tomatoes are rich in

Show Answer

Answers:

South America
18th century
vitamin C

Related Resources

🧠 Paraphrasing Skills for Reading →
📘 Skimming & Scanning Lesson →
🧮 IELTS Band Score Calculator →
📄 Next: Summary Completion →

Final Advice from Your Tutor

Sentence Completion is about precision.

The IELTS exam rewards those who:

Pay attention to instructions
Understand context
Copy exactly what is required — no more, no less

It’s not hard… but it’s strict.

“Almost right = completely wrong.”

Be methodical, not fast — and you’ll get full marks here.