IELTS Reading Sentence Completion: Practice Questions, Rules & Tips
Sentence completion looks like the easiest question type in IELTS Reading: find the word, copy it, done. Yet it costs many students marks they should have won, because a right answer still counts as wrong if it has one word too many or a small spelling mistake.
So this page is about precision. You will see the three rules that decide whether an answer is marked correct, the traps that catch people who understood the text perfectly well, and then you can type your own answers: 30 practice sentences checked instantly, plus a full exam-style task.
The three rules that decide your mark
| Rule | What it means | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Word limit | Follow the instruction exactly. Over the limit is wrong, even if the meaning is right. | NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS proof of address → wrong (3 words) |
| From the text | Copy words from the text. Do not change their form or use synonyms. | Text: agrees Your answer: agreement → wrong |
| Grammar fits | The finished sentence must be grammatically correct. | A book cannot be renewed if someone has ___ it. reserved, not reserve |
Numbers can be written as figures (4 weeks) or words (four weeks). Spelling counts, but British and American spelling are both accepted, as long as you are consistent.
Where people lose easy marks
The machine released a fixed amount of holy water.
“The earliest vending machine gave out ___.” (NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS)
a fixed amount of holy water → wrong: six words, even though every word is from the text.
holy water → right: the shortest answer that completes the meaning.
The other common traps: copying a word that fits the meaning but not the grammar (a singular noun after several), copying a word that means the same but is not in the text, and misspelling a word you copied. The answer is always in the text, so take the extra second to copy it letter by letter.
Sentence completion practice
Read the text, then type the missing words and press Enter. Your answer is checked against the word limit and the accepted answers, and you see the right one and why while the next sentence appears. Each round picks 10 of 30 sentences at random.
Now try a full exam-style task
In the test, the sentences follow the order of the text. Give yourself about 5 minutes, write your answers on paper, and then open How to answer to check them, word limit included.
Questions 1–6
Read the text below and answer Questions 1–6.
Cycle to Work: how the scheme works
Since January, all permanent employees at Harlow Engineering have been able to join the company’s Cycle to Work scheme. The scheme lets staff get a new bicycle and safety equipment, such as helmets and lights, and pay for them in small amounts from their salary over twelve months.
To take part, employees choose a bike from one of three approved local shops and ask the shop for a quote. The quote is then sent to the HR department, which checks that the total cost is no more than £1,500. Once it has been approved, the employee collects the bike directly from the shop.
Because the payments are taken before tax, most staff save between a quarter and a third of the normal price. The bike must be used mainly for travelling to work, although it can also be used at weekends.
Staff who leave the company before the twelve months are over will have to pay the remaining amount in their final month. A secure bike shelter has been built next to the main entrance, and showers are available in the sports hall for those who cycle long distances.
Questions 1–6
Complete the sentences below.
Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the text for each answer.
Write your answers in boxes 1–6 on your answer sheet.
How to answer: step by step
- twelve months / 12 months Pay for them in small amounts from their salary over twelve months. Two words: the number and months. Small amounts does not fit after over.
- quote Ask the shop for a quote. One word is enough; a quote would repeat the article that is already in the sentence.
- HR department The quote is then sent to the HR department, which checks… HR department counts as two words, within the limit.
- a third Between a quarter and a third. The sentence copies the structure, so the gap needs a third, not just third.
- final month Pay the remaining amount in their final month. Last month means the same, but it is not the word in the text.
- main entrance A secure bike shelter has been built next to the main entrance. Close to is a paraphrase of next to; the answer stays the same.
Did you notice? Questions 4 and 5 both had a tempting answer that is correct English but not the words in the text. In sentence completion, the text decides, not what sounds right.
6 tips for sentence completion
- 1
Underline the word limit
Before anything else. ONE WORD ONLY, NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS, AND/OR A NUMBER: the instruction changes from task to task.
- 2
Predict the missing word
Read the sentence and decide what is missing: a noun, a number, a verb in -ed? The grammar narrows the search.
- 3
Find the paraphrase
The sentence uses different words from the text. Look for the idea, not the exact words, then copy the answer exactly.
- 4
Use the order
Answers come in the same order as the text, so question 3 is after question 2. If you are lost, look between your last two answers.
- 5
Read the finished sentence
Put your answer into the gap and read the whole sentence. If it is not correct English, the answer is wrong.
- 6
Copy letter by letter
The word is in front of you, so there is no excuse for a spelling mistake. Check plurals too: shelter and shelters are different answers.
Sentence completion FAQ
Quick answers to the questions students ask most.
Does a number count as a word?
When the instruction says AND/OR A NUMBER, a number is extra and does not count towards the words. Otherwise, a number like 90 counts as one word. Hyphenated words such as well-known count as one word.
Can I change the form of a word from the text?
No. Copy the words exactly as they appear. If the gap seems to need a different form, you are probably looking at the wrong part of the text.
Do I lose the mark for a spelling mistake?
Yes. A misspelt answer is marked wrong, even if it is clearly the right word. British and American spellings are both accepted.
Are the answers in order?
Yes. Sentence completion answers follow the order of the information in the text.
Should I write in capital letters?
You can. Answers in capitals are accepted, and some students find it avoids problems with unclear handwriting.
IELTS Reading question types
All 11 types in order. Pick one to practise next.
- 1True / False / Not GivenPractice →
- 2Yes / No / Not GivenPractice →
- 3Matching headingsPractice →
- 4Matching informationPractice →
- 5Matching featuresPractice →
- 6Matching sentence endingsPractice →
- 7Sentence completionYou are here
- 8Summary completionPractice →
- 9Diagram labelsPractice →
- 10Multiple choicePractice →
- 11Short answersPractice →