Summary completion questions in the IELTS reading section can be challenging. These questions are usually found in Section 3 but may also appear in Section 2. They require you to complete a paragraph that serves as a summary of either the entire passage or a part of it. The paragraph is written using paraphrased language and synonyms, making it crucial to fully understand the question.

There are two types of summary completion questions: one with options (usually synonyms) provided below the question, and the other without options. The first type can be more complex as you need to identify a word in the passage and then think of its synonym to find the answer. In the second type, there will be specific instructions guiding you to locate the answer in the passage.

To effectively tackle summary completion questions in the IELTS reading test, it is essential to first understand the question thoroughly. The summary is often difficult to relate to a specific part of the text, so gaining an overview of the question is crucial for successful completion.

Underlining the main keywords in the passage is a helpful strategy. Despite the sentences in the summary completion question being rewritten, there are usually words that are the same or similar to those in the passage. By identifying and underlining these keywords, you can locate the relevant paragraph in the passage.

When you have options to choose from, it is advisable to consider the grammar of the sentences. For instance, if the blank requires a noun, you can ignore the verb or adjective options. Similarly, if you determine that the answer should be a plural word, you can eliminate the singular words in the options. Pay attention to the form of the verb as well, as the summary completion question may be in the passive voice while the reading passage is in the active voice.

To narrow down your options, shortlist the ones that seem likely based on your understanding of the question and the relevant paragraph in the passage. Then, carefully review the paragraph and question again to select the answer that appears closest to filling the blank. Consider the probability of each option and choose the one that seems more likely to be the answer.

Remember that the answers in the summary completion question follow the order of information presented in the passage. The question serves as a brief summary of the passage, so you can expect the answers to be in the same sequence as the information in the passage.

To practice summary completion questions, you can visit this website: Summary, form completion (mini-ielts.com).