Hello! Welcome back to our series on IELTS Academic Reading strategies.
In our last lesson, we mastered how to handle multiple-choice questions by locating evidence and understanding paraphrasing. We're going to build directly on those skills today. The ability to scan for keywords and recognize synonyms is absolutely essential for the tasks we'll be covering.
Today, our learning outcome is to complete summary, note, and table completion tasks using keywords. These questions require you to fill in gaps in a text by pulling specific words directly from the reading passage. They are a common feature of the IELTS exam and a great way to show your ability to find details accurately.
1. Understanding Summary Completion Tasks
A summary completion task presents you with a short summary of a part of the reading passage. Your job is to fill in the missing words.
There are two main types of this question:
- You are given a list of words to choose from.
- You must find the words yourself from the reading passage.
Today, we will focus on the second type, as it is the most common and tests a wider range of skills.
Let's begin with a video that introduces the task and outlines a powerful, step-by-step method to solve it.
IELTS Reading - Highlight Correct Summary - Band 9 Tips & Tricks!
This video from E2 IELTS will guide you through the basics of summary completion and provide a clear, 5-step strategy. Pay close attention to the method, as we will use it throughout this lesson.
Please watch from the beginning to 06:26. First, you'll learn what a summary completion task is. Then, the video will present the E2 method. Try to take note of the five steps.
As you saw in the video, the core strategy is very systematic. Let's review the five key steps:
- Check the instructions: This is crucial. Pay attention to the word limit (e.g., "ONE WORD ONLY" or "NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS").
- Read the summary and highlight keywords: Before you even look at the main text, read the summary with the gaps. Identify keywords (nouns, names, dates, technical terms) that will help you locate the right section of the passage.
- Scan the text for the relevant section: Use your keywords to quickly find the paragraph or paragraphs that the summary is based on.
- Read carefully: Once you've found the right location, slow down. Read the sentences around your keywords carefully, looking for synonyms and paraphrases of the summary text.
- Choose your answer: Select the word(s) from the passage that fit the gap grammatically and make sense in the context. Remember to copy the word exactly as it is in the text.
2. A Worked Example and a Pro Tip
One of the most useful techniques is to predict the type of word that should go in the gap. Is it a noun (a thing or concept), a verb (an action), or an adjective (a description)? Thinking about this helps you find the correct answer more quickly.
The Only IELTS Reading Strategy You Need in 2026
Let's watch a short clip from IELTS Advantage that explains this idea of predicting the word type.
Watch from 03:45 to 04:30. Notice the emphasis on using grammar to predict if the missing word is a noun, verb, or adjective.
Now, let's see the full strategy in action. We'll return to the E2 IELTS video, where the presenter applies the 5-step method to a sample question. This will show you how to connect the keywords from the summary to the paraphrased information in the text.
IELTS Reading - Highlight Correct Summary - Band 9 Tips & Tricks!
In this final segment of the video, watch how the presenter works through a real example step-by-step.
Please watch from 06:26 to 12:56. Pay special attention to how synonyms are used. For example, 'fungal growth' in the summary becomes 'mould' in the text, and 'consumed by' becomes 'attacks by'.
3. Applying the Skills to Tables and Notes
The great news is that the exact same skills apply to note completion and table completion tasks. The only difference is the layout. Instead of a paragraph-style summary, you will fill gaps in a set of notes or a table with rows and columns.
The headings in notes and tables are excellent keywords that help you find the information quickly.
The strategy remains the same:
- Read the instructions (word limit).
- Use the table/note headings and existing information as keywords.
- Scan the text to locate the relevant parts.
- Read carefully to find the specific word or phrase needed for each gap.
- Check that your answer makes sense and is grammatically correct.
4. Practice Activity: Completing a Table
Now it's your turn to apply what you've learned. The following reading activity asks you to complete a table based on a short passage.
We will use the 'Improve your Skills' PDF for this exercise. You will read a short text about different energy sources and use the information to complete a table.
Please find Unit 3 in the PDF, and locate the 'Completing tables' section. Read the passage titled 'The future of energy sources' (Paragraphs A-D). Then, use the 5-step strategy to complete the table below the passage (questions 1-5). Use no more than TWO words from the passage for each answer.
Once you have tried to complete the table, check your answers below.
Click to see answers and explanations
1. Harm to public health
- Explanation: The table asks for the 'Main disadvantage' of Petroleum. The passage says, "The downsides...are patently obvious: harm to public health...".
2. Methane
- Explanation: The table asks for what Natural Gas 'Produces'. The passage states, "...the major stumbling block to its use is that the methane released lives for a long time...".
3. Rosy
- Explanation: The table asks for the 'Future' of Natural Gas. The passage says, "But in the short term at least, the situation looks rosy."
4. Commercial outlets
- Explanation: The table asks for a 'Main disadvantage' of Ethanol. The passage mentions "...the drawback of a dearth of commercial outlets...". 'Dearth' is a synonym for 'lack'.
5. New dawn
- Explanation: The table asks about the 'Future' of Ethanol. The passage says it "...heralds a new dawn for the energy market."
How did you do? Notice how the table headings ('Main advantage', 'Main disadvantage', 'Future') were the key to locating the right information for each fuel type.
Conclusion
Well done! Today you've learned a versatile and reliable strategy for summary, note, and table completion tasks. These questions are all about precision and attention to detail.
Key Takeaways:
- These three task types (summary, note, table) all use the same core skills.
- The strategy is key: Check instructions -> Highlight keywords -> Scan -> Read carefully -> Choose answer.
- Paraphrasing and synonyms are essential for connecting the summary to the text.
- Predicting the word type (noun, verb, etc.) can help you confirm the correct answer.
- Always copy words exactly as they appear in the passage and respect the word limit.
In our next lesson, we will tackle one of the most challenging question types in the IELTS Reading test: True/False/Not Given. This will require you to not only find information but also to make a careful judgment about what the author is stating.