A Comprehensive Guide to IELTS Listening Sentence Completion
If you’re aiming for a high band score in IELTS Listening, the Sentence Completion question type is one you can’t afford to overlook. This task challenges you to capture key details from the recording, then fill in the gaps in incomplete sentences—often with strict word limits. While it may appear straightforward, Sentence Completion requires skillful listening, careful note-taking, and an awareness of paraphrasing, synonyms, and corrections. In this article, you’ll learn how to tackle Sentence Completion effectively, from understanding its format to advanced strategies. And if you’re looking for even deeper insights into every aspect of the Listening exam, keep in mind our IELTS Listening eBook, which covers Sentence Completion, Multiple Choice, Map Labelling, and more with extensive practice exercises and expert tips.
What Is IELTS Listening Sentence Completion?
IELTS Listening Sentence Completion tasks present you with partial sentences—often brief statements that capture key points from the audio. Your responsibility is to fill in the missing words so the sentences become complete and make sense in the context of the recording. Usually, these blanks are meant for short pieces of information—such as dates, numbers, names, reasons, or descriptors—but the exact content can vary depending on the topic.
Typical Question Format
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Prompt Example: “The main benefit of the new system is ____, which helps reduce costs.”
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Your Role: Insert the word(s) that accurately convey what the speaker states—respecting any word-limit instructions (e.g., “No more than two words and/or a number”).
Common Placement in the Test
Although Sentence Completion questions can appear in any of the four IELTS Listening sections, they’re frequently found in Sections 2–4, where:
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Discussions or talks become more detailed.
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Academic or semi-academic contexts arise, requiring careful attention to detail.
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Vocabulary can become more specialized, testing your ability to track and decode paraphrased expressions.
​Key Features of IELTS Listening Sentence Completion
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Short Sentences
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Each sentence typically spans one or two lines, with a single blank (occasionally two) that requires a specific detail. This detail could be as simple as a time (“9:30 a.m.”), a numeric value (“$150”), a descriptive term (“beneficial”), or a name/location.
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Word Limit
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The instructions might read “No more than two words” or “No more than three words and/or a number.” Adhering to this limit is non-negotiable—even an extra article (“the,” “a”) can invalidate an otherwise correct answer.
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This constraint forces you to be concise, ensuring you capture only the critical information.
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Contextual Clues
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The stem of each sentence often hints at the type of word needed. For example, if you see “They arrived in ____ on June 10th,” you might expect a place name or city. If you see “The main reason for ____ was…,” you’re likely listening for a cause or explanation.
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The speaker might use synonyms or paraphrase the sentence stem’s wording. If the sentence says “primary concern,” the audio could refer to “biggest worry” or “main issue.” Recognizing these conceptual links is crucial for correct completion.
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For a deeper dive into Sentence Completion—and an in-depth exploration of every IELTS Listening question type—our IELTS Listening eBook is an invaluable resource. You’ll find proven strategies, realistic practice tasks, and test simulations to sharpen your approach and get you closer to your target band score.
What Is IELTS Listening Sentence Completion?
Sentence Completion questions may look simple—just fill in the missing words—but they often include subtle traps and constraints that can trip you up if you’re not well-prepared. Below is a deeper look at the five main challenges of IELTS Listening Sentence Completion, along with practical solutions to overcome each one.
1. Exceeding Word Limits
Issue:
If the instructions say “No more than two words,” adding a third word or inserting an unnecessary article like “the” or “a” automatically invalidates an otherwise correct answer. Even if you identify the right piece of information, violating the word-limit rule means losing that mark.
Why It Happens:
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Under test pressure, candidates may attempt to provide extra clarity or detail, unwittingly surpassing the limit.
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Some might forget to count small words (e.g., “and,” “to,” or “the”), pushing the answer over the allowed count.
Example:
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Instructions: “Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS for each answer.”
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Sentence Stem: “The speaker purchased ____ for the meeting.”
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Speaker’s Info: “I bought a large projector.”
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Incorrect Response: “a large projector” (three words)
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Correct Response: “large projector” (two words)
Solution:
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Check the Prompt Twice: Before writing your final answer, confirm if it’s one word, two words, or a mix of words and a number.
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Use Short Forms Where Possible: If numbers are allowed, you can write “$300” instead of “three hundred dollars.”
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Trim Unnecessary Words: Omit filler words that don’t add meaning (like “a,” “the,” or “about”) if they might put you over the limit.
Tip: After the audio stops, do a quick word count for each answer to ensure you haven’t inadvertently expanded beyond the limit.
2. Missing or Mishearing Key Words
Issue:
A single slip—like confusing “fifteen” for “fifty,” or mishearing “13th” as “30th”—can derail your entire response. If the blank calls for a crucial number or date, inaccuracy here means an outright wrong answer.
Why It Happens:
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Accents, speed of speech, or test anxiety can cause you to tune out or mistake a brief mention of a figure.
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The speaker might only say the exact word or number once, giving you no second chance to verify if you missed it.
Example:
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Sentence Stem: “They agreed to pay ____ dollars for the contract.”
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Speaker’s Words: “We finally settled on about five-zero (50) dollars for the short term.”
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If you only hear “five,” you might write “five dollars,” which is incorrect.
Solution:
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Numerical Clarity: The speaker might clarify “15, that’s one-five” or “50, that’s five-zero.” Stay alert for such clarifications.
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Contextual Confirmation: If the speaker later references the same number or date (e.g., “We’ll need about 50 dollars again next month”), that repetition reaffirms your initial note.
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Focus on Potentially Confusing Terms: Terms like “teen” (thirteen, fifteen) vs. “ty” (thirty, fifty) or days like “Thirteenth” vs. “Thirty” require extra attention.
Tip: Practicing with different accents—British, American, Australian—can improve your ear for tricky pronunciations of numbers or dates.
3. Synonyms and Paraphrasing
Issue:
The sentence stem may say “The event’s main objective is ____,” while the speaker actually says, “Our primary goal is…” If you’re only listening for the word “objective” and you miss “goal,” you might skip the correct detail. This mismatch between the stem and the speaker’s wording is a core IELTS tactic to test your listening comprehension, not just your vocabulary.
Why It Happens:
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IELTS frequently paraphrases to ensure you grasp the concept rather than looking for an exact word match.
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Some test-takers overly rely on hearing the same phrase from the stem.
Example:
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Sentence Stem: “Their primary source of ____ is from farming.”
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Speaker’s Statement: “Most of their income comes from agricultural work.”
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If you don’t connect “income” to “source of” or “agricultural work” to “farming,” you’ll leave the blank empty or fill it incorrectly.
Solution:
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Expand Your Synonym Range: For terms like “objective,” think “goal,” “aim,” “purpose,” “intention.” For “benefit,” consider “advantage,” “plus,” “upside,” “gain.”
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Listen for Concepts: If the meaning aligns (e.g., “income” ↔ “source of money”), that’s probably the correct detail.
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Practice Paraphrasing: Rewrite short texts, replacing each key word with synonyms to get comfortable with different phrasing styles.
Tip: Make a quick mental link—if the stem says “objective,” you might anticipate synonyms like “goal,” “aim,” “purpose.” Once you hear it, you’ll be ready to fill the blank.
4. Corrections and Negations
Issue:
The speaker might start with one detail, then reverse or alter it mid-sentence. Failing to note these corrections leaves you with an outdated response. Negations can similarly invert a statement’s meaning—if the speaker says, “It’s not on Monday,” the final day is something else.
Why It Happens:
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IELTS simulates realistic speech patterns, where people often correct themselves (“Actually,” “Wait, let me correct that,” “On second thought…”).
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Many candidates jot down the initial statement, missing the final correction.
Example:
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Sentence Stem: “They decided to depart on ____.”
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Speaker’s Words: “We initially planned Friday, but realized that’s a holiday, so the departure will be on Sunday.”
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If you only hear “Friday,” you’ll be wrong because the final detail is “Sunday.”
Solution:
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Key Phrases to Watch: “Actually,” “sorry,” “but,” “though,” “however,” “except.” Each can signal a reversal or correction.
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Adjust Immediately: If you wrote “Friday,” cross it out or overwrite it the moment you hear the corrected version.
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Final Confirmation: If the speaker repeats the updated detail, it reconfirms your revision.
Tip: Mentally label the initial note as “tentative.” If the speaker continues or clarifies, be ready to switch to the final statement they settle on.
5. Spelling Errors
Issue:
Even if your answer conceptually fits, a single letter off—like “adress” instead of “address”—will likely be scored as wrong. This risk magnifies for names, places, months, or technical terms spelled out by the speaker.
Why It Happens:
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Test stress can cause hasty writing, leading to omitted letters or reversed vowels.
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Some candidates might not realize the significance of an exact letter match, especially if the speaker spells it out (e.g., “The name is spelled R-E-A-G-A-N”).
Example:
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Sentence Stem: “The new system, known as ____ , will save costs.”
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Speaker’s Info: “We call it the Genexa system—spelled G-E-N-E-X-A.”
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If you write “Genexxa” or “Genexa system” as two or three words, you risk a mismatch or extra words.
Solution:
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Replicate Spelled-Out Terms Exactly: If the speaker clarifies a word’s spelling, note each letter carefully.
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Use Correct Dictionary Forms: For standard English words (e.g., “February,” “management”), ensure you know the correct spelling.
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Double-Check: If you have a second or two after the segment, quickly glance at your spelling to confirm no simple errors.
Tip: For English variant differences (e.g., “colour” vs. “color”), IELTS typically accepts either, as long as you’re consistent. However, random or hybrid spellings can be penalized.
Building a calm, methodical approach—tracking each sentence carefully, staying alert to corrections and synonyms, respecting word limits, and checking spelling—goes a long way to overcoming these five challenges. By investing time in practice tasks under realistic conditions, you’ll find Sentence Completion transforming from a potential stumbling block to a scoring asset.
Five-Step Strategy for Sentence Completion
A methodical approach to IELTS Listening Sentence Completion questions increases your accuracy and helps you manage the time pressure of the exam. Below is a five-step strategy to guide you from previewing the sentence stems to finalizing your answers with confidence.
Step 1: Preview the Sentences
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Scan Each Sentence
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What to Do: Before the audio starts, look carefully at every sentence stem. Note how many blanks each sentence has and the position of those blanks. Are you missing a date, time, or short descriptive phrase? By identifying these gaps, you’ll have a good idea of what type of information to expect.
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Why It Helps: When the recording begins, you won’t waste precious seconds trying to figure out what each blank could be. Instead, you’ll be ready to recognize the exact detail the moment the speaker says it.
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Identify Possible Parts of Speech
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What to Do: If a stem ends with “... they arrived in ____,” then you can anticipate a place name or city goes there. If it says “The project was designed to ____,” you’re likely listening for a verb or short phrase describing its purpose.
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Why It Helps: By aligning your listening focus with the type of word needed—noun, adjective, verb, or number—you can more quickly spot the correct detail once it’s mentioned in the audio.
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Example: Suppose you see “They arrived in ____ on June 10th.” You’ll assume the blank probably needs a location, like “Paris,” “Berlin,” or “the conference venue.” When the speaker mentions a place name, you’ll recognize it as the likely answer.
Step 2: Predict the Needed Information
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Look for Clues
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What to Do: Pay attention to words in the stem that indicate what kind of data belongs in the blank. Terms like “cost,” “reason,” “benefit,” or “location” often appear. These are your cues to listen specifically for prices, rationales, advantages, or names of places in the audio.
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Why It Helps: If you mentally tag each blank with “looking for a reason,” “listening for a place,” or “waiting for a number,” you’ll pick up on the relevant information more easily.
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Synonyms Awareness
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What to Do: Brainstorm potential synonyms for words you see in the stem. If the sentence says “The device is primarily used to ____,” synonyms could be “mainly functions to,” “serves mostly to,” or “commonly utilized for...”
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Why It Helps: IELTS often paraphrases. If you only listen for “primarily used to,” you might miss the correct answer if the speaker rephrases it. By preparing for synonyms, you stay flexible to any variation the speaker uses.
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Example: If your sentence says “The main benefit of ____ is…,” get ready for the speaker to say “One big advantage,” “Its primary advantage,” or “The biggest upside.” Recognizing any of those synonyms means you’ve found your clue.
Step 3: Listen Actively and Fill Gaps
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Write Immediately
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What to Do: When you hear a detail that fits one of your identified blanks, jot it down at once. Don’t wait until the speaker concludes that segment—another crucial piece of data could follow quickly.
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Why It Helps: Delaying your note-taking increases the risk of forgetting the exact wording or missing a subsequent correction. Real-time capturing of answers ensures fewer memory slip-ups.
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Stay Aligned with Audio Flow
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What to Do: Sentence Completion questions usually appear in the order the speaker addresses them. Keep pace with the conversation or monologue, so you’re ready to fill each blank in sequence. However, remain open to slight deviations if the speaker references a previous point or clarifies something out of order.
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Why It Helps: If you realize the speaker has moved on to a new topic, you can move on to the next blank or question. This alignment prevents confusion over which answer goes in which sentence.
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Example: If you notice the speaker is describing “the cost” in detail, and you have a blank about “estimated expenses,” that’s your cue to fill that blank right away. Once the speaker shifts to a new topic—like “benefits” or “results”—you know to move on as well.
Step 4: Respect Word Limit and Spelling
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No More Than X Words
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What to Do: If the prompt says “No more than two words,” triple-check you haven’t slipped in an extra article or adjective. Sometimes even small words like “the,” “an,” or “some” can push you over.
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Why It Helps: Exceeding the word limit is one of the most common ways to lose marks, even if the content is correct.
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Accurate Spelling
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What to Do: For spelled-out terms (like “R-E-G-A-N”), copy them exactly. For general English words—months, days, or common nouns—use standard dictionary spelling. Avoid any guesswork.
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Why It Helps: A single spelling error makes the entire response incorrect. Ensuring each letter is correct preserves your mark.
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Example: If your stem says “He earned ____ last year,” and the instructions allow “No more than two words and/or a number,” writing “about $50,000” might be valid if it’s “two words plus one figure.” But “he earned about fifty thousand dollars” might be too many words.
Step 5: Review for Logic and Consistency
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Check Grammar
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What to Do: After the audio concludes for that set of questions, re-read each filled sentence. Does the inserted word or phrase make sense in context? If a blank says “The final design is ____,” providing a date or time doesn’t logically fit.
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Why It Helps: Even if you got the correct concept, it must align with the grammar and semantics of the sentence.
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Listen for Corrections
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What to Do: If the speaker mentions a figure or a day, then backtracks (e.g., “Wait, it’s Thursday, not Tuesday”), finalize that revised detail. If you wrote “Tuesday,” strike it out and replace it with “Thursday.”
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Why It Helps: Neglecting speaker corrections results in an outdated or invalid response. Rechecking ensures your final note reflects the latest statement.
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Example: If the speaker clarifies, “The weight is 500 grams—actually, let me confirm: it’s 550 grams,” make sure your final sentence reflects “550 grams,” not the initial figure. A quick post-audio scan can catch these last-minute edits.
Practice these steps under timed conditions—scan and predict before the audio, capture details in real time, respect word count, and confirm your entries once the speaker wraps up each segment. By repeatedly simulating test scenarios, you’ll internalize the process and approach Sentence Completion with precision and confidence.
Example of IELTS Listening Sentence Completion Questions
Before we walk you through the detailed step-by-step breakdown, here’s a quick reminder: you’ll find hundreds of more such exercises, accompanied by clear demonstrations of the most effective IELTS Listening strategies, in our comprehensive IELTS Listening eBook. This example serves as an excellent illustration of how to apply our proven tips and techniques to achieve higher band scores, helping you become more confident and accurate when tackling Sentence Completion questions.
Transcript: (Cambridge 11 – Test 3)
"SUE: Now I’ve heard something about Paxton Nature Reserve. It’s a good place for spotting unusual birds, isn’t it?
MARTIN: That’s right – throughout the year. There is a lake there, as well as a river, and they provide a very attractive habitat. So it’s a good idea to bring binoculars if you have them. And just at the moment you can see various flowers that are pretty unusual – the soil at Paxton isn’t very common. They’re looking good right now.
SUE: Right. My husband will be particularly interested in that.
MARTIN: And there’s going to be a talk and slide show about mushrooms – and you’ll be able to go out and pick some afterwards and study the different varieties.
SUE: Uhuh. And is it possible for children to swim in the river?
MARTIN: Yes. Part of it has been fenced off to make it safe for children to swim in. It’s very shallow, and there’s a lifeguard on duty whenever it’s open. The lake is too deep, so swimming isn’t allowed there.
SUE: OK, we must remember to bring their swimming things, in case we go to Paxton. How long does it take to get there by car from Burnham?
MARTIN: About 20 minutes, but parking is very limited, so it’s usually much easier to go by bus – and it takes about the same time.
SUE: Right. Well. I’ll discuss the options with the rest of the family. Thanks very much for all your help.
MARTIN: You’re welcome.
SUE: Goodbye.
MARTIN: Bye."
Questions:
Questions 7-10
Complete the sentences below.
Write ONE WORD ONLY for each answer.
Paxton Nature Reserve
7 Paxton is a good place for seeing rare ………………. all year round.
8 This is a particularly good time for seeing certain unusual ………………….
9 Visitors will be able to learn about ………………. and then collect some.
10 Part of the ………………. has been made suitable for swimming.
Correct Answers:
7. birds
8. flowers
9. mushrooms
10. river
Step-by-Step Explanation of Each Answer
Question 7
Sentence: “Paxton is a good place for seeing rare ………………. all year round.”
Answer: birds
How We Get There Using Our Strategies:
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Identify Key Words in the Question
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The prompt focuses on “Paxton,” “good place,” “seeing rare,” and “all year round.”
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Predict the Type of Missing Word
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The blank is after “rare,” suggesting it could be an animal, plant, or another natural feature.
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Listen for Synonyms and Paraphrasing
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The speaker says: “It’s a good place for spotting unusual birds, isn’t it? … That’s right – throughout the year.”
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“Rare” in the question corresponds to “unusual” in the audio.
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Confirm With Context
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The conversation clearly points to “birds” as something that can be seen all year round at Paxton.
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Hence, “birds” perfectly fits the blank and adheres to the ONE WORD ONLY requirement.
Question 8
Sentence: “This is a particularly good time for seeing certain unusual ………………….”
Answer: flowers
How We Get There Using Our Strategies:
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Focus on Timing Clues
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The phrase “particularly good time” indicates something seasonal or period-specific.
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Listen Carefully for the Word “Unusual”
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We already saw how “rare” in the previous question matched “unusual” in the audio. Now, we listen for what else is described as “unusual.”
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Locate the Exact Reference
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The speaker says: “And just at the moment you can see various flowers that are pretty unusual…”
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Verify Grammar and Word Form
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“Flowers” (plural noun) correctly fills the gap, matching the idea of “unusual” items seen at this specific time.
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Therefore, “flowers” is the concise and accurate answer.
Question 9
Sentence: “Visitors will be able to learn about ………………. and then collect some.”
Answer: mushrooms
How We Get There Using Our Strategies:
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Pinpoint the Keyword “learn about … and then collect some”
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This indicates an activity involving learning first and then physically gathering something in nature.
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Listen for Direct Mention of a Topic/Item
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The conversation mentions: “There’s going to be a talk and slide show about mushrooms – and you’ll be able to go out and pick some afterwards…”
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Match the Audio to the Blank
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“Learn about mushrooms” directly corresponds to “will be able to learn about … and then collect some.”
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Thus, “mushrooms” is the single correct word, fulfilling the requirement to write only one word.
Question 10
Sentence: “Part of the ………………. has been made suitable for swimming.”
Answer: river
How We Get There Using Our Strategies:
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Identify Location for Swimming
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The question references a place that has been adapted for safe swimming.
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Differentiate Between “Lake” and “River”
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The recording clarifies: “Part of it (the river) has been fenced off to make it safe for children to swim in. … The lake is too deep, so swimming isn’t allowed there.”
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Confirm Context
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Since the question specifically says “Part of the … has been made suitable for swimming,” and the audio explicitly states the river is shallow and fenced off, “river” is the only logical fit.
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Therefore, the blank is correctly filled by “river.”
We hope this walkthrough demonstrates how to apply our IELTS Listening Sentence Completion strategies effectively. If you’d like to dive deeper and strengthen your listening skills further, check out our IELTS Listening eBook. You’ll discover:
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Hundreds of additional practice exercises
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Detailed demonstrations of advanced tips and strategies
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Proven methods to handle tricky question types
Special Tips for IELTS Listening Sentence Completion
Even with a solid overall strategy, certain fine-tuning tips can help you excel in Sentence Completion tasks. Below, we delve into five crucial areas to ensure you capture every detail and stay within the strict constraints of IELTS Listening. By focusing on synonyms, verifying partial statements, using concise entries, maintaining steady attention, and practicing systematically, you’ll bolster both your speed and accuracy.
1. Develop a Synonym Toolkit
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What This Entails:
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In Sentence Completion, the wording in the question stem might differ significantly from what you hear in the audio. For instance, if the stem says “primary benefit,” the speaker could say “major advantage,” “main perk,” or “key upside.” Relying on a single term can cause you to miss the correct detail if the speaker uses a synonym.
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Why It Matters:
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IELTS is designed to measure your skill in recognizing conceptual matches rather than identical words. Building a strong vocabulary of synonyms around common topics (e.g., education, environment, technology) makes you more adaptable to different phrasing.
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How to Apply:
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Regularly Note Synonyms: For words like “goal,” list equivalents like “aim,” “purpose,” “objective,” “intention.”
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Practice with Varying Exercises: When you see a word in the question stem, mentally list synonyms. If the audio uses any of them, you’ll know it’s the same concept.
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Example: If a blank is preceded by “The essential outcome was ____,” be ready for synonyms such as “primary result,” “main consequence,” or “key finding.” If you don’t link these expressions, you might incorrectly skip the needed detail.
2. Beware of Partial Matches
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What This Entails:
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Sometimes the speaker mentions a piece of information that partially aligns with the question stem but is later negated or updated. If you seize on the initial statement without noting the subsequent change, you end up with an outdated or incomplete answer.
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Why It Matters:
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IELTS often mimics real-life conversation patterns, where people revise or refine their statements. Quick decisions based on half the speaker’s statement can lead to a mismatch if the final stance is different.
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How to Apply:
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Wait for the Full Context: Avoid locking in your answer if it’s a multi-step statement or if the speaker says “but,” “however,” or “actually.”
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Confirm the Last Statement: If the speaker starts with “We’ll meet at 10 a.m.,” but adds “Actually, the meeting is postponed to 11 a.m.,” the final detail is “11 a.m.,” not “10 a.m.”
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Example: If the question stem says “They decided to start the project in ____,” and the speaker says “We initially considered July… but ended up choosing August,” the correct month is August, not July. Cross-checking the final phrase ensures accuracy.
3. Use Abbreviations for Speed
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What This Entails:
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Many Sentence Completion blanks require short data—like costs, dates, or times. If the test instructions allow it, abbreviations or numeric symbols can help you avoid exceeding word limits or spelling errors.
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Why It Matters:
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Word limits can be strict—if you have “No more than two words,” writing “fifty US dollars” might be too long, while “$50” neatly fits. Also, abbreviations can prevent small mistakes that lead to lost marks.
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How to Apply:
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Check the Instructions: If “and/or a number” is permitted, you can write “$50,” “10 kg,” or “3:00 pm.”
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Stick to Recognized Forms: Use standard currency signs (e.g., “£,” “$”) or clear time formats (e.g., “2:30 pm”) so the examiner can understand at a glance.
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Example: If the blank is “They budgeted ____ for equipment,” and you hear “about three hundred dollars,” writing “$300” could save you from exceeding word limits or introducing spelling errors in “three hundred.”
4. Maintain Attention Throughout
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What This Entails:
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Even if you miss or can’t decide on one blank, you must stay focused for upcoming details. Overthinking a single response can make you miss crucial info for the next question, especially in rapid sections of the audio.
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Why It Matters:
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The Listening test is continuous. One momentary lapse can cause a chain reaction where you also lose the subsequent details, lowering your overall score.
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How to Apply:
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Move On if Unsure: Place a tentative or best-guess answer, then refocus on the next blank. Later, if time allows, briefly reconsider any uncertain blanks.
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Stay Mentally Flexible: If the speaker circles back to a previous detail or clarifies it, you may be able to confirm your initial guess.
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Example: If blank #2 stumps you, don’t waste 20 seconds trying to reimagine what was said. Instead, fill in your best shot (like “$50” or “August 14”) and tune in for blank #3’s answer, which might be stated immediately after.
Remember, the best way to internalize the strategies is through consistent, timed practice. Whether you’re dealing with synonyms, numeric data, or speaker self-corrections, applying the tips outlined here will help you secure a higher band score. And if you seek an even more thorough training experience, our IELTS Listening eBook provides you with the guided exercises, advanced techniques, and in-depth reviews necessary to excel not just in Sentence Completion, but across all Listening question types.
Good luck, and stay focused on the details that make all the difference!