Matching Sentence Endings in IELTS Reading: how to complete the sentence correctly
You are given the first halves of sentences and a list of possible endings, and you choose the ending that makes each sentence true according to the passage. It tests detailed understanding and an eye for grammar, because several endings may fit grammatically and only one is supported by the text.
Format
- Normally 4 to 6 sentence beginnings and a list of about 6 to 9 endings lettered A, B, C and so on. Reported to be common in recent tests.
- The beginnings follow the order of the passage; the endings do not.
- There are more endings than beginnings, and each ending is used once at most.
- The endings are paraphrases of the passage rather than quotations.
- On computer you select the ending from a list or drag it into place.
Strategy
- Highlight the anchor words in each sentence beginning, such as names, dates and technical terms. They are your guide to the right part of the passage.
- Read through the list of endings and note any that cannot follow certain beginnings for grammatical reasons, such as an ending that begins with a plural verb after a singular subject.
- Take the first beginning and find the place in the passage. Read the relevant sentences closely and complete the sentence in your own words before you look at the list.
- Find the ending whose meaning matches your own completion, then read the full sentence to check that it is grammatical.
- Test the choice: the ending must be grammatical, it must make sense and it must say what the passage says. A sentence that is grammatical and sensible but not stated is wrong.
- Cross off each ending you use, but only after you are sure. By the last two or three beginnings, elimination will help.
- If two endings fit, look for the difference between them. One will usually contain a detail, cause or number that the passage does not support.
Common traps
- Choosing the ending that fits grammatically and sounds sensible but is not in the passage. This task is not testing what is plausible.
- Choosing an ending because it shares words with the passage. The right ending is normally a paraphrase.
- Using general knowledge to complete the sentence, which can lead to a true statement that the passage does not make.
- Matching two sentences to the wrong endings because they are similar. Read the endings beside both beginnings before you finish.
- Forgetting the leftovers. Because there are extra endings, an unused ending that seems to fit one sentence perfectly is a warning.
Practise it inside a real Reading section
Practice on PrepFreely is always a complete section, so you meet this question type in the same place and proportion as on test day. Random sections never repeat until you've done them all. Every answer is explained.
Practise Reading Take the Reading courseFAQ
Are there more endings than sentence beginnings?
Yes, normally, so some endings will not be used.
Can I use an ending twice?
No. Each ending is used at most once.
Do the beginnings follow the order of the passage?
Yes, which makes them easier to locate than the endings.
Can I use grammar alone to answer?
Grammar helps you remove some endings, but it rarely decides the answer alone. The meaning must agree with the passage.
Do I write the ending or its letter?
Its letter. On computer you select or drag the ending; on paper you write the letter.
More IELTS Reading guides
- True / False / Not Given
- Yes / No / Not Given
- Multiple choice
- Choose two or three answers
- Matching headings
- Matching information
- Matching features
- Sentence completion
- Summary completion
- Summary completion from a box
- Note, table & flow-chart completion
- Short-answer questions
- Diagram labelling
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