Part 1: What is Summary Completion Question Type in IELTS Academic Reading?
Summary Completion is a common question type in the IELTS Academic Reading test. In this task, you are provided with a summary of part of the reading passage, and your job is to fill in the blanks with appropriate words or phrases from the passage.
🔹 What It Looks Like:
A short paragraph or set of sentences that summarize a section of the reading text.
Some words are missing from this summary.
You are required to complete the blanks using words taken directly from the passage.
The instructions will tell you how many words you can use (e.g., NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS, or ONE WORD ONLY).
🔹 Types of Summary Completion:
With a Word List (Options Given):
You are provided with a list of words or phrases, and you must choose the correct ones to fill in the blanks.Without a Word List (Open Type):
You have to find the correct words yourself from the reading passage.
🔹 Skills Tested:
Scanning: Finding specific information in a large body of text quickly.
Understanding paraphrasing: The summary uses different wording from the passage, so you need to recognize synonyms and reworded phrases.
Skimming: Grasping the overall meaning of a passage or section.
Attention to detail: Making sure your answer fits grammatically and semantically.
🔹 Common Instruction Examples:
“Complete the summary below using NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage.”
“Choose words from the passage to fill in the blanks. Each answer may be used only once.”
🔹 Example Prompt:
Summary Completion Example:
The process of _________ involves using chemicals to change the color of fabric. In ancient times, natural dyes were extracted from _________ and insects. This practice dates back to _________ civilizations.
(Instructions: NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS)
🔹 Key Tips:
Read the instructions carefully—especially the word limit.
Read the summary first to understand the context.
Use the same form as in the passage (noun, verb, etc.).
Answers must be grammatically correct in the sentence.
Part 2: How to Approach IELTS Summary Completion Questions (Step-by-Step with Example)
Summary Completion questions can be challenging, but with a structured approach, you can tackle them effectively. Here’s a detailed step-by-step method to find the correct answers, along with a full example and explanation.
✅ Step-by-Step Strategy:
Step 1: Read the Instructions Carefully
Check the word limit. Instructions will tell you if you can use:
ONE WORD ONLY
NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS
NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER
⚠️ Never write more than allowed, or your answer will be marked wrong—even if it’s correct otherwise.
Step 2: Read the Summary Quickly
Understand the overall idea of the summary. Don’t worry about the blanks yet—just get the context so you know what part of the passage you’ll need to focus on.
Step 3: Predict the Type of Word Needed
Look at each blank and guess:
Is it a noun, verb, adjective, or number?
What kind of word makes sense grammatically?
This helps you narrow down the choices and recognize the right answer more easily when scanning the passage.
Step 4: Locate the Relevant Section in the Passage
Skim the passage to find the section that matches the information in the summary. The summary usually follows the sequence of the passage, so you don’t have to search randomly.
Look for keywords and paraphrases in the summary and match them with similar ideas in the text.
Step 5: Read Carefully Around the Keywords
Once you find the matching section, read slowly and carefully. Focus on:
Synonyms/paraphrases (e.g., “caused by” might become “due to”)
Exact matches for key terms
Grammatical compatibility with the summary
Step 6: Choose the Correct Words
Choose the words that:
Exactly match the meaning in the summary
Fit grammatically
Follow the word limit rule
If the answer is a phrase, it must appear exactly as it is in the text.
Step 7: Double-Check Your Answers
Does the completed summary make sense?
Does it fit grammatically?
Is it within the word limit?
📘 Example Summary Completion Task
Instructions: Complete the summary below using NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage.
Summary:
The _________ of the honeybee is one of the best-known examples of collective animal behavior. Bees perform dances to tell others about food sources, using the position of the sun as a _________. This discovery was first made by a _________ who later received a Nobel Prize for his work.
📖 Relevant Passage (Excerpt):
One of the most fascinating displays of social behavior in animals is the waggle dance performed by honeybees. This dance communicates the direction and distance of a food source to other members of the hive. The angle of the dance in relation to the vertical direction of the honeycomb indicates the direction of the food in relation to the sun. In this way, the sun acts as a reference point. The first scientist to decode this complex language of bees was Karl von Frisch, who was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1973 for his groundbreaking research.
✅ Step-by-Step Answer Explanation
🔸 First Blank:
Sentence in Summary:
The _______ of the honeybee is one of the best-known examples…
Look in passage:
“One of the most fascinating displays of social behavior… is the waggle dance…”
✅ Answer: waggle dance
🟩 Why? It fits the context (a well-known behavior), appears exactly in the passage, and fits grammatically.
🔸 Second Blank:
Sentence in Summary:
…using the position of the sun as a _______.
Look in passage:
“…the sun acts as a reference point.”
✅ Answer: reference point
🟩 Why? Matches the idea and structure. “Reference point” is the noun phrase that fits both grammatically and semantically.
🔸 Third Blank:
Sentence in Summary:
…first made by a _______ who later received a Nobel Prize…
Look in passage:
“…The first scientist to decode this… was Karl von Frisch, who was awarded the Nobel Prize…”
✅ Answer: scientist
🟩 Why? “Scientist” fits the blank perfectly and summarizes who Karl von Frisch was.
✅ Final Answers:
waggle dance
reference point
scientist
🔍 Summary Tips Recap:
Understand the summary first.
Use scanning and skimming skills to locate answers.
Match meanings and grammatical forms.
Always follow the word limit.
Part 3: Full IELTS Reading Passage with Summary Completion Questions
(Passage Type: IELTS Academic Reading – Passage 2 or 3 Style)
Reading Passage: “The Science of Sleep”
Sleep is a fundamental biological process, essential for both physical and mental health. Despite being a universal human experience, the exact purpose of sleep remains partially mysterious. However, scientists have uncovered several key functions and phases of sleep that help explain why we spend nearly a third of our lives in this state.
Sleep consists of two main types: Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep and Non-Rapid Eye Movement (NREM) sleep. NREM sleep is divided into three stages, each representing a deeper level of sleep. It is during these stages that the body repairs tissues, builds bone and muscle, and strengthens the immune system. REM sleep, on the other hand, is characterized by vivid dreams and heightened brain activity similar to wakefulness. This stage plays a crucial role in memory consolidation and emotional processing.
Sleep is regulated by an internal body clock known as the circadian rhythm, which is influenced by external cues such as light and temperature. The hypothalamus, a small region in the brain, contains a cluster of nerve cells called the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) that controls the production of melatonin—a hormone that makes you feel sleepy. When it gets dark, the SCN signals the brain to produce more melatonin, preparing the body for rest.
Lack of sleep can lead to a host of health problems, ranging from impaired cognitive function to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Chronic sleep deprivation has also been linked to metabolic disorders such as diabetes and obesity. To combat these issues, researchers recommend maintaining a regular sleep schedule and creating a sleep-friendly environment.
In recent years, sleep science has gained more attention, leading to a growing field known as somnology—the study of sleep. Sleep clinics now use technologies like polysomnography to monitor brain waves, heart rate, and breathing patterns, helping diagnose disorders such as insomnia and sleep apnea. As the body of research expands, the importance of sleep hygiene—good sleep habits—is becoming widely acknowledged.
Questions 1–5
Complete the summary below.
Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer.
Summary:
There are two major types of sleep: (1)_________ and REM sleep. While the body undergoes physical repair during NREM stages, (2)_________ takes place mainly in REM sleep. The body’s sleep pattern is regulated by the (3)_________, which responds to environmental cues like temperature and light. A brain region called the (4)_________ plays a central role in triggering the production of (5)_________, the hormone responsible for sleepiness.
Part 4: Step-by-Step Explanation of the Summary Completion Answers
Let’s go through each blank from the summary based on the passage titled “The Science of Sleep”, using the IELTS Academic Reading Summary Completion strategy.
Question 1:
Summary Sentence:
There are two major types of sleep: _________ and REM sleep.
Step-by-Step:
Locate where sleep types are described.
From the passage:
“Sleep consists of two main types: Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep and Non-Rapid Eye Movement (NREM) sleep.”
✅ Answer: Non-Rapid Eye Movement
🟢 Why? It is the correct name for the other main type of sleep paired with REM sleep.
Answer 1: Non-Rapid Eye Movement
Question 2:
Summary Sentence:
While the body undergoes physical repair during NREM stages, _________ takes place mainly in REM sleep.
Step-by-Step:
Find what happens in REM sleep.
From the passage:
“REM sleep… plays a crucial role in memory consolidation and emotional processing.”
✅ Answer: memory consolidation
🟢 Why? It’s a main cognitive process associated with REM sleep, clearly stated in the text.
Answer 2: memory consolidation
Question 3:
Summary Sentence:
The body’s sleep pattern is regulated by the _________, which responds to environmental cues like temperature and light.
Step-by-Step:
Look for how the sleep cycle is controlled.
From the passage:
“Sleep is regulated by an internal body clock known as the circadian rhythm, which is influenced by external cues such as light and temperature.”
✅ Answer: circadian rhythm
🟢 Why? The circadian rhythm fits both the function and the context perfectly.
Answer 3: circadian rhythm
Question 4:
Summary Sentence:
A brain region called the _________ plays a central role in triggering the production of…
Step-by-Step:
Look for the brain region involved in sleep regulation.
From the passage:
“The hypothalamus, a small region in the brain, contains… the SCN that controls the production of melatonin.”
✅ Answer: hypothalamus
🟢 Why? It’s the exact brain structure linked to regulating melatonin production.
Answer 4: hypothalamus
Question 5:
Summary Sentence:
… the production of _________, the hormone responsible for sleepiness.
Step-by-Step:
Find the hormone name.
From the passage:
“…the SCN signals the brain to produce more melatonin, preparing the body for rest.”
✅ Answer: melatonin
🟢 Why? The hormone directly related to sleepiness is named and clearly linked to sleep onset.
Answer 5: melatonin
✅ Final Answers Recap:
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| 1 | Non-Rapid Eye Movement |
| 2 | memory consolidation |
| 3 | circadian rhythm |
| 4 | hypothalamus |
| 5 | melatonin |
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