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Understanding the Flow-Chart Completion Task in IELTS Academic Reading
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May 30, 2025
Part 1: What is Flow-Chart Completion Question Type?
Understanding the Flow-Chart Completion Task in IELTS Academic Reading
The Flow-Chart Completion question type is a commonly used task in the IELTS Academic Reading section, particularly in Passage 2 or 3. This type tests a candidate’s ability to understand the sequence of events, processes, or stages described in the passage. Flow-charts usually illustrate a process, cycle, or set of instructions and require the test-taker to fill in missing information based on what they read.
Key Features of Flow-Chart Completion:
The flow-chart is partially completed, with blanks that need to be filled.
Answers are always found in the reading passage but may be paraphrased.
The flow-chart often represents:
A scientific process
A natural cycle
A timeline of events
Stages in a project or experiment
It may come with a word limit instruction such as:
NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER.
What Skills Are Being Tested?
This question type evaluates:
Scanning ability – to quickly locate specific information.
Understanding sequences – to follow chronological or logical steps.
Paraphrasing recognition – to identify how ideas are rephrased.
Detail comprehension – to pick out the exact words or short phrases.
Example of What It Looks Like:
In the above example, you would need to read the passage, locate the step-by-step process of making paper, and fill in the missing components using words directly from the passage within the word limit.
Part 2: How to Approach Flow-Chart Completion Questions in IELTS Academic Reading
Step-by-Step Strategy for Solving Flow-Chart Completion
Flow-chart completion questions can appear overwhelming at first, but with the right strategy, you can approach them with confidence. Below is a step-by-step guide, followed by a realistic example with explanation.
Step 1: Read the Instructions Carefully
🟢 What to Look For:
Word limit (e.g., NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER)
Type of answer required (words, numbers, or both)
🔍 Example:
If the instruction says: “NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER,” writing “three large containers” (3 words) would be incorrect.
Step 2: Understand the Flow-Chart Structure
🟢 What to Look For:
Whether the flow-chart shows a process, timeline, or set of instructions
Labels or headings that indicate the topic or stages
Keywords around each blank to help locate the relevant part of the passage
🔍 Tip: Note verbs and nouns that describe actions or objects. These guide your scanning.
Step 3: Skim the Passage Quickly
🟢 What to Do:
Skim the text to get a general idea of what it’s about
Identify where the process or sequence begins
🧠 Purpose: You should know which paragraph(s) to read in detail.
Step 4: Scan for Keywords and Locate the Relevant Information
🟢 How:
Use keywords from the flow-chart to locate matching or paraphrased words in the passage.
Be flexible — IELTS often uses paraphrasing.
🔍 Example:
If the flow-chart says: “heating the solution,” the passage may say: “the liquid was warmed.”
Step 5: Read in Detail and Select the Answer
🟢 What to Do:
Read the relevant part carefully
Match the exact word(s) required for the blank from the passage
Follow the word limit strictly
🔴 Don’t modify or invent words. Use words exactly as they appear in the text.
Step 6: Write the Answers Clearly
🟢 Final Check:
Check spelling
Double-check word limit
Confirm the answer fits grammatically in the sentence
✅ Example and Explanation
🔽 Flow-Chart:
🔽 Passage (Excerpt):
“Once plastic bottles are discarded, local waste collection centers collect them. At the recycling facility, they are first separated by type of plastic. Following that, they are crushed into flakes and then melted to form long strands used in textile manufacturing.”
📝 Step-by-Step Explanation:
(1) Flow-chart says: “gathered from ___”
Passage says: “local waste collection centers collect them”
✅ Answer: local waste collection centers
(2) Flow-chart says: “sorted by ___”
Passage says: “separated by type of plastic”
✅ Answer: type of plastic
(3) Flow-chart says: “shredded into ___”
Passage says: “crushed into flakes”
✅ Answer: flakes
(4) Flow-chart says: “turned into ___”
Passage says: “melted to form long strands”
✅ Answer: long strands
⚠️ Remember: You must only use words found in the passage and stay within the word limit.
Part 3: IELTS Academic Reading Passage – Flow-Chart Completion
Passage Title: The History of Tea Production in Asia
Reading Passage:
Tea has been a part of Asian culture for centuries, but the production process has evolved over time. Initially, tea leaves were picked by hand in small quantities by villagers, mainly in mountainous areas of China. During the Tang Dynasty, the leaves were dried in the sun or steamed, then compressed into bricks for storage and trade.
As tea gained popularity, more structured methods were introduced. In the 17th century, tea production expanded significantly with the establishment of organized plantations in regions such as Assam and Sri Lanka. Workers, often women, plucked young leaves early in the morning to preserve freshness. These leaves were then transported to processing units, where they were withered to remove moisture.
After withering, the next stage involved rolling the leaves, either manually or using simple machines. This action helped break down the leaf structure and release natural enzymes. The rolled leaves were then oxidized — a crucial stage that determined the tea’s flavor and color. For green tea, this oxidation was halted early by heating, while for black tea, the leaves were allowed to oxidize fully.
Finally, the tea was dried, graded, and packaged for domestic use or export. In modern facilities, much of this process is automated, but traditional hand-processing methods are still used for premium-quality teas.
Flow-Chart Completion:
Complete the flow-chart below using NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER from the passage.
Stages in Traditional Tea Production
Step 1: Tea leaves collected by villagers in (1) areas
Step 2: Leaves (2) or steamed and then compressed into bricks
Step 3: Plantation system introduced in (3) century
Step 4: Fresh leaves plucked by (4) in early morning
Step 5: Leaves taken to processing units for (5)
Step 6: Leaves are rolled and then undergo (6)
Step 7: Leaves dried, (7), and packaged
Part 4: Step-by-Step Explanation of Flow-Chart Answers
Below is a detailed explanation of how to find each answer to the Flow-Chart Completion questions from the reading passage in Part 3 titled “The History of Tea Production in Asia.”
Flow-Chart Step 1:
Question: Tea leaves collected by villagers in (1) areas
Passage Reference:
“…tea leaves were picked by hand in small quantities by villagers, mainly in mountainous areas of China.”
✅ Answer: mountainous
Explanation:
The question asks where the villagers collected the tea leaves. The phrase “mainly in mountainous areas” clearly provides the correct word. Only one word is needed, and “mountainous” fits grammatically and contextually.
Flow-Chart Step 2:
Question: Leaves (2) or steamed and then compressed into bricks
Passage Reference:
“…the leaves were dried in the sun or steamed, then compressed into bricks…”
✅ Answer: dried
Explanation:
This blank requires a verb that pairs with “or steamed.” The passage says “dried in the sun or steamed,” so the correct answer is “dried.” This maintains grammatical accuracy and follows the word limit.
Flow-Chart Step 3:
Question: Plantation system introduced in (3) century
Passage Reference:
“In the 17th century, tea production expanded significantly with the establishment of organized plantations…”
✅ Answer: 17th
Explanation:
The phrase “introduced in ___ century” directly corresponds with “In the 17th century.” Therefore, “17th” is the correct and concise answer.
Flow-Chart Step 4:
Question: Fresh leaves plucked by (4) in early morning
Passage Reference:
“Workers, often women, plucked young leaves early in the morning…”
✅ Answer: women
Explanation:
The passage specifies that women were often the ones doing the plucking. While the term “workers” is used, “women” is more specific and fits the blank contextually and grammatically.
Flow-Chart Step 5:
Question: Leaves taken to processing units for (5)
Passage Reference:
“…transported to processing units, where they were withered to remove moisture.”
✅ Answer: withering
Explanation:
The process done at the processing units is “withered.” To fit the noun form needed after “for,” we use “withering,” which accurately describes the action and fits grammatically.
Flow-Chart Step 6:
Question: Leaves are rolled and then undergo (6)
Passage Reference:
“…rolling the leaves… helped break down the leaf structure and release natural enzymes. The rolled leaves were then oxidized…”
✅ Answer: oxidation
Explanation:
After being rolled, the leaves undergo a process called “oxidation.” The noun form “oxidation” fits after “undergo” and accurately reflects the stage described.
Flow-Chart Step 7:
Question: Leaves dried, (7), and packaged
Passage Reference:
“Finally, the tea was dried, graded, and packaged for domestic use or export.”
✅ Answer: graded
Explanation:
The final stage includes drying, grading, and packaging. The word “graded” completes the sequence and is directly lifted from the text. It maintains proper tense and fits within the word limit.
✅ Full Answer List Recap:
mountainous
dried
17th
women
withering
oxidation
graded
These answers demonstrate how careful scanning and understanding of paraphrasing can help you locate accurate responses for Flow-Chart Completion tasks in the IELTS Academic Reading section.
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