1.

Matching Headings Questions

 Task: Choose a heading from the list which matches a section or paragraph in the passage
 Skills:
 understanding the aim of a section
 identifying the difference between a main idea and supporting points
 understanding aims of paragraphs and sections
 understanding general content of paragraphs or sections
 Tips
 read the headings before you read the passage
 there are often more headings than you need
 analyse the headings before trying to match them to sections or paragraphs
 answers are often numerals (i, ii, iii, iv etc) – read instructions carefully to check
 answers do not come in order
2. True False Not Given / Yes No Not Given Questions
 Task: Decide if the information or writer’s opinion in the question statements can be found in the
passage
 Skills:
 identifying specific information in the passage
 scanning and understanding information (T/F/NG questions)
 understanding the opinions of the writer (Y/N/NG questions)
 Tips
 Understand the meaning of each answer
 yes / true = the same information is found in the passage
 no / false = the opposite information is found in the passage
 not given = the information is not found in the passage
 paraphrase the statements before trying to locate the answers
 answers come in order
3. Matching Paragraph Information Questions
 Task: Matching the information given in the question with information found in one of the
paragraphs in the passage.
 Skills:
 identifying specific information
 scanning for information
  Tips:
 paraphrase the information in the question
 find the information in the passage
 answers do not come in order
 the answer is often a letter (A, D, C, D…) – read instructions carefully to check
 not all paragraphs may be used
4. Summary Completion Question
 Task: Completing a summary by filling in the gaps using words from the passage or words given
in a box
 Skills:
 scanning for specific information in the passage
 understanding ideas and supporting points
  selecting appropriate words
 Tips:
 identify the type of word needed for each gap (noun/verb/adjective etc)
 locate the information in the passage in order to choose the right word
 if you choose words from the passage, check how many words can be used for each
answer
 answers usually come in order
 the summary must be grammatically correct which can help you in choosing the right
word for the gap
5. Sentence Completion Questions
 Task: Completing sentences by filling in the gap with words from the passage
 Skills:
 scanning for specific information
 selecting appropriate words
 understanding information in the passage
 Tips:
 identify the type of word needed for each gap (noun/verb/adjective etc)
 locate the information in the passage in order to choose the right word
 the sentences must be grammatically correct which can help you in choosing the right
word for the gap
 check how many words can be used for each answer
 answers usually come in order
6. Multiple Choice Questions
 Task: Choose the correct answer to a question or the correct ending to a sentence from usually 3
or 4 possible options.
 Skills:
 scanning for specific Information
 understanding information in the passage
 Tips:
 paraphrase the information in the question and options
 locate the precise information in the passage
 answers come in order
 answers are usually letters (A,B,C or D) – read the instructions carefully to check
7. List Selection
 Task: Choose the correct option from a list of words, information or names. This differs from
multiple choice because the questions all relate to only one long list of possible answers.
 Skills:
 scanning for information
 understanding information in the passage
 identifying ideas relating to others
 Tips:
 read through the list and prepare paraphrases
 read through the questions and identify key words
 locate the information in the passage
 answers come in order
 answers are usually letters (A-G) – read the instructions carefully to check
8. Choosing a Title
 Task: Choosing the most appropriate title from a list
 Skills:
 identifying aims of a passage
 distinguishing between detail and main aims
 Tips
 look at the differences between the possible titles
 pay attention to the opening paragraphs and closing paragraphs of the passage
 don’t spend too much time on this question – it is only worth one point
9. Categorisation Questions
 Task: Decide which category the information belongs to from a list.
 Skills:
 locating information in the passage
 categorising information
 Tips:
 find information in the passage
 decide which category the information belongs to
  look out for paraphrases
10. Matching Sentence Endings
 Task: Completing sentences by matching the start of the sentence with the correct ending given in
a list.
 Skills:
 locating information in the passage
 understanding information
 Tips:
 read through the sentences and then read through the possible endings
 prepare paraphrases
 find information in the passage
 choose the best ending to match the information in the passage
 the completed sentence must be grammatically correct
 sentence beginnings follow the order of information the passage
 answers are usually letters (A-G) – read instructions carefully to check
 there are usually more endings given than you need.
11. Table Completion
 Task: Completing the table using the correct word from the passage.
 Skills:
 locating specific information in the passage
 choosing appropriate words
 understanding details
 Tips:
 read the column headings in the table
 identify the type of word needed for each part of the table
 scan the passage for information
 answers are often located in a specific part of the passage
  check how many words you can use for the answer
12. Flow Chart Completion Questions
 Task: Completing the flow chart using the correct words from the passage.
 Skills:
 locating specific information in the passage
 choosing appropriate words
 understanding details and order of information
 Tips:
 identify the type of word needed for each part of the flow chart
 scan the passage for information
 answers do not always come in order
 use the direction of the arrows and boxes to follow the order of information in the chart
 select the appropriate words from the passage
 check the number of words that can be used for each answer
13. Diagram Completion Questions
 Task: Labelling a diagram
 Skills:
 locating information in the passage
 relating the information to the diagram
 choosing appropriate words
 Tips
 identify the type of word needed for the answer (noun / verb etc)
 find the information in the passage
 the information is usually located in one specific paragraph or two in the passage
 check how many words you can use for the answer
 answer do not always come in order
14. Short Answer Questions
 Task: Answering questions regarding details in the passage.
 Skills:
 locating information in the passage
 understanding detail and specific information
 Tips:
 identify the type of words you need for each answer (noun,verb etc)
 paraphrase vocabulary in the questions
 scan the passage to locate information
 check how many words you can use for the answers
 answers come in order