Completion Questions L

In Completion questions, information is missing in one of the following:

  • a form
  • a sentence
  • a flow chart
  • a table
  • a summary paragraph
  • summary notes.

You need to complete the information with words or sometimes a number. Remember to look very carefully at the key words in the instructions, which tell you the type of answer you should write/choose/type and the word limit for each answer.

Let’s look now at each Completion question type.

Form Completion

This question type is almost always in Section 1. You will listen to a conversation about everyday topics or needs, such as making travel arrangements, or joining a study course or sports club. You should fill in the form by writing words or a number, depending on the instructions. Let’s look at an example.

Example
Questions 1-4Complete the notes in the form using NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer.Hiking Club
Membership FormName: 1 ……………………………….Student Number: 2……………………………….Telephone Number:………….65 78 94 89…………University Degree: Bachelor of 3……………………………….How he found out about the club 4……………………………….

Sentence Completion

Sentence Completion questions may occur in any section of the Listening test.

You need to complete one or more sentences by filling in the missing word or words that you hear. The correct answers will fit grammatically in the sentences.

Let’s look at an example.

Example
Questions 11-12Complete the sentences below using NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS for each answer.In the past, studies have focused on how the 11………………. influences driver behaviour.This research project’s specific focus is on the 12………………. of the music.

From the instructions you can see that

  • there are two questions (Questions 11 and 12)
  • the word limit for each answer is three words.

Flow Chart Completion

This question type may be in any section of the test, but is often in Sections 2 and 4.

A flow chart is a diagram that shows the steps or stages of a process. The stages are often linked by arrows: (↓). You need to complete missing information in the flow chart by writing a word, words or number that you hear.

Let’s look at an example.

Example
Questions 13-16Complete the flow chart using NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS OR A NUMBER for each answer.The Method used in this Research ProjectThey chose 28 subjects from State University.They divided the subjects into four groups.They gave different music, or none at all, to each group.Group OneGroup TwoGroup ThreeGroup Four0 bpm50 bpm90 bpm13 …… bpm** beats per minuteSubjects did a 14……………. on a driving simulator.The researchers measured:15 ………………driving behaviourrisk-takingspeednumber of 16………………………….

From the instructions we can see that:

  • there are four questions (Questions 13-16)
  • the word limit for each answer is three words and/or a number.

Let’s look more closely at the flow chart in this example. There are five stages – each stage is in a separate box. You need to answer one question in Stages 3 and 4 and two in Stage 5. The question numbers are in the flow chart boxes. If you are sitting the paper-based test, you should write your answers in your Question Booklet next to each question.

Table Completion

Table Completion questions are very common in the Listening test. They may be in any section, but they are frequently found in Sections 2 and 4.

Let’s look at an example from the conversation between the lecturer and students about their research project.

Example
Questions 17-20Complete the table below using NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer.Table showing resultsGroup OneGroup TwoGroup ThreeGroup FourPercentage who drove through a 17 ………18 …… %5%5%8%Accidentsnonevery fewvery fewmore frequent and 19………Heart ratefluctuates normallyshowed 20 …………… fluctuations

From the instructions you can see that:

  • there are four questions (Questions 17-20)
  • the word limit for each answer is three words and/or a number.

Summary Paragraph Completion

This question type may occur in any of the four sections of the Listening test. However, Summary Paragraph Completion questions are most often found in Section 4.

This is probably one of the most difficult question types. You will listen to a passage, and in the question, you will see a short paragraph that summarises the main points of the listening passage.

There are two types of Summary Paragraph Completion questions. Let’s look at an example of each.

Example 1 – Summary Paragraph with a list of answer choices
Questions 8 – 10Complete the summary below using words from the list.aridcheeseflourlong-lastingnon-toxicshadyversatileHemp can be a source of foods and health products. It can produce 8…………………. containing a higher level of protein. It has many applications in the home. Paint made from hemp is 9………………………. It grows well under 10……………………… conditions. It is an environmentally-friendly solution to many problems.

From the instructions you can see that:

  • you must complete the summary
  • there are three questions (Questions 8 – 10)
  • there is a list of answers to choose from.

Sometimes the question does not provide a list of answer choices. You need to listen carefully for the correct answers. The key words in the instructions will explain how many words you should write and whether you can write a number. Look at the example.

Example 2 – Summary Paragraph without a list of answer choices
Questions 8 – 10Complete the summary below using NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS for each answer.Hemp can be a source of foods and health products. It can produce 8…………………. containing a higher level of protein. It has many applications in the home. Paint made from hemp is 9………………………. It grows well under 10……………………… conditions. It is an environmentally-friendly solution to many problems.

Summary Notes Completion

In this question type, you need to complete a list of notes that summarise the listening passage. This question type is very common and may be in any section of the Listening test. However, in Section 4, these notes are often longer and more complicated, such as notes that a student takes at a university lecture, as shown in the example below.

Example
Questions 27-30Complete the notes below using NO MORE THAN THREE WORDSfor each answer.Findings of the Research ReportDriving through a red lightGroup 4 twice as likely to do this.Car AccidentsGroup 1: no accidentsGroups 2-3: 27…………………… accidentsGroup 4: more frequent accidentsHeart RateNo music: fluctuates normallyListen to music: fewer fluctuationsConclusion: the music apparently 28……………….. the driversA Limitation of this StudyDoes the simulator actually represent how people drive
29………………………….. ?Recommendations:Make people aware of how music affects their drivingEncourage drivers to:choose 30………………………. of musicturn down the volume

From the instructions we can see that:

  • there are four questions (Questions 27 – 30)
  • the word limit for each answer is three words.