IELTS · reading

IELTS Sentence Completion — Format, Tips & Free Practice

Learn how IELTS Sentence Completion works inside reading: format, scoring cues, common mistakes, and free timed practice on EnglishTestNow. Ask the Exam Knowledge Expert for member-only exam specifics.

Try a demo

Format at a glance

Gaps at the end or middle of sentences. Limits: typically NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS or ONE WORD ONLY. Questions usually follow passage order. 60-minute test, three passages.

What this is

阅读句子完成题给出句子开头，要求用文章中的词语完成句子，严格遵守字数限制。答案必须完全复制文本（形式和拼写一致），且完成句子语法正确。掌握题型后，切换到EnglishTestNow上的限时IELTS句子完成练习，使答题节奏自动化。每次练习后，检查是否完成了该任务所需的步骤，而不仅仅是整体部分估分。若同一错误重复出现两次，请打开本站相关阅读指南，比较相关任务的评分标准，再预约完整模拟考试。

为什么本部分很重要

句子中间或结尾有空缺。限制：通常不超过两个词或仅限一个词。题目通常按文章顺序。60分钟测试，三篇文章。答案需从文章中精确取词，且符合语法。不能用同义词，不能自行改写。考生通常在练习官方时间限制下的标准答题模式时，才不会在IELTS句子完成部分因泛泛的语言训练而表现不佳。

常见错误及避免方法

Practicing Sentence Completion only with untimed or open-book drills until the final week before IELTS.
Memorizing model answers that collapse when the Sentence Completion prompt uses an unfamiliar theme or integrated input.
因跳过顺序而从错误段落取词。
Treating Reading as one skill without drilling Sentence Completion as its own high-frequency exam move.

Tips that move the score

Map the official IELTS instructions for Sentence Completion before you practice: timing, response length, and any integrated input you must use.
Record one untimed attempt to learn the shape of Sentence Completion, then switch immediately to exam-realistic timing so pacing becomes automatic.
Review every practice attempt by error type—vocabulary gaps, structure, fluency, or missed instructions—rather than only checking a final score estimate.
Build a short checklist unique to Sentence Completion (opening move, evidence moves, closing move) and reuse it until it is automatic under pressure.
Alternate focused Sentence Completion drills with full reading mocks so you can transfer improvements without losing stamina.
When two mocks in a row stay at your target for this task, raise difficulty by shortening prep time or increasing response complexity instead of repeating easy prompts.

Members only

Stuck on Sentence Completion?

Ask the Exam Knowledge Expert about scoring grey areas, timing, and what examiners look for on this exact format—not generic grammar tips.

Example:How do I find sentence completion answers quickly in the passage?
Example:Do numbers count as one word in reading completion?

Ask the Knowledge Expert See all add-ons →

常见问题

What is IELTS Sentence Completion?

IELTS Sentence Completion is a scored task (or resource guide) inside the Reading section. Official forms expect a response that follows the published instructions, timing, and evaluation criteria for this format. EnglishTestNow practice mirrors those constraints so you can rehearse the same decisions you will make on test day.

How should I practice IELTS Sentence Completion?

Start with format familiarization, then move to timed attempts. Log mistakes by type, drill the weakest pattern, and re-test under full timing. Mix single-task drills with complete reading practice so stamina and task switching stay sharp.

What do examiners look for in IELTS Sentence Completion?

Markers focus on whether you completed the task, organized clearly, used appropriate language range, and met any integrated or length requirements. Scoring sheets differ by exam brand, but ignoring instructions or going off-topic almost always costs more than a few grammar slips.

How does Sentence Completion affect my overall IELTS score?

Reading performance is aggregated into your official result. Weakness on a frequent task like Sentence Completion can drag an entire section below visa or university minimums even when other tasks feel comfortable. Train the bottleneck deliberately rather than averaging practice time evenly.

Where can I get exam-specific help for IELTS Sentence Completion?

Use free timed practice and demos on EnglishTestNow, then upgrade to member coaching tools when you need feedback. Members with the Exam Knowledge Expert add-on can ask exam-specific questions about IELTS Sentence Completion scoring expectations, common traps, and how examiners typically mark this format—without guessing from generic English advice.