🎯 Objective
To master the essential skills needed to successfully complete summary questions in IELTS Reading tests by identifying correct words from passages while following strict word limits and grammatical requirements.
📝 Understanding Summary Completion Questions
Summary completion questions test your ability to identify specific information from a passage and use it to complete a shortened version (summary) of the text. You must follow the word limit instructions exactly.
| Instruction Type | What It Means | Example Answer |
|---|---|---|
| NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS | Use 1 or 2 words maximum from the passage | "fossil fuels" ✓ / "the fossil fuels" ✗ |
| ONE WORD ONLY | Use exactly one word from the passage | "pollution" ✓ / "air pollution" ✗ |
| NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS | Use 1, 2, or 3 words maximum from passage | "renewable energy sources" ✓ |
📚 Complete Guide: Mastering Summary Completion Questions
Understanding Summary Completion Questions
Key Features: Summary completion questions present a shortened version of information from the passage with gaps that you must fill using words directly from the text.
📋 Question Format
Structure: Summary with numbered gaps
Instructions: Word limit clearly specified
Source: All answers come from the passage
Order: Gaps usually follow passage order
🎯 Skills Tested
Scanning: Locate relevant information quickly
Paraphrasing: Recognize synonyms and rephrasing
Grammar: Choose grammatically correct words
Precision: Follow word limits exactly
⚠️ Common Challenges
Paraphrasing: Summary uses different words than passage
Word limits: Easy to exceed the allowed number
Grammar: Answer must fit grammatically
Synonyms: Key words may be replaced with alternatives
🔑 Success Strategies
Read instructions: Always check word limits first
Predict answers: Think about what type of word fits
Use keywords: Find the relevant section in passage
Check grammar: Ensure answers fit syntactically
Step-by-Step Strategy
Step 1: Read Instructions Carefully (30 seconds)
- Identify the word limit (ONE/TWO/THREE words)
- Note whether numbers count as words
- Understand if hyphenated words count as one or two
- Check if the summary covers the whole passage or part of it
Step 2: Read the Summary First (60 seconds)
- Read the complete summary to understand the topic
- Predict what type of word might fit each gap
- Look for grammatical clues (noun, verb, adjective needed)
- Identify keywords around each gap
Step 3: Locate Information in Passage (2-3 minutes)
- Find the relevant section for each gap
- Look for synonyms and paraphrasing
- Remember gaps usually follow passage order
- Scan for specific details mentioned in summary
Step 4: Choose and Check Answers (1-2 minutes)
- Extract the exact words from the passage
- Check word limits carefully
- Ensure answers are grammatically correct
- Verify answers make logical sense in context
Word Limit Rules and Grammar Tips
✅ Word Limit Guidelines:
- Contractions count as two words (don't = do not)
- Hyphenated words usually count as one word
- Numbers written as figures count as one word (25)
- Numbers written as words follow normal rules (twenty-five = one word)
- Use exact words from the passage
- Don't change the form of words unnecessarily
❌ Common Word Limit Mistakes:
- Adding articles when not needed (the, a, an)
- Using more words than allowed
- Changing word forms when original fits
- Including words not in the passage
- Using synonyms instead of exact passage words
- Ignoring grammatical requirements
Grammar Prediction Techniques:
Before a noun: Look for adjectives, determiners, or other nouns
After a verb: Look for nouns, adjectives, or adverbs
After a preposition: Look for nouns or noun phrases
Subject position: Look for nouns or noun phrases
Advanced Techniques for Difficult Questions
Dealing with Paraphrasing:
Summary: "Scientists conducted extensive research..."
Passage might say: "Researchers carried out comprehensive studies..."
Key: Scientists = researchers, conducted = carried out, extensive = comprehensive
Handling Numbers and Statistics:
Passage: "approximately fifty percent" or "around 50%"
Choose based on word limit: "50%" (one word) vs "fifty percent" (two words)
Be precise: Don't change "approximately" to "exactly"
Synonym Recognition Skills:
Common Academic Synonyms:
• research/study/investigation • method/technique/approach
• increase/rise/growth • decrease/decline/fall
• important/significant/crucial • problem/issue/challenge
📄 Reading Passage: The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Modern Healthcare
Artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing the healthcare industry in unprecedented ways. Medical professionals are increasingly utilizing AI-powered systems to enhance diagnostic accuracy, streamline treatment processes, and improve patient outcomes. The integration of machine learning algorithms into medical practice has enabled doctors to analyze vast amounts of patient data more efficiently than ever before.
One of the most significant applications of AI in healthcare is in medical imaging. Advanced computer vision systems can now detect abnormalities in X-rays, CT scans, and MRI images with remarkable precision. Studies have shown that AI diagnostic tools can identify certain conditions, such as skin cancer and eye diseases, with accuracy rates exceeding 95%. This technology allows for earlier detection of diseases, which is crucial for successful treatment outcomes.
AI is also transforming drug discovery and development. Traditional pharmaceutical research typically takes 10-15 years to bring a new medication to market, costing billions of dollars. However, AI algorithms can analyze molecular structures and predict drug interactions much faster than conventional methods. Some pharmaceutical companies have reported reducing their research timelines by up to 30% through the implementation of AI technologies.
Despite these advances, the adoption of AI in healthcare faces several challenges. Privacy concerns regarding patient data security remain a major obstacle. Additionally, the high cost of implementing AI systems can be prohibitive for smaller healthcare facilities. There is also the issue of training medical staff to effectively use these new technologies, which requires significant investment in education and professional development.
Looking to the future, experts predict that AI will become even more integrated into healthcare systems globally. Robotic surgery, personalized medicine based on genetic analysis, and AI-powered virtual health assistants are expected to become standard practice within the next decade. The potential for AI to reduce healthcare costs while improving patient care makes it an essential tool for addressing the growing demands of modern medicine.
🧩 Practice Questions: Summary Completion
Instructions: Complete the summary below using words from the passage. Use NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS for each answer.
Summary: AI in Healthcare
Artificial intelligence is changing healthcare by helping medical professionals improve 1 and make treatment processes more efficient. AI systems can process large amounts of 2 much more effectively than traditional methods.
In medical imaging, AI can identify 3 in various types of scans with high precision. Research indicates that AI tools can diagnose certain conditions with accuracy rates above 4.
The pharmaceutical industry benefits from AI in 5 development. While traditional research takes 10-15 years, AI can analyze 6 and predict how drugs interact more quickly. Some companies have reduced their research time by 7.
However, there are obstacles to AI adoption in healthcare. 8 about patient data security is a significant concern. The 9 of implementing AI systems can be too expensive for smaller medical facilities.
Future developments in AI healthcare include robotic surgery, 10 based on genetic analysis, and virtual health assistants. These innovations could help reduce 11 while improving patient care.
✅ Answer Key & Detailed Analysis
1. diagnostic accuracy
Location: "enhance diagnostic accuracy" (paragraph 1)
Analysis: The summary says "improve" which is a synonym for "enhance." The exact phrase is "diagnostic accuracy."
2. patient data
Location: "analyze vast amounts of patient data" (paragraph 1)
Analysis: The summary mentions "large amounts" which paraphrases "vast amounts." The answer is "patient data."
3. abnormalities
Location: "detect abnormalities in X-rays, CT scans, and MRI images" (paragraph 2)
Analysis: "Identify" in the summary is a synonym for "detect." The answer is "abnormalities."
4. 95%
Location: "accuracy rates exceeding 95%" (paragraph 2)
Analysis: "Above" in the summary means the same as "exceeding." The answer is "95%."
5. drug discovery
Location: "AI is also transforming drug discovery and development" (paragraph 3)
Analysis: The summary uses "development" after the gap, so we need "drug discovery" to match the passage.
6. molecular structures
Location: "AI algorithms can analyze molecular structures" (paragraph 3)
Analysis: The summary directly refers to what AI can analyze, which is "molecular structures."
7. 30%
Location: "reducing their research timelines by up to 30%" (paragraph 3)
Analysis: "Reduced their research time by" matches "reducing their research timelines by." Answer: "30%."
8. Privacy concerns
Location: "Privacy concerns regarding patient data security" (paragraph 4)
Analysis: The summary structure shows we need what is a significant concern. Answer: "Privacy concerns."
9. high cost
Location: "the high cost of implementing AI systems" (paragraph 4)
Analysis: The summary mentions something being "too expensive," which relates to "high cost."
10. personalized medicine
Location: "personalized medicine based on genetic analysis" (paragraph 5)
Analysis: The summary structure shows we need what is "based on genetic analysis." Answer: "personalized medicine."
11. healthcare costs
Location: "reduce healthcare costs while improving patient care" (paragraph 5)
Analysis: The summary asks what could be reduced. The passage says "healthcare costs."
🏆 Complete Strategy Guide and Advanced Techniques
🔍 Step-by-Step Analysis for Each Question:
Question 1 Strategy:
Keyword identification: "improve" → look for synonyms like "enhance"
Grammar clue: Need a noun phrase after "improve"
Result: "diagnostic accuracy" fits perfectly
Question 4 Strategy:
Number recognition: "above" = "exceeding"
Precision: Use exact percentage from passage
Word limit: "95%" counts as one word
⚠️ Common Trap Analysis:
Trap 1: Changing Word Forms
• Wrong: "accurately" instead of "accuracy"
• Correct approach: Keep the exact word form from passage
Trap 2: Adding Unnecessary Words
• Wrong: "the patient data" (3 words)
• Correct: "patient data" (2 words)
Trap 3: Using Synonyms
• Wrong: "medical information" instead of "patient data"
• Correct approach: Use exact words from passage
📊 Effective Scanning Techniques:
Technique 1: Keyword Prediction
Before looking at the passage, predict what type of word fits the gap based on grammar and context.
Technique 2: Synonym Awareness
Summary words often paraphrase passage words:
• "improve" = "enhance" • "large" = "vast" • "identify" = "detect"
Technique 3: Sequential Reading
Summary gaps usually follow the order of information in the passage.
🎯 Grammar Prediction Mastery:
Question 2 Example: "process large amounts of ___"
Grammar tells us we need a noun after "of"
Context suggests it's something AI processes in healthcare
Answer: "patient data"
Question 8 Example: "___ about patient data security"
Grammar indicates we need a noun that can be "about" something
Context suggests it's a problem or challenge
Answer: "Privacy concerns"
📝 Word Limit Mastery:
Counting Rules:
• "95%" = 1 word • "thirty percent" = 2 words
• "high-tech" = 1 word • "AI systems" = 2 words
• "healthcare" = 1 word • "health care" = 2 words
Decision Making:
When the passage has multiple options, choose the one that fits the word limit and sounds most natural in the summary.
⏰ Time Management for Summary Completion:
Recommended timing for 10 questions: 12-15 minutes
• 2 minutes: Read instructions and summary
• 8-10 minutes: Find and fill answers
• 2-3 minutes: Check and verify answers
If you're running out of time:
• Make educated guesses based on grammar
• Use keywords to quickly locate relevant sections
• Don't leave any gaps blank
🔄 Practice Recommendations:
Daily practice routine:
- Read a paragraph and create summary gaps
- Practice identifying paraphrasing in news articles
- Time yourself on summary completion exercises
- Focus on grammar prediction skills
Skills to develop:
• Synonym recognition • Grammar awareness
• Scanning speed • Word counting
• Paraphrase identification • Time management
📈 Scoring Guidelines:
Band Score Targets:
• Band 6.0: 7-8 correct out of 11
• Band 7.0: 9-10 correct out of 11
• Band 8.0: 10-11 correct out of 11
Key improvement areas:
• Accuracy in word limits • Grammar prediction
• Synonym recognition • Scanning efficiency
🧠 Memory Techniques:
Remember SWORD:
Scan for keywords
Word limit check
Order follows passage
Read around the gap
Double-check grammar