IELTS general reading flow chart completion

IELTS general reading flow chart completion is a simple question but a bit tricky in the IELTS general reading exams. To get this question right, read the instructions carefully and use the necessary skills and strategies. Flow chart completion questions come like a process or sequence of happenings or events with blanks. You are asked to fill in the blanks with the test from the paragraph.  

Flow chart completion is the frequently asked question in both the IELTS general and academic reading tests. In this task, your responsibility is to fill in the blanks by knowing the flow of the process given in the passage. Focus on the direction of arrows, dates, verbs, or adverbs to get the answers quickly. 

Among the other reading question types, flow chart completion is one of the most vital IELTS general reading question types. In this article, you will get everything you want to know about the IELTS general reading flow chart completion. Flow chart completion question type is the one that aids you to enhance your IELTS general reading score In your final IELTS exam. 

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IELTS general reading flow chart completion - Strategies & tips to solve

Find some expert proven IELTS general reading flow chart completion tips and strategies listed below to improve your abilities in answering the flow chart completion question in the IELTS general reading test. 

1. Pay attention to the instruction before answering the questions to follow the word limit mentioned. 
2. Do not forget that the words must be taken from the given reading passage.
3. Read the question and identify the keyword to search for the relevant area in the passage. 
4. Focus on the arrows, dates, verbs or action verbs, or adverbs to get the answers easily.
5. Try to identify the sequence of the events or processes to find the answer flow in the passage. Focus on the specific passage to follow the flow.
6. The statements in the flowchart may not be in sequential order to make the task more challenging. So, focus is very important here.
7. Predict the word that suits the gap with grammatical accuracy and logic. With the help of your assumption, try to find the answer from the passage.  
8. Read each and every statement of the question to get the main idea of the sequence of the question
9. Identify the kind of word suits in the blank. It can be a noun, verb, adjective or adverb. It will help you to spot the correct answer in less time.
10. Once you find the exact location, write the word/words that complete the statement based on the passage information.
11. Remember that you should not change the word form and also do not repeat the word already given in the question in reworded form. 
12. Understanding the structure of the flow chart can be helpful to know the concept and the content.
13. Check your answers twice to verify whether it is correct grammatically as well as in spelling.

Even if you get a complex question in your final IELTS general reading exam, remembering all the IELTS general reading flow chart completion tips and strategies listed above will help you to effectively overcome this question type. 

Also, read IELTS reading tips

Skills required to solve flow chart completion

• Skimming
• Quick grasping skills  
• Grammar and logic abilities
• Recognizing keywords, synonyms and phrases
• Effective time planning

Common challenges faced while answering flow chart completion

• Flow chart completion is generally a time consuming question compared to others.
• Exceeding the word limit mentioned in the instructions in a rush.
• Not recognizing the synonyms and paraphrasing. 
• Not noticing the arrows and direction of the flow chart.

Flow Chart Completion Practice Exercise 1

Answer questions 1-8 which are based on the reading passage below.

Calisthenics Reading Passage

Calisthenics has survived and flourished because of its elegance and usefulness, from the first caveman scaling a tree or swinging from a cliff face to the great armies of the Greco-Roman empires and the gymnasiums of present American high schools. Unlike strength training, which includes the use of weights, machines, or resistance bands, callisthenics mainly focuses on the body's natural weight.

With Herodotus' account of the Battle of Thermopolylae, Calisthenics reaches the historical record around 480 B.C. According to Herodotus, the god-king Xerxes sent a scout group to spy on his Spartan opponents before the battle. The scouts notified Xerxes that the Spartans, lead by King Leonidas, were participating in some strange, synchronised movements like a tribal dance. Xerxes was laughing uncontrollably. 

His army included over 120,000 warriors, whereas the Spartans numbered barely 300. Leonidas was told that if he would not retreat, he would be annihilated. The Spartans, on the other hand, did not retreat, and in the ensuing fight, they were capable of holding off Xerxes' huge army for a while until reinforcements reached. Their tribal dance, it turns out, was not a superstitious ritual, but a kind of callisthenics through which they gained amazing physical stamina and endurance.

Calisthenics was seen as a kind of military discipline and strength by the Greeks, as well as an artistic expression of action and an aesthetically perfect body. The term "callisthenics" is derived from the Greek terms "beautiful" and "strength." The ancient Olympians took callisthenics training seriously, according to historical accounts and pictures from pottery, mosaics, and statues from the time frame. They were praised for their mixture of athleticism and physical attributes, and they are still appreciated today. You might have overheard a friend sighing and commenting that someone "had the body of a Greek god." The source of this envy and admiration is the callisthenics method, which has spread through ages and regions.

Questions 1 - 8

Complete the flow chart below

Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS for each answer

Check answer for this exercise

Answers for Practice Exercise

Find the answers with explanations given below for the above practice exercise and check your answers. 

Calisthenics Reading Answers

(Note: The text in italics is from the reading passage and shows the location from where the answer is taken or inferred. The text in the regular font explains the answer in detail.)

1. elegance

2. usefulness (h6) ( 1 and 2 can be in any order)

Explanation: Paragraph 1 - Calisthenics has survived and flourished because of its elegance and usefulness, from the first caveman scaling a tree or swinging from a cliff face to the great armies of the Greco-Roman empires and the gymnasiums of present American high schools. 

3. natural weight

Explanation: Paragraph 1 - Unlike strength training, which includes the use of weights, machines, or resistance bands, callisthenics mainly focuses on the body's natural weight.

4. 480 B.C 

Explanation: Paragraph 2 - With Herodotus' account of the Battle of Thermopolylae, Calisthenics reaches the historical record around 480 B.C. 

5. King Leonidas

Explanation: Paragraph 2 - The scouts notified Xerxes that the Spartans, lead by King Leonidas, were participating in some strange, synchronised movements like a tribal dance.

6. huge army

Explanation: Paragraph 3 - The Spartans, on the other hand, did not retreat, and in the ensuing fight, they were capable of holding off Xerxes' huge army for a while until reinforcements reached.

7. endurance

Explanation: Paragraph 3 - Their tribal dance, it turns out, was not a superstitious ritual, but a kind of callisthenics through which they gained amazing physical stamina and endurance.

8. athleticism

Explanation: Paragraph 4 - They were praised for their mixture of athleticism and physical attributes, and they are still appreciated today. 

Also check IELTS general reading yes/no/not given

Conclusion

The tips, strategies, and skill building exercises provided in this blog will enhance your abilities and confidence in solving the IELTS general reading flow chart completion question. Check out this blog while you practice. Trying different mock tests support you to attain a higher band score in the IELTS general reading exam.