IELTS Listening Sentence Completion

IELTS listening sentence completion is one of the significant types in the IELTS listening test. Sentence completion appears with a set of sentences with blanks. Candidates are asked to fill in the blanks with the perfect missing words. Blanks can be at the end of the sentences or within the sentences. Focus, listening skills, and multitasking abilities are tested in the IELTS listening test. 

Candidates can take either paper-based or computer-based tests, which is entirely their personal choice. There is no major difference in exam pattern, question types, format, time, difficulty level, etc. Without proper preparation and some IELTS listening sentence completion tips and strategies, it is difficult to solve the IELTS listening sentence completion question type. Read the complete article as it is all about sentence completion.

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IELTS listening sentence completion exercises

Get the best three IELTS listening sentence completion exercises with answers in this section. Practice well, take multiple practice tests, and self-assess to score high in the final listening test.

IELTS listening sentence completion - sample 1 

Questions 1- 8

Complete the sentences below.

Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS for each answer.

1. Realising __________ is the basic requirement of a productive workshop.
2. Reaching before the _____________ keep one calm and relaxed.
3. Informal interaction at the onset helps in __________ a connection with the participants. 
4. The ice-breaking activity is a ____________ way that still exists. 
5. It is important to mention the ___________ of the day and follow it strictly.
6. The audience may not retain ___________ in the latter half.
7. The selected venue must have _____________ in working condition. 
8. The set ____________ for the workshop must be displayed for references or clarification.

Audio context: The recording of this sample question is a speech by an experienced person advising on how to conduct a productive workshop and its requirements.

Answers

1.Objectives

Audio transcript: First, as with every other task, it’s important to be clear about the objectives of your workshop.

2.participants

Audio transcript: Getting there ahead of the participants puts you at ease, and also gives you time to arrange all necessary tools such as projector, laptop, and even to go through your notes.

3.building

Audio transcript: It also gives you the chance to interact informally with the participants as they arrive, thus building a rapport for the session.

4.conventional

Audio transcript: Although it's a conventional method, it has not lost its charm. If you have the time, you can give each participant a chance for self-introduction along with a brief description of what they do.

5.schedule

Audio transcript: Mention the day's schedule, making sure you stick to it and assure them of useful takeaways throughout the session. 

6.interest 

Audio transcript: But participants tend to lose interest in the post-lunch sessions or the second half. 

7.facilities

Audio transcript: Please ensure that the selected venue has functioning facilities such as a clean washroom, air-conditioning or heating as required, fire safety, hygienic restroom facilities, emergency exits, refreshments and lunch or dinner arrangements.

8.ground rules 

Audio transcript: Write these ground rules on the whiteboard or the screen for reference or clarification if and when required. 

IELTS listening sentence completion - sample 2

Questions 1- 10

Complete the sentences below.

Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer.

1. Standardised language tests ___________ the candidate’s communication skill in the native language.

2. Candidates fail to develop a suitable ___________ while preparing for language tests.

3. Study material must be chosen ____________.

4.  It is advised to choose books by ___________ English writers for an English test.

5. Understanding the _____________ of the test makes preparation easy.

6. Unlike other subject tests, language assessment presents ____________ to the test takers. 

7. Language learning must be an ongoing process in the _____________.

8. Spending _____________ hours daily is sufficient for test preparation. 

9. It is better to ___________ more questions as there is no negative marking.

10. Performance is better if the brain receives sufficient _________.

Audio context: The recording contains the speech of an experienced language proficiency trainer who has trained students for entrance tests in the coaching session. 

Answers 

1.assess

Audio transcript: You must understand that the purpose of such tests is to assess the candidate’s proficiency in the language of communication in that country.

2.approach

Audio transcript: In my experience as a trainer for language proficiency tests, I have found that most students, especially those from non-english speaking countries, do not have the right approach to the test.

3.carefully 

Audio transcript: For this reason, I would like to mention that you should select your study material carefully. 

4.native 

Audio transcript: However, if you do require more study material, look for books published by old players. For an English test, pick books by native English authors. 

5.nature 

Audio transcript: If you understand the nature of the test, preparation and practice will be a smooth affair.

6.unseen material

Audio transcript: Unlike other subject tests, language proficiency tests require smart work, not hard work because you will be handling unseen material.

7.mind

Audio transcript: Study hours should not include attempting practice tests alone. In fact, you should continuously be preparing in your mind by observing and describing what you see, read or hear in that language. 

8.two/2

Audio transcript: For a proficiency test, you may not need to put in more than (Q8) two hours of practice a day. 

9.attempt

Audio transcript: If there is no negative marking, where points are not taken for a wrong answer, you should aim to attempt the maximum questions.

10.oxygen 

Audio transcript: It will keep you relaxed and give your brain the much-needed oxygen to function well.

IELTS listening sentence completion - sample 3

Questions 1- 7

Complete the sentences below.

Write ONE WORD AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer.

1. Bungee jumping is challenging as well as__________.

2. The guide has attempted over__________ from the bridge.

3. The Zambezi Adrenaline Company has not recorded any __________ yet. 

4. It is assumed that the sudden movement during the jump can harm the back and _________. 

5. ___________are advised to attempt the headfirst dive. 

6. The company will not provide a____________ after the form is duly signed. 

7. The cafe on the bridge provides some relief from the __________.

Audio context: The recording has a speech by the manager of Zambezi Adrenaline Company who talked about bungee jumping and the safety that the company offers to participants.

Answers

1.dangerous 

Audio transcript: People may tell you that bungee jumping is a challenging and (Q1) dangerous adventure.

2.fifty/50 jumps

Audio transcript: However, as someone who has recorded more than fifty jumps from this bridge before joining the company as a jumpmaster, I can tell you that it's the most exhilarating feeling in the world. 

3.casualty

Audio transcript: Since its inception, the Zambezi Adrenaline Company has never had a casualty. 

4.eyeballs

Audio transcript: However, quite a few strange myths are doing the rounds about bungee jumping; one is that your back is going to snap because of the jerk and, another is that your eyeballs are going to pop out! 

5.beginners 

Audio transcript: Usually, the standard headfirst dive is advised for beginners. 

6.refund 

Audio transcript: You will get a refund until the time you sign the indemnity form at the site, before the jump.

7.heat 

Audio transcript: The café also gives you respite from the heat. It can get sweltering at times.

Tips & strategies to solve the IELTS listening sentence completion task

It is always better to know some tips and tactics to crack the sentence completion question type with ease. Find some professional tips and IELTS listening sentence completion strategies to crack the IELTS listening sentence completion question types listed below. 

Keep an eye out on instructions

The instruction part is crucial in the IELTS exams. Instructions are given to tell the candidates how many words should be written in the gaps. On the top of the questions, you can see various instructions like, 

• Write NO MORE THAN ONE WORD and/or a NUMBER for each answer
• Write ONE WORD ONLY for each answer
• Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORD and/or a NUMBER for each answer
• Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS and/or a NUMBER for each answer

Read the instructions before everything and remember until you answer the last question. If you exceed the specified word limit, your answers will be marked as incorrect.

Utilize time wisely

Once the test begins, it takes 20 seconds to play the recordings of the conversation or speech. Use that time smartly by going through the instructions, title, and questions once quickly. This will familiarize you with the context of the audio.

Highlight the keywords

Read the questions thoroughly and underline the keyword that you feel is significant. Because keywords are fruitful to relate the recordings with the questions and also aid to identify the correct answer. 

Example :

• In the eighteenth century, the 31 ___________ still determined how most people made a living
• In the ground were minerals that supported the many 32  ____________ of the region.
• Since the late sixteenth century the French settlers had made 33 _____________.
• In Cheshire 34 _____________ was mined and transported on the river Mersey.
• Potters worked in a few 35 ______________ situated on the small hills of North Staffordshire

Focus on recordings

To get the right answer, complete attention is very important. If you get diverted, it is very difficult to follow the flow. Remember that the recordings are played only once in the actual listening exam. 

Multitasking

A vital tip is to multitask while taking the listening test. Because you have to listen to the audio, read the question, relate, identify and write down the answers simultaneously. Practice, practice, practice more to develop your multitasking skill.

Don’t worry about the order

One of the biggest myths is that the answer from the recordings will not be given in order. The IELTS aspirants need not worry about the order of answers. Because the test takers will get the answers in the correct order. So after writing the answer to the previous question they can move on to the following question.

Try to predict the answers 

By reading the question, try to predict the missing word in the sentence. This helps you to look for the correct answer while you hear the audio. Definitely, it is hard to find the exact word, but you can guess what can be the answer like number, name, verb, noun, etc. 

Example

• In the eighteenth century, the 31 ___________ still determined how most people made a living
• In the ground were minerals that supported the many 32  ____________ of the region.
• Since the late sixteenth century the French settlers had made 33 _____________.
• In Cheshire 34 _____________ was mined and transported on the river Mersey.
• Potters worked in a few 35 ______________ situated on the small hills of North Staffordshire. 

Try to predict and complete the above sentences. 

Look for synonyms and paraphrasing

Synonyms and paraphrasing play a major role in the listening test. Speakers on the recordings will rarely speak the exact word used in the sentences, often they speak synonyms, phrases, and paraphrasing. So be prepared and look for different words with similar meanings. 

Example:

• Since the late sixteenth century the French settlers had made …..

The above statement can be paraphrased in a different way by the speaker. Check below,

• …. created by French settlers from the late sixteenth century

Synonyms used in the above statement are,

-made -> created
-Since -> from 

Focus on grammar accuracy

Once you have found the answer, check that the word fits the sentence grammatically. If not, then your answer is wrong. If the correct word form does not fit the sentence, change the word grammatically to fit the gap.

For example,

• Recording: Michael - I ate five pieces of chicken at dinner
• Question sentence: At dinner, five pieces of chicken were eaten by Michael. 

Guess to avoid blank spaces

If you couldn’t find the answer from the audio, don’t panic, guess and write something logically. But, never leave blanks without an answer. There are some chances of getting the guessed answer right. Use your abilities to fill in the blanks with the possible answers. 

Wait for the correct answer

Not everything you hear will be right. So, be patient and listen carefully to get the right answer. The speaker on the audio may change the answer abruptly, so wait until you get a firm answer.

Do final check 

In the paper-based test, you will be given 10 minutes to transform your answers in the answer sheet. Make use of the given time and transform your answers quickly. So that you will get some extra minutes to review your answers. Don't fail to do a final check, this will help you correct if anything is wrong.

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IELTS Listening Sentence Completion practice exercise

Questions 1- 8

Complete the sentences below.

Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer.

1. Polar bears use the technique of still-hunting to consume less __________. 

2. The __________ serve as seal hunting spots for the polar bears.

3. The__________ in the arctic region does not allow bears to hunt seals.

4. The sea ice in the Arctic region is reducing by __________ every decade.

5. An adult _________ bear could be as heavy as 700 to 1500 pounds.

6. Travelling for food will result in _______________ as well as the strength to hunt.

7. By the next few decades, the polar bear population is likely to fall below _____________.

8. Decreasing our __________ can help to stop global warming.

Audio context: The audio contains Stephen Nicklen's talk, which is about the plight of polar bears due to global warming.

Answers

1.energy

Audio transcript: However, they are known to minimise their utilisation of energy by still-hunting. 

2.breathing holes

Audio transcript: The bears wait for long hours next to these (Q2) breathing holes in the ice. 

3.melting ice

Audio transcript: But because of the melting ice in the Arctic region, polar bears cannot use this technique to hunt their most staple diet. 

4.14% / fourteen percent

Audio transcript: As you all know, climate change is heating the Arctic region at unprecedented rates and the sea ice is shrinking by nearly 14% per decade. 

5.male/male polar

Audio transcript: An adult male can weigh approximately between seven hundred and fifteen hundred pounds. 

6.weight loss

Audio transcript: With melting ice, they will have to walk long distances to hunt for food, which leads to weight loss and ultimately the strength required for hunting. 

7.10,000

Audio transcript: It is anticipated that by 2050, there may be less than(Q7) 10,000 polar bears in existence.

8.carbon footprint

Audio transcript: If we want to save them, all of us have to do our bit to prevent global warming by reducing our carbon footprint. 

Click to check out the IELTS Listening practice test

Conclusion

In a nutshell, IELTS listening sentence completion is the least expected question, however, you should be prepared for everything to score a band score of 9 on the listening test. Consistent practice makes everything possible. 

Faq

1.What is meant by sentence completion IELTS listening?

In the listening IELTS test, sentence completion is one of the question types. In this task, candidates are given incomplete sentences and asked to complete them. Gaps can be at the end of a sentence or within a sentence. Candidates have to listen to the audio and fill in the blanks with suitable words.

2.How should I answer the IELTS listening sentence completion questions?

• Read the title, instructions, and questions.
• Underline the major keywords.
• Try to predict the possible answers.
• Listen to the audio carefully.
• Relate the conversation or speech with the major keywords.
• Identify the correct answers and write them down on the question paper.
• In the last 10 minutes, transfer all your answers to the answer sheet.
• Finally, check your answers to avoid grammar and spelling errors. 

3.What are the common mistakes in the IELTS listening part?

• Not paying attention to the instruction.
• Wasting time in the prior audio section.
• Missing focus
• Fail to predict the answers
• Making grammar and spelling errors
• Writing answers directly in the answer sheet while listening to audio
• Leaving blanks without answers
• Not being aware of distractors

4.How many sections are there in listening?

There are four sections in the IELTS Listening module and each section has 10 questions.

5.Can I get an extra paper for making notes?

Unfortunately no. You should take notes on your question paper itself while you listen to the audio.

6.Should I use a pen or pencil in the listening test?

Pencils are highly recommended for the listening part as tests are scanned. Moreover, if any changes, you can easily erase and rewrite answers. 

7.How can I improve my listening skills?

1. Practice, Practice, Practice!
2. Listen to more audio - academic and general
3. Be focus
4. Be alert but not intense
5. Try to visualize what the speaker saying
6. Relax your mind to pay special attention to the audio
7. Never miss the flow of speech or conversation