Text Completion: Another Challenge in Reading IELTS

In
task completion, test taker has to complete the text with words from the
passage. There are some types of text that test taker deals with. It
can be in form of short summary, sentences, or even table.

In this kind of question, test taker needs to give extra attention on the instruction used. The variations can be as follows.

1. Complete the summary below. Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the passage for each answer.

In this kind of instruction, it means that test taker can use one, two, or three words from the passage as the answer.

2. Complete the table below. Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer.

In
this kind of instruction, test taker should be careful in taking the
words as his or her answer because only one or maximum two words from
the passage is allowed.

For
instruction 1 and 2, test taker may not change the form of the words.
Test taker just needs to write in the same from as the word/words appear
in the passage.

3. Answer the question below using NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS for each answer.

This instruction explains that the words that test taker use do not need to come from the passage.

The
problem appears in the third instruction is that test taker has to pay
more attention on the grammar used. The answer must be grammatically
correct.

There
are some things that test taker could do before finally he or she locks
the answer. The first is reading the instruction very carefully to
check the number of words which is allowed as the answer. Then, test
taker should also use skimming technique to catch the important
paragraph for getting the answer. Test taker could save the time as well
by concentrating at the first and last question so that he or she knows
how much of the text that test taker should read. Next, test taker
should look back at each question one by one and look for the specific
information needed. It is better for test taker to analyze first whether
the word/words that he or she needs is noun, preposition, verb, or
adjective. 

Last, test taker should check carefully on the word/ words.
It is important for the test taker to make sure that his or her answer
has already spelled correctly and fitted grammatically.

Reference: http://www.dcielts.com/ielts-reading/text-completion-a-tutorial/