Table completion and flowchart completion questions come up frequently in the IELTS Reading test. They look harder than they are but as long as you understand what you have to do and have a good strategy for completing them, you’ll be able to score well.
This page contains all the information you need to be well prepared if one does appear in your exam. Here’s what it covers:
You could also be given a flowchart. The main difference between the two is in the way the information is laid out. The process for completing flowcharts is exactly the same as with a table.
The instructions will tell you how many words you are allowed to use to fill each gap. Read them very carefully. They will most likely tell you to use ONE WORD ONLY or NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS.
If you use the wrong number of words, your answer will be marked incorrect even if the information you give is correct.
Here are examples of two sets of instructions taken from past test papers. The first is a table and the second, a flowchart.
This type of question tests your ability to:
The information in the table or flowchart will match information in the text but it will very likely be paraphrased and include synonyms.
Once you’ve located where in the text the answer is located, you'll need to interpret the language to identify the word or words you need to fill the gap in the table or flowchart.
I’ll show you how to apply this strategy in the example below but first, you need to understand it.
1. I read the instructions carefully and note how many words I’m required to write in the gaps. In this case, it’s NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS.
I also look at the layout of the flowchart and work out the best way to read it. I take particular notice of any headings that will give me clues as to its subject and content.
In this question, we’ve been given a flowchart that lays out a recruitment process in chronological order.
2. I quickly read through the sentences with gaps in to get a general idea of what information I’ll be looking for in the text.
4. I go back to the flowchart and read the first sentence with a gap in it.
Candidates go online to complete their 21 ………… .
Since this is a flowchart containing information about a chronological process, I know that the information is most likely to come in order in the text. This is helpful to know.
I select the word ‘online’ as the key word in the statement and scan the text for it, starting with the notes I’ve made beside each paragraph.
I immediately see ‘online application’ in my notes beside paragraph 2 so scan this paragraph. I find the key word in the very first sentence. I read this paragraph in detail to find the word I need to fill the gap.
It’s clear that the missing word is ‘application' or ‘initial application'. It makes sense and is grammatically correct. Either is acceptable as the answer.
You can see what a time-saver making the notes can be. I didn’t even need to scan the whole text to locate this answer.
Answer 21: application or initial application
5. I read the second sentence in the flowchart.
Suitable candidates are then invited to come to a 22 ………… .
Candidates are ‘asked to attend’ a ‘Walk-In Day’ so my prediction was correct and this is the answer. Note that hyphenated words such as ‘walk-in’ count as one word so I’m within the words limit.
I fill in my answer and move on.
6. I now read the third sentence and chose ‘Assessment Centre' for my key words.
After having satisfactorily completed a 23................... , successful candidates will then go to an Assessment Centre.
The information in this paragraph needs a bit more interpretation than for the previous answers because the matching information in the text contains a synonym and is also paraphrased.
However, once I spot the phrase ‘required to pass’, which means the same thing as ‘satisfactorily completed’ and occurs in a sentence also containing ‘Assessment Centre’, I read in detail to find the answer. It is clearly ‘swimming test’.
7. For answer 24, the obvious key word to scan for is ‘medical check’. It should be easy to spot this or a synonym. As before, I start to scan from the location of the last answer.
Kiwi Air then asks for 24............. and candidates are required to undergo a medical check
I don’t have to scan far as it is just two sentences further on at the end of the paragraph. I now know where the answer is and read the sentence in detail to check that the information matches the gap sentence.
Although ‘medical check’ has not been changed, there are a couple of synonyms present:
I’m happy that I have a match of information and look to see what is ‘asked for/requested’. It’s ‘verbal references’ so this is the answer.
8. Sentence 25 has no obvious key word to scan for so, having read it to get a general sense of its meaning, I go to the text and look for a matching idea in my notes.
If there is no immediate need for flight attendants, successful candidates are put into a 25 ………… .
There is a match. ‘no immediate need for flight attendants’ in the sentence means the same as ‘not hiring now’ in my notes. I guess that the other part of my notes, ‘recruitment pool’, could actually be the answer. It makes sense in the sentence and is grammatically correct.
I read this section of the text in detail and find that I'm right. The answer is ‘recruitment pool’.
9. For answer 26, I choose the phrase ‘offered a job’ to scan for. I guess that a synonym or paraphrasing will very likely be used instead so am mindful of this as I search.
When the need arises, these candidates will then be given 26 ………….. , after which they may be offered a job.
A short way on from the last answer, I find a matching phrase – ‘extend an offer of employment’.
I now need to read in detail to find out what happens to the candidates before this job offer which is what sentence 26 is about. The answer is, they attend a ‘full interview’. Does this fit the gap in the sentence? Yes.
So, the answer is, ‘full interview’.
10. Finally, I read sentence 27.
On starting the job, a 5-week training programme is given which includes how to look after passengers and what to do in an 27 ………… .
I remember that one of the paragraphs in the text is titled ‘Training’ so I go straight to this section and see that I’ve noted ‘5-week training course’ beside the paragraph.
'Course' is a synonym of 'programme'.
This must definitely be the location of the answer.
I read the paragraph in detail and find four things named as being included in the course:
The only word from this list that makes sense and is grammatically correct in the gap sentence is ‘emergency’. This must be the answer.
Note the indefinite article ‘an’ before the gap. This means that the missing word must start with a vowel. This is another little clue that ‘emergency’ is the correct answer.
I fill in the answer sheet and the question is complete.
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