IELTS Listening Flow Chart Completion
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Flow chart completion questions sometimes appear in the second or third part of the IELTS listening test.
In this task type you are presented with a flow chart which contains some gaps. You need to listen and identify the correct words to complete the gaps.
Strategy
Like other completion tasks in the IELTS listening test, the key to doing well is to anticipate the words which are missing and to know when to move on.
Step 1: Read the Instructions
Before you listen, you have some time to read the instructions and questions.
The instructions will tell you how many words you may write and whether the answer could also include a number. For example, the instructions may say:
Write ONE WORD ONLY for each answer.
Typically the instructions will say to write between one and three words and may also allow a number.
Step 2: Read the Questions
Having read the instructions, you should next read the flow chart. Here you are aiming to do two things:
1. Identify key words which will tell you when to move to the next question.
2. Anticipate what could be missing from the gap.
Identifying Key Words
You should identify key words for all of the questions except the first. For the first question, you will be listening for this answer from the moment the audio begins.
A good key word is one which is likely to be said in the recording, but is not likely to be repeated many times.
Anticipating the Answer
While looking for key words, you should also anticipate what type of information is missing from each gap.
As you will be completing a flow chart, the words will very often be nouns. If you are permitted to write two words, these are likely to be compound nouns or an adjective with a noun.
Practice
Look at the example notes from a flow chart task. Two students are discussing a case study they have to write. Which key words would you underline? What can you tell about the words which are missing? (The answers are ONE WORD ONLY.)
STAGES IN DOING A TOURISM CASE STUDY
RESEARCH
Locate and read relevant articles, noting key information and also 21 __________
Identify a problem or need
Select interviewees – these may be site 22 __________, visitors or city 23 __________
Prepare and carry out interviews. If possible, collect statistics.
Check whether 24 __________ of interviewees can be used
ANALYSIS
Select relevant information and try to identify 25 __________
Decide on the best form of visuals
WRITING THE CASE STUDY
Give some background before writing the main sections
Do NOT end with 26 __________
21 (no key word necessary) – noun, related to information e.g. sources/quotes
22 (interviewees) – noun, somebody found on a site e.g. employees
23 (interviewees) – noun, somebody with city in their title e.g. city officials, workers
24 (statistics) – noun, names/quotations
25 (analysis) – noun, something which goes with identify e.g. trends/patterns/reasons
26 (case study) – noun
Step 3: Listen and Write the Answers
You are now ready to listen to the recording and write the answers you hear. Remember to move on when you hear the key word.
21. sources
22. employees
23. officials
24. names
25. patterns
26. solutions
Step 4: Check Your Answers
Write your answers onto the question paper while you are listening. Make sure you have an answer for every question and that you have only used the allowed number of words.
Remember to write your answers onto the answer sheet at the end of the test.
Acknowledgement
The listening audio and sentence completion questions used here are taken from Cambridge Academic IELTS 12, which can be purchased here.
