IELTS Reading Flow Chart Completion: Tips, Example and Traps

In this guide

1. 1What IELTS Reading flow chart completion questions are
2. 2What the questions look like
3. 3Step-by-step strategy for flow chart questions IELTS Reading
4. 4Worked example: answers explained
5. 5Common mistakes and traps
6. 6How to practise flow chart completion questions
7. 7Key takeaways

IELTS Reading flow chart completion questions ask you to complete a diagram that shows a process or a sequence of events. You fill the gaps using words taken directly from the passage, or sometimes letters from a list. These are really process questions IELTS Reading candidates often find manageable once they understand how the chart follows the text. The arrows in the chart show the direction of the process, and the steps usually appear in passage order. In this guide, you will learn what these questions look like, how to approach them efficiently, and which traps to avoid.

What IELTS Reading flow chart completion questions are

A flow chart in IELTS Reading is a visual summary of a process, a sequence of events, or a series of stages. The chart contains boxes connected by arrows. Some boxes are complete, while others contain gaps that you must fill. Your job is to read the relevant part of the passage and find the exact word or words that complete each gap.

There are two common formats. In the first, the instructions tell you to choose words from the passage, for example “Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer”. In the second, you choose letters from a list of possible answers. The first format is more common, and this article focuses mainly on it.

Flow chart questions IELTS Reading tests usually follow the order of information in the passage. This means the answer to question 1 normally comes before the answer to question 2, and so on. The arrows in the chart guide you through the sequence. The passage itself often contains sequencing language such as “first”, “subsequently”, “once”, “next” and “finally”. These words help you locate the steps in the text.

These questions can appear in both Academic and General Training Reading. In Academic Reading, they often come with passages about natural processes, manufacturing, history or scientific procedures. In General Training Reading, they may appear in Section 3, which contains one longer text of general interest. The question type is the same in both modules, and the skills tested are identical: locating specific information, recognising paraphrase, and following a sequence.

What the questions look like

The instruction line is always in bold, exactly as the test words it. A typical instruction looks like this:

Questions 1–4

Complete the flow chart below.

Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer.

Write your answers in boxes 1–4 on your answer sheet.

Below is a short original passage extract followed by a realistic sample of this question type.

A The production of olive oil has remained broadly similar for centuries, although modern equipment has made some stages faster. First, workers harvest the olives by hand or with mechanical shakers that cause the fruit to fall onto nets spread beneath the trees. Once collected, the olives are transported to the mill within twenty-four hours to prevent the fruit from deteriorating.

B At the mill, the olives are washed in cold water to remove soil, leaves and small stones. After washing, the fruit is crushed, including the stones, into a thick paste. In traditional mills, large granite wheels perform this task slowly. Modern facilities, however, use stainless steel crushers that complete the process in minutes.

C The paste is then stirred gently for twenty to forty-five minutes. This stage, known as malaxation, allows small oil droplets to combine into larger ones, which makes extraction easier. The paste is subsequently spread onto circular mats or pumped into a centrifuge. In the centrifuge, rapid spinning separates the oil from the water and solid pulp. Finally, the oil is stored in cool, dark tanks before bottling.

Questions 1–4

Complete the flow chart below.

Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer.

The production of olive oil

1. Olives are picked and fall onto .................... placed under the trees.
2. The olives are cleaned in .................... to remove unwanted material.
3. The fruit is crushed into a .................... , including the stones.
4. During malaxation, small droplets combine into .................... ones.

Step-by-step strategy for flow chart questions IELTS Reading

Follow this strategy to answer flow chart completion questions accurately and without wasting time.

1. Read the instructions carefully

Check the word limit before you look at the passage. If the instruction says “NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS”, then one word or two words are acceptable, but three words are wrong. Also check whether you must use words from the passage or letters from a list. This changes your whole approach.

2. Study the flow chart first

Look at the title of the chart and the completed boxes. They tell you what the process is about and give you context. Read the gaps and underline the key words around them. For example, in question 1 above, the key words are “picked”, “fall onto” and “under the trees”. These words guide your search.

3. Predict the type of answer

Before reading the passage, think about what kind of word fits each gap. Is it a noun, a verb, a material, a place or a stage? In question 1, you need a noun for something placed under the trees. In question 3, you need a noun phrase for what the fruit becomes after crushing. Predicting helps you recognise the answer when you see it.

4. Locate the relevant part of the passage

Use the title and the key words from the first gap to find the starting point. Flow chart questions usually follow passage order, so once you find the first answer, the next answers will come later in the text. Do not read the whole passage in detail. Skim for the section that matches the first step of the chart.

5. Read around the answer area carefully

When you find the relevant sentence, read the sentence before and after it. The passage will paraphrase the question. For example, the question may say “picked”, but the passage says “harvest”. The question may say “cleaned”, but the passage says “washed”. Look for synonyms and parallel structures.

6. Choose the exact words from the passage

Your answer must be the exact word or words from the passage, with correct spelling. Do not change the form of the word. If the passage says “nets”, write “nets”. If the passage says “cold water”, write “cold water”. Do not add articles like “the” unless the word limit allows it and the passage includes it.

7. Check the word limit and grammar

After writing an answer, check that it fits the word limit and that the sentence in the chart still makes grammatical sense. If the gap follows “a”, you probably need a singular countable noun. If the gap follows “into”, you may need a noun phrase. If your answer breaks the grammar, it is likely wrong.

8. Move on if you are stuck

Each question is worth one mark. Do not spend too long on one gap. If you cannot find an answer, make a logical guess and mark the question to return to later if you have time. There is no penalty for a wrong answer, so never leave a blank.

Time management matters. You have 60 minutes for 40 questions across three sections. A useful rule of thumb is about 20 minutes per section. For a set of four flow chart questions, aim to spend no more than six or seven minutes in total.

Worked example: answers explained

Here is the full explanation for the sample questions above. Each answer is quoted from the passage, with the paraphrase shown and the tempting wrong option identified.

Question 1

Question: Olives are picked and fall onto .................... placed under the trees.

Answer: nets

Passage evidence: “workers harvest the olives by hand or with mechanical shakers that cause the fruit to fall onto nets spread beneath the trees”.

Explanation: The question says “picked”, but the passage says “harvest”. The question says “under the trees”, but the passage says “beneath the trees”. The exact word that completes the gap is “nets”. A tempting wrong option is “mechanical shakers”, but those are the tools that cause the fruit to fall, not the things placed under the trees.

Question 2

Question: The olives are cleaned in .................... to remove unwanted material.

Answer: cold water

Passage evidence: “the olives are washed in cold water to remove soil, leaves and small stones”.

Explanation: “Cleaned” paraphrases “washed”. “Unwanted material” paraphrases “soil, leaves and small stones”. The answer is the two-word phrase “cold water”. A tempting wrong option is “the mill”, but that is the location, not the substance used for cleaning.

Question 3

Question: The fruit is crushed into a .................... , including the stones.

Answer: thick paste

Passage evidence: “the fruit is crushed, including the stones, into a thick paste”.

Explanation: The question reorders the sentence slightly, but the meaning is the same. The answer is “thick paste”. A tempting wrong option is “stainless steel crushers”, but those are the machines, not the result of crushing.

Question 4

Question: During malaxation, small droplets combine into .................... ones.

Answer: larger

Passage evidence: “This stage, known as malaxation, allows small oil droplets to combine into larger ones”.

Explanation: The question uses “During malaxation” to replace “This stage, known as malaxation”. The answer is the single word “larger”. A tempting wrong option is “oil”, but “oil” describes the droplets, not the size of the droplets after combining.

Common mistakes and traps

Avoid these frequent errors when you answer flow chart questions IELTS Reading tests include.

• Ignoring the word limit: Writing three words when the instruction says “NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS” makes the answer automatically wrong, even if the meaning is correct. Always check the limit first.
• Changing the form of the word: If the passage says “harvest” and the gap needs a noun, do not write “harvesting” unless the passage uses that exact form. Your answer must be the exact word from the text.
• Looking for the same words as the question: Questions paraphrase the passage. If you search only for “cleaned”, you may miss “washed”. Train yourself to think in synonyms.
• Assuming the chart follows a different order: Flow chart questions usually follow passage order, but the passage may include extra steps that are not in the chart. Do not panic if the chart skips a stage. Focus on the gaps.
• Writing answers that break grammar: If the completed sentence in the chart does not make grammatical sense, the answer is probably wrong. For example, if the gap follows “a”, a plural noun is unlikely.
• Spending too long on one gap: Every question is worth one mark. If you cannot find an answer, guess and move on. You can return later if time allows.
• Copying extra words from the passage: If the instruction says “NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS”, do not write “nets spread beneath” or “cold water to remove”. Write only the words that fill the gap.
• Forgetting that spelling must be correct: A misspelt answer is wrong. Copy the word carefully from the passage.

How to practise flow chart completion questions

Regular, focused practice is the best way to improve. Try these exercises.

• Create your own flow charts: Take a short article about a process, such as making bread or recycling paper. Draw a simple chart with arrows and write four or five gaps. Then fill the gaps using exact words from the article. This trains you to think like the test writer.
• Practise synonym spotting: Read a paragraph and underline all the key nouns and verbs. Then write a paraphrased version of the same information. Compare your version with the original and list the synonyms you used.
• Work with a timer: Give yourself seven minutes to complete a set of four flow chart questions. This builds the pace you need for the real test, where you have 60 minutes for 40 questions.
• Review your mistakes: After each practice set, write down why each wrong answer was wrong. Did you ignore the word limit? Did you miss a paraphrase? Did you choose a word that broke the grammar? Tracking your errors helps you avoid repeating them.
• Practise with targeted lessons: For structured practice with this and other question types, try IELTS Reading lessons. You can also review the full range of tasks in our guide to all IELTS Reading question types: an overview of the test and of each type, with how to approach it.

Flow chart completion is closely related to other completion tasks. If you find this type difficult, practise IELTS Reading note completion questions and IELTS Reading table completion questions. They use similar skills: locating information, understanding paraphrase and following passage order. For a different challenge, IELTS Reading diagram label completion questions also ask you to complete a visual using words from the passage.

Key takeaways

• IELTS Reading flow chart completion questions ask you to complete a visual summary of a process using words from the passage or letters from a list.
• The steps in the chart usually follow passage order, and sequencing language such as “first”, “subsequently” and “finally” helps you locate answers.
• Always read the instruction line first and respect the word limit exactly.
• Questions paraphrase the passage, so look for synonyms rather than the same words.
• Your answers must be the exact words from the passage, with correct spelling and grammar.
• Every question is worth one mark, and there is no penalty for guessing, so never leave a blank.

Frequently asked questions

How are IELTS Reading flow chart completion questions different from diagram label completion?

Flow chart completion focuses on a process or sequence of events, with boxes connected by arrows showing the order. Diagram label completion usually labels parts of an object, such as a machine or a plant. Both require exact words from the passage, but flow charts test your ability to follow a sequence, while diagram labelling tests your ability to match labels to visual parts.

Do flow chart questions in IELTS Reading always follow the order of the passage?

Yes, flow chart questions usually follow passage order. The answer to question 1 normally appears before the answer to question 2, and so on. However, the passage may contain extra steps that are not shown in the chart. Use the arrows and the completed boxes to guide you through the relevant part of the text.

What happens if I write more words than the limit in a flow chart completion answer?

Your answer will be marked wrong. If the instruction says choose no more than two words, then one or two words are acceptable, but three words are not. The word limit is strict, so check it before you start and count the words in each answer carefully.

Can I use my own words to complete a flow chart in IELTS Reading?

No. For completion tasks with words from the passage, you must use the exact words from the text. Do not change the form of the word, add synonyms, or paraphrase. Spelling must also be correct. If the instruction asks you to choose letters from a list, then you must write the correct letter.

Are flow chart completion questions common in General Training Reading?

They can appear in General Training Reading, usually in Section 3, which contains one longer text of general interest. The question type is the same as in Academic Reading, and the skills tested are identical. You should practise this type regardless of which module you are taking.