IELTS Reading Flowchart Completion: Sample Questions, Tips & Practice Tests

IELTS reading flow chart completion practice makes it easy for IELTS test takers to solve this question type quickly and correctly. This question type is commonly given in IELTS Reading and sometimes in IELTS Listening to examine certain skill sets of the candidate, like reading or listening comprehension, organization of information along with vocabulary and grammatical knowledge.

In this blog, we'll explain flowchart completion in IELTS reading with examples, outline the steps to solve these questions, and share tips and practice tests for a solid preparation. Also, grab the IELTS reading flow chart completion practice PDF to get the most out of your practice!

Overview of IELTS Reading Flowchart Completion

IELTS Reading Flowchart Completion is a question type where test-takers are required to complete a flowchart that outlines a process, sequence of events, or a series of stages.

It is given in both Academic Reading and in the IELTS General Reading exam, but it is more frequent in the former. IELTS Reading Flowchart completion questions in the IELTS Academic Reading section are given particularly with passages that describe scientific processes, historical events, or procedures.

They are designed to assess a candidate's ability to understand the logical flow and sequence of ideas presented in a passage. Also, it checks if the candidate knows their vocabulary and grammar as they have to pick the right words for the question.

Example of IELTS Reading Flowchart Completion

In the examples given below, check out how a flowchart completion question in IELTS Reading looks like.

Sample 1

Sample 2

As seen from the above given IELTS Reading flow-chart completion questions, this question type typically includes some steps or stages with certain information missing, which candidates must fill in by either selecting from a list of options or by extracting words directly from the passage.

Steps to Solve IELTS Reading Flowchart Completion Questions

It's time to figure out how to solve the IELTS Reading flow chart completion questions and make sure to follow these steps while‌ solving these questions in the IELTS Reading practice tests. Let’s have a look!

• Step 1: Understand the Flowchart Question - The first step to solving an IELTS reading flow chart completion topic is to examine the flowchart carefully and while doing so pay attention to the sequence and the kind of information that is missing.
• Step 2: Find out on the Keyword - Notice the keywords or phrases already provided in the flowchart, as these will guide you on what to look for in the passage.
• Step 3: Skim the Passage - Use IELTS Reading keyword techniques to go through the passage to get an overall understanding of the content. Look for headings, subheadings, and any keywords that match the flowchart and identify which part of the text the flowchart is likely to correspond to.
• Step 4: Scan for Specific Information - Once you have an idea of where the relevant information might be, scan that section of the text for details that match the flowchart. Pay attention to headers and information like dates, names, technical terms, and any specific data that might fit into the flowchart.
• Step 5: Match Information Carefully - After you find potential answers, ensure that the information exactly matches the requirements of the flowchart.
• Step 6: Complete the Flowchart- Write your answers clearly and precisely in the flowchart. Ensure that the spelling and grammar are correct, as mistakes can cost you marks.
• Step 7: Review Your Answers - Once you've filled in all the blanks in the flowchart, revise your answers. Double-check that each answer logically fits into the flowchart and accurately reflects the information from the passage.

To learn about solving IELTS reading flow chart completion topic in 3 easy steps, check out the video below!

Common Errors to Avoid while Practising IELTS Reading Flow Chart Completion Questions

Being aware of the common mistakes while IELTS Reading flow chart completion practice will help candidates avoid them and score a better IELTS band score.

• Ignoring the word limit in the instruction - Word limits mentioned like ‘NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER’ or ‘ONE WORD ONLY’ are very important. So, stick to the word limit specified for each blank (usually 1-3 words) or the answer will be considered as incorrect.
• Misinterpreting the sequence of the flowchart - Flowcharts follow a specific order. So if you do not understand the sequence of events or steps in the process correctly, it will become challenging to find the correct answer and waste a lot of time.
• Incorrect paraphrasing of the text - The passage may not use the exact words as in the flowchart, so understanding synonyms and rephrased ideas is crucial.

Tips to Solve IELTS Reading Flowchart Completion Topics

Take a look at some of the top IELTS exam preparation tips that test-takers need to keep in mind when solving the questions on IELTS Reading flowchart completion topics.

• Understand the flow and structure of the reading text: IELTS Reading passages follow a logical structure, especially those related to processes or historical events. Understanding this structure will help predict the order in which information is presented, making it easier to locate the details needed to complete the flowchart.
• Use keywords to find the correct answer: The keywords in the flowchart completion question can serve as a guide to locating the relevant information in the passage. Look for these keywords or their synonyms when reading through the text.
• Master paraphrasing: IELTS examiners use synonyms and paraphrasing to test the candidate’s ability to understand the same idea expressed in different ways and knowledge of IELTS vocabulary. The information in the passage may not match the flowchart word-for-word, so be prepared to recognize the synonyms or paraphrases.
• Look for signposting words: As flowchart is about sequence or steps in a process, signal or signposting words such as ‘first’, ‘next’, ‘then’, and ‘finally’ can help you follow the sequence of steps in the passage. These words often indicate the order of events or actions and can guide you in filling out the flowchart. So, learn what is signposting during preparation.
• Understand the textual context: It's important to understand context in the passage, even if it is just about filling in a word or phrase. This will help to ensure that the answer makes sense within the overall process or sequence and is grammatically correct.
• Time management is crucial: Flowchart completion questions can be time-consuming, especially if the passage is dense or complex. So, time management in IELTS Reading is very essential and test-takers need to practice managing their time effectively by working on sample questions under timed conditions.
• Do not guess without proper evidence: While it’s important not to spend too much time on any single question, avoid making a guess without proper evidence from the passage. The answers should always be based on the information provided in the text.

Practice Tests on IELTS Reading Flowchart Completion

Test how helpful the information above has been by taking the practice tests on IELTS Reading Flow chart questions and answers below. Also, get your hands on IELTS reading flow chart completion topic PDF for practice.

Test 1

Ahead of its Time

A chance discovery in New Zealand has challenged the country’s recorded history

One October afternoon, a young New Zealander, Sam Tobin, called his dogs and went for a walk down to the nearby Ruamahanga River. Having been very high for days, the river had at last fallen, and Tobin was eager to see what changes the floods had brought. The family farm borders the river and a four-metre-high flood bank testifies to its natural tendency to flood.

Tobin stepped out onto a broad shoulder of river sand, where he noticed what he initially took to be a whitish rock, lit by the sun. Then, getting closer, he realised it was a bone. Such a thing was not uncommon in these parts-he had often come across bone fragments, or even whole skeletons, of cows and sheep. But as he scraped aside the stones he realised it was a human bone, something quite new in his experience. As he picked it up, he saw it was a skull, discoloured with age.

Tobin replaced the skull and hurried home to tell his mother what the river had delivered to their doorstep. It would prove to be a spectacular find, setting in motion an investigation by some of the country’s most respected specialists, and ultimately challenging our most firmly held assertions about the human settlement of New Zealand.

The police were immediately called, but despite a thorough search could find nothing that might shed light on the identity of the Ruamahanga skull, or the circumstances of its sudden appearance. The skull was then taken north to be examined by forensic pathologist Dr Ferris, at Auckland Hospital. Despite being hampered by its damaged and incomplete condition- the jawbone and lower left portion of the cranium were missing- Dr Ferris determined that the skull was that of a female. He then consulted with a colleague, Dr Koelmeyer, who believed that the deterioration of the bone placed the time of death before living memory’ and, most significantly as it would turn out, the skull appeared to be European in origin.

Wellington-based forensic anthropologist Dr Watt also examined the skull, and suggested it belonged to a 40-45 year-old. He believed that it could be the remains of an old farm burial, but was not certain, and proposed the use of radiocarbon dating to make sure it wasn’t a recent death. As a result, the Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences (GNS) in Lower Hutt was contacted, and provided with a sample of bone that had originated in the top of the skull. In a little over three weeks the seemingly astonishing results from the GNS laboratory came back. Cutting through the bewildering complexity of the scientific analysis was a single line reading: conventional radiocarbon age approximately 296 years. This was staggering, for the skull was about 200 years older than Dr Koelmeyer had believed.

Of course, a skull of this age wasn’t particularly unusual in New Zealand. The Maori people have been living in the country for at least 800 years and scientists frequently come across human remains of considerable age. The fascinating question, however, was how a skull of this race, let alone this gender, had reached these remote islands in the South Pacific at such a time, long before the arrival of the explorer Captain Cook in 1769, and perhaps even before the very first European landfall- the fleeting visit of the Dutch explorer Tasman in 1642- neither of whom had women among their crews.

The first known European women in the Pacific came with a doomed colonising venture which sailed from Peru in 1595 under the command of Spanish captain Mendana. However, it is unlikely the Ruamahanga skull originated from this expedition because no evidence of Mendana’s ships has ever been found in New Zealand, while a team of archaeologists working in the Solomon Islands in 1970 did discover the remains of European vessels dating from the 16th century.

Two centuries were to pass before the first recorded European females arrived in New Zealand, both having escaped from prison in Australia. Kathleen Hagerty and Charlotte Edgar are known to have reached the country in 1806. How do we account for the Ruamahanga skull, which appears to be about 100 years older than that? It is impossible to say with certainly, but the most likely explanation is that a Spanish or Portuguese trading-hip was washed onto these wild shores as a result of a shipwreck and a woman got ashore. Implausible, perhaps, but the Ruamahanga skull, today resting in the Wellington Museum, could be the kind of concrete evidence that demands such a re-evaluation of history.

Questions 5 – 9

The events after the river flooded

• Stage 1: Tobin found a human skull
• Stage 2: The 5 __________ were initially involved in trying to explain the presence of the skull.
• Stage 3: Dr Ferris believed the skull belonged to a female
• Stage 4: Dr Koelmeyer suggested it was a 6 __________ skull
• Stage 5: Dr Watt recommended 7 __________ to establish the skull’s age.
• Stage 6: A bone 8__________ was sent to the GNS
• Stage 7: The age of the skull was about 9 __________ years

Click here for the flowchart completion answers on Ahead of its time!

Test 2

International Experience Canada

If you want to travel and work temporarily in Canada as part of International Experience Canada (IEC), your first step is to become a candidate in one or more IEC pools. There are three categories of pool: International Co-op (Internship), Working Holiday, and Young Professionals.

To apply, first, use our questionnaire to see if you meet the criteria to get into the IEC pools. This should take you about ten minutes. You can find it at www.cic.gc.ca/ctc- vac/cometocanada.asp. After completing this, if you are eligible you will be sent a personal reference code, which you should use to create your online account. At the same time, you should fill in any remaining fields in your profile with the required information, including which IEC pools you want to be in. (Some parts will already have been completed for you.)

If you are sent an invitation to proceed with your application, you will have 10 days to decide whether to accept this or not. If you accept, click the ‘Start Application’ button. You then have 20 days to complete your application.

For the International Co-op and Young Professionals categories, your employer in Canada must pay the compliance fee and inform you of your offer of employment number. (This does not apply to the Working Holiday pool.)

Once you have received this, you should then upload copies of police and medical certificates, if required. If you do not have these, you should upload proof that you have applied for them. You should then pay your participation fee of C$126 online by credit card. (There is an additional payment of C$100 if you are applying for the Working Holiday category.)

Your application will then be assessed. You can apply to withdraw at this stage and will be given a refund if you do this within 56 days. If your application is successful, you will receive a letter of introduction which you can show to Immigration when you enter Canada.

Questions 8-13

Applying to International Experience Canada

Fill in the online 8……………….. get a personal reference code.

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Create your 9………………….. provide the necessary information for the profile in your application.

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If sent an invitation, you must accept this within 10……………

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You then have a limited time to 11…………. the application.

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Your 12……….. is required to send you an offer of employment number.

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Upload copies of any necessary certificates or proof of application.

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Make the payment for participation online. You may receive a 13……………………. …. you change your mind.

Click here for the flowchart completion answers on International Experience Canada!

The IELTS Reading Flowchart Completion task requires careful reading, logical thinking, and an understanding of the format. In order to improve your ability to complete these tasks accurately and efficiently, you should learn the structure of flowcharts, identify relevant information in the passage, and practice regularly. In case you need help with this question type, sign up for free IELTS webinars or talk to IELTS experts through a free demo session.

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