IELTS Reading Practice: Matching Paragraph Information

Matching paragraph information question in IELTS reading requires strong skills of paraphrasing. This lesson will help you understand the need to paraphrase the sentences given before you try to locate the information in the paragraphs. It’s a good lesson for both GT and academic students, even though the level of this reading is more similar to the GT test. This is an easy practice lesson to help you get started with matching paragraph information questions.

Hobbies for Elderly Parents

A. Card Making

This has become an increasingly popular hobby, as it’s very easy to start and cards can be as simple or complicated as skills allow. Designs can be from templates or completely unique to the person making them. Best of all, it’s a beautiful form of communication with an added personal touch. All family members will relish receiving these personalised cards from someone they love.

B. Art

This can be done at your parent’s home, or in a local art class. It can be painting, drawing, sculpture, or pottery. It does not matter how skilled your parent is, as there are opportunities for all levels. Just give it a go. The creative process is very absorbing and rewarding and it is a great way for your elderly relative to meet new people.

C. Getting Online

If your aging parent likes the look of new technology, but has never learned how to use it, the internet is very easy once someone has shown them how. It opens up a whole new world of information and they will be able to keep in touch easily with children and grandchildren via email, apps, groups and many more exciting options.

D. Playing Cards

What a great way to socialise and have fun at the same time. Playing cards helps keep your brain sharp by remembering strategies and keeping up the cards already played. These games are played in a group and your parent will be paired with another player. This is a great way to form lasting bonds with other elderly people.

E Dance

This is a great way to spend an afternoon or evening. The dance sessions are run by a professional dancer who also have experience in teaching elderly people. This is a chance for them to experience dances from their youth with other likeminded people. And it’s never too late to bring a bit of spice and romance into someone’s life through dance.

Questions 1-6: 
Which paragraph contains the following information? Write the correct letter (A-E) as your answer. Each letter may be used more than once.

  1. Offering new methods of communication.
  2. It’s good to bring the past to life.
  3. Keeping mentally astute helps elderly people.
  4. Tapping into one’s inventiveness through various forms.
  5. It might be possible to find a life partner.
  6. Individualised ways to send tell someone you are thinking of them.

ANSWERS

Click below for the answers:

Answers

Please remember that in the real IELTS test, if you are asked to write a letter, you must write the letter and not the word. Always following instructions very carefully for IELTS.

  1. C
  2. E
  3. D
  4. B
  5. E
  6. A

All reading exercises on ieltsliz.com have been designed by myself to help you prepare for your IELTS test.   

Liz

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IELTS Reading: All Lessons & Tips

 

Comments

  1. 1. C
    2. B

  2. Hello Liz
    How are you ☺️
    So I think you created number of the information about the reading section
    Thanks for everything
    I am from Uzbekistan 🇺🇿
    Name : Sardor

    • I’m glad you find my site useful 🙂

      • Nara B says

        Countless thanks for anything you have been taught, I really enjoy doing tasks on your site, that’s amazing and perfectly beneficial. I hope you’ll get well soon, take care of you. We all love you so much, you’re wonderful teacher.

    • Fatima says

      Hi Liz! Para E contains both 2 and 5 headings. Does that mean we can expect multiple headings for a single para? Can there be more than 2 headings per para?
      Thank you!

      • Yes, absolutely. This is one reason why I make these lessons so that people can also learn about it.

        However, this lesson is not about headings at all. A heading is something that describes a paragraph and those questions are often called “Matching Headings”. For that question type, there is only one heading for one paragraph. The heading isn’t a sentence, it is a title for the paragraph. It isn’t about one sentence in the paragraph, but about the aim of the entire paragraph. So you would be matching the heading to the entire content of the paragraph. And with Matching Headings there is only one heading suitable for one paragraph. You might find words from other headings in the paragraph, but it isn’t about matching words or sentences, it’s about deciding a suitable title for the whole content of the paragraph.

        The reading lesson on the page above is about “Matching Paragraph Information” and that is not a heading. It is about information which you locate inside a paragraph. Usually, you will find one paragraph could contain multiple pieces of information relating to more than one question. Like this lesson does.

        So, it’s important to understand the difference between those two types of questions.

  3. Hi mam, Thanks for all your IELTS lessons. I have a query regarding the timing for “Paragraph matching questions”, can you please elaborate on, how many minutes a typical paragraph matching question should be completed in?? Because keeping in mind the time to solve each question can help many to save time. Thanks in advance.

    • There is no such thing as timing per question type. You have 1 hour to find 40 answers. That give you an idea of how long you want to speak on each question. On the whole, matching paragraph information questions are not difficult and require mainly scanning rather than detailed understanding.

  4. Venkata Padmaja Somabhatta says

    Hello Liz,
    Thank You so much for the useful tips. I really liked the way you took each and every question type and gave the tips.I have a few questions:
    1.In how much time should one complete each practise question?
    2.Is it possible to read the complete passage in 2-3 minutes as your tip states?
    Thank you in advance.

    • Liz says

      1) You have one hour to complete 40 questions. Always make sure you practice full tests at home. You can find one free practice test to download on the BC IELTS website.
      2) What do you mean by read? The aim is to SKIM read the passage in 2 mins. This does not mean to read for understanding. You do not need to read each sentence. It is about skim reading to get the general gist and layout of the passage. You never spend more than 2 mins skim reading an IELTS passage.

  5. Hany Nabil says

    Dear Liz
    In my experience, I’ve learned that when I see “NB: You may use any letter more than once” in the matching paragraph information questions, I have to find at least one paragraph containing two of the examples given. When not given “NB: you may…….”, I’ve always found no paragraph containing more than one example. However, I was shocked when I tried reading passage 3 in IELTS Book 13 (test 3) as I was told that I may use any letter more than once and found in the model answer that no letter was repeated. I was fooled and made 3 mistakes because I was trying to have at least one paragraph containing more than one example. What do you think? Is IELTS trying its best to get us lose marks and, in turn, have me repeat the test if I don’t get the score I want? For me, it doesn’t really make sense to be told about the possibility to use a letter twice and shocked with the model answer. All other reading passages that don’t have “NB:…..” never contains paragraphs having more than one of the examples given. Accordingly, it should be concluded that when ever given ” NB: You may …..”, you have to make sure you have found at least 1 paragraph containing 2 examples. Please advise.
    Thanks in advance

    • You are trying to create rules about IELTS that don’t exist. Most matching paragraph information (not matching headings) allow you to use one letter more than once. It is something that is possible, not essential. Just try to match the information rather than force your answers into a pattern.

  6. I got 1. Didn’t read with understanding. Thanks.

  7. Garmian says

    You r great and helpful dear Liz .thanks alot

  8. Vivi says

    Dear Liz,

    Something unexpectedly positive and interesting happened to me in the Reading section test toady. Two of the tasks in test (about 15 answers) i was familiar with since they were the same as those i have exercised from. So, i didn’t really remember all exact answers but it was such a relief to go trough a familiar text ☺

    • That’s excellent news – very lucky 🙂 I have heard this happening once before with another IELTS student. I’ll keep my fingers crossed for your results 🙂

  9. Thank you Liz

  10. Heera Lal Chaudhary says

    1. C
    2. B

  11. sok piseth says

    1 C
    2 B

  12. PRETTY EASY I FINISHED IN 2 MINS !!!

    THANK YOU LIZ.

  13. Dear Liz, Thank you for this amazing website. It is extremely useful. I am following your tips and doing exams. I am mostly failing in the area of writing and listening. Could you please guide me how to improve writing skills? I am making a lot of grammatical and spelling mistake. Thanks in advance!

    • You are confusing two different things. Improving IELTS writing skills is about technique. Improving your grammar and spelling is about your English language. Make a list of areas you need to improve on and divide them into techniques and language – then you can tackle them more easily. My main writing task 2 page focuses on technique: https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-writing-task-2/

  14. sahithi says

    Hello Liz,
    Can we have more practice questions for the matching paragraph questions?
    Thank you.

    • See the IELTS Cambridge test books if you have already finished all my reading exercises on my main reading page (click on the red bar).

  15. Can I write all capital letters in listening test ?

  16. M.Nikitha reddy says

    Hey liz i hve very less time to prepare for ielts test bt my target is to get score 7 wt i shuld do liz plz suggest me wt to do?my xam is on nov 11th.

    • Review my information page to ensure you are clear about everything. Then make a list of areas you need to practice. Also review recent topics for speaking and writing.

    • M.Nikitha reddy says

      Thanks liz Can u plz tell me where is your review info page.

  17. Rabia B says

    hey Liz,
    I want to ask in reading section if spelling is wrong then our answer will be wrong but our answer will also be wrong if i have written in small letters and answer was in capital letters?
    and if first word i have written in small or capital does it effect on marking?

  18. Sometimes i get borring to read a paragraph more than one time so ,i will lose my concentration

    • Your aim is not to read to understand the whole passage. Your aim is locate and decide answers – nothing more. Change your perspective and aims.

  19. hi liz, Any more tips in reaching band 7 for academic writing? I bought 2 of your Advanced writing lessons.

  20. Biwas Bhattarai says

    I got 6.5 in reading in last test (GT). I am again starting with the help of this incredible site. Thank you Liz.

  21. Osama says

    Hi Liz,
    I got 5.5 in reading general test. I am having problem in matching headings. How can i improve my score to 7.5 or 8 bands in reading and in listening too.
    please suggest me.

    Regards,
    Osama

  22. I just want to thank you for making the world better place, unfortunately people be came more greedy there are not alot of blogs or websites that teach for IELTS test for free. you are hero uto me.

  23. Saba Taqi says

    Hello
    I am Saba from Pakistan and have been following your blog and practice lessons for my IELTS test.Your lessons are really helping me a lot , thanks for that. I need to ask you , if for matching headings, we should read the complete paragraphs or just the beginning and ending sentences only?

  24. i am in Nigeria,please i want to know the cost,where and how to buy the Cambridge IELTS official examination pappers book 1 to 10

    • You can buy them on amazon, possibly in your local book shop or visit a facebook group for IELTS and see if someone can send you their copies. Alternatively, you can do a free practice test on the BC IELTS website. See my useful websites page for the link (side column).
      All the best
      Liz

  25. I just took the IELTS test and was confused when I read the instructions. My questions asked me to match statements to paragraphs and said THE LETTERS CAN BE USED ANY NUMBER OF TIMES.
    What confuses me is, does it mean each question could potentially draw from two paragraphs, meaning my answer would be A and C for example. Basically, I’d like to know if I can feel at ease by answering each question with just one choice that sometimes reuse the letter.
    Thanks so much for the help

    • The task is to match information with the paragraph. This means which paragraph contains each statement. Of course, paragraphs might contain more than one statement. Always presume that letters can be used more than once.
      Liz

      • Thank you for the reply, however, I’m still uncertain about my question.
        I understand that any letter in that type of question could be used more than once, and that paragraphs may contain more than one statement.
        I was wondering if it was possible that I’d need to fill the answer sheet with two answers (eg both A, B for #15). Could a statement be found in two paragraphs.
        In my test, I eventually decided to only stick to one letter per answer even though there was one where I wanted to write two letters that could have corresponded to my statement.
        Thanks!

        • Each question has only one letter as an answer. One question = one answer for matching paragraph information.
          Liz

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