IELTS Reading Diagram Flowchart and Note Completion
A step-by-step guide to IELTS Reading diagram label, flowchart, table and note completion: use structure as a map, predict word types, and avoid word limit and sequence errors.
Four formats, one core idea
Diagram, flowchart, table and note completion all ask you to fill gaps in a visual structure with words from the passage. The structure is your advantage: it tells you the topic of each gap, the order of events, and often the type of word you need.
Treat the structure as a map of the passage. Before you scan, spend 30 seconds reading headings, arrows, column titles and the words around each gap. You will know exactly what to look for.
| Format | What the structure gives you | What to watch for |
|---|---|---|
| Diagram labels | The physical parts of a device or process (for example a pump or a cell) | Passages describe parts in prose. Match position words: 'above', 'inside', 'connected to'. |
| Flowchart | The order of stages, shown with arrows | Passage may describe stages out of order. Follow sequence words: 'first', 'then', 'after which'. |
| Table | Categories in rows and columns | Each gap sits at the crossing of a row heading and column heading. Both must match. |
| Notes | Headings and bullet points that summarise the text | Notes usually follow passage order. Use headings to locate sections quickly. |
The structure-first routine
- 1Read the title and instructionThe title tells you the topic. The instruction gives the word limit. Check it before you write anything.
- 2Identify the type of word for each gapA gap after 'the' is a noun. A gap after an arrow in a flowchart is often a verb phrase or process noun. A gap in a numbers column needs a figure.
- 3Find the section of the passage that matches the heading or stageUse the first gap's keywords to locate the starting paragraph. The remaining gaps will follow nearby.
- 4Read for paraphrase, then copy exact wordsConfirm the passage idea matches the label, then copy the words in their original form.
- 5Reread the completed structureA flowchart should read as a logical sequence. A diagram should make sense physically. If an answer seems odd, recheck.
Worked example: flowchart
Passage extract: 'Recycling begins when households sort their waste. Collection trucks then take the sorted material to a processing plant, where it is cleaned and shredded. The shredded plastic is melted, after which it is formed into small pellets that manufacturers use to make new products.'
| Flowchart box | Answer | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Households ___ waste | sort | 'households sort their waste' (answer is a verb, so the gap type is clear) |
| Material is taken to a ___ plant | processing | 'processing plant' |
| Plastic is cleaned and ___ | shredded | 'cleaned and shredded' |
| Melted plastic is formed into ___ | pellets | 'formed into small pellets'. 'small' is not needed under a one-word limit. |
Note how sequence words ('then', 'after which') track the arrows. If the chart says three boxes between collection and pellets, the passage must describe three stages.
Worked example: table and notes
Row + column
Table completion
Each gap needs two checks: which row (the item) and which column (the property).
- •Locate the row item in the passage first
- •Then find the property the column asks about (cost, date, cause)
- •Beware of similar properties belonging to a different row
Heading + bullet
Note completion
Notes are compressed sentences. Expand the gap into a full sentence in your head to see what is missing.
- •Headings match paragraphs or sections
- •Bullets follow passage order
- •Notes drop small words, so the answer is often a key noun
Example table gap: row 'Wind turbine', column 'Main drawback'. Passage: 'Although cheap to run, turbines are criticised for their effect on bird populations.' Answer: 'bird populations' (two words). A nearby sentence might mention noise for solar farms. That is a different row, so ignore it.
Diagram label traps
- Position language: 'the component fixed to the outer casing' means the label must be physically attached to the casing.
- Passage order mismatch: the passage may describe the object from inside to outside, while the diagram is labelled left to right.
- Over-length answers: the diagram often accepts only one or two words. Remove adjectives unless the label needs them.
- Plural vs singular: copy the form the passage uses.
- Ignoring the picture: if you cannot see the label position, you may pick the right word for the wrong part.
Practice and timing
Structure-based tasks reward calm scanning. Allow about 1 minute per gap and 30 seconds for the opening structure read. If a gap is taking more than two minutes, guess and return. These tasks usually reward steady accuracy more than speed.
- Try one flowchart or note set in Reading practice and underline the sequence words in the passage afterwards.
- Compare with Sentence Completion to feel how structure helps.
- Look at Summary Completion for the continuous-text version of the same skill.
- Take a mock test and use the score calculator to see how much each task contributes to your band.
- Review pacing in Reading timing and question types.
Practise next
Do diagram completion answers follow passage order?+
Not always. Flowcharts and notes usually do, but diagram labels may not. Check the passage description against the picture.
How are word limits counted in flowcharts?+
In the same way as other tasks. 'NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS' means one or two words. Hyphenated words count as one.
What if the passage uses a different word from the diagram?+
Write the word from the passage. Diagrams and notes are paraphrased, and the answer must be copied from the text.
Which of these formats is easiest?+
Most candidates find flowcharts and notes easier because order is predictable. Tables and diagrams need more careful matching to positions.
Are these tasks in both Academic and General Training?+
Both can include completion tasks, but diagrams are more frequent in Academic. See General Training vs Academic Reading.