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Hard · Strategy guide

Matching Sentence Endings

Matching Sentence Endings provides sentence halves and a list of endings. You choose the ending that logically and grammatically completes each sentence beginning. There are more endings than sentence beginnings.

Step-by-Step Approach

  1. 1

    Read the sentence beginning and understand what kind of information the ending needs to provide.

  2. 2

    Look for grammatical clues: if the beginning ends before a verb, the ending must start with a verb or noun phrase that fits.

  3. 3

    Locate the relevant passage section for each beginning.

  4. 4

    Test each candidate ending for both grammar and meaning.

Common Traps to Avoid

Grammatically Correct but Semantically Wrong

An ending may fit grammatically but contradict the passage meaning.

"Researchers concluded that... [A] the experiment was successful / [B] the experiment had limitations." Both grammatically fit — check the passage for the correct meaning.

Band 8–9 Strategies

  • Sentence beginnings follow passage order.

  • Eliminate impossible endings first (wrong grammar or obviously wrong meaning).

  • The correct ending will paraphrase the passage — not copy it.

Time Strategy

8 minutes. 1.5 minutes per sentence pair.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best way to approach IELTS Matching Sentence Endings?

Matching Sentence Endings provides sentence halves and a list of endings. You choose the ending that logically and grammatically completes each sentence beginning. There are more endings than sentence beginnings.

What is the most common trap in IELTS Matching Sentence Endings?

Grammatically Correct but Semantically Wrong: An ending may fit grammatically but contradict the passage meaning. For example, "Researchers concluded that... [A] the experiment was successful / [B] the experiment had limitations." Both grammatically fit — check the passage for the correct meaning.

How much time should I spend on IELTS Matching Sentence Endings questions?

8 minutes. 1.5 minutes per sentence pair.

Practice Match Endings NowAll Tips

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