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Reading: Table & Flowchart Completion
Master the art of tracking sequential processes and data categories through a text.
Mini-Masterclass: Decoding a Flowchart
Let’s look at a recruitment process flowchart. Notice how the grammar of the gap, combined with a small clue (like an article), leads you directly to the answer hidden in paraphrased text.
Read the Text Extract:
“On starting the job, a 5-week training programme is given which includes how to look after passengers, service delivery, and emergency procedures.”
Flowchart Box:
“Training covers passenger care and what to do in an (27) _______.”
Step 1: Predict. The word “an” before the gap is a massive clue. It means the missing noun MUST start with a vowel (A, E, I, O, U).
Step 2: Match Paraphrasing. The text says “look after passengers”. The flowchart says “passenger care”. We are in the right spot!
Step 3: Extract the Answer. Looking at the list of training topics in the text, only one starts with a vowel. The answer is emergency.
Step 2: Match Paraphrasing. The text says “look after passengers”. The flowchart says “passenger care”. We are in the right spot!
Step 3: Extract the Answer. Looking at the list of training topics in the text, only one starts with a vowel. The answer is emergency.
The 8-Step Scanning Strategy
Do not read the text blindly. Use the visual structure of the table or flowchart to map out exactly where to scan.
1
Check the Rules
Read the instructions carefully. Note exactly how many words you are allowed to write (e.g., NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS). Remember, hyphenated words like “walk-in” count as a single word!
2
Analyze the Layout
Look at the layout of the table or flowchart. Pay particular attention to Column Headings or Bold Titles. These tell you exactly what category of information to search for.
3
Predict Missing Word Types
Quickly read through the gaps. Does the sentence grammar require a Noun, a Verb, or an Adjective? Predicting this makes it much easier to filter out wrong words while scanning.
4
Map the Passage
Do a fast 2-minute skim of the reading text. Write 1 or 2 keywords in the margin next to each paragraph (e.g., “Application”, “Interview”, “Training”). This creates a roadmap to locate the flowchart steps instantly.
5
Select Keywords to Scan
Go to the first gap. Select a keyword immediately before or after the gap. Scan your “mapped” text to find the paragraph that discusses this step. Warning: Information in tables may sometimes appear out of order in the text!
6
Expect Paraphrasing
When you locate the paragraph, read it in detail. You are looking for matching meaning, not exact words. If the flowchart says “invited to come”, the text will likely say “asked to attend”.
7
Verify Grammar & Word Count
Once you extract your word(s) from the text, read the flowchart sentence again with your answer inserted. It must make grammatical sense, and it must strictly obey the word count limit.
8
Write the Exact Word
Write your answer on the sheet, making sure you spell it exactly as it appears in the reading text. Do not change a singular noun to a plural, or vice versa. If you alter the text word, it is wrong.
10 Quick Strategy Challenges
Click to reveal how you should analyze these common Table and Flowchart scenarios.
1. The limit is “NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS”. The text says “a preliminary telephone interview”. You write “preliminary telephone interview”. Is this correct?
No! That is three words. You must drop an adjective to fit the limit while maintaining meaning. The correct answer is likely “telephone interview” or “preliminary interview”.
2. True or False: The information in a Table will always appear in chronological order in the reading text.
False. While flowcharts usually follow chronological order, Tables group data by categories. Paragraph 2 might contain information for the bottom row, while Paragraph 5 contains info for the top row.
3. The flowchart says: “Candidates must have satisfactorily completed a ___”. The text says: “Applicants are required to pass a swimming test.” Answer?
Answer: swimming test. “Satisfactorily completed” is a paraphrase of “required to pass”.
4. The flowchart gap follows the word “an”. What does this tell you?
The missing word MUST start with a vowel sound (A, E, I, O, U). This is a massive grammatical clue that helps you eliminate wrong words in the text.
5. You see a column heading titled “Findings”. What kind of vocabulary will you scan for?
Scan the text for words indicating results or discoveries, such as “showed”, “demonstrated”, “concluded”, “revealed”, or “the outcome was”.
6. The text says: “There was no immediate need for staff.” The flowchart says: “If the company is _____, candidates wait.” What do you write?
Answer: not hiring. You must use the exact words from the text if instructed, but if it’s a summary/paraphrase flow, you match the meaning. (Always check if instructions say “Choose words FROM THE TEXT”).
7. You write “walk in day” as your answer. The text says “Walk-In Day”. Will you lose a mark?
Possibly. It is always safest to copy the punctuation (like hyphens) and capitalization exactly as it appears in the text, especially for specific titles or events.
8. You are completing a flowchart but cannot find Step 3. What should you do?
Skip it and find Step 4! Because flowcharts follow a chronological process, finding Step 2 and Step 4 will trap Step 3 in a specific, small section of the text for you to search later.
9. The table asks for “Year”. The text says “Two decades later, the bridge opened.” The previous paragraph mentioned 1980. What is the answer?
Answer: 2000. Sometimes table completion requires you to do basic math or logic based on references made earlier in the text.
10. What is the biggest advantage of writing 1-2 word summaries next to paragraphs before starting the questions?
It creates a “map”. If a flowchart outlines an 8-step hiring process, your paragraph notes (e.g., “Application”, “Interview”, “Medical”) let you jump instantly to the right paragraph without re-reading the whole text.
10 Full Reading Practice Tests
Put your strategies to the ultimate test with these full IELTS Reading Table and Flowchart tasks.
