IELTS Reading

Matching features questions

You match statements to a list of options from the passage, such as researchers, groups, time periods or products. Some options may be used more than once and some not at all.

Scan the passage for each option first and mark where it appears, then read around each mention to see which statements fit.

What the question looks like

matching features. “Look at the following statements. Match each statement with the correct option from the list. You may use any option more than once.”

Try real-format questions

This question type is in our free practice test: Passage 2 (“Rethinking the Hospital Night Shift”), questions 14–17. Open the practice test →

How to answer

Matching People and Features

Read the feature or opinion in the question, then scan for its key idea, not just a repeated word.
Check which person or group the passage explicitly connects to that idea.
Compare nearby views carefully; similar topics may belong to different groups.
Choose the label attached to the stated view, not one inferred from background knowledge.

Example: Worked example: matching a group to its view. Text: The habitat team measured the number of nesting sites. The sensor team argued that water temperature was a better early warning of habitat change. Question: Which team regarded water temperature as the better early warning? Answer: sensor team. The passage directly links that view to the sensor team.

Checking Feature Reuse Rules

Read the task instruction before answering; it states whether a feature can be reused.
“May be used more than once” permits reuse. A feature may match several items.
“Use each feature once only” rules out reuse. Do not assign a feature twice.
If the instruction gives no reuse rule, do not assume one; follow the wording provided.

Example: Task instruction: “You may use any feature more than once.”. Reuse is allowed. The same feature can be selected for more than one item.

Practise

Short items from the ielts.coach lessons. Answer them, then check to see why each answer is right.

In a study of urban trees, the mapping team recorded canopy size across several areas. The soil team argued that root depth was a stronger indicator of drought resilience than canopy size. The modelling team said the two measures should be considered together.

1Which team regarded root depth as the stronger indicator of drought resilience?

Researchers studying pollinator visits compared observation methods. The camera team favoured continuous recording because it captured visits outside scheduled checks. The field team preferred short, repeated observations, which they said were easier to verify.

2Which team preferred short, repeated observations?

A study of library use collected proposals from two groups. The access group recommended later opening hours to support people with daytime commitments. The design group proposed clearer signs inside the building.

3Which group proposed later opening hours?

A study compared three methods for measuring soil moisture. Each method produced slightly different readings, so the researchers repeated the measurements.

4The task instruction says, “You may use any feature more than once.” Which rule should you follow?

Researchers examined how light affects seed growth. Seeds kept in brighter conditions grew more quickly during the first week, but the difference later became smaller.

5The task instruction says, “Use each feature once only.” Which rule should you follow?

A team recorded the temperature of water at several depths in a lake. The readings showed that the surface warmed earlier in the day than the deeper water.

6The task note says, “Some features may be used more than once.” Type the phrase that signals reuse is permitted.

Test hacks

Matching headings: think main idea

A heading sums up the whole paragraph, not one detail. Read the first and last sentences, then decide the main point before looking at the list.

Why it works: Wrong headings usually match a single detail word in the paragraph.

False vs Not Given

False means the passage says the opposite. Not Given means the passage doesn't say either way. Don't use your own knowledge.

Why it works: Confusing False and Not Given is an easy trap: choosing False when the passage simply says nothing about the point.

Answers usually follow passage order

For most question types (True/False/Not Given, gap-fill, multiple choice) the answers appear in the same order as the passage.

Why it works: Once you find answer 3, answer 4 is almost always after it. You'll search a much smaller area.

Practise with feedback on every answer

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