IELTS Reading

Matching headings questions

You get a list of headings (i, ii, iii…) and choose the one that best sums up each paragraph. There are more headings than paragraphs, so some are never used. The heading must cover the whole paragraph, not just one detail in it.

Read the paragraph first, decide its main idea in a few words, then look for the heading that paraphrases it. Headings that repeat a word from the paragraph are often traps.

What the question looks like

matching headings. “Choose the correct heading for each paragraph from the list of headings below. There are more headings than paragraphs.”

How to answer

Matching Paragraph Headings

Read the whole paragraph before considering headings. Note its subject and what it says about that subject.
Ask what idea connects most of the sentences. Examples, figures and individual results usually support that idea.
Choose a heading that covers the paragraph, not one that names only a single example or detail.
Check that the heading fits the paragraph as a whole, rather than just one sentence.

Example: Worked example: matching a heading to a paragraph. Paragraph: Rooftop gardens can reduce the amount of rainwater entering city drains. Soil holds some water, while plants absorb and release it slowly. These gardens can also provide habitat for insects. Best heading: How rooftop gardens manage rainwater. The paragraph includes a habitat detail, but its main focus is rainwater.

Choosing the Central Heading

Identify the subject that appears across most of the paragraph.
Notice what the paragraph says about that subject; this is its central focus.
Reject a heading that covers only one example or detail.
Reject a heading so broad that it could fit many unrelated paragraphs.

Example: Paragraph about seed banks. Paragraph: Seed banks store seeds in controlled conditions. This helps preserve plant varieties and provides material for research and future planting. Best heading: How seed banks preserve plant resources. It covers both the storage and its main purposes, without focusing on just one detail.

Eliminating Heading Distractors

A heading can use the paragraph’s topic but still be too narrow.
Check whether it describes just one case, place or result.
Compare the heading with the whole paragraph, not only its most memorable detail.
Reject a heading if the other sentences develop a wider idea.

Example: Worked example: choose which heading to reject. A study compared three methods of reducing water loss from crops. Soil covering, adjusted irrigation times and drought-resistant plants all reduced loss, but each worked best under different conditions. At one farm, soil covering gave the strongest result. Reject “The success of soil covering at one farm”: it fits one result, but the paragraph compares several methods and their conditions.

Eliminating Close Headings

What is the paragraph’s main job?
Which idea receives the most explanation?
Are tempting details examples or the central point?
Which heading covers that point without widening or narrowing it?

Example: Two close headings for a paragraph about roof designs. Paragraph: Engineers compared light-coloured and planted roofs on several buildings. Both reduced midday roof temperatures, but planted roofs had a stronger effect after prolonged heat, while light coatings performed more consistently across the year. The study argues that roof choice should depend on weather conditions, rather than treating either design as universally superior. Heading A: The temperature benefits of two roof designs Heading B: Choosing a roof design according to weather conditions 1. Main job? To explain how weather conditions affect the choice of roof design. 2. Most explanation? The different performance of each design in different conditions. 3. Examples or central point? The designs’ results support the central point about weather-dependent choice. 4. Which heading covers it? B. Heading A focuses on general benefits, but B captures the paragraph’s defining point.

Practise

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

Wetlands can reduce the risk of flooding in nearby areas. Their plants slow moving water, and the ground can absorb water after heavy rain. These features can lower the amount of water flowing towards homes and roads.

1Which heading best matches the paragraph as a whole?

Sleep helps the brain retain some of the information learned during the day. During sleep, memories may become more stable and easier to recall. This process can support learning over time.

2Which heading best expresses the main idea?

Street trees can lower temperatures by providing shade. They also release water vapour, which can cool the surrounding air. Together, these effects may make paved urban areas more comfortable in warm weather.

3Which heading best covers the paragraph’s central focus?

Some wetlands absorb rainwater during periods of heavy rainfall. The water is then released slowly, which can reduce sudden rises in nearby rivers. This storage role can help limit flooding downstream.

4Which heading best expresses the paragraph’s whole focus?

A team tested three types of reflective roof coating on office buildings. All reduced heat entering the rooms, but the results varied with coating colour and roof condition. On one building, a white coating gave the largest reduction.

5Which heading should be rejected because it focuses on just one example?

Researchers studied carbon storage in several types of wetlands. Water depth and plant cover influenced how much carbon each wetland stored. One restored marsh had the highest measured amount.

6Which heading is a distractor because it matches only one detail?

A review examines several ways to store solar energy, including batteries, heated water and compressed air. It compares their cost, efficiency and suitability for different settings. One paragraph gives a detailed example of a battery system in a clinic.

7Complete the rule: Do not choose a heading that describes only one ___.

Researchers tested whether brief artificial light at night altered moth navigation. Moths exposed to intermittent flashes changed direction less often than those under continuous illumination, although both groups showed disruption compared with darkness. The results suggest that the pattern of exposure, not simply the presence of light, affects navigation.

8Which heading best captures the paragraph’s defining focus?

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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