IELTS Academic Reading – Cracking the Headings Question

One type of IELTS Academic Reading question that comes up often is the heading question. This question type asks the candidate to match a heading or “title” to a specific paragraph in the passage. The basic principle behind heading questions requires the comprehension for finding the particular topic of a paragraph.  The ability to determine the topic of paragraphs or even passages is a skill that is needed for academic reading and IELTS tests this skill in a couple of ways. Answering heading questions does take a bit of effort but these questions are typically answered quite easily. Look an example of a heading question below.

About Heading Questions

Typically, heading questions come near the beginning of the question series in a particular passage though sometimes they can be found later on in the exam. A good indication that a heading question will appear on an IELTS reading exam is the labeling of the paragraphs by either a letter (A) or number (I). If you see this prior to beginning the reading test, be prepared to see a heading question series.

There are usually 4 to 5 questions that need to be matched to a paragraph and there are always more headings than paragraphs (indicated in the question introductions). The headings are commonly listed as bullets using numerical numbers (i, ii, iii).  The headings are short summary descriptions of the paragraph. A candidate needs to read and comprehend the heading and then match it to the paragraph. There are a few useful tips that a candidate can do prior to answering a heading question. Let’s look at process for answering these question types.

Summarize the Heading

Before beginning to answer the questions, take a bit of time and summarize the heading into your own words. IELTS tests comprehension so you will not see the heading written directly in the passage. What you will see is a summary description of that particular heading. Look at the heading list again below.

As you are reading the headings, write a synonym or summary description above the heading. List a least two different ways to express the same meaning. Look at the following example:

                                main ocean hunters / best marine searchers

                i               Top Ocean Predators

Top Ocean Predators basically means that orcas are the main marine hunters. Using this new term, we could scan the passage find which paragraph this heading would fit. We’ll do that later.

As you make your way down the list of headings and writing synonyms, you’re building a better understanding of the vocabulary being tested. Not only that, you’ll be able to understand where the heading will be used.

Sometimes you will not be able to write 2 different summary expressions. As long as you write one, this should be enough to help you in understanding the meaning.

Determine the Topic of the Paragraph

Good paragraphs are written with topic sentences. Sometimes the topic isn’t visibly clear in the first sentence, but often it is. Paragraphs need structure and writers clearly indicate the topic of the paragraph within the first few words of the sentence. After writing key synonyms for the heading titles, you should then go to the paragraphs.

                1. Read the first line of each paragraph

                2. Mentally summarize the meaning of the first sentence

                3. Jot down a quick topic term for that particular paragraph

                4. Move on and complete the others quickly.

Look at the following paragraph and the notes made.

After reading the first sentence, we only learn that orcas are resourceful hunters and rely on a number of different things for survival. It is not until the second and third sentence that we learn the topic of this paragraph.

We learn that this paragraph deals with the depleting stocks of wild salmon. Further reading also confirms that other fish species that orcas rely on for survival are also endangered or have declined in population. After scanning the rest of the paragraph, it’s clearly obvious that this particular paragraph deals with the depleting stocks of food for the orca.

Check for Transitions

Transitions are used to move smoothly from one paragraph to another. Effective essay writing uses transitions as a way of introducing the next point. Transitions can written in a variety of ways. Here are some commonly used transitional phrases;

                                another

                                a further

                                similar to

                                an additional

When transitions are used, understanding the topic of the paragraph is very simple. The topic will be something either similar to or the opposite of as in this example paragraph.

The transitional phrase Similar to surface impacts, informs the reader that the previous paragraph mentioned surface impacts of noise and that this particular paragraph will focus on underwater noise.

Putting it all Together

After going over the techniques in preparing to answer heading questions, we can now attack them with confidence. The main point to remember is ensuring that you understand the heading and topic sentence in different ways. Don’t rely on the literature in the passage to provide you the answer as in most cases, it won’t help you. You really need to look at the headings and paragraph topics under a different perspective and allow your comprehension to walk you through answering them correctly.

Below is the the entire passage and the questions that accompany it. Test yourself with the techniques explained above and see how you do.

Reading Passage

Issues affecting the southern resident orcas from Raymond Ebertt

Answers

Click here to see the answers


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