IELTS Listening · Ch 03
Table Completion
Reading column/row headers · tracking data order · abbreviations
Topic & Why It Matters
Table Completion asks you to fill missing cells in a table while listening to a conversation, announcement, or lecture. The table normally compares options or records details under fixed headings, so success depends on reading both the row label and the column heading before the audio begins.
This format is dangerous because the correct word may sound simple, but the table can make you place it in the wrong cell. Learners who track the speaker's movement through the table and check the printed units around each blank avoid many avoidable errors.
Knowledge Points
Tables organize comparison
Table Completion questions usually compare several items across shared categories: cost, location, time, feature, problem, or recommendation. The row and column headers are part of the question, not decoration.
Headers predict answer type
A column headed 'price' predicts a number or amount, while 'main problem' predicts a noun phrase. Use headers to predict before you listen.
Audio may move by row or by column
Most tables are completed left to right across one row, then down to the next row. Some talks compare one column across all rows first, so keep your eyes flexible.
Printed words limit what you write
If the table already prints 'per month' or 'near the,' do not repeat those words in your answer. Write only the missing information.
Abbreviations must be standard
Use common abbreviations only when they are unambiguous, such as 'km' or 'Mon.' If the answer is a name or technical term, write the full word unless the audio gives an accepted abbreviation.
Distractors often sit in nearby cells
A speaker may mention a cost or feature for one row while you are waiting for another. Always attach the detail to the correct row label.
Grammar still matters
The completed cell must fit the printed words around it. Plural endings, articles, and adjective/noun form can decide whether the answer is accepted.
Step-by-Step Strategy
1
Read the table title
The title tells you the real-world situation, such as course options, museum facilities, transport choices, or survey results.
2
Scan row and column headers
Turn each blank into a label: row item plus column function. For example: 'harbour tour + starting point' or 'weekday class + cost.'
3
Predict answer form
Before the audio starts, decide whether each blank needs a place, number, adjective, noun, date, or short phrase.
4
Track direction of movement
After the first two answers, notice whether the speaker is moving across rows or down columns. Use that pattern to stay ahead.
5
Anchor every answer to its row
When you hear a detail, check which item the speaker is discussing. Do not copy a correct-sounding word into the wrong row.
6
Ignore overwritten information
If the speaker corrects a figure or replaces one option with another, write the final value only.
7
Check cells during transfer
Read the completed table as a whole. Each cell should be grammatical, within the word limit, and logically consistent with its row and column.
Common Pitfalls
| Mistake | Corrective Rule |
|---|---|
| Reading blanks only | Read the row and column headers together; the answer belongs to their intersection. |
| Putting a detail in the wrong row | Hold the row label in mind until the speaker clearly moves to the next item. |
| Repeating printed units | If the table says "___ minutes," write "45," not "45 minutes." |
| Following only left-to-right order | Listen for the speaker's pattern. Some tables are discussed by category rather than by row. |
| Accepting the first number heard | Wait for correction markers such as "actually," "sorry," or "that has changed." |
Vocabulary Bank
| Expression / Signpost | Usage Note |
|---|---|
| The first option is | Introduces the first row or item |
| Compared with | Signals contrast between rows |
| In terms of cost | Moves to a price or fee column |
| The main advantage is | Signals a benefit cell |
| The drawback is | Signals a problem or disadvantage cell |
| It starts from | Signals a location, time, or starting point |
| It lasts about | Signals a duration |
| This includes | Signals included features or services |
| Unlike the others | Marks a row-specific detail |
| The same applies to | Transfers a detail to another row |
| The exception is | Signals a different value in one row |
| That figure has changed | Warns that an earlier number may be wrong |
| Per person / per group | Clarifies the unit for a price |
| At weekends | Signals a schedule condition |
| Available from | Often precedes a start date or time |
Practice Question
Instructions: Complete the table below. Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer.
Practice Audio Script — Harbour Area Tours
■ Guide (male)In the real test you hear this once. Play first and attempt the exercise, then read the script to verify.
Model Answer
| # | Answer | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | old | The guide says the historic harbour walk starts from the old customs house. The table already prints 'customs house,' so only the adjective 'old' is needed. |
| 2 | 90 | The walk lasts about ninety minutes. Because the table prints 'minutes,' the answer should be the number only, not '90 minutes.' |
| 3 | history | The main focus is the city's trading history. The printed word 'trading' sets up the noun that completes the phrase. |
| 4 | quay | The speaker first mentions the ferry pier as a mistaken assumption, then says the tour now starts from the north quay. The correction makes 'quay' the final answer. |
| 5 | 45 | The river boat tour lasts around forty-five minutes. The duration column requires the number, and the printed unit handles 'minutes.' |
| 6 | map | The boat ticket includes a printed map. 'Printed' is already in the table, so the missing noun is only 'map.' |
| 7 | lighthouse | The photography tour begins outside the lighthouse. The beach entrance is a distractor from last year's arrangement. |
| 8 | workshop | The special feature is a short workshop on night photography. The table prints 'night photography,' so the missing word is 'workshop.' |
Self-Check
Answer these from memory before looking back. If you cannot answer all three, re-read the relevant section.
- How do row and column headers work together to predict an answer?
- What should you do when a speaker mentions a detail for the wrong row before correcting it?
- If a table cell reads "___ minutes," why is "45 minutes" not the best answer?
Answers: (1) The row identifies the item, and the column identifies the kind of detail needed. (2) Wait for the final corrected information and attach it to the right row. (3) The unit is already printed, so writing it again may exceed the required cell content.