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IELTS / Guides / Reading · Diagram labelling
IELTS Reading · Guide

Diagram Label Completion in IELTS Reading: how to label a diagram from the text

You complete labels on a diagram, such as a machine, a building, a geological formation or a process, with words from the passage. The passage describes the parts in words, and you must match the description to the picture. It tests technical reading and your ability to visualise what a written description means.

About Reading practice

Format

  • Usually 3 to 6 labels, in a passage that describes an object, a machine or a process. It is one of the less common task types.
  • The word limit is printed, often ONE WORD ONLY or NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS.
  • The answers may not follow the order of the text. Use the numbers on the diagram.
  • The answers are words from the passage, copied exactly. On computer you type into a box beside the label.
  • The relevant description is usually in one or two paragraphs and contains words of position and function.

Strategy

  1. Look at the diagram first. Identify what it shows, read the labels that are already given and note the position of each numbered gap.
  2. Find the paragraph that describes the object. It will be rich in words of position and function: 'at the top', 'beneath', 'attached to', 'connects', 'surrounds', 'which then'.
  3. Read the description slowly with the diagram in front of you, tracing the object as you read. Visualise each part and its position.
  4. Match each described part to the numbered gap, using position words and the labels already given as fixed points.
  5. Look for the noun that names the part. It may be introduced with 'called' or 'known as', and it will be the label to copy.
  6. Copy the word or words exactly, within the limit, and check the spelling.
  7. Check the answers against the picture. The label should sensibly name the part in the position shown, and a flow of material or water should make sense from one label to the next.

Common traps

  • Assuming the answers follow the order of the text. They follow the diagram, not the paragraph.
  • Choosing a word from the text that describes the part instead of naming it, such as a verb or an adjective.
  • Ignoring position words. 'Above', 'beneath' and 'beside' decide which gap a word belongs to.
  • Exceeding the word limit by copying a longer name.
  • Not reading the labels that are already on the diagram, which often fix the position of the others.

Practise it inside a real Reading section

Practice on PrepFreely is always a complete section, so you meet this question type in the same place and proportion as on test day. Random sections never repeat until you've done them all. Every answer is explained.

Practise Reading Take the Reading course

FAQ

Do the answers follow the order of the passage?

Not necessarily. Follow the numbers on the diagram.

What if the diagram shows a process?

Treat the arrows as a sequence and use sequence words in the passage, such as 'first', 'then' and 'finally', to place each label.

Do I need technical knowledge?

No. The passage describes everything you need. If an essential technical word is not explained, a short glossary is normally provided.

Is the word limit strict?

Yes. Words over the limit make the answer wrong.

Is this task common?

No. It appears less often than most other task types, so give it less practice time than True / False / Not Given or matching headings.

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