What a gap-fill question is: A gap-fill question gives you a sentence or a note with a blank, and you complete it with the exact word(s) you hear.
Spelling counts — and your answer must fit grammatically into the sentence. It is a Paper 2 (Listening) task: you hear the recording, you never see the words written down.
The exam instruction you'll see: In the English Paper 2 Listening, this question type is introduced by an instruction like:
“Complete the gaps with the missing information.”
What you have to do: Write the missing word(s) you hear into each gap — listen for the exact detail (a number, name, time, place). Spelling slips are tolerated if the word is recognisable, but write what was actually said, not a paraphrase.
- gap-fill
- a task where you complete a blank with the exact word(s) you hear
- the gap / the blank
- the empty space you have to complete
- to complete a sentence
- to fill in the missing word so the sentence is whole
- spelling
- writing a word with the correct letters
- to fit grammatically
- to agree and make grammatical sense in the sentence
- a transcript
- the written-out words of a recording
- to predict
- to work out in advance what kind of answer is needed
Spelling is part of the answer: In gap-fill, the exact word is the answer — so spell it correctly. Write only what's needed: usually one word or a short phrase, never a sentence of your own.
The mechanics on one card: Here is how a gap-fill item is built and marked. The key rule is that the word you write must fit grammatically in the sentence and be spelled correctly.
| Aspect | What gap-fill expects |
|---|---|
| What you're given | a sentence or note with a blank (______) |
| What you write | the exact word(s) you hear |
| How many words? | usually one word or a few |
| It must fit | grammatically in the sentence |
| Spelling | counts — write the correct letters |
| Don't over-write | only what the gap needs, nothing more |
Make it fit: The gap is part of a real sentence, so your word must agree (number, form) and make grammatical sense. If your word doesn't fit the sentence, it's almost certainly wrong.
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A method for every gap: You don't need every word — you need a method. Run the same five steps on each gap and you'll write the right word, spelled right, that fits the sentence.
Fill the gap — 5 steps
1
Read the gapped sentence
Read the whole sentence with the blank so you understand what the missing word does.
2
Predict the word type
Predict what kind of word fits — a number? a time? a place? a noun? — so you know what to listen for.
3
Listen for it
Listen for that word in the recording. Knowing its type makes it jump out.
4
Write it correctly
Write the exact word with correct spelling — accuracy is part of the answer.
5
Check it fits
Re-read the sentence with your word in it. If it doesn't fit (wrong form or sense), it's probably wrong.
Read → Predict type → Listen → Write → Check fit
Predict the type first: Knowing what kind of word you need — a number, a time, a noun — turns listening into targeted hunting. You hear the clip twice, so use the second play to confirm the spelling before you write it down.
This is exactly how it feels: In the real exam you hear the clip and don't see the words. Here we'll use a transcript so you can practise the technique on the page.
Read the gapped sentence first, predict the word type, then find the answer in the speaker's words. Remember: in the exam you'd hear the clip twice.
Transcript — a phone invitation: Hi, I'm calling to invite you to my birthday party. It's next Saturday, at seven in the evening, at my house. There'll be music and food, but please don't bring any presents — just come ready to dance. Let me know if you can make it, okay? See you soon!
IB-style task — one gap, step by step
One gap, step by step
- Read the gapped sentence. "The party starts at ______ in the evening." The blank comes after "at" and before "in the evening".
- Predict the word type. "at ______ in the evening" needs a time — so you're listening for a number.
- Listen for it. Find the time in the transcript: "It's next Saturday, at seven in the evening."
- Write it correctly. The answer is seven. Spell it correctly and check it fits: "The party starts at seven in the evening." It fits perfectly.
Predict the type, then catch it: The words "at ______ in the evening" tell you the gap needs a time — so you're listening for a number. You hear the clip twice, so use the second play to make sure you've spelled it right.
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Where marks are lost: Most gap-fill marks are lost on accuracy, not on understanding. Compare what good candidates do with the traps everyone else falls into.
Good practice
- Predict the word type (number, time, noun) before listening.
- Write the exact word with correct spelling.
- Check the word fits grammatically in the sentence.
- Write only what the gap needs — no more.
Typical mistakes
- Misspell the word and risk losing the mark.
- Write a word that doesn't fit the sentence grammatically.
- Write more than needed and bury the answer.
- Write a synonym instead of the exact word heard.
Right word, wrong spelling = risk: Hearing the word is only half the job — you must write it accurately. Use the second listen to check the spelling before you commit your answer.