What a «completare i vuoti» question is: A gap-fill (completare i vuoti / riempire gli spazi) question gives you a sentence or note with a blank, and you complete it with the exact word(s) you hear. Spelling and accents count — «e» and «è» are different words, and so are «nono» and «nonno» — and your answer must fit grammatically into the sentence.
- completare i vuoti / riempire gli spazi
- to fill in the gaps
- il vuoto / lo spazio
- the gap (the blank to complete)
- completare la frase
- to complete the sentence
- l'ortografia
- spelling
- l'accento (è, perché, città)
- the accent mark (e.g. è, perché, città)
- la doppia consonante (nonno, casa/cassa)
- the double consonant (part of the spelling)
- concordare / stare bene nella frase
- to fit grammatically
Spelling and accents are part of the answer: In gap-fill, the exact word is the answer — so spelling, accents and double consonants matter. A right word spelled wrong, or missing its accent, can lose the mark. Write only what's needed: usually one word or a short phrase, exactly as you hear it.
The mechanics on one card: Here is how a completare i vuoti item is built and marked. English explains the mechanics; the key rule is that the word you write must fit grammatically in the sentence and be spelled correctly, with accents and any double consonants.
| Aspetto | Completare i vuoti (gap-fill) |
|---|---|
| Che cosa ti danno | una frase o una nota con un vuoto (______) |
| Che cosa scrivi | la parola esatta che senti |
| Quante parole? | di solito una o poche |
| Deve stare bene | grammaticalmente nella frase |
| L'ortografia | conta: accenti, doppie e lettere corrette |
| Non scrivere troppo | solo ciò che chiede il vuoto |
Make it fit: The gap is part of a real sentence, so your word must agree (gender, number) and make grammatical sense. If your word doesn't fit the sentence, it's almost certainly wrong.
Know your predicted grade
Take timed mock exams and get detailed feedback on every answer. See exactly where you're losing marks.
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
Read the gapped sentence
Read the whole sentence with the blank so you understand what the missing word does.
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.
Listen for it
Listen for that word in the recording. Knowing its type makes it jump out.
Write it correctly
Write the exact word with correct spelling, accents and double consonants — accuracy is part of the answer.
Check it fits grammatically
Re-read the sentence with your word in it. If it doesn't fit (wrong gender, number 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: This is exactly how a gap-fill item feels — you hear it, you don't see the words. Read the gapped sentence first, predict the word type, play the clip, write the word, then reveal the transcript to check spelling. Remember: in the real exam you'd hear it twice.
Completare i vuoti — Giulia invita alla festa
Listen to Giulia invite a friend to her party, then complete the gap with the exact word(s) before you reveal the transcript — that's exactly how a Paper 2 gap-fill works.
- Completa: «La festa di Giulia comincia alle ______ di sera.»
Ciao, ti chiamo per invitarti alla mia festa di compleanno. È sabato prossimo, alle sette di sera, a casa mia. Ci saranno musica e cibo, ma per favore non portare regali, vieni solo con voglia di ballare. Fammi sapere se puoi venire, va bene? Un bacio!
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 come, okay? Bye!
- sette (7).
Predict the type, then catch it: The words «alle ______ di sera» 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 (note the double t in «sette»).
Get feedback like a real examiner
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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.
Buone strategie
- Predict the word tipo (number, time, noun) before listening.
- Write the exact word with correct spelling, accents and double consonants.
- Check the word fits grammatically in the sentence.
- Write only what the gap needs — no more.
Errori tipici
- Misspell the word or drop the accent and lose the mark.
- Write a word that doesn't fit the sentence grammatically.
- Write more than needed and bury the answer.
- Answer in English instead of the Italian word heard.
Right word, wrong spelling = lost mark: Hearing the word is only half the job — you must write it accurately. A dropped accent («e» for «è») or a missing double consonant («nono» for «nonno») can cost the mark, so use the second listen to check the spelling.