Diagram Label Completion: Turning a Description Into a Picture

The diagram may show a machine, part of a building, or other information in the text that a picture can show. You type the words into the gaps on its labels source: ielts.org.

The text describes what the diagram shows

That gives two steps. You understand the description, and then you match it to the picture.

A writer describes a thing in the order that suits prose. A description might start at a central chamber and work outwards. A diagram is read across the page, perhaps from left to right. Neither order is wrong. You have to keep both orders in mind.

Do not expect the text's order

Four Academic Reading types do follow the order of the text: multiple choice, matching sentence endings, sentence completion and short-answer questions source: ielts.org. This is not one of them.

So do not assume that label 2 sits after label 1 in the text. Find the one part of the text that describes the diagram. Then the task is much smaller.

Read the diagram first

The drawing shows you how many parts there are. It shows which parts already have names, and where your gaps sit beside them.

A gap on a line pointing at a container probably needs the name of a container. A gap in a row of similar labels probably needs a word of the same kind as its neighbours. The labels you are given are a strong clue to the labels you are not.

Use the named parts to find the right paragraph. Find one of them in the text, and the gaps around it are close by, even if they are not in order.

What you may write

The instructions print a word limit, for example "NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER". It changes from task to task. You lose the mark for typing more than the limit source: ielts.org.

Contracted words such as "they're" will not be tested. Hyphenated words such as "check-in" count as single words source: ielts.org.

On a diagram, the limit is easy to break. A natural label is a short phrase, and a short phrase can run past the limit.

The format pages do not say the words must come from the text. But the labels come from the description, so look for words in it. A label in your own words is a risk you do not need to take.

In Reading, a word with a spelling error is marked as incorrect source: IDP. On General Training, you also lose marks for incorrect grammar source: ielts.org. A technical term you found and then mistyped scores nothing.

A worked example

A diagram cannot be printed here, so it is described in words. The passage is written for this page, and the limit is two words and/or a number.

The answers are 1 bypass channel, 2 settling tank and 3 reed bed.

Gap 1 is "bypass channel". Of the three, it is the easiest to miss. It is not a stage, and the text describes it last. The answers here are out of order: gap 1 comes from the end of the text, and gaps 2 and 3 come from earlier.

Gap 2 is "settling tank". It is the first stage after the screen, and the text names it directly.

Gap 3 is "reed bed". The text gives two descriptions, "reed bed" and "a shallow gravel channel". The text introduces "reed bed" as the name, so it is the safer label.

How Listening labelling differs

Listening has a similar type, called plan, map and diagram labelling. The two Listening format pages describe it differently.

On the Academic page, you select your answers from a list source: ielts.org.

On the General Training page, you may select your answers from a list and write the letter. Or you may select words from the recording that fit the gaps, within a word limit source: ielts.org.

Listening is the same test whichever paper you take source: ielts.org. So be ready for either form.

The Reading format pages describe no list for this type. So Listening practice helps you read a drawing, but it may not prepare you for typing words and keeping to a limit.

Marks and scoring

The number of questions is "variable", and each correct answer receives one mark source: ielts.org. On average, band 7 takes 30 marks out of 40 on Academic Reading and 35 on General Training source: ielts.org.

To reach band 7 on Academic Reading, you can lose about ten marks on average. A diagram of five labels can take half of them. Label every gap.

IELTS Reading raw score to band score works through the conversion. The Reading band score converter turns a practice raw score into a band.

This type is on both papers. Summary completion shares its treatment of order, and sentence completion shares its word limit. IELTS Reading question types lists all eleven types and what each one tests.

The Reading improvement plan lists this type in its band 5 to 6 step.

The task description, the note on the description in the text, the order statement, the word limit rules and the two Listening labelling descriptions come from ielts.org. They are on the IELTS Academic and General Training Reading format pages and the Academic and General Training Listening format pages, last checked on 29 September 2026. The statement that Listening is the same on both papers comes from its test types page, checked the same day. The average marks for band 7 come from its IELTS scoring in detail page, checked the same day. The statement on spelling comes from IDP, one of the three organisations that own IELTS, in its spelling guide, also checked the same day. The example passage and its diagram were written for this page and are not from any test.