What Is Reading & Writing: Fill in the Blanks?
You read a passage with several blanks. Each blank has a drag-and-drop word bank. You must select the correct word to complete each blank. This task tests vocabulary and grammar simultaneously.
Scoring
Contributes to both Reading and Writing scores. Each correct answer scores 1 point. There is no penalty for wrong answers.
Word Selection Strategies
- Part of speech first: Determine if the blank needs a noun, verb, adjective, or adverb. Eliminate incompatible options immediately.
- Collocations: Look for fixed phrases — “make a decision” (not “do a decision”), “highly recommended” (not “greatly recommended”).
- Context clues: Read the full sentence and the sentence before/after the blank. The meaning of surrounding words narrows your choices.
- Grammar check: Does the word agree in tense, number, and article usage with the rest of the sentence?
Common Trap Words
Synonyms that are wrong in context (effect/affect, rise/raise, economic/economical, historic/historical, continual/continuous). Review common confusable pairs.
Time Management
- Don’t spend more than 2 minutes per passage.
- Fill easiest blanks first; leave harder ones and return if time allows.
- Never leave a blank empty — guess if needed.
Quick Reference
| Number of items | 5–6 per test |
|---|---|
| Skills assessed | Reading + Writing |
| Format | Drag and drop from word bank |