Vocabulary · Free lesson
IELTS Reading: locate specific information
Practice a skill used in IELTS Academic Reading with three original paragraphs about a rooftop garden. These are teaching examples, not official test items.
Professor Scott MendozaThe short answer
In IELTS matching information, look for the specific detail requested, not the paragraph’s overall topic. If the question asks for a comparison of harvest amounts, find the two amounts being compared and identify that paragraph.
Name the requested detail before searching for its location.
A request may describe a reason, an example or a comparison in different words from the passage. Read around a promising word to check the whole idea. A matching topic word is a clue, not proof. Matching headings instead asks for a paragraph’s main idea.
Original rooftop-garden report
Volunteers chose the roof because the ground-level courtyard was too crowded. The roof also received morning sunlight.
The rooftop garden produced 18 baskets of vegetables in its first season. After more beds were added, the second season produced 24 baskets.
Each volunteer booked a weekly slot to water the garden. A shared calendar showed who was responsible on each day.
The word rooftop appears in B, but A explains why the roof was chosen. Match the relationship being asked about, not just the repeated noun.
Find and verify
Define the information
a comparison of harvest amounts
Find the evidence
18 baskets in the first season; 24 in the second
Try it now
Which paragraph contains the detail?
Read all answers and explanations
Which paragraph gives a reason for choosing the roof?
Paragraph AA says the courtyard was too crowded. B gives harvest amounts; C explains the care schedule.
Which paragraph compares results from two seasons?
Paragraph BB compares 18 and 24 baskets across two seasons. A and C do not compare harvest results.
Which paragraph explains how care duties were organized?
Paragraph CC describes weekly slots and a calendar of responsibility. That explains organization of care.
Put it into practice
Repair an evidence note
The request is a comparison of harvest amounts. Choose the note that locates and supports it.
Harvest comparison: Paragraph A, because it mentions the roof.
See a model answer
Harvest comparison: Paragraph B, with 18 baskets and then 24.
A strong match has evidence for the requested detail, not just a shared word.
A little more clarity
Common questions
A few useful details before you move on.
Is this the same as matching headings?
No. Headings match the main idea. Matching information asks where a particular detail or relationship occurs.
A paragraph about harvests may contain a comparison of two amounts.
Must the question use the same words as the passage?
No. Follow the meaning. A request about organization can match weekly slots and a shared calendar.
Care duties were organized through weekly slots.
Take it into your day
Match specific evidence to the requested detail, not just the topic.
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