IELTS Matching Headings: how to match paragraphs to headings
Matching Headings asks you to choose the heading that best captures the main idea of each paragraph, from a list that always contains more headings than paragraphs. Focus on the central point of the whole paragraph, not a single detail or a word that happens to appear in a heading.
How to answer
- •Read the paragraph and summarise its main idea in your own words before looking at the headings.
- •Match your summary to the closest heading; cross out headings as you use them.
- •Beware headings built around a minor detail mentioned only once — the right heading covers the paragraph as a whole.
Frequently asked questions
Why are there more headings than paragraphs?
The extra headings are distractors, often close in meaning to a correct one, to test whether you have identified the true main idea.
Should I read the headings or the paragraph first?
Most candidates do better reading the paragraph first, deciding its main idea, then finding the matching heading — it avoids being led by a tempting keyword.
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