TOEFL iBT · Reading · R1
TOEFL iBT Reading: Complete the Words
Complete the Words is one of three Reading tasks on the January 2026 TOEFL iBT. You see a short academic paragraph of about 70–100 words. The first sentence is complete; after that, the second half of every second word is missing. You type the missing letters to finish 10 words per paragraph, using spelling, grammar and context.
- Section
- Reading (about 30 minutes, about 50 items, adaptive)
- Paragraph length
- About 70–100 words, academic topic
- Gaps
- 10 per paragraph; the first sentence has none
- Response
- Type the missing letters of each word
- Scoring
- Each gap is one item with one correct completion; spelling counts
How it works
- 1The paragraph opens with a complete first sentence, so you can see the topic before any gaps start.
- 2From the second sentence on, every second word shows only its first half, followed by empty letter spaces.
- 3You type the letters that finish each word while the rest of the paragraph stays on screen.
- 4After 10 gaps the text continues normally, and the Reading section moves on to its other task types.
Sample task
Original sample · not from an official test
Type the missing letters to complete the paragraph. Honey bees share information about food through movement. Returning sco___ perform sh___ dances ins___ the hi__, and ot___ workers fol___ those move_____ closely. T__ angle sh___ direction tow___ the flowers.
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Outline: scouts, short, inside, hive, other, follow, movements, The, shows, toward
Two gaps begin with "sh", and only grammar separates them: an adjective before "dances" (short) and a verb after "angle" (shows). Treat every gap as part of its phrase, then check that your word fits the letters already given.
Tips that work
- Read the complete first sentence slowly. It names the topic, and its key nouns often come back later as gapped words.
- Decide the part of speech before you guess the word. A gap after "the" usually needs a noun or adjective; a gap after a subject usually needs a verb.
- Check endings last: plural -s, past tense -ed and third-person -s are the most common reasons a correct-looking answer is marked wrong.
- If two words fit the letters, reread the words on both sides of the gap. Collocations such as "closely follow" or "take place" usually settle it.
Common mistakes
- Typing the whole word again instead of only the missing letters.
- Choosing a word that fits the meaning but not the letters already shown.
- Skimming the first sentence because it has no gaps, then missing the topic words.
Questions candidates ask
Is the first sentence ever gapped?
No. In the current format the first sentence stays complete so you can see the topic. Gaps begin in the second sentence, on every second word, until the paragraph has 10.
Does spelling count in Complete the Words?
Yes. Each gap is scored right or wrong against one correct completion, so a misspelled ending loses the item even when you clearly know the word.
How many Complete the Words items are there?
The published 2026 test blueprint describes three paragraphs with 10 gaps each, about 30 items within a Reading section of roughly 50. Reading is adaptive, so check the ETS website for current counts.
Where can I practice this task?
EnglishHub has exam-style Complete the Words practice, and the task also appears in its full TOEFL mock tests. The first mock test is free.
Other TOEFL iBT Reading tasks
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