🧩 1. What Is the ‘List of Headings’ Question Type?
In the IELTS Reading test, ‘List of Headings’ questions test your ability to recognize the main idea of each paragraph.
You’re given a list of headings — short summaries — and you must match them with the correct paragraphs.
Number of questions: Usually 4–7
Skill tested: Identifying the writer’s main purpose and idea flow.
Difficulty: High — because it requires deep comprehension, not scanning.
🧭 2. Why Most Students Struggle with It
Many learners in Bangladesh say this question feels “tricky” or “confusing.”
The reason? They focus too much on keywords instead of concepts.
❌ Looking for matching words
✅ Understanding the paragraph’s message
“Headings test meaning — not matching.”
— Fahim Sir’s Core Rule
🧱 3. Structure of a Typical Question
You’ll usually see:
- A list of 7–10 headings labeled i–x.
- A passage divided into paragraphs (A, B, C, etc.)
- The instruction: Choose the correct heading for each paragraph from the list below.
🟢 Pro Tip: Always check if the question says ‘You may use any heading more than once’ — usually, you can’t.
👁️ 4. The ‘Main Idea’ Technique
The key to mastering List of Headings lies in identifying the topic sentence.
Usually, this appears in the first 1–2 lines of a paragraph.
🧠 Ask yourself:
- What is this paragraph mainly about?
- What is the writer trying to tell me?
“Don’t get lost in examples or data — focus on the purpose.”
🔍 5. Fahim Sir’s 5-Step Strategy
Here’s a proven method I teach at IELTS with FAHIM Sir:
- Skim all headings first — understand what ideas they represent.
- Read the paragraph — don’t panic, just grasp the main concept.
- Underline the first and last sentences.
- Eliminate headings that are too narrow or unrelated.
- Double-check by paraphrasing the paragraph in your own words.
💬 If your summary matches the heading’s meaning — it’s correct.
⚠️ 6. Common Mistakes Bangladeshi Students Make
❌ Choosing a heading because it shares similar words with the paragraph.
❌ Spending too much time re-reading.
❌ Not reading all headings before starting.
❌ Ignoring contrasting connectors like however, whereas, despite.
🔥 Fahim Sir Tip: When two headings seem right — pick the more general one.
The IELTS loves general main ideas, not tiny details.
⏱️ 7. Time Management: The 8-Minute Rule
For most reading passages:
- Spend 7–8 minutes maximum on List of Headings.
- Don’t overthink.
- If stuck, mark the question and move on — come back later.
⏳ Remember: Every second you spend doubting steals time from the next 30 questions.
🧠 8. Vocabulary and Paraphrasing Power
IELTS never repeats the same words from the heading in the paragraph.
Example:
- Heading: “Causes of Global Warming”
- Text: “Factors responsible for the rise in earth’s temperature.”
That’s paraphrasing — and your best friend.
💡 Read daily articles from BBC, National Geographic, or The Guardian to train your brain to spot it easily
🌟 9. Final Thoughts: Read with Purpose, Not Pressure
Mastering the List of Headings question type isn’t about speed.
It’s about understanding what the writer wants to say — and connecting that with the right heading.
“When you read with strategy, IELTS Reading becomes easy.”
— Fahim Sir
If you’re preparing for IELTS in Sylhet, Dhaka, or anywhere in Bangladesh, join IELTS with FAHIM Sir — the only coaching where understanding beats memorizing
এই টপিকটা নিয়ে আবার বেশ কিছুটা কনফিউশান ছিলো কিন্তু এই পোষ্টটা পরে কনফিউশানটা বেশ ক্লিয়ার আমার কাছে। ধন্যবাদ।