Do matching information answers follow the passage order?

No. That is why it is usually better to answer them after other question types.

Can one name be used more than once in matching features?

Often yes. Check the instructions for 'You may use any letter more than once'.

IELTS Reading Matching Information and Matching Features Explained

How to handle IELTS Reading matching information (which paragraph contains...) and matching features questions quickly and accurately.

By IELTSora teaching team · Updated 7 November 2026 · 2 min read

Two matching tasks that are often confused

Matching information asks which paragraph contains a particular detail, such as 'a reference to a failed experiment'. Matching features asks you to connect statements with a list of people, places or dates, such as which researcher made which claim. Both are harder than they look because answers do not follow passage order.

Because of this, these tasks are best done after questions that do follow order, such as completion or True/False/Not Given, when you already know the passage well.

Method for matching information

Use a focused approach instead of rereading everything:

Classify each statement: is it an example, a reason, a comparison, a number or a description?
Skim each paragraph for its function, not just its topic.
Look for the type of information: 'a reference to a cost' points to figures and money words.
Remember a paragraph can be used more than once if the instructions say so.

Method for matching features

Scan for each name in the list first, because names are easy to find. Circle every occurrence, then read the sentences around each one. Match the statements by meaning; the statement will almost always be a paraphrase of what the person said.

Example

Statement: 'believed the decline was caused mainly by human activity'.

Passage: 'Dr Chen, by contrast, attributes most of the loss to farming and urban expansion.'

Match: Dr Chen — 'attributes most of the loss to' paraphrases 'believed the decline was caused mainly by'.

Time management

Allow around 8 to 10 minutes for a set of matching questions. If one statement is taking more than two minutes, move on, then return at the end. A guessed answer is always better than a blank one, because there is no negative marking in IELTS.

Frequently asked questions

Do matching information answers follow the passage order?: No. That is why it is usually better to answer them after other question types.
Can one name be used more than once in matching features?: Often yes. Check the instructions for 'You may use any letter more than once'.

Put this tip into practice

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