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Find which paragraph contains a piece of information.
You'll see a passage divided into paragraphs A–F and a list of statements. For each statement, decide which paragraph contains that information.
A. Most parrot species can fly; only one cannot.
B. The kakapo's vocal display, which males perform from earthen 'bowls', can carry up to 5 km on a still night.
C. Captive-rearing programmes have raised numbers from 51 in 1995 to over 250 today.
D. European settlers introduced rats, cats and stoats — animals against which the bird had no defences.
Which paragraph mentions 'a comparison between the kakapo and other parrots'?
Matching Information asks you to locate which paragraph (A, B, C...) contains a specific piece of information such as a reason, example, comparison, description, or reference. Unlike Matching Headings, this is about specific details, not main ideas, and paragraphs can be used more than once or not at all (the instructions will say so). Start by reading every statement in the question list and underlining concrete keywords: numbers, names, dates, technical terms, and unique noun phrases. Do not pre-read the passage in full; instead scan paragraph by paragraph looking for paraphrases of those keywords.
The IELTS test almost never repeats exact wording, so train your eye for synonyms and rephrasing (e.g., 'a comparison between X and Y' may surface as 'X, unlike Y, ...'). Tackle questions with the most distinctive keywords first because they are easiest to locate; this also narrows where remaining answers can hide. Watch for traps: a paragraph may mention the topic but not actually contain the type of information asked (e.g., it discusses an idea but provides no example). Read the surrounding sentences carefully to confirm the function (reason vs. result, prediction vs. fact).
Allow about 60-90 seconds per question, but expect this set to take longer than average because it requires re-scanning the whole passage. Note answers in the margin first and transfer them at the end. If a paragraph appears to match two statements, double-check both in case one is a closer paraphrase. Never leave blanks; if stuck, eliminate paragraphs that clearly cover other statements and guess from what remains.
One mark per correct match, no partial credit, and no negative marking, so guess every blank. Answers are paragraph letters (A, B, C...), so spelling is not a factor; just copy the letter exactly to the answer sheet. The instructions specify whether letters can be reused. These marks feed the 40-question Academic Reading total, where roughly 30/40 corresponds to Band 7, 27/40 to Band 6.5, and 23/40 to Band 6 on the official conversion table.
Tactical content is original synthesis based on these public IELTS prep resources.