Complete the Words Mastery
Updated · TOEFL 2026 facts and guidance updated.
Master the new vocabulary fill-in-the-blank task
How Complete the Words Works
This is a brand-new task type for TOEFL 2026. You read a short academic paragraph where some words have missing letters. Supply the missing letters using the visible first halves, grammar, and passage meaning. The first sentence is intact; the second half of every other word is removed from the second sentence until there are 10 targets.
Original practice paragraph — 10 completions
Urban trees change the conditions around busy streets. They red___ surface temper______ because th___ leaves pro____ shade wh___ roots abs___ water fr__ soil af___ rain a__ release mois____. These effects can make a shaded street more comfortable than an equally busy road with little vegetation, especially during a hot afternoon in summer. City planners therefore consider both the number of trees and the amount of open soil when they design public spaces for residents.
Example completions: reduce, temperatures, their, provide, while, absorb, from, after, and, moisture.
On the official test, supply the missing letters. In PrepEx exercises, follow the field instruction if it asks for the whole word.
What's Tested
- Vocabulary recognition from partial spelling
- Using context clues to identify words
- Accurate spelling
- Reading comprehension
Key Constraints
- Spelling must be exact (no partial credit)
- Use the section timer to pace yourself
- Follow the capitalization shown in the sentence
- Follow the on-screen navigation instructions
How the missing letters work
Keep the first half of the word and complete its second half. For an odd number of letters, the missing part contains the extra letter: th___ → their. For an even number: rese____ → research. Missing letters come at the end, not from the middle.
Difficulty comes from vocabulary, grammar, and context. ETS does not define easy, medium, and hard items by showing progressively smaller percentages of the word.
Word Types You'll See
These word families are useful practice. Targets follow the alternating-word pattern, so study common words as well as academic vocabulary.
Transition Words
Signal logical relationships
Ther_____ = Therefore
Alth____ = Although
Furth______ = Furthermore
Academic Vocabulary
TOEFL-level academic words
envir______ = environment
rese____ = research
evid____ = evidence
Function Words
Common words that connect ideas
wh___ = which/where
th___ = their/there/these
Verb Forms
Watch for tense and suffixes
occ___ = occurs
demon______ = demonstrate
Your 4-Step Strategy
Follow this process for every blank to maximize accuracy.
Read the Full Sentence First
Don't look at the letters immediately. Understand the sentence's meaning first. What word would make sense here? Get a mental prediction before looking at the blank.
Check the Letters Shown
Now look at the partial word. Does your prediction match the letters? If not, what other words fit both the context AND the letter pattern?
Consider Grammar
What part of speech is needed? A verb, noun, adjective, adverb? Check for plural forms (-s), past tense (-ed), or other suffixes that the grammar requires.
Type Carefully and Verify
Spelling must be exact. Before moving on, quickly verify your answer makes sense in the sentence. Read it back mentally.
Strategy in Action:
pro____
- 1. Context: "of fossilization" suggests a noun
- 2. Letters: starts with "pro"
- 3. Prediction: process
pres_____
- 1. Context: something happens to organic material
- 2. Letters: starts with "pres"; the passive construction needs a past participle
- 3. Prediction: preserved
The short drills below isolate spelling and context. A full task has a 70–100-word passage and 10 alternating completions, as in the example above.
Practice Examples
Answers:
ancient • developed • record • information • Egyptians • hieroglyphics • while • created
Answers:
process • photosynthesis • converts • chemical • absorb • dioxide • atmosphere • release • byproduct
Answers:
Cognitive • biases • influence • predictable • Confirmation • individuals • information • supports • preexisting
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Spelling Errors
"enviroment" instead of "environment," "seperate" instead of "separate." There's no partial credit—one wrong letter means zero points for that blank.
Guessing from Letters Alone
"pro____" could be "process" or "produce." Use the sentence meaning and grammar to choose the right word. Letters narrow options; context confirms.
Forgetting Grammatical Forms
If the sentence needs a plural ("these people") or past tense ("they developed"), make sure your answer has the correct ending. "develop" is wrong if "developed" is needed.
Rushing Without Reading
Preview the whole paragraph before filling in the missing letters. A 60-second drill can be a practice goal, but it is not an official per-paragraph timer. Understanding the topic makes individual words much easier.
Confusing Similar Words
"effect" vs "affect," "their" vs "there," "its" vs "it's." Context determines which word is correct—they're not interchangeable.
Your Complete the Words Practice Plan
Build vocabulary recognition and spelling accuracy with systematic practice.
Days 1-2: Build Vocabulary Awareness
- Practice 5-8 easy paragraphs with explanations
- Focus on transition words and common academic terms
- Review the AWL (Academic Word List) top 100 words
- Note patterns: which word types appear most often?
Days 3-5: Build Speed and Accuracy
- Practice 8-10 paragraphs daily (mixed difficulty)
- Time yourself: aim for ~60 seconds per paragraph
- Focus on the 4-step strategy
- Track spelling errors—create a personal "trouble words" list
Days 6-7: Test Simulation
- Complete 2-3 paragraph sets back-to-back under timed conditions
- Practice with harder, academic vocabulary
- Review errors and reinforce correct spellings
- Target: 85%+ accuracy before moving on
Ready to Practice?
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