‫Welcome back.
‫In this lesson, we'll be looking at strategies for answering the ELT's reading question, lable a diagram.
‫As always, let's begin by looking at some basics for this question type.
‫In your Eilts reading test, you may be asked to label a diagram with information from a passage that
‫describes this diagram you're given, I say you may need to do this question time as there's probably
‫an equal chance that you will see it on the day of your test.
‫There are three different types of diagrams that you could see a technical drawing of a machine or invention,
‫something natural, for example, a plant or a tree or a plan of something.
‫Examples of a plan could be a town or a house.
‫Now, at this point, it's important to say to you that your prior understanding of describing this
‫diagram and the language used to describe it is completely unimportant.
‫And that's because the answers will come from within the passage that describes the diagram.
‫This question type is not a test of your understanding of the diagram at all.
‫It's simply a test of you being able to locate key information in a text.
‫And lastly, there's a very good chance that the answers will not be in order in the passage.
‫So let's take a look at an example of a label, a diagram question.
‫To the left, we have a short passage which describes our diagram to the right.
‫The instructions are just above the diagram and let's read through the instructions now, as you should
‫always do, the diagram below shows a key operated padlock, label the diagram by using no more than
‫two words from the reading passage to fill each numbered space.
‫Write the answers in boxes one to two on your answer sheet.
‫So there we have it.
‫An example of a label, a diagram question.
‫Now let's take a look at the strategy I recommend you use for answering these question types.
‫Firstly, remember that the answers may not be in order, then read through the instructions, as I
‫have just done, and pay careful attention to the word count in this example, we say no more than two
‫words.
‫So if you write three words in your answer, you know that you will receive zero marks for that.
‫Once you've checked the word count carefully investigate the diagram and make predictions on the language
‫that could be used to describe each part.
‫Have a look to see if there is a title of the diagram, and here the diagram is titled with a key operated
‫padlock.
‫Let's take a look at number one, which is this curved metal shape sitting on top of a golden box.
‫That's how I would describe it.
‫And it means that I'm looking for that kind of language in the passage.
‫Once you've carefully investigated the diagram and made some predictions on how you might describe each
‫part, then skim and scan the text for answers.
‫So remember, I described the top part as a metal curve and the bottom part I would describe as a box
‫with a keyhole.
‫So we're looking for language related to my prediction.
‫Pause the video now and see if you can find the answers to number one and number two.
‫Please pause the video again if you need some more time.
‫And here are the answers to questions one and question to.
‫No one is a shackle, and number two is Steelcase, they're actually answered in the passage in the
‫same sentence.
‫Have a look to the passage now where the answers are located.
‫A shackle, which is a curved revolving bar, extends up from the steel case.
‫So these are words that I predicted may be in the answers, or at least they're synonyms of words that
‫I were predicting would be the answers one more time.
‫Let's quickly go through the strategy.
‫So remember, the answers may not be in order.
‫Check the word count carefully, as you should do for every question type for a label, the diagram
‫question.
‫You need to firstly investigate the diagram very carefully and make predictions on the language that
‫may be used to label each part, then move to the passage and skim and scan for possible answers.
‫Well, that brings us to the end of a label, a diagram questions strategy.
‫See you in the next lesson.