Passage Reference: I decided to compare what inexperienced writers do with what experienced writers do. In order to investigate this, I looked for four people whom I regarded as real novices in this field, which proved easy, perhaps unsurprisingly.

Common Mistake: Some students write novices. That is what you hear, but it does not appear on the diagram wording. The diagram uses a simpler label. This is a synonym match situation.

Paraphrasing: Transcript: 'real novices' = Diagram: 'beginners'

Tips: When a diagram labels people, listen for group descriptions like novice, expert, or experienced.

Key Vocabulary:

• novices = beginners
• inexperienced = new

Question Focus: Type of data collected during the writing task

Correct Answer: experimental

Passage Reference: I asked the first four to do a set writing task and, as they wrote, to talk into a tape recorder, a technique known as think aloud. This was in order to get experimental data.

Why this is correct: The diagram box refers to the kind of data collected. The speaker clearly says the task was done to get experimental data, so the missing word is experimental.

Common Mistake: Students sometimes write data, but that repeats the diagram text and does not complete the phrase. This is a partial truth trap.

Paraphrasing: Transcript: 'experimental data' = Diagram: 'experimental (data)'

Tips: If the gap is before a noun, listen carefully for adjectives that describe it.

Key Vocabulary:

• experimental = for research
• data = information

Question Focus: Method used to record the writers

Correct Answer: video

Passage Reference: Whilst they were doing this, a research assistant recorded them using video. I thought it might be helpful for me in my transcriptions later on.

Why this is correct: This diagram stage shows how the writers were recorded. You hear that a research assistant recorded them using video, so the answer is video.

Common Mistake: Many students choose tape recorder because it is mentioned earlier. But that was for speaking, not for recording images. This is a distractor trap.

Paraphrasing: Transcript: 'recorded them using video' = Diagram: 'video'

Tips: When two methods are mentioned, check which one matches the diagram picture or position.

Key Vocabulary:

• recorded = filmed
• transcriptions = written copies

Question Focus: Result of comparing the two sets of data

Correct Answer: framework

Passage Reference: After this, I made a comparison between the two sets of data, and this helped me to produce a framework for analysis.

Why this is correct: The diagram shows the outcome after comparing data. The speaker explains that this comparison helped him produce a framework.

Common Mistake: Some students write analysis, but that is the purpose of the framework, not the thing produced. This is a partial truth trap.

Paraphrasing: Transcript: 'produce a framework for analysis' = Diagram: 'framework'

Tips: Listen for result phrases like helped me to produce or led to.

Key Vocabulary:

• framework = structure
• comparison = contrast

Question Focus: Who judged the quality of the writing

Correct Answer: editor

Passage Reference: So I asked an editor. an expert in reviewing creative writing, to decide which were the best pieces of writing.

Why this is correct: This box in the diagram shows who evaluated the writing. The speaker clearly says he asked an editor to judge the pieces.

Common Mistake: Students sometimes write expert, but that is only a description of the editor. The role itself is editor. This is a paraphrase trap.

Paraphrasing: Transcript: 'an editor, an expert in reviewing creative writing' = Diagram: 'editor'

Tips: Focus on job titles when someone is introduced to perform a task.

Key Vocabulary:

• editor = reviewer
• evaluate = judge

Question Focus: Final outcome of the editor's evaluation

Correct Answer: sequence

Passage Reference: using his evaluations, I was then able to work out which sequence of the five stages seemed to lead to the best quality writing.

Why this is correct: At the final stage of the diagram, the result is identifying which sequence of stages produced the best writing. You also hear rank order, which explains why order is accepted too.

Common Mistake: Some students write stages, but the focus is on their arrangement, not the stages themselves. This is a context shift trap.

Paraphrasing: Transcript: 'sequence of the five stages' = Diagram: 'sequence or order'

Tips: When you hear rank order or sequence, think about arrangement, not items.

Key Vocabulary:

• sequence = order
• rank = arrange

General Tips:

• Diagram questions follow the order of the recording, so each box matches the next step you hear.
• Look at the diagram during the pause and predict what type of word is missing.
• Listen for signpost phrases like after this or I then, which often introduce the next box.
• Do not repeat words already printed on the diagram. Add only the missing information.
• Always check the word limit. One extra word makes the answer wrong.