How to use these examples
Each item below is a single sentence with one word replaced by its first few letters plus a blank — exactly how Complete the Words appears in the 2026 TOEFL iBT Reading section. Cover the answer, decide the missing word from context and grammar, then check yourself. For the full strategy breakdown, see our Complete the Words strategy guide.
Set 1 — Campus & everyday life
Many companies now allow employees to work from home to
impr_____productivity.Answer: improve. Follows "to," so it's a verb; the sentence describes a goal, which points to "make better."
The professor asked students to
subm__their essays by Friday.Answer: submit. Follows "to," so it's a verb meaning "hand in."
Volunteering can be an excellent way to
ga__real-world experience.Answer: gain. Follows "to," and pairs naturally with "experience."
The library
ext____its hours during final exam week.Answer: extended. Past-tense verb — the library's hours changed because of exams.
Students must
reg_____for classes before the semester begins.Answer: register. Verb describing the standard pre-semester enrollment step.
The committee will
ann_____the results next Monday.Answer: announce. Follows "will," so it's a base-form verb meaning "make known."
A
bala____diet includes fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.Answer: balanced. Adjective describing the diet — the list of food groups is the clue.
The university
off___scholarships to international students.Answer: offers. Third-person singular present verb — "university" is the subject.
Class
atten_____is not mandatory, but it is strongly recommended.Answer: attendance. Noun — the subject of the sentence, meaning "showing up to class."
Students can
bor___books from the library for up to three weeks.Answer: borrow. Follows "can," so it's a base-form verb — pairs with "library" and "three weeks."
Set 2 — Academic topics
Researchers conducted an
exper_____to test the new vaccine.Answer: experiment. Noun following "an" — the object of "conducted."
The lecture
cov_____the causes of the French Revolution.Answer: covered. Past-tense verb — "lecture" is the subject, "causes" is the object.
Her
the__focused on the effects of climate change on coral reefs.Answer: thesis. Noun — the subject of the sentence, a piece of academic writing.
The scientists were
sur_____by the unexpected results.Answer: surprised. Past participle after "were" — describes the scientists' reaction.
The instructor
emph_____the importance of citing sources.Answer: emphasized. Past-tense verb — "instructor" is the subject, "importance" is the object.
A well-organized
ess__usually has an introduction, body, and conclusion.Answer: essay. Noun — the subject, and the listed parts confirm it's a piece of writing.
The department is
see____a new research assistant.Answer: seeking. Present continuous after "is" — means "looking for."
It's essential to
rev___your notes before the exam.Answer: review. Follows "to," base-form verb — pairs naturally with "notes" and "exam."
The
hyp_______was not supported by the data collected.Answer: hypothesis. Noun — the subject of a science-methods sentence; "data" is the clue.
Most
und______students take this course in their second year.Answer: undergraduate. Adjective modifying "students" — describes the type of student, not their major.
The pattern to notice
None of these require rare vocabulary. Every answer is recoverable from two things working together: the grammar slot (is it a noun, verb, or adjective? singular or plural? which tense?) and the meaning of the surrounding sentence. The letter hint is there to confirm your guess, not to generate it — that's the habit that separates fast, accurate answers from guesswork.
Practice the real thing
Reading worked examples gets you halfway there. The rest comes from doing full sets under the same conditions as the real 2026 exam — timed, exam-formatted, with instant scoring.