Cloze Test Approach – How to Score Full Marks

Cloze tests are a regular feature in bank and government exams, designed to assess a candidate’s understanding of context, grammar, and vocabulary. Scoring well in this section requires more than just word knowledge, as candidates must analyze sentence flow and logical continuity throughout the passage. A structured approach helps reduce guesswork and improve accuracy under time pressure. With consistent practice, cloze tests can become one of the most scoring parts of the English section.

Cloze Test

A cloze test consists of a short passage with multiple blanks, each requiring the most suitable word from the given options. These blanks test grammar rules, contextual meaning, connectors, and vocabulary usage, making overall comprehension essential. Candidates must read the entire passage before attempting answers to understand the tone and theme clearly. Approaching the test holistically rather than blank-by-blank improves the success rate significantly.

Cloze Test Approach – How to Score Full Marks

Focus on understanding the passage’s central idea and tone before filling in any blanks. Eliminate options that break grammatical structure or disrupt contextual flow, and rely on logic rather than isolated word meanings.

1. Read the Passage First for Context

Before looking at the options, read the entire passage once.
This helps you understand:

• Theme

• Tone

• Story flow

• Writing style

A Cloze Test always follows a logical theme, such as education, economy, technology, travel, environment, etc. Understanding this helps you quickly eliminate wrong options.

2. Look for Clues Before and After the Blank

Words around the blank give strong hints about what fits.
These clues may be:

• Adjectives before nouns

• Prepositions

• Verbs indicating tense

• Words showing contrast (but, however, although)

• Words showing continuation (also, moreover, further)

The immediate context is your biggest helper.

3. Eliminate Grammatically Incorrect Options

Many options are intentionally incorrect in terms of:

• Tense

• Subject–verb agreement

• Preposition usage

• Pronoun usage

• Adjective vs adverb form

If an option breaks grammar rules, eliminate it immediately.

4. Check the Logical Flow of the Sentence

A Cloze Test always follows logical progression.
Ask yourself:

• Does this word maintain the sense?

• Does it connect logically with the previous sentence?

• Does it support the paragraph’s theme?

If the sentence feels awkward with the chosen word, it’s wrong.

5. Identify the Tone of the Passage

Tone helps you select words with the correct emotional meaning.
Common tones include:

• Positive

• Negative

• Neutral

• Critical

• Supportive

• Informative

For example, a negative tone will never use words like “beneficial,” “progressive,” or “advantageous.”

6. Use Word Collocations and Fixed Phrases

Some words naturally pair together.
Examples:

• Make a decision (not do a decision)

• Play a role (not perform a role)

• Highly unlikely (not very unlikely)

Knowing common collocations helps you find correct answers quickly.

7. Use Vocabulary Logic, Not Guesswork

If you are stuck, choose the option closest to the meaning and tone of the paragraph.
Avoid unfamiliar words unless they logically match the sentence.

8. Ensure the Whole Passage Feels Cohesive

After filling all blanks, read the entire passage again.
The final read helps you:

• Spot incorrect answers

• Maintain flow

• Confirm coherence

• Fix options that feel out of place

This one step can improve your accuracy drastically.

9. Practice Different Types of Cloze Tests

Exams ask various styles:

• Grammar-based

• Vocabulary-based

• Context-based

• Theme-based

• Mixed pattern

Practising all types strengthens your confidence.

10. Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Picking answers based only on vocabulary
• Ignoring grammar clues
• Selecting words that don’t match the tone
• Not reading the entire passage
• Overthinking simple blanks

Avoiding these mistakes ensures higher accuracy.