What the Headings task really checks

In Matching Headings you assign the best title to each paragraph. A heading summarises the main idea, not a detail. Gist is the central message of a paragraph. Scope is how wide the claim is. Lens is the angle used, such as cost, health, or history. Distractors are plausible headings that match a sentence but not the whole paragraph.

Why mixed sets feel hard
In mixed sets you answer Headings plus another type in the same passage. Your brain jumps between gist reading and detail hunting. If you do not separate these modes, you will pick a heading based on the first striking fact you see. The cure is a short map, then a disciplined match test.

Time plan that works
Use 90-240-300 for a typical 6 to 8 paragraph passage.

• 90 seconds skim: read the first and last sentence of each paragraph, circle names and years, and write one 2 to 4 word gist note in the margin.
• 240 seconds headings pass: apply the 3 step match test below.
• 300 seconds detail pass: finish the other question type using your margin gist notes to navigate.

The 3 step match test

1. Main focus: Does the heading match the paragraph’s dominant claim, not a supporting example. If a heading mentions a person or year that appears once, it is likely a distractor.
2. Scope and lens: Check scale words in the heading such as first, only, decline, global. Reject if the paragraph’s scope or lens is different.
3. Exclusion: Try to prove the heading wrong using any sentence in the paragraph. If one sentence contradicts it, the heading is too broad.

Proof rule for Not Given traps inside Headings
If two headings both fit a sentence, pick the one that fits more lines. Headings reward coverage of the whole paragraph. Coverage beats keyword echo.

Anchor sentences to trust

• Opening sentence if it states a clear claim.
• Topic wrap at the end if the first line is descriptive.
• Contrast markers like however or in fact that flip the direction. Follow the flip.

Worked example 1

Paragraph A
“Early railways in the delta were built to move jute to ports, not passengers. Private investors funded short lines that connected mills and river docks. When floods cut road access, these tracks kept exports moving, yet village travel remained slow for decades.”

Headings
i) A passenger revolution across villages
ii) A freight-first network shaped by export crops
iii) Government planning transforms regional travel

Best match: ii

• Focus: freight-first is the dominant idea.
• Scope: private investors and export crops narrow the lens to trade, not public travel.
• Exclusion: i is contradicted by “village travel remained slow”. iii fails because no government planning is mentioned.

Worked example 2

Paragraph B
“City pollution monitors recorded lower average particulates after the bus lane trial. However, weekend spikes persisted around stadium events. Planners argue that cleaning weekday commutes is the most cost effective step, while a separate crowd strategy is needed for holidays.”

Headings
i) Why weekend events demand a different policy
ii) Bus lanes fail to improve air quality
iii) The limits of measuring pollution

Best match: i

• Focus: the contrast line sets the gist - weekday gains vs weekend spikes need different policy.
• Exclusion: ii conflicts with “lower average particulates”. iii is too broad; measurement limits are not the point.

Mini case — Sohan from Mirpur
Sohan kept choosing headings that echoed a striking noun. He switched to margin gist notes and the 3 step match test. Over six timed sets he raised accuracy from 5 of 10 to 8 of 10 and cut average time per paragraph to 45 seconds. His biggest win was rejecting headings with only or first when the paragraph discussed one example among many.

Measurable drills

• 90 second map: For any article, write a two word gist per paragraph. Target 100 percent completion in 90 seconds.
• 3 by 3 matches: For three short paragraphs, evaluate three headings each using the 3 step test. Aim for under 40 seconds per match.
• Coverage check: After selecting a heading, highlight the sentences that support it. You should cover at least half the paragraph.

Common mistakes

• Matching a heading to a single sentence rather than the whole.
• Overweighting names or dates.
• Ignoring scope words like only, first, global.
• Treating lists as the main idea when the paragraph concludes with a strong contrast line.
• Swapping to the other question type before mapping headings, which breaks gist mode.

Edge cases and how to respond

• Descriptive first line, claim at the end: trust the wrap-up sentence.
• Two paragraphs share one theme: the better heading is the one with the exact lens used, for example cost vs safety.
• Example-heavy paragraph: look for a sentence that generalises the examples. If missing, choose a heading that names the pattern those examples illustrate.
• One sentence paragraph: read it twice and check every scope word in the headings.

Tips and tricks

• Read headings first to see the menu of ideas, then skim paragraphs.
• Underline contrast words: however, yet, instead, despite. These often mark the real gist.
• When torn between two headings, pick the narrower one that still fits. Narrow usually beats broad.
• Keep a mini bank of lenses: cost, access, safety, fairness, long term. Ask which lens the paragraph uses.

To avoid

• Blind keyword matching without checking scope.
• Changing your heading after solving detail questions unless you can prove a contradiction.
• Spending more than 60 seconds on one paragraph. Mark, move, return.
• Treating a writer’s example as the whole argument.

Glossary
Gist - the central message of a paragraph.
Scope - how wide or narrow a claim is.
Lens - the angle of analysis, such as cost or safety.
Distractor - a tempting but partial heading.
Coverage - proportion of sentences that support your choice.
Topic wrap - a concluding sentence that states the main point.

Next steps
Take a two page article. Write a two word gist for each paragraph in 90 seconds. Create three headings per page and test yourself with the 3 step match test. Track time per paragraph and the number of sentences that support your final choice.

1. Actionable closing — Case study then lessons

Case study: Rumi’s mixed set under 14 minutes
Rumi faced 7 Headings and 6 TF items in one passage. She spent 90 seconds mapping gists, then solved all 7 Headings in 5 minutes using the 3 step test. She finished TF in 6 minutes by jumping straight to the mapped paragraphs. She kept 90 seconds for a coverage audit and changed one heading after spotting an only trap in the option list. Score: 12 of 13.

Lessons you can apply now

1. Map first - your gist notes will speed every other item.
2. Use scope words in headings to eliminate fast.
3. Trust contrast markers for the real gist.
4. Prove coverage - highlight at least half a paragraph to justify a heading.
5. Cap time - 60 seconds max per paragraph, dot and move if stuck.

CTA: Print one passage with mixed Headings. Run 90-240-300. For each heading you pick, mark the supporting sentences and write one reason you rejected the runner up. Repeat in two days and cut average time per paragraph by 10 percent while keeping accuracy above 80 percent.