The Montessori Method of Education: Reading Answers & Explanations
IELTS Reading practice test · 14 questionsAcademicmedium
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About this passage
The passage opens: “At the beginning of the twentieth century, an Italian physician named Maria Montessori developed an approach to educating children that would go on to influence schools around the world. Trained in medicine rather than in teaching, she brought the eye of a scientific observer to the study of children, watching closely…”
- Passage length: about 745 words
- Questions: 14
- Question types: True / False / Not Given, Multiple Choice, Short Answer
“The Montessori Method of Education” is an original IELTS-style practice passage written by IELTS-Bank. It is not taken from an official IELTS or Cambridge test, so these answers only apply to our version.
Answer key at a glance
The Montessori Method of Education answers with explanations
Questions 1–6: True / False / Not Given
Do the following statements agree with the information given in the passage? Write TRUE, FALSE or NOT GIVEN.
- 1
Maria Montessori was originally trained as a physician rather than as a teacher.
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Answer: TRUE
Why: This sentence confirms the statement, so the answer is TRUE.
Evidence · Paragraph 1 “…an Italian physician named Maria Montessori... Trained in medicine rather than in teaching, she brought the eye of a scientific observer to the study of children.”
- 2
Montessori believed the conventional classroom of her day suited the natural way children learn.
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Answer: FALSE
Why: This sentence directly contradicts the statement, so the answer is FALSE.
Evidence · Paragraph 2 “Montessori came to believe that this approach worked against the natural way in which young children learn.”
- 3
The special materials she designed were often able to show children their own mistakes.
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Answer: TRUE
Why: This sentence confirms the statement, so the answer is TRUE.
Evidence · Paragraph 3 “The materials were often self-correcting, so that a child could see and fix a mistake without needing a teacher to point it out.”
- 4
In a Montessori classroom, children must all follow the same timetable set by the teacher.
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Answer: FALSE
Why: This sentence directly contradicts the statement, so the answer is FALSE.
Evidence · Paragraph 4 “Instead of following a single timetable imposed by the teacher, children in a Montessori classroom are generally free to select what they will work on.”
- 5
Montessori schools charge higher fees than traditional schools.
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Answer: NOT GIVEN
Why: The statement claims that Montessori schools charge higher fees than traditional schools, but the passage never confirms or denies this, focusing instead on the educational methods and principles of Montessori schools.
- 6
The Montessori method was accepted by everyone without criticism.
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Answer: FALSE
Why: This sentence directly contradicts the statement, so the answer is FALSE.
Evidence · Paragraph 7 “The Montessori approach was not universally accepted, and it attracted criticism as well as praise.”
Question 7: Multiple Choice
Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.
- A. that they dislike learning
- B. that they have a powerful, spontaneous desire to learn
- C. that they learn best by memorising and repeating
- D. that they need constant discipline
- 7
What did Montessori's observations suggest about young children?
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Answer: B — that they have a powerful, spontaneous desire to learn
Why: This is the part of the passage that supports B — that they have a powerful, spontaneous desire to learn.
Evidence · Paragraph 2 “Her observations suggested that children have a powerful, spontaneous desire to learn and to master their environment.”
Question 8: Multiple Choice
Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.
- A. by being told things by a teacher
- B. by sitting still and listening
- C. through activity and direct experience
- D. by copying from a textbook
- 8
According to the method, how do children learn best?
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Answer: C — through activity and direct experience
Why: This is the part of the passage that supports C — through activity and direct experience.
Evidence · Paragraph 3 “A central principle of her method is that children learn best through activity and direct experience rather than by being told things.”
Question 9: Multiple Choice
Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.
- A. the teacher acts more as a guide and observer than as a director
- B. the teacher delivers longer lectures
- C. the teacher chooses every activity for the class
- D. the teacher plays no part at all
- 9
How does the role of the Montessori teacher differ from the traditional one?
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Answer: A — the teacher acts more as a guide and observer than as a director
Why: This is the part of the passage that supports A — the teacher acts more as a guide and observer than as a director.
Evidence · Paragraph 5 “…the Montessori teacher acts more as a guide and an observer, preparing the environment, introducing children to materials when they are ready, and then stepping back.”
Question 10: Multiple Choice
Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.
- A. as trivial chores of no value
- B. as valuable exercises for developing coordination and independence
- C. as a distraction from real learning
- D. as suitable only for older children
- 10
How did Montessori regard practical everyday tasks such as pouring water?
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Answer: B — as valuable exercises for developing coordination and independence
Why: This is the part of the passage that supports B — as valuable exercises for developing coordination and independence.
Evidence · Paragraph 6 “Tasks such as pouring water... were treated not as trivial chores but as valuable exercises through which children could develop coordination, independence and a sense of order.”
Questions 11–14: Short Answer
Answer the questions below. Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the passage for each answer.
- 11
In which field was Montessori originally trained, rather than in teaching?(max 2 words)
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Answer: medicine
Why: The answer “medicine” is taken from this sentence — copy the word(s) exactly as they appear. It fits the 2-word limit.
Evidence · Paragraph 1 “Trained in medicine rather than in teaching, she brought the eye of a scientific observer to the study of children.”
- 12
Besides their minds, through what two things do Montessori children learn?(max 3 words)
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Answer: senses and hands (also accepted: their senses and hands / their senses and their hands)
Why: The answer “senses and hands” is taken from this sentence — copy the word(s) exactly as they appear. It fits the 3-word limit.
Evidence · Paragraph 3 “…learning through their senses and their hands as much as through their minds.”
- 13
What quality do children show when allowed to follow their own interests, according to Montessori?(max 2 words)
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Answer: concentration (also accepted: deep concentration)
Why: The answer “concentration” is taken from this sentence — copy the word(s) exactly as they appear. It fits the 2-word limit.
Evidence · Paragraph 4 “…they become deeply absorbed in their work and learn with a concentration that cannot be forced upon them.”
- 14
Montessori schools cater above all to which age group of children?(max 3 words)
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Answer: young children (also accepted: the young / young)
Why: The answer “young children” is taken from this sentence — copy the word(s) exactly as they appear. It fits the 3-word limit.
Evidence · Paragraph 8 “Schools based on her method operate in many countries, catering above all to young children.”
Estimated band score for this test
Your raw score out of 14 scaled to the 40-question IELTS Reading (Academic) conversion table. This is the same estimate the practice page shows after you submit. A single passage is a small sample, so treat it as a guide.
| Correct answers | Estimated band |
|---|---|
| 14 / 14 | 9.0 |
| 13 / 14 | 8.5 |
| 12 / 14 | 7.5 |
| 11 / 14 | 7.0 |
| 10 / 14 | 6.5 |
| 8–9 / 14 | 6.0 |
| 7 / 14 | 5.5 |
| 6 / 14 | 5.0 |
| 5 / 14 | 4.5 |
| 4 / 14 | 4.0 |
| 3 / 14 | 3.5 |
| 2 / 14 | 3.0 |
| 1 / 14 | 2.0 |
| 0 / 14 | 0.0 |
Full-test score? Use the IELTS band calculator.
Tips for the question types in this test
True / False / Not Given
- Read the statement first and underline the key idea, especially any qualifiers like "all", "only", "never", "always", "more than" or dates and numbers.
- Because the questions follow the order of the passage, scan for the paragraph that deals with the same topic rather than re-reading everything.
Common trap: Confusing "False" with "Not Given": choose False only when the passage actively contradicts the statement; if the passage is silent, it is Not Given.
Full True / False / Not Given strategyMultiple Choice
- Read the question stem carefully before the options so you know exactly what is being asked.
- Because multiple-choice questions follow passage order, locate the relevant section and read it in full — the answer usually depends on more than one sentence.
Common trap: Distractors that use exact words from the passage but distort the meaning.
Full Multiple Choice strategyShort Answer
- Read the instructions and note the exact word limit; going over it means zero marks even if the meaning is right.
- Turn each question into a set of keywords and predict what kind of answer it needs (a person, a date, a place, a noun).
Common trap: Exceeding the word limit (writing four words when only three are allowed).
Full Short Answer strategyPractise “The Montessori Method of Education” under exam conditions
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