Cloze Test Tricks for Bank Exams: The Short Answer
A cloze test is a short passage with 5 to 10 blanks, and you choose the word that fits each blank. The fastest way to solve one is to read the whole passage once for its theme and tone, then fill each blank by checking grammar first (part of speech, tense, preposition, singular or plural) and meaning second (the clue words around the blank). Most wrong options fail one grammar test, so you can often remove two or three options without knowing their exact meaning.
Key takeaway for bank exams: IBPS PO, IBPS Clerk, SBI PO, SBI Clerk and RRB exams usually set one cloze test of 5 to 7 blanks in prelims English, and SSC CGL and CHSL set a 5-blank passage in Tier 1. Use the 8 rules on this page: theme first, part of speech, collocation, connector logic, tense, preposition, tone, and a final read-through.
Cloze tests reward grammar and vocabulary together, so revise our error spotting rules for bank exams and phrasal verbs for SSC CGL as well.
What Is a Cloze Test in Bank Exams?
The word cloze comes from "closure": your mind closes the gap in a passage. Exams test it in these forms:
| Cloze test type | What you do | Seen in |
|---|---|---|
| Standard cloze | Pick one word from 4–5 options for each blank | IBPS Clerk, SBI Clerk, SSC CGL, SSC CHSL |
| Word given in bold, "replace if wrong" | Keep the bold word or choose a better one | IBPS PO, SBI PO |
| Two blanks per sentence (double filler style) | Choose the pair that fits both blanks | SBI PO, IBPS PO Mains |
| Fill with multiple correct words | Pick every word that fits (e.g. "i and iii only") | IBPS PO, RBI Assistant |
| Phrase cloze | The blank takes a phrase, not one word | IBPS PO Mains |
Cloze Test Rules and Tricks for IBPS and SBI (8 Rules)
| Rule | What to check | Quick test |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Theme first | Read the full passage once before filling any blank | What is the topic and is the tone positive, negative or neutral? |
| 2. Part of speech | Noun, verb, adjective or adverb? | After "the", "a", or an adjective → noun; after "to" or a helping verb → verb |
| 3. Collocation | Words that naturally go together | make a decision, take a step, pay attention, heavy rain |
| 4. Connector logic | however, but, although show contrast; therefore, thus show result | Contrast word → opposite idea; result word → same direction |
| 5. Tense and agreement | Match the tense and number of the sentence | "Last year the bank ___" → past tense |
| 6. Preposition fit | Some words demand a preposition | depend on, comply with, aware of, prevent from |
| 7. Tone and register | Formal passage → formal word | "the economy expanded", not "the economy grew big" |
| 8. Final read | Read the passage again with all answers in | Does every sentence sound natural? |
How to Solve Cloze Test Questions Quickly (Step-by-Step)
- Skim the passage in 30–40 seconds. Note the subject (economy, environment, technology) and whether the author praises, warns or explains.
- Solve the easiest blanks first. Some blanks have one obvious collocation or fixed phrase.
- For each blank, read the full sentence, not just two words around it. Clues are often after the blank.
- Eliminate by grammar. Remove options of the wrong part of speech, tense or number.
- Choose by meaning. Between the remaining options, pick the one that matches the theme and the clue words.
- Re-read the full passage with your answers. Change a choice only if a sentence now sounds wrong.
Solved Cloze Test Passage for Bank Exams (Standard Type)
Digital payments in India have grown rapidly over the last decade. Millions of small shopkeepers now (1) ___ payments through QR codes, and many customers no longer (2) ___ cash for daily purchases. This shift has (3) ___ the cost of handling money for businesses. However, the growth has also (4) ___ new risks, as fraudsters target users who are not (5) ___ of basic safety steps.
| Blank | Options | Answer | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | (a) accept (b) except (c) accepting (d) accepted | (a) accept | Present tense after plural subject "shopkeepers now"; except is a different word |
| 2 | (a) carry (b) carries (c) carried (d) carrying | (a) carry | After "no longer" with plural "customers", base form |
| 3 | (a) raised (b) reduced (c) refused (d) removed | (b) reduced | Positive effect of the shift; "reduced the cost" is the natural collocation |
| 4 | (a) prevented (b) created (c) solved (d) ignored | (b) created | "However" signals a contrast: growth brought new risks |
| 5 | (a) aware (b) careful (c) known (d) alert | (a) aware | Only aware takes "of" here with the right meaning; careful of and alert of are not standard, and known of is ungrammatical |
Lesson: blanks 1 and 2 were solved by grammar alone, blank 4 by the connector however, and blank 5 by the preposition of.
Cloze Test New Pattern: Bold Word Replacement (IBPS PO and SBI PO)
In this type a word is printed in bold. If it fits, choose "No replacement required".
The central bank kept interest rates unchanged and said it would continue to monitor inflation closely before taking any further step.
Options: (a) monitoring (b) monitored (c) neglect (d) No replacement required
Answer: (d). "Would continue to monitor" needs the base form after to; the meaning fits. Do not change a correct word just because the option is offered.
Despite heavy rain, the farmers were disappointed with the early harvest because the yield was much better than expected.
Options: (a) delighted (b) worried (c) angry (d) No replacement required
Answer: (a) delighted. "Because the yield was much better than expected" shows a positive feeling. Disappointed contradicts the clue.
Cloze Test with Multiple Correct Words (Fill Every Fit)
The new policy is expected to ___ investment in rural areas.
(i) boost (ii) encourage (iii) promote (iv) discourage
Answer: (i), (ii) and (iii). All three mean "increase or support" and fit the positive sense of "expected to". Discourage reverses the meaning.
Rule: check each word on its own in the sentence. Exams often hide one wrong-meaning word among synonyms.
Common Collocations and Fixed Phrases in Cloze Tests
| Verb | Common partners |
|---|---|
| Make | a decision, an effort, progress, a profit, a mistake |
| Take | a step, measures, action, place, charge |
| Pay | attention, tribute, a visit, the price |
| Raise | funds, awareness, concerns, interest rates |
| Pose | a threat, a risk, a challenge, a question |
| Bridge | the gap |
| Meet | the demand, the target, the needs |
| Bear | the cost, the responsibility, fruit |
| Adjective + noun | Prepositions that follow |
|---|---|
| sharp rise, steep fall, heavy losses | rely on, depend on, insist on |
| key role, major concern, growing demand | aware of, capable of, short of |
| severe shortage, widespread protest | comply with, cope with, deal with |
| strong growth, robust economy | prevent from, refrain from, benefit from |
Cloze Test Tricks: Common Traps to Avoid
- Filling blanks while reading the first time. You miss clues that appear later.
- Confusing similar-looking words: affect/effect, accept/except, adapt/adopt, principal/principle, complement/compliment.
- Ignoring connectors. Although and however flip the direction of meaning; moreover keeps it.
- Choosing a fancy word that does not collocate. "Commit progress" is wrong even though "commit" is a strong verb; "make progress" is right.
- Changing a correct bold word. Choose "No replacement" when the word fits grammar and meaning.
Cloze Test Questions for Bank Exams (Practice Set with Answers)
Passage: Climate change is no longer a distant threat; it is already (1) ___ the lives of farmers across the country. Unusual rainfall has (2) ___ crops in several states, and many families are struggling to (3) ___ with rising costs. Experts argue that the government must (4) ___ immediate steps to support them. (5) ___, long-term solutions such as better irrigation and crop insurance are also needed.
- (a) affecting (b) effecting (c) affected (d) effect Answer: (a) affecting. "Is already ___ing" needs the present participle; affect means to influence.
- (a) damaged (b) damage (c) damaging (d) benefited Answer: (a) damaged. Present perfect "has damaged"; negative context.
- (a) cope (b) tackle (c) handle (d) bear Answer: (a) cope. "Struggling to cope with" is the fixed pattern. Tackle and handle take a direct object without "with", and bear with means "be patient with".
- (a) make (b) take (c) do (d) give Answer: (b) take. "Take steps" is the fixed collocation.
- (a) However (b) Therefore (c) Moreover (d) Instead Answer: (c) Moreover. The sentence adds a further need in the same direction.
Single sentences:
- The company ___ a profit of ₹50 crore last year. (a) made (b) did (c) took (d) gave Answer: (a) made. Make a profit, past tense.
- Residents were asked to ___ from using plastic bags. (a) refrain (b) prevent (c) avoid (d) stop Answer: (a) refrain. Only refrain takes "from" + -ing with this structure (avoid takes the -ing form directly).
- Better roads will help ___ the gap between rural and urban markets. (a) bridge (b) widen (c) cross (d) jump Answer: (a) bridge. Bridge the gap is the idiom for reducing a difference; widen reverses the meaning, and cross or jump the gap do not collocate with markets.
- Although sales rose, profits ___ because of higher costs. (a) increased (b) fell (c) doubled (d) improved Answer: (b) fell. Although sets up a contrast with "sales rose".
- The report highlights the ___ role of women in the rural economy. (a) key (b) keen (c) open (d) main roles Answer: (a) key. Key role is the collocation; (d) is ungrammatical.
For timed practice, take the IBPS Clerk Cloze Test Mock Test 01 and the SSC CGL Cloze Test Mock Test 01.
Cloze Test FAQs
What is a cloze test in English?
It is a passage with missing words. You choose the option that fits each blank in grammar and meaning, so it tests vocabulary, grammar and reading together.
How do you solve a cloze test easily?
Read the whole passage first, decide the part of speech each blank needs, remove options that break grammar, then choose the one that fits the theme, the connectors and the common collocations.
How many cloze test questions come in IBPS and SBI exams?
Usually one cloze passage with 5 to 7 blanks in the prelims English section of IBPS PO, IBPS Clerk, SBI PO and SBI Clerk, though some years replace it with fillers or word-swap questions.
What is the new pattern cloze test?
In new-pattern cloze tests a word is printed in bold and you replace it only if it is wrong, or you select every option that fits a blank (for example "both i and iii").
How can I improve my cloze test score?
Read one editorial a day, note collocations like "pose a threat" and "bridge the gap", revise preposition pairs, and solve two timed cloze passages a week.
Does SSC CGL have a cloze test?
Yes. SSC CGL and SSC CHSL Tier 1 usually include one cloze passage with 5 blanks in the English section, at a slightly easier level than bank PO exams.
Practice Next
- Topic test: IBPS Clerk Cloze Test Mock Test 04.
- More cloze passages: IBPS PO Cloze Test Mock Test 01 and IBPS Clerk Cloze Test Mock Test 02.
- Mock tests: IBPS Clerk Cloze Test Mock Test 01, SSC CGL Cloze Test Mock Test 01, SSC CHSL Cloze Test Mock Test 01 and SSC CGL English Mini Mock Test 02.
- SBI cloze practice: SBI PO Cloze Test Mock Test 02 and SBI Clerk Cloze Test Mock Test 01 (three passages each).
- Related notes: error spotting rules for bank exams, word swap questions for bank exams, phrasal verbs for SSC CGL and synonyms and antonyms for SSC CGL, plus sentence completion questions for bank exams.
- Exam details: SBI Clerk 2026 notification and SSC CGL 2026.
- Browse all study notes.