What is an information gap activity?

It combines reading and speaking skills.

Example

Learner A has a biography of a famous person with all the place names missing, whilst Learner B has the same text with all the dates missing. Together, they can complete the text by asking each other questions.

In the classroom
Information gap activities are useful for various reasons. They provide an opportunity for extended speaking practice, they represent real communication, motivation can be high, and they require sub-skills such as clarifying meaning and rephrasing. Typical types of information gap activities you might find include: describe and draw, spot the difference, jigsaw readings and listenings, and split dictations.

Further links:

https://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/article/find-gap-increasing-speaking-class

https://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/article/slavery-a-thing-past

https://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/article/unsung-heroes

First published 2008
Updated 2025