Part 2 Mastery: Reading to Apply a Diagram - CELPIP Reading Course

What Part 2 actually is

You get a visual source (timetable, brochure table, map/zone chart, facility schedule, or a simple flowchart) plus a short email/message that you must complete with drop-down blanks. Almost every question is Specific Information: match the scenario’s constraints to the exact cell/row/segment of the diagram, then use those facts to choose the correct answer or finish the reply naturally. There are 8 items, and a strong pacing target is ~9 minutes.

The 5-Step Routine (fast, repeatable, safe)

Title first (2–3s): What is this thing? “Community Pool—Lap Lanes & Lessons”, “Airport Express—Fares & Zones”, “Community Garden—Plot Rules”. The title tells you the scope.
Legend & Notes (10–15s): Read legends, units, symbols, and especially footnotes. Words like only, except, not valid, reduced service, closed, subject to change flip answers.
Structure map (5–8s): How is info organized? Rows vs columns, time on one axis, zones/lines, process arrows. Know where a fact would live before you start hunting.
Constraint string (5–10s): From the stem, write a compact line: ≥3 lanes, after 7 pm, weekdays. For fares: Zone 2→3, adult, off-peak. For rules: plot size ≤ 2m, compost allowed?.
Triangulate & verify (15–25s): Go straight to the candidate cell/row/segment. Check every constraint, then ±1 cell/line for hidden exceptions. If one constraint fails → reject.

Result: You answer factual items fast and leave time to complete the reply drop-downs carefully.

Diagram types you’ll meet (and how to read each)

A) Timetables / Facility Schedules

What to read first: Title → legend (lanes, closures, “lessons use 1 lane”) → days/time bands → footnotes (“No public swim on holidays”).
Common constraints: weekdays vs weekends; am/pm; after/before/until/from; at least/exactly; lane counts; seasonal hours.
Frequent traps: near-numbers (12 vs 21), am/pm flips, “until 6 pm” (excludes 6:00) vs “by 6 pm” (includes 6:00), “after 7 pm” (7:01+), “from 7 pm” (includes 7:00).
Micro-routine: Title → notes → find day → find time band → confirm lane/room count → scan footnote line again before selecting.

B) Maps / Zone Charts

What to read first: The legend (colors, symbols), scale, and any zone boundaries; look for arrows indicating direction (eastbound/westbound).
Common constraints: origin→destination zones; direction; transfer rules; peak vs off-peak; distance thresholds (≤/≥); “valid only within”.
Frequent traps: misreading direction (to Downtown vs from Downtown), zone edges (on the border = which zone?), icons with hidden meanings (a dotted line = weekend-only).
Micro-routine: Origin zone → destination zone → apply fare/rule table → check exceptions (“not valid on express”, “no service after 10 pm”).

C) Brochures / Price Tables

What to read first: The column headers (Adult/Youth/Senior; Basic/Plus/Premium), rows (features or time blocks), fine print (deposit, cancellation, “minimum 2 nights”).
Common constraints: tier + add-ons + date window/season + group size + refund/fee rules.
Frequent traps: bundled benefits (Premium includes locker + towel), per-night vs total pricing, refundable vs non-refundable, “from $X” indicates minimum, not final.
Micro-routine: Pick row by scenario → adjust with add-ons → apply date/season → check “fees not included” line.

D) Flowcharts / Process Diagrams

What to read first: Start node → decision diamonds (yes/no paths) → termination boxes.
Common constraints: eligibility (“age ≥ 65”), timing (“apply within 14 days”), documentation lists.
Frequent traps: jumping across branches; ignoring a “no” path; missing “both A and B required”.
Micro-routine: Follow the exact path for the scenario; if any box says stop/exception, the option claiming success is wrong.

Constraint Language Decoder (the difference between right and wrong)

only = no other cases allowed.
except = everything but that case.
at least = ≥ (3 means 3 or more). at most = ≤.
no later than 5 pm = ≤ 5:00. not until 5 pm = ≥ 5:00, nothing before.
between A and B (check inclusivity): if the table shows “9–12”, assume inclusive unless a note says otherwise.
per day / per week = billing period matters; don’t multiply wrongly.
units = km vs m, kg vs g, $ vs ¢, 12-hour vs 24-hour time; confirm before you compute.

Write the critical word next to your constraint string to keep it visible while you read.

Completing the reply (drop-downs) based on the diagram

The reply is where accuracy meets tone. A safe structure is acknowledge → confirm → next step:

Acknowledge: “Thanks for sending the pool schedule.”
Confirm facts: “We’ll meet after 7 pm on Tuesday when ≥3 lanes are open.”
Next step: “I’ll bring the wristbands.”

Drop-down tests (run all four):

Meaning: Insert an option and re-read the full sentence. It must respect every constraint you verified.
Tone: Polite/neutral language unless the source uses formal register; avoid slang or pushiness.
Strength: Don’t upgrade may to will, should to must, or free to discounted.
Grammar fit: Subject/verb agreement, tense, and prepositions (on Friday, at 6 pm, in Zone 3) must remain correct.

High-Frequency Trap Catalog (know them by name)

Footnote ambush: A tiny note nullifies the cell you matched (“lessons use 1 lane 12–2” → your “2 lanes” window becomes “1 lane”).
Near-match number: $13 vs $31, 12:30 vs 12:03.
Direction flip: Eastbound table chosen for a westbound trip.
Border case: A station on a zone edge charged as the higher zone per rules.
Bundle illusion: Premium plan includes locker/towel; paying separately with Basic costs more than Premium.
Per-night vs total: An option multiplies when the table already shows a total price.
Weekday/Weekend swap: Saturday rules applied to Friday evening (Friday is weekday).
“From” pricing: Minimum rate quoted as final price.

When one constraint fails, discard the option immediately. Don’t negotiate with it.

Decision Tests for Every Option (kill-switches)

Anchor test: Can I point to the exact cell/row/symbol that supports it?
All-constraints test: Do all parts of my constraint string hold simultaneously?
Units/time test: Are the units and time windows exactly right (am/pm, ≤/≥, per-day vs total)?
Footnote test: Is there any note that overrides this case?
Reply consistency test: If used in the reply, does the sentence still match tone, strength, and facts?

One failed test → eliminate.

Mini-samples (short, text-based, realistic)

Sample 1 — Pool lanes timetable

Diagram snippet (text form):
Mon–Fri: 6–9 am: 3 lanes | 12–2 pm: 2 lanes (note: lessons use 1 lane) | 7–9 pm: 4 lanes
Question: You need ≥3 lanes after 7 pm on a weekday. Which time works?
Correct logic: Weekday evening band is 7–9 pm: 4 lanes → satisfies ≥3 and after 7 pm.
Wrong options look like: 12:30 pm (2 lanes → footnote reduces public lanes), Saturday 7 pm (weekend), 6:30 pm (not after 7).

Sample 2 — Transit zones & fares

Diagram snippet (text form):
Zones: 1 (Downtown) | 2 | 3 (Airport). Express not valid with Local Day Pass. Off-peak after 7 pm.
Question: Travel 2→3 at 6:45 pm with a Local Day Pass. What’s true?
Correct logic: 6:45 pm = peak; Local Day Pass not valid on Express → must use local service; fare follows peak rate table for 2→3.
Wrong options: Off-peak pricing; Express allowed with Local Day Pass; 1-zone fare.

Sample 3 — Membership brochure

Diagram snippet (text form):
Basic $38/mo (no locker). Plus $49/mo (locker). Premium $59/mo (locker + towel + 2 guest passes). $25 join fee (one-time).
Question: Member wants a locker and guest passes. Cheapest monthly choice?
Correct logic: Locker + guest passes only bundled in Premium; adding guest passes to Plus monthly would cost more overall.
Wrong options: Plus (no guest passes); Basic with paid locker (no official add-on shown).

Timing Plan for the 8 Items (~9 minutes)

Global scan (title + legend + footnotes): ~0:30
Items 1–4 (straight factual matches): ~4:00 (≈1:00 each)
Items 5–7 (multi-constraint or footnote-heavy): ~3:00 (≈1:00 each)
Reply drop-downs + final sweep: ~1:30
If you fall behind, finish remaining drop-downs using Meaning→Tone→Strength quickly and never leave blanks.

Error Clinic (fast fixes you can apply today)

Missed a footnote: Force yourself to read legend/notes before touching options; underline only/except/after words.
Chose a near-match number: Read numbers digit-by-digit; say them aloud in your head.
Direction mistake: Write TO and FROM next to the map; circle the correct table.
Zone border confusion: Check the rule for border stations; if unclear, pick the higher zone only if the diagram says so.
Per-night miscalc: Confirm whether the table shows per-unit or total; don’t multiply twice.
Reply tone mismatch: Mirror salutation/closing style; avoid slang in a formal notice.

What carries forward

This routine—Title → Legend/Notes → Structure → Constraint string → Triangulate & verify—is the same logic you’ll use for Part 6 (Information) when mapping paragraph topics, and for Part 7 (Viewpoints) when checking claims against stance. The difference in Part 2 is that footnotes and units decide everything. Respect them, and your accuracy jumps immediately.

#6. Part 2 Mastery: Reading to Apply a Diagram