IELTS General Training Reading Practice Tests

Section 1 — Questions 1-7 (Matching information)

Read the text 'Weekend short courses at Brackley Adult Education Centre' below and answer Questions 1–7. The text has five course descriptions, A–E. For which course are the following statements true? Write the correct letter, A–E. NB You may use any letter more than once.

1. There is a minimum age for people taking this course.
2. Participants may have to pay an extra amount for printed course material.
3. Part of this course is spent outdoors.
4. The number of people who can attend this course is limited.
5. Participants should let the centre know in advance about any dietary problems.
6. It is possible to borrow an item for this course, but this must be arranged beforehand.
7. A meal is included in the course fee.

Section 1 — Questions 8-14 (True / False / Not Given)

Read the text 'Self-service kiosks at Hallam Public Library' and answer Questions 8–14. Do the following statements agree with the information given in the text? Choose TRUE if the statement agrees with the information, FALSE if the statement contradicts the information, or NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this.

1. The new kiosks will replace the library's front desk. (A) True (B) False (C) Not Given
2. Members who have forgotten their PIN must provide proof of identity to have it reset. (A) True (B) False (C) Not Given
3. DVDs can be placed on the reading pad together with books. (A) True (B) False (C) Not Given
4. The returns box in the car park is emptied once a day. (A) True (B) False (C) Not Given
5. Late charges can be paid in cash at the kiosks. (A) True (B) False (C) Not Given
6. The library intends to install more kiosks later in the year. (A) True (B) False (C) Not Given
7. The volunteers helping at the kiosks have been trained by library staff. (A) True (B) False (C) Not Given

Section 2 — Questions 15-21 (Sentence completion)

Read the text 'Welcome to Larchmont Hotels: your first two weeks' and answer Questions 15–21. Complete the sentences below. Choose ONE WORD ONLY from the text for each answer.

Welcome to Larchmont Hotels: your first two weeksWelcome to the Larchmont Hotel Group. This guide explains what will happen during your induction period and what we expect from you as a new member of the team.Before your first day You should already have received a contract and a starter form by post. Please complete the starter form and bring it with you on your first morning, together with your passport or another document that proves you have the right to work in the UK. We are not able to let you start work until we have seen this. Your bank details should be entered directly into our online payroll system; you will receive a link to this by email.Day one Please report to the staff entrance at the rear of the building, not to the main reception, at 8.45 am. Your line manager will meet you there and take you to the HR office, where your photograph will be taken for your identity badge. The badge also opens the doors to staff-only areas, so it must be worn at all times while you are on duty. If you lose it, report this immediately to the security team.Uniform Front-of-house staff are provided with two sets of uniform free of charge. These are washed by the hotel laundry: simply leave them in the marked bin in the locker room at the end of your shift and they will be ready for you within 48 hours. Kitchen staff are given chef's jackets and trousers but must buy their own safety shoes, which should have non-slip soles.Training During your first fortnight you will begin a series of short online modules covering fire safety, food hygiene and data protection. All of these must be completed before the end of your probation period, which lasts three months. In addition, you will spend at least two shifts shadowing an experienced colleague, known as your 'buddy', who will show you our procedures and answer any day-to-day questions.Meals and breaks All staff are entitled to a free hot meal in the staff canteen during any shift of six hours or more. Break times are organised by your supervisor, and breaks should never be taken in guest areas such as the lobby or restaurant.Review At the end of your second week, you will have a short meeting with your line manager to discuss how you are settling in. This is an informal conversation rather than an assessment, and it is a good opportunity to raise any concerns you may have.

1. 15. New employees should enter their bank details into the hotel's online ___ system.
2. 16. On their first morning, new staff should go to the entrance at the ___ of the building.
3. 17. A lost identity badge must be reported to the ___ team without delay.
4. 18. Uniforms that need washing should be left in a bin in the ___ room.
5. 19. Kitchen staff must buy their own ___ shoes with non-slip soles.
6. 20. The online training modules must all be finished by the end of the ___ period.
7. 21. For at least two shifts, a new employee will work alongside an experienced colleague who is called their ___.

Section 2 — Questions 22-27 (Note completion)

Read the text 'Manual handling: lifting and carrying safely at work' and answer Questions 22–27. Complete the notes below. Choose ONE WORD ONLY from the text for each answer.

Manual handling: lifting and carrying safely at workManual handling means any activity that involves lifting, carrying, pushing or pulling a load by hand. Injuries caused by poor manual handling, particularly to the back, are among the most common reasons for staff taking time off work, yet most of them can be prevented by following a few simple rules.Think before you lift Before moving anything, ask yourself whether it really needs to be moved by hand. Trolleys, sack trucks and other lifting aids are available in every department, and you should use them wherever possible. If you do need to lift an item yourself, check its weight first by carefully tipping up one corner. Anything that feels heavier than about 20 kilograms should be treated as a two-person lift. You should also check your route: make sure that doors are propped open and that the floor is dry and clear of obstacles.The correct technique Stand close to the load with your feet apart, one slightly in front of the other, to give yourself a stable base. Bend your knees rather than your back, and get a firm grip, using the whole hand rather than just the fingertips. Lift smoothly, keeping the load close to your waist, as this reduces the strain on your lower back. Avoid twisting your body while you are carrying something; if you need to change direction, turn by moving your feet instead. When you reach your destination, put the load down first and then adjust its position, rather than trying to slide it into place while you are still holding it.Pushing and pulling Where there is a choice, it is generally safer to push a load than to pull it. Keep your back straight and use your body weight to get the load moving. Trolleys with wheels that stick or turn poorly should be reported to your supervisor and taken out of use.Training and reporting All staff whose jobs involve regular lifting must attend a manual handling course within their first month, and a refresher course every two years after that. If you suffer any pain or injury, however minor, you must record it in the accident book, which is kept at the main reception desk. This helps us to identify tasks that may need to be done differently.Remember: if in doubt, ask for help. Nobody will criticise you for asking a colleague to help you with a load.

1. 22. Before lifting: test how heavy an item is by tipping up one ___
2. 23. Before lifting: check that the floor on your route is dry and has no ___
3. 24. Technique: stand with your feet apart to create a stable ___
4. 25. Technique: keep the load close to your ___ while you lift it
5. 26. Technique: to change direction, move your ___ — do not twist your body
6. 27. Reporting: write down any pain or injury in the ___ book at reception

Section 3 — Questions 28-33 (Matching headings)

Read the text 'The return of the overnight sleeper train' and answer Questions 28–40. The text has six paragraphs, A–F. Choose the correct heading for each paragraph from the list of headings below (i–viii). There are more headings than paragraphs, so you will not use them all.

1. Paragraph A
2. Paragraph B
3. Paragraph C
4. Paragraph D
5. Paragraph E
6. Paragraph F

Section 3 — Questions 34-36 (Multiple choice)

Refer to the text 'The return of the overnight sleeper train'. Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.

1. According to the writer, what was the main cause of the decline of sleeper trains? (A) the building of new motorways (B) the introduction of faster daytime trains (C) the rise of low-cost air travel (D) the high price of sleeping compartments
2. What point does the former operations manager make in paragraph B? (A) Passengers expect the same standard of comfort as they would in a hotel. (B) Running a night train involves costs similar to those of running a hotel. (C) Night trains earn less money than hotels in the same cities. (D) Staff on night trains should receive the same training as hotel workers.
3. Why have some operators introduced 'mini-cabins'? (A) to fit more passengers into each carriage (B) to reduce the price of a night journey (C) to give families more space and privacy (D) to attract people who are travelling alone

Section 3 — Questions 37-40 (Summary completion)

Complete the summary of paragraphs D and F of 'The return of the overnight sleeper train' below. Choose ONE WORD ONLY from the text for each answer.

1. 37. Supporters say night trains save time, since passengers travel while they are asleep and do not have to pay for a ___ room.
2. 38. Unlike airports, railway stations are generally located in city ___, within walking distance of many destinations.
3. 39. However, the revival faces problems. The most serious is a ___ of suitable carriages, as very few were built in Europe for decades.
4. 40. In addition, trains that cross several borders can be delayed by ___ work in any of the countries they pass through.