IELTS General Training Reading Practice Test 3

Time allowed: 60 minutes
Questions: 40

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Passage 1: Local Notices and Advertisements

Read the notices below and answer Questions 1–14.

A. Maple Road Laundry Service

Maple Road Laundry Service is open seven days a week from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Customers may use self-service washing machines and dryers, or they may leave clothes for staff to wash, dry and fold. Same-day service is available only for clothes dropped off before 10:00 a.m. The laundry does not accept leather jackets, wedding dresses or large carpets. Payment must be made when clothes are collected.

B. Community Language Club

The Community Language Club meets every Thursday evening from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Central Library. The club is free and welcomes adults who want to practise everyday conversation in English, Spanish or French. It is not a formal course, and no certificates are given. New members should register online before attending their first session.

C. Riverside Cinema Discount Nights

Riverside Cinema offers reduced ticket prices every Tuesday and Wednesday after 5:00 p.m. The discount applies to standard seats only and cannot be used for 3D films or special events. Tickets can be booked online or at the cinema desk. Children under twelve must be accompanied by an adult after 8:00 p.m.

D. Greenway Bike Hire

Greenway Bike Hire rents bicycles from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. daily. Helmets and locks are included in the hire price. Customers must show photo identification and leave a refundable deposit. Bikes must be returned before closing time. Late returns are charged per hour. Riders are responsible for any damage caused during the hire period.

E. Town Hall Blood Donation Day

The local hospital is holding a blood donation day at Town Hall on Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Donors must be between 18 and 65 years old, in good health and able to show identification. People who have had a recent illness should not donate. Light refreshments will be provided after donation. Appointments are recommended, but walk-in donors may be accepted if space is available.

F. Sunny Kids Holiday Camp

Sunny Kids Holiday Camp runs during school holidays for children aged 6 to 12. Activities include sports, painting, music, drama and outdoor games. Children should bring lunch, a water bottle and comfortable shoes. The camp opens at 8:30 a.m. and closes at 5:00 p.m. Parents who collect children after 5:15 p.m. will be charged a late pick-up fee.

Questions 1–7

Which notice, A–F, contains the following information?

Write the correct letter, A–F.

1. You may have to pay extra if you arrive after the expected collection time.
2. You must join online before your first visit.
3. Some types of clothing or household items are not accepted.
4. Equipment for safety and security is included in the price.
5. You may attend without booking if there is enough room.
6. A discount is not available for certain kinds of films.
7. Children need to bring food with them.

Questions 8–14

Do the following statements agree with the information in Passage 1?

Write:

TRUE if the statement agrees with the information
FALSE if the statement contradicts the information
NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this

8. Maple Road Laundry Service is closed on Sundays.
9. Same-day laundry service is available for items dropped off before 10:00 a.m.
10. The language club gives certificates to regular members.
11. Riverside Cinema discounts are available every Tuesday and Wednesday evening.
12. Bike hire customers must return bicycles before closing time.
13. Blood donors must be younger than 18.
14. Sunny Kids Holiday Camp provides lunch for all children.

Passage 2: Workplace Information

Read the text below and answer Questions 15–27.

Employee Parking and Building Access

Westbrook Office Centre has introduced new rules for employee parking and building access. The office centre has limited parking space, so employees who wish to use the staff car park must apply for a parking permit. Permit applications should be submitted to the facilities office by the 20th of each month. A permit does not guarantee the same parking space every day, but it allows employees to use any available staff space.

Visitors may park in the marked visitor area for up to two hours. Employees must not use visitor spaces unless they have written permission from the facilities manager. Anyone parking without permission may receive a warning notice. Repeated misuse of visitor parking may result in the loss of parking privileges.

The staff car park opens at 6:30 a.m. and closes at 9:00 p.m. Employees working late must move their cars to the front entrance area before the car park closes. Overnight parking is not allowed except during approved business travel. In such cases, employees must inform security in advance and leave emergency contact details.

All employees must enter the building using their electronic access card. Access cards must not be shared with colleagues, friends or family members. Lost cards should be reported immediately to security so that they can be cancelled. Replacement cards are issued by the reception desk, but a small fee may be charged if the card was lost through carelessness.

For safety reasons, employees should not allow unknown people to follow them through secure doors. If someone claims to have forgotten their card, employees should direct that person to reception. Security staff are available 24 hours a day and can assist with access problems.

Staff Meeting Room Policy

Westbrook Office Centre has six meeting rooms available for staff use. Rooms must be booked through the online booking system. Employees should include the meeting title, number of participants and any equipment required. Large rooms should not be booked for fewer than five people unless no smaller rooms are available.

Meeting rooms may be booked for a maximum of three hours at a time. Longer bookings require approval from a department manager. Employees must cancel rooms they no longer need, especially during busy periods. Food is allowed only in Rooms 5 and 6, and users must clean the room before leaving.

Projectors and conference phones can be requested when booking. However, laptops are not provided, so employees must bring their own. Technical support is available from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on weekdays.

Questions 15–20

Complete the notes below.

Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer.

Parking and Building Access Notes

15. Employees need a parking __________ to use the staff car park.
16. Applications must be sent to the __________ office.
17. Visitor parking is limited to __________.
18. Employees working late must move cars before the car park __________.
19. Lost access cards should be reported to __________ immediately.
20. Replacement cards are issued by the __________ desk.

Questions 21–24

Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.

21. What does a parking permit allow employees to do?

A. Use any available staff parking space
B. Park overnight without permission
C. Reserve the same parking space every day
D. Use visitor spaces at any time

22. What may happen if an employee repeatedly uses visitor parking incorrectly?

A. They may receive a salary increase
B. They may lose parking privileges
C. They may be moved to another department
D. They may be asked to work from home permanently

23. What should employees do if someone without a card wants to enter?

A. Let the person enter quickly
B. Give the person their own card
C. Direct the person to reception
D. Ignore the person completely

24. What must employees bring if they need a laptop in a meeting room?

A. Their own laptop
B. A projector
C. A conference phone
D. A printed booking form

Questions 25–27

Do the following statements agree with the information in Passage 2?

Write:

TRUE if the statement agrees with the information
FALSE if the statement contradicts the information
NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this

25. Large meeting rooms should usually be booked for at least five people.
26. Food is allowed in every meeting room.
27. Technical support is available every day until 9:00 p.m.

Passage 3: The Value of Sleep in Modern Life

Read the passage below and answer Questions 28–40.

Sleep is one of the most basic human needs, yet many people treat it as something that can be reduced whenever life becomes busy. Work deadlines, family duties, digital entertainment and social media often push bedtime later into the night. Some people even feel proud of sleeping very little, as if tiredness proves ambition. However, scientists, doctors and health educators increasingly argue that sleep should not be seen as wasted time. It is an active process that supports the body and mind in many important ways.

One major role of sleep is physical repair. During sleep, the body works to restore energy, repair tissues and support the immune system. People who regularly sleep too little may become more vulnerable to illness because their bodies have less time to recover. Sleep also influences hormones connected with hunger and energy use. This means poor sleep can affect eating habits, body weight and general health over time.

Sleep is equally important for the brain. While a person sleeps, the brain processes information gathered during the day. Memories may become stronger, and unnecessary details may be cleared away. This is one reason students and workers often perform better after proper rest. Staying awake all night before an exam or an important task may seem useful, but it can reduce concentration, slow thinking and increase mistakes.

Modern technology has made sleep problems more common for many people. Smartphones, tablets and laptops provide constant entertainment and communication. A person may plan to check one message before bed but then spend another hour watching videos or reading updates. Bright screens can also make it harder for the brain to prepare for sleep. For this reason, many sleep experts recommend a period of screen-free time before going to bed.

The environment also affects sleep quality. A bedroom that is too noisy, too bright or too warm can make it difficult to sleep deeply. Comfortable bedding, low light and a quiet atmosphere can help signal that it is time to rest. Some people find that a regular bedtime routine, such as reading a few pages, stretching gently or listening to calm music, helps the body relax.

Stress is another common cause of poor sleep. When people worry about work, money, studies or family problems, their minds may stay active long after they lie down. They may wake during the night or feel tired in the morning even after spending enough hours in bed. Writing down worries, planning the next day earlier in the evening or practising slow breathing may help some people reduce bedtime anxiety.

Sleep patterns also change with age. Young children usually need more sleep than adults because their bodies and brains are developing quickly. Teenagers often prefer later bedtimes, partly because of natural changes in their body clocks. Older adults may sleep for shorter periods at night and wake earlier in the morning. These changes are normal, but serious or long-lasting sleep problems should not be ignored.

Employers and schools are beginning to pay more attention to sleep. Some companies now teach workers about rest, stress management and healthy routines. A few workplaces allow flexible starting times so employees can avoid extreme tiredness. Schools in some places have discussed later start times for teenagers, who may struggle to learn effectively early in the morning. These changes show that sleep is not only a private matter; it can affect performance, safety and public health.

There is no single perfect sleep routine for everyone, but most people benefit from regular habits. Going to bed and waking up at similar times each day can support the body’s natural rhythm. Avoiding heavy meals, caffeine and intense exercise close to bedtime may also help. The goal is not to create a strict rule that causes more stress, but to make sleep easier and more reliable.

In a culture that often celebrates busyness, sleep needs a better reputation. Rested people are usually more patient, focused and emotionally balanced. They may make better decisions, work more safely and enjoy daily life more fully. Instead of treating sleep as the first thing to sacrifice, modern society may need to recognise it as a foundation for health, learning and productivity.

Questions 28–33

Choose the correct heading for each paragraph from the list of headings below.

Write the correct number, i–ix.

List of Headings

i. How technology can delay sleep
ii. Why sleep should be valued
iii. Physical benefits of sleep
iv. The cost of buying better beds
v. How stress affects sleep
vi. Sleep and brain performance
vii. Sleep changes at different ages
viii. The importance of room conditions
ix. Why all people need exactly eight hours

28. Paragraph 1
29. Paragraph 2
30. Paragraph 3
31. Paragraph 4
32. Paragraph 5
33. Paragraph 6

Questions 34–37

Complete the sentences below.

Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the passage for each answer.

34. During sleep, the body repairs tissues and supports the __________.
35. Poor sleep can reduce concentration and increase __________.
36. Many experts suggest having __________ time before bed.
37. A bedroom that is too noisy, bright or warm can reduce __________.

Questions 38–40

Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.

38. Why do teenagers often prefer later bedtimes?

A. They always use phones more than adults
B. Their body clocks naturally change
C. They need less sleep than older adults
D. Schools ask them to sleep late

39. What is the writer’s opinion about sleep routines?

A. Everyone must follow the same exact routine.
B. Sleep routines should be regular but not stressful.
C. Only older adults need bedtime routines.
D. Heavy meals before bed improve sleep.

40. What is the main message of the final paragraph?

A. Busy people should sleep only on weekends.
B. Sleep should be treated as important for health and productivity.
C. Modern society already values sleep too much.
D. Sleep mainly benefits children, not adults.

Answer Key

1. F
2. B
3. A
4. D
5. E
6. C
7. F
8. FALSE
9. TRUE
10. FALSE
11. TRUE
12. TRUE
13. FALSE
14. FALSE
15. permit
16. facilities
17. two hours
18. closes
19. security
20. reception
21. A
22. B
23. C
24. A
25. TRUE
26. FALSE
27. FALSE
28. ii
29. iii
30. vi
31. i
32. viii
33. v
34. immune system
35. mistakes
36. screen-free
37. sleep quality
38. B
39. B
40. B