IELTS General Training Reading Mock Practice Test 9

Time allowed: 60 minutes
Questions: 40

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Passage 1: Local Notices and Services

Read the notices below and answer Questions 1–14.

A. City Pool Swimming Lessons

City Pool offers swimming lessons for children and adults. Beginner classes take place on Monday and Wednesday evenings, while advanced classes are held on Saturday mornings. All learners must register before attending their first lesson. Participants should bring swimwear, a towel and a padlock for the changing-room lockers. Goggles are optional. No refund is given for missed lessons unless the pool cancels the class.

B. Bus Company Lost Property Office

Items found on city buses are kept at the Bus Company Lost Property Office for 21 days. The office is open Monday to Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. To collect an item, passengers must show identification and describe the lost object clearly. Phones, wallets and other valuable items may require extra proof of ownership. Items not collected after 21 days may be donated, recycled or destroyed.

C. Community Tool Library

The Community Tool Library allows residents to borrow drills, ladders, garden tools, sewing machines and basic repair kits. Members pay a small annual fee and may borrow most items for up to one week. Power tools can only be borrowed after users complete a short safety demonstration. A refundable deposit is required for expensive items. Late returns may result in extra charges.

D. Weekend Food Festival

The Weekend Food Festival will take place in Brook Park on Saturday and Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Entry is free. Visitors can enjoy food stalls, live music, children’s games and cooking demonstrations. Places for cooking demonstrations must be booked at the information tent on arrival. Visitors may bring water, but outside alcohol is not allowed. The event may close early if weather conditions become dangerous.

E. Apartment Maintenance Requests

Tenants at Riverstone Apartments should report non-urgent maintenance problems through the online tenant portal. This includes broken cupboard doors, dripping taps, heating problems and damaged window handles. Emergency problems, such as serious water leaks or electrical faults, must be reported by phone immediately. Tenants should not attempt repairs themselves. Pets should be kept away from workers during maintenance visits.

F. Adult Literacy Support

The public library offers free adult literacy support for residents over 18 who want help with reading, writing, spelling or everyday forms. Sessions are private and confidential. Learners meet a trained volunteer once a week for one hour. This is not an exam course, and no certificate is given. New learners may need to join a waiting list if all volunteer places are full.

Questions 1–7

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

Write the correct letter, A–F.

1. You must complete a short instruction session before borrowing certain equipment.
2. You should use an online system for ordinary repair problems.
3. You may need to prove that a lost item belongs to you.
4. You must book some activities after arriving at the event.
5. You can receive private help with basic reading and writing.
6. You need to bring something to lock your belongings away.
7. You may have to pay more if something is returned late.

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. Beginner swimming lessons are held on Monday and Wednesday evenings.
9. City Pool gives refunds for all missed lessons.
10. The Lost Property Office is open every day of the week.
11. The Community Tool Library charges an annual membership fee.
12. Visitors may bring outside alcohol to the food festival.
13. Tenants should repair electrical faults themselves.
14. Adult literacy learners meet a volunteer once a week.

Passage 2: Workplace Information

Read the text below and answer Questions 15–27.

Customer Complaint Procedure at Bellford Electronics

Bellford Electronics sells phones, tablets, laptops and home entertainment equipment. Because customers sometimes return products or complain about faults, all sales staff must follow the company’s complaint procedure carefully.

When a customer approaches the service desk, staff should listen without interrupting and ask for the purchase receipt. If the customer does not have a receipt, staff may check the purchase history using the customer’s account details. Employees should remain polite even if the customer is annoyed. Staff must not blame the customer for the problem unless a technician has inspected the item.

The first step is to identify the type of complaint. Some customers ask for technical advice, while others want a repair, refund or replacement. Staff should record the customer’s name, contact details, product model and a short description of the issue. This information must be entered into the service system before the item is sent for inspection.

Small accessories, such as chargers and headphones, may be exchanged at the service desk if they are clearly faulty and still under warranty. More expensive items, including phones and laptops, must be checked by a technician before any decision is made. Staff should explain that inspection may take up to five working days.

If a customer becomes aggressive, employees should call the duty manager immediately. Staff are not expected to continue serving a customer who uses threatening language. Security may be contacted if the situation does not improve. Bellford Electronics wants complaints to be solved fairly, but employee safety is always a priority.

Staff Product Discount Rules

Permanent employees receive a 15% discount on most products after completing their first month of employment. Temporary workers and agency staff do not receive the discount. The discount cannot be used on gift cards, repair services, delivery charges or products already included in special promotions.

Employees may buy discounted items only for themselves or close family members. They must not buy products for friends and accept payment later. All staff discount purchases must be processed by a supervisor, not by the employee making the purchase. Misuse of the discount may lead to disciplinary action.

Questions 15–20

Complete the notes below.

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

Bellford Complaint Procedure Notes

15. Staff should ask customers for the purchase __________.
16. Purchase history may be checked using account __________.
17. Staff must not blame the customer before a __________ has inspected the item.
18. Product details and the issue must be entered into the __________ system.
19. Phones and laptops must be checked before any __________ is made.
20. Inspection may take up to five __________ days.

Questions 21–24

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

21. What should staff do when a customer first complains?

A. Interrupt and explain the store rules
B. Listen and ask for proof of purchase
C. Send the customer directly to security
D. Offer a refund immediately

22. What may happen with clearly faulty small accessories under warranty?

A. They may be exchanged at the service desk.
B. They must always be sent away for five days.
C. They cannot be returned.
D. They must be repaired by the customer.

23. What should employees do if a customer uses threatening language?

A. Continue serving the customer alone
B. Call the duty manager immediately
C. Blame the customer for the complaint
D. Give the customer a free product

24. Who must process staff discount purchases?

A. The employee making the purchase
B. A temporary worker
C. A supervisor
D. A family member

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. Temporary workers receive the same product discount as permanent employees.
26. Staff may use the discount for delivery charges.
27. Misusing the staff discount may result in disciplinary action.

Passage 3: The Value of Local Newspapers

Read the passage below and answer Questions 28–40.

Local newspapers have played an important role in community life for many years. Before social media and online news, they were often the main source of information about town council decisions, school events, local sports, small businesses and public notices. Although the media world has changed dramatically, local newspapers still provide a type of reporting that larger national news organisations often cannot offer.

One of the key strengths of local newspapers is their focus on nearby issues. National news may report major political events or international crises, but it rarely covers a broken bridge, a new bus timetable, a school fundraiser or a planning decision affecting one neighbourhood. For residents, these smaller stories can be highly important because they affect daily life directly. A local paper can explain what is happening, who is responsible and how people can respond.

Local newspapers also help hold local authorities accountable. Town councils, school boards and public service providers make decisions that influence taxes, housing, roads, parks and safety. Without local reporting, many of these decisions may receive little public attention. Journalists who attend meetings, ask questions and publish details can help residents understand how power is being used in their area. This kind of reporting supports local democracy.

Another benefit is community identity. Local newspapers often publish stories about ordinary people: a shop owner retiring after forty years, a student winning a scholarship, a volunteer group cleaning a river or a local team reaching a final. These stories may not interest a national audience, but they can make residents feel proud and connected. They show that community life is built not only by famous people but also by everyday efforts.

Local newspapers can also support small businesses. Advertising in a national publication is usually too expensive and too broad for a local café, plumber, tutor or repair shop. A local newspaper reaches people who actually live nearby and may need those services. In addition, articles about new businesses, markets and community events can bring customers to local high streets.

However, local newspapers face serious financial challenges. Many readers now expect news to be free online, while print sales have declined. Advertising money has moved to large digital platforms, leaving smaller publishers with less income. As a result, some local newspapers have reduced staff, closed offices or stopped printing completely. When this happens, communities may lose experienced reporters who understand local issues deeply.

The move to digital publishing has created both opportunities and problems. Online editions can reach readers quickly and share updates throughout the day. Photos, videos and reader comments can make stories more interactive. However, digital news also competes with social media, entertainment apps and countless other websites. Local newspapers must work hard to keep attention while maintaining accuracy and trust.

Trust is especially important. Social media can spread rumours quickly, especially during emergencies or controversial local events. A responsible local newspaper checks facts before publishing and corrects mistakes when necessary. This does not mean newspapers are perfect, but trained reporters usually follow clearer standards than anonymous online posts. Reliable local journalism can reduce confusion and give residents a shared set of facts.

Some communities have tried new ways to support local journalism. These include membership schemes, donations, partnerships with universities and non-profit newsrooms. In some places, readers are willing to pay because they understand that reporting costs money. Local newspapers may also focus on deeper stories that explain problems rather than simply repeating announcements. This can make their work more valuable.

The future of local newspapers will depend on adaptation and public support. They may publish more online than on paper, use newsletters or podcasts, and involve readers more directly. Yet their main purpose remains familiar: to inform people about the places where they live. In a world filled with global news, local newspapers remind us that the street, school, park and council office nearby also deserve attention.

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. Supporting small local businesses
ii. Problems caused by falling income
iii. Reporting issues close to home
iv. New ways to fund local journalism
v. Why national newspapers are always better
vi. Local reporting and public accountability
vii. Building a sense of community
viii. Digital publishing: benefits and difficulties
ix. Why newspapers should avoid online editions

28. Paragraph 2
29. Paragraph 3
30. Paragraph 4
31. Paragraph 5
32. Paragraph 6
33. Paragraph 7

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Questions 34–37

Complete the sentences below.

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

34. Local newspapers report smaller stories that affect __________ directly.
35. Journalists may attend meetings, ask questions and publish __________.
36. Stories about ordinary people can make residents feel proud and __________.
37. Advertising money has moved to large __________.

Questions 38–40

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

38. Why is trust important in local news?

A. Local newspapers never make mistakes.
B. Social media can spread rumours quickly.
C. Residents no longer care about local events.
D. National newspapers refuse to report politics.

39. What is one new way communities support local journalism?

A. Membership schemes
B. Closing all local offices
C. Removing all reporters
D. Banning online news

40. What is the writer’s main point in the final paragraph?

A. Local newspapers should stop covering community issues.
B. Local newspapers should focus only on international news.
C. Local newspapers may change format but still serve local information needs.
D. Local newspapers are no longer useful in modern life.

Answer Key

1. C
2. E
3. B
4. D
5. F
6. A
7. C
8. TRUE
9. FALSE
10. FALSE
11. TRUE
12. FALSE
13. FALSE
14. TRUE
15. receipt
16. details
17. technician
18. service
19. decision
20. working
21. B
22. A
23. B
24. C
25. FALSE
26. FALSE
27. TRUE
28. iii
29. vi
30. vii
31. i
32. ii
33. viii
34. daily life
35. details
36. connected
37. digital platforms
38. B
39. A
40. C