IELTS General Training Reading Practice Test

Time allowed: 60 minutes
Number of questions: 40

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Passage 1: Community Noticeboard

Read the notices below and answer Questions 1–14.

A. Weekend Farmers’ Market

The Greenfield Farmers’ Market is open every Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in the town hall car park. Local farmers sell fruit, vegetables, eggs, cheese, honey, bread and fresh flowers. Customers are encouraged to bring reusable bags. Free parking is available until 10:00 a.m. After that, normal parking charges apply. Dogs are welcome but must be kept on a short lead.

B. Public Library Computer Classes

Greenfield Public Library is offering free computer classes for adults every Tuesday evening from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. The course covers basic computer use, internet searching, email, online safety and simple document writing. Places are limited to 12 people per class. Registration is required at the front desk. Participants should bring their library card, but no personal laptop is needed.

C. Sports Centre Swimming Rules

All swimmers must shower before entering the pool. Children under eight must be accompanied by an adult in the water at all times. The deep end is for confident swimmers only. Diving is not allowed except during supervised training sessions. Lockers are available in the changing rooms, but users must bring their own padlock. The centre is not responsible for lost valuables.

D. Lost Property Office

Items found on local buses, trains and at the town station are kept at the Lost Property Office for 30 days. The office is located next to Platform 2 and is open Monday to Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. To collect an item, visitors must provide identification and describe the item clearly. High-value items such as phones, wallets and jewellery may require proof of ownership.

E. Greenfield Evening College

Greenfield Evening College offers part-time courses for adults, including photography, first aid, Spanish, creative writing and business skills. Most courses last ten weeks and take place after 6:00 p.m. Fees must be paid before the course begins. Students who cancel at least seven days before the first lesson can receive a full refund. Course books are not included in the fee.

F. Town Recycling Centre

The recycling centre accepts paper, cardboard, glass bottles, metal cans, garden waste, old clothes and small electrical items. It does not accept paint, chemicals or building materials. The centre is open every day except Wednesday. Visitors must separate their waste before arrival. Staff can give advice, but they cannot unload items from cars.

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Questions 1–7

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

Write the correct letter, A–F.

1. You may need to show that an object belongs to you.
2. You should take something to secure your belongings.
3. You can get all your money back if you cancel early enough.
4. You can attend lessons without bringing your own equipment.
5. You cannot visit this place on one particular weekday.
6. You can park without paying only during part of the morning.
7. You must keep an animal under control.

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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. The farmers’ market sells meat and fish.
9. The computer classes are designed for children.
10. Swimmers may dive during special supervised sessions.
11. Lost items are kept for one month.
12. Evening college students must pay after completing the course.
13. Recycling centre staff will help visitors remove heavy items from their cars.
14. The public library computer course includes advice about internet safety.

 Workplace Training and Staff Policy

Read the text below and answer Questions 15–27.

New Staff Induction at Northbridge Customer Services

Northbridge Customer Services provides telephone and online support for several large companies. All new employees must complete a two-week induction programme before they begin full customer duties. The programme introduces company rules, communication standards, data protection, complaint handling and the software used by staff.

During the first morning, new employees attend a welcome session with the training manager. They receive their identification badge, security pass and staff handbook. The handbook explains working hours, break times, sick leave procedures and dress guidelines. Employees must wear their identification badge whenever they are in the building.

On the second day, trainees learn how to use the company’s customer database. Because customer records contain private information, trainees are not allowed to copy, photograph or remove any customer details. If an employee suspects that customer information has been sent to the wrong person, they must immediately report the issue to a team leader.

The rest of the first week focuses on communication. Trainees listen to recorded customer calls and discuss examples of clear, polite and professional language. Trainers explain that staff should not argue with customers, even when customers are upset. Instead, employees should acknowledge the customer’s concern, ask useful questions and explain what action they can take.

In the second week, trainees practise handling calls with a trainer acting as the customer. These practice calls are not recorded, but trainers give written feedback after each session. Before the final assessment, each trainee must complete an online quiz about company policies. Trainees who fail the quiz can take it again the next day.

The final assessment takes place on the last Friday of induction. Each trainee handles three simulated customer calls while an assessor listens. To pass, trainees must show that they can use the software correctly, protect customer information and communicate professionally. Those who pass move to supervised live calls the following Monday. Those who do not pass receive extra coaching and take the assessment again within five working days.

Staff Break Policy

Full-time employees work from 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and receive a one-hour unpaid lunch break. They also receive two paid 10-minute rest breaks, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. Staff should take breaks at the times shown on the daily schedule so that enough employees remain available to answer calls.

Employees must not leave the building during paid rest breaks. However, they may leave during their lunch break if they sign out at reception. Anyone who returns late from lunch more than three times in one month may lose the right to choose their preferred lunch time.

Food is not allowed at workstations, but drinks in covered containers are permitted. Mobile phones must be switched to silent mode during working hours. Personal calls should be made only during breaks, except in emergencies.

Questions 15–20

Complete the notes below.

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

New Staff Induction Notes

15. New employees must finish a two-week __________ before starting full customer duties.
16. On the first morning, workers receive a security pass and a __________.
17. Workers must wear their identification badge inside the __________.
18. Customer records include __________ information.
19. If private details go to the wrong person, staff must tell a __________ immediately.
20. During week two, trainers provide __________ after practice calls.

Questions 21–24

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

21. What is the main purpose of the first week of training?

A. To teach staff how to sell products
B. To prepare staff for professional customer communication
C. To test staff on live customer calls
D. To help staff choose their working hours

22. What happens if a trainee fails the online quiz?

A. They must leave the company.
B. They repeat the whole induction programme.
C. They can try the quiz again the next day.
D. They are moved immediately to live calls.

23. What must trainees do in the final assessment?

A. Handle three simulated calls
B. Write a customer service report
C. Train another new employee
D. Answer live customer complaints

24. What may happen if employees return late from lunch repeatedly?

A. They may lose their lunch break completely.
B. They may lose the choice of preferred lunch time.
C. They may have to work on weekends.
D. They may have to take unpaid rest breaks.

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. Practice calls in the second week are recorded for future training.
26. Staff may leave the building during unpaid lunch breaks.
27. Employees are allowed to eat snacks at their workstations.

The Changing Role of Public Parks

Read the passage below and answer Questions 28–40.

Public parks have existed in cities for centuries, but their purpose has changed many times. In the past, many urban parks were designed mainly as attractive spaces where people could walk, sit and enjoy fresh air away from crowded streets. Today, parks are expected to do much more. They are places for exercise, community events, wildlife protection, flood control, outdoor education and mental relaxation. As cities grow larger and busier, the value of public parks continues to increase.

One reason parks matter is that they improve physical health. Many people do not have private gardens or easy access to sports facilities. A well-designed park gives residents a free place to walk, run, cycle or take part in group exercise. Even simple features such as benches, clear paths and open grassy areas can encourage people to move more. In neighbourhoods where gym memberships are expensive, parks can provide an important health resource for people of all ages and income levels.

Parks also support mental well-being. Studies of urban life often show that noise, traffic and crowded housing can increase stress. Green spaces offer a quiet contrast. People may visit a park to read, think, meet friends or simply sit under a tree. The benefit does not always require intense activity. For many city residents, a short walk through a green space during lunch or after work can make the day feel more manageable. This is one reason some employers now encourage staff to spend part of their break outdoors.

Another important function of parks is social connection. In large cities, people may live close to one another but rarely speak to their neighbours. Parks create natural meeting places. Parents talk while children play. Older residents meet for morning walks. Teenagers gather for sport. Community groups organise cultural festivals, outdoor film nights, charity runs and local markets. These activities can help residents feel that they belong to a shared place rather than simply occupying separate apartments.

However, maintaining successful parks is not easy. City councils often face limited budgets, and parks require regular care. Grass must be cut, trees must be checked, paths must be repaired and rubbish must be removed. If maintenance is poor, a park can quickly feel unsafe or neglected. Broken lights, damaged play equipment and overflowing bins may discourage visitors. Once fewer people use a park, antisocial behaviour may increase, creating a cycle that is difficult to reverse.

Good park design can reduce some of these problems. Clear entrances, visible paths, lighting and open sightlines can help people feel safer. A park should provide different areas for different users, such as quiet seating zones, sports areas and children’s play spaces. If all activities are forced into one small area, conflict may occur. For example, older visitors looking for peace may become frustrated if loud ball games take place nearby, while young people may feel unwelcome if there is nowhere suitable for active recreation.

Environmental concerns have also changed how parks are planned. Modern cities often suffer from heat, pollution and heavy rain. Trees and plants help cool the air, absorb carbon dioxide and provide habitats for birds and insects. Some parks include rain gardens, ponds or wetlands that collect stormwater and reduce the pressure on drainage systems. These natural solutions can be cheaper and more attractive than building only concrete structures. In this way, parks are not just decorative; they are part of a city’s environmental protection system.

Yet there is a challenge. When parks become more attractive, nearby property prices may rise. This can be positive for homeowners, but it may also push rents beyond the reach of lower-income residents. Some critics argue that park improvements sometimes benefit wealthier newcomers more than long-term local communities. For this reason, city planners need to involve residents before major changes are made. Local people can explain what they need, what problems they face and what facilities would be most useful.

The future of public parks may depend on flexible design. A successful park should not serve only one purpose or one group. It should be able to support exercise in the morning, children’s play in the afternoon, social events at weekends and quiet rest throughout the week. It should protect nature while remaining welcoming to people. Most importantly, it should be treated not as empty land waiting for development, but as essential public space. In an increasingly urban world, parks may become one of the most important signs of a healthy city.

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. The financial advantage of private gardens
ii. Why parks need regular care
iii. Parks as places for physical activity
iv. The danger of removing all trees
v. Public parks and emotional balance
vi. A short history of city transport
vii. Parks as shared community spaces
viii. The environmental role of parks
ix. Designing parks for different needs

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

Questions 34–37

Complete the sentences below.

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

34. Parks give people a free place to exercise when private sports facilities or __________ are costly.
35. A short walk in a park can make a working day feel more __________.
36. Poor maintenance can make a park feel unsafe or __________.
37. Rain gardens, ponds and wetlands can collect __________.

Questions 38–40

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

38. What problem may happen when parks are improved?

A. People stop using outdoor spaces.
B. Local wildlife disappears immediately.
C. Nearby rents may become too expensive for some residents.
D. City councils always reduce maintenance spending.

39. According to the passage, why should planners involve local residents?

A. Residents can explain their needs and local problems.
B. Residents can pay all park maintenance costs.
C. Residents can stop all new people moving into the area.
D. Residents can decide national environmental laws.

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

A. Parks should mainly be used for housing development.
B. Parks should be flexible public spaces with many benefits.
C. Parks should be closed during weekdays.
D. Parks should be designed only for children.

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Answer Key

1. D
2. C
3. E
4. B
5. F
6. A
7. A
8. NOT GIVEN
9. FALSE
10. TRUE
11. TRUE
12. FALSE
13. FALSE
14. TRUE
15. induction programme
16. staff handbook
17. building
18. private
19. team leader
20. written feedback
21. B
22. C
23. A
24. B
25. FALSE
26. TRUE
27. FALSE
28. iii
29. v
30. vii
31. ii
32. ix
33. viii
34. gym memberships
35. manageable
36. neglected
37. stormwater
38. C
39. A
40. B