Sure — here is IELTS GT Reading Practice Test 2 with 3 passages and 40 questions, written in an original, copyright-free IELTS-style format.
IELTS General Training Reading Practice Test 2
Time allowed: 60 minutes
Questions: 40
Passage 1: Local Information Notices
Read the notices below and answer Questions 1–14.
A. Riverside Community Café
Riverside Community Café is open from Monday to Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. It serves low-cost meals, tea, coffee and homemade cakes. A free lunch is available every Wednesday for senior citizens, but visitors must book a place by Monday evening. The café also has a small reading corner where customers may exchange books. Cash and card payments are accepted.
B. Oak Street Medical Clinic
Oak Street Medical Clinic accepts appointments from 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on weekdays. Patients should arrive ten minutes before their appointment and bring their health card. If you cannot attend, please cancel at least 24 hours in advance. Emergency cases are seen first, so routine appointments may sometimes be delayed. The clinic does not provide dental treatment.
C. City Bus Travel Card
The City Bus Travel Card allows unlimited bus travel within the city zone for seven days. Cards can be purchased at the main bus station or online. Students receive a 25% discount with valid student identification. Lost cards cannot be replaced, so passengers should keep them safe. The card is not valid on airport express buses.
D. Hillview Gym Trial Week
Hillview Gym is offering a free seven-day trial for new members. The trial includes access to the fitness room, yoga classes and changing facilities. Personal training sessions are not included. Visitors must be 18 or older and must complete a health form before using the equipment. The gym is open daily from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
E. Apartment Building Rules
Residents must keep shared hallways clear of bicycles, shoes and rubbish bags. Noise should be kept low after 10:00 p.m. Guests may stay overnight, but stays longer than seven nights must be approved by the building manager. Pets are allowed only if they are registered with the office. Smoking is not permitted in lifts or stairwells.
F. Town Art Workshop
A weekend art workshop will take place at the town gallery from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. The workshop is suitable for beginners and includes drawing, colour mixing and basic painting techniques. All materials are provided. Participants should bring their own lunch. Booking is essential because only 15 places are available.
Questions 1–7
Which notice, A–F, contains the following information?
Write the correct letter, A–F.
- You need permission if someone stays too long.
- You can get a cheaper price if you show proof that you are studying.
- You must fill in a form before using a service.
- You should tell someone early if you cannot attend.
- You can exchange reading material here.
- You do not need to bring equipment for the activity.
- You cannot use this card for a particular bus service.
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
- Riverside Community Café is open on Sundays.
- Senior citizens need to book before receiving the free Wednesday lunch.
- Oak Street Medical Clinic offers dental appointments.
- Bus travel cards can be bought online.
- Hillview Gym trial visitors can use personal training sessions for free.
- Residents may smoke in the stairwells if windows are open.
- The art workshop is designed only for experienced artists.
Passage 2: Workplace Information
Read the text below and answer Questions 15–27.
Staff Uniform and Customer Service Guidelines
BrightMart is a medium-sized supermarket with branches in several towns. All new employees receive a staff uniform during their first week. The standard uniform includes a blue shirt, black trousers and a name badge. Employees working in the bakery or fresh food section must also wear a hair covering and disposable gloves when handling food.
Staff must arrive in clean uniform and be ready to start work at the time shown on the weekly schedule. Employees who forget their name badge should report to the duty manager before beginning work. The manager will provide a temporary badge for that shift. Repeated failure to wear correct uniform may lead to a formal warning.
Customer service is an important part of every employee’s job. Staff should greet customers politely, answer questions clearly and call a supervisor if they cannot solve a problem. Employees should never make promises about refunds, exchanges or complaints unless they have permission from a supervisor. If a customer becomes angry, staff should remain calm and avoid raising their voice.
BrightMart also expects employees to keep the store safe and tidy. Boxes must not be left in public walkways. Spilled liquids must be cleaned immediately or marked with a warning sign until cleaning equipment arrives. Staff who see damaged shelves, broken glass or electrical problems must inform a supervisor immediately.
Training for Cash Desk Employees
Cash desk employees must complete a three-day training course before working alone. On the first day, trainees learn how to open the till, scan items, check prices and print receipts. They also learn how to deal with coupons and gift cards. Trainees are not allowed to handle cash without a trainer present.
On the second day, trainees practise serving customers while a trainer observes. They learn how to check identification for age-restricted items such as certain medicines. If a customer cannot provide suitable identification, the employee must refuse the sale politely.
On the final day, trainees complete a short practical test. They must show that they can process payments, correct scanning errors and follow store rules. Those who pass may work at the cash desk without direct supervision. Those who do not pass receive further practice and take the test again within one week.
Questions 15–20
Complete the notes below.
Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer.
BrightMart Uniform Rules
- The standard uniform includes a blue shirt, black trousers and a __________.
- Bakery and fresh food workers must wear gloves when __________ food.
- Employees must be ready to work at the time shown on the __________.
- Workers who forget their badge must speak to the __________.
- A temporary badge may be given for that __________.
- Repeated uniform problems may result in a __________.
Questions 21–24
Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.
- What should staff do if they cannot solve a customer’s problem?
A. Promise the customer a refund
B. Call a supervisor
C. Leave the customer alone
D. Ask another customer for advice
- What should employees do if a customer becomes angry?
A. Speak louder than the customer
B. Ignore the customer completely
C. Stay calm
D. Immediately close the store
- What are staff told to do about spilled liquids?
A. Leave them until closing time
B. Clean them immediately or mark them with a sign
C. Cover them with boxes
D. Ask customers to walk around them without warning
- What happens on the first day of cash desk training?
A. Trainees work alone at the till
B. Trainees learn basic till operations
C. Trainees take the final practical test
D. Trainees supervise other workers
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
- Trainees may handle cash alone on the first day.
- Cash desk staff may refuse a sale if suitable identification is not provided.
- Employees who fail the practical test must leave their job.
Passage 3: Why People Choose to Learn New Skills as Adults
Read the passage below and answer Questions 28–40.
Many people think learning belongs mainly to childhood, school or university, but adult learning has become an important part of modern life. People now change jobs more often, technology develops quickly, and personal interests continue to grow throughout life. As a result, adults are returning to classrooms, online courses, workshops and training centres in large numbers.
One major reason adults learn new skills is employment. A worker may need computer skills to stay useful in an office, language skills to communicate with customers, or technical knowledge to move into a better-paid position. In some industries, employees must update their training regularly because rules, tools and safety standards change. Adult learning can therefore protect a person’s current job or open the door to a new career.
However, adults do not learn only for money. Many people join classes because they want personal satisfaction. Someone may learn photography after years of taking pictures on a phone, or study music because they always dreamed of playing an instrument. Others take cooking, gardening, writing or craft classes simply because these activities make life more enjoyable. In this sense, learning can be a form of self-expression rather than a career plan.
Adult learning can also improve confidence. People who left school early or had negative educational experiences may believe they are “not good at learning”. A successful short course can change this belief. When adults complete a project, pass a test or master a difficult task, they often feel more capable in other areas of life. Confidence gained in a classroom can influence work, family decisions and social relationships.
Technology has made adult learning more accessible. Online lessons allow people to study from home, often at a time that suits their schedule. Video tutorials, digital libraries and discussion forums provide support that was not available to earlier generations. This is especially helpful for adults with full-time jobs, childcare responsibilities or transport difficulties. For them, flexible learning can make education possible.
Still, adult learners face challenges. Time is one of the biggest. Many adults must balance study with work, family and financial responsibilities. Tiredness can make concentration difficult, especially after a long working day. Some adults also worry about being older than other students or making mistakes in front of a group. These fears can prevent people from joining courses, even when they are interested.
Good adult education recognises these barriers. Teachers should connect lessons to real-life situations and respect the experience that adult learners already have. Adults usually prefer practical tasks, clear goals and useful feedback. They may become frustrated if courses move too slowly or include information that feels unrelated to their needs. A supportive learning environment can make a major difference.
Employers can also encourage adult learning. Some companies pay for training, give study leave or allow flexible working hours during a course. This benefits both the employee and the business. Workers gain new skills, while companies develop a more capable and loyal workforce. In competitive industries, training can help businesses adapt instead of falling behind.
Community learning has another important role. Local colleges, libraries and community centres often provide affordable courses where adults meet people with similar interests. These classes can reduce loneliness and create social connections. For older adults, regular learning activities may also provide routine, purpose and mental stimulation. Learning becomes not only a way to gain knowledge, but also a way to stay socially active.
The future of adult learning is likely to be more flexible and lifelong. People may no longer expect one period of education to prepare them for an entire working life. Instead, they may return to learning many times, for different reasons and in different forms. Whether the goal is employment, confidence, creativity or community, adult learning shows that education does not end when formal schooling finishes.
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. Learning for enjoyment and creativity
ii. The problem of expensive university degrees
iii. How employers can support learning
iv. Adult learning as a lifelong process
v. Difficulties faced by adult learners
vi. The role of technology in flexible study
vii. Learning to improve employment chances
viii. Why children learn faster than adults
ix. Building confidence through learning
- Paragraph 2
- Paragraph 3
- Paragraph 4
- Paragraph 5
- Paragraph 6
- Paragraph 8
Questions 34–37
Complete the sentences below.
Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the passage for each answer.
- In some jobs, workers must update training because safety standards and __________ change.
- Some adults study music because they dreamed of playing __________.
- Adults with transport problems may find __________ especially useful.
- Local courses can help reduce __________.
Questions 38–40
Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.
- According to the passage, what can a successful short course do for adults with negative school experiences?
A. Make them forget all past problems immediately
B. Change their belief that they are not good at learning
C. Give them a university degree
D. Remove all financial responsibilities
- What type of teaching is likely to suit adult learners best?
A. Lessons with no clear purpose
B. Practical tasks connected to real life
C. Very slow courses with unrelated information
D. Classes that ignore learners’ experience
- What is the writer’s main point in the final paragraph?
A. Adults should avoid returning to education.
B. Education should only happen at school.
C. Adult learning will become more flexible and lifelong.
D. Online courses will replace every classroom.
Answer Key
- E
- C
- D
- B
- A
- F
- C
- FALSE
- TRUE
- FALSE
- TRUE
- FALSE
- FALSE
- FALSE
- name badge
- handling
- weekly schedule
- duty manager
- shift
- formal warning
- B
- C
- B
- B
- FALSE
- TRUE
- FALSE
- vii
- i
- ix
- vi
- v
- iii
- rules, tools
- an instrument
- flexible learning
- loneliness
- B
- B
- C