IELTS GENERAL TRAINING READING MOCK TEST 3

PART 1 – Questions 1–14

Reading Passage 1: The Westbridge Sports Club

A. Membership

The Westbridge Sports Club provides recreational and fitness facilities for residents of the surrounding area. Membership is open to people aged 16 and above.

There are three membership categories: standard, student and family. Standard membership costs £42 per month, while students pay £30. Family membership costs £65 and covers two adults and up to three children under 16.

New members must attend an orientation session before using the main fitness facilities. The session explains the club’s safety rules and demonstrates how to use the exercise machines.

Members can cancel their membership at any time, but cancellations must be submitted at least seven days before the next monthly payment is due.

B. Fitness Facilities

The main fitness centre contains cardiovascular equipment, resistance machines and free weights.

The centre is open from 6:00 a.m. until 10:00 p.m. Monday to Friday. At weekends, it opens at 8:00 a.m. and closes at 8:00 p.m.

During weekday evenings, the gym is often crowded. Members who prefer quieter periods are advised to visit between 6:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. or between 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m.

Personal trainers are available by appointment. A separate fee is charged for individual training sessions.

C. Swimming Pool

The club has a 25-metre indoor swimming pool. The pool is open throughout the day, but certain periods are reserved for organized activities.

Children’s swimming lessons take place on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons. Adult beginner lessons are held on Saturday mornings.

Members may swim during most other periods without making a reservation. However, the club recommends checking the weekly timetable because special events occasionally affect access.

D. Sports Courts

The club has four tennis courts and two squash courts. Tennis courts can be booked through the club’s mobile application.

Members may reserve a tennis court up to seven days in advance. Each booking lasts one hour.

Squash courts can be booked up to three days in advance. During busy periods, members are limited to one advance booking per day.

E. Café and Social Facilities

A café is situated beside the swimming pool. It sells hot drinks, sandwiches, fruit, salads and several vegetarian meals.

The café is open from 7:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. on weekdays and from 8:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. at weekends.

The club also has a lounge where members can work or relax. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the lounge.

Visitors are expected to keep mobile phone conversations short and quiet.

F. Children’s Activities

The club offers several programmes for children during school holidays. These include swimming, tennis, indoor games and supervised arts activities.

Places must be booked in advance. If a child is unable to attend, parents should cancel the booking at least 24 hours beforehand.

The club does not provide transportation to or from holiday activities.

Questions 1–6

Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading 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 about this

1. The Westbridge Sports Club accepts members younger than 16.

2. Family membership can include children.

3. New members can immediately use all fitness equipment without receiving instructions.

4. Members can cancel their membership whenever they want.

5. Personal training costs extra.

6. The swimming pool is used exclusively by club members.

Questions 7–10

Complete the sentences below.

Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER from the passage.

7. The main fitness centre closes at ______ on weekdays.

8. The indoor swimming pool measures ______ metres.

9. Tennis courts can be reserved through the club’s ______.

10. Squash courts can be booked up to ______ days ahead.

Questions 11–14

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

11. When are children’s swimming lessons held?

A. Monday mornings
B. Tuesday and Thursday afternoons
C. Friday evenings
D. Saturday mornings

12. How long does a tennis court booking last?

A. 30 minutes
B. 45 minutes
C. One hour
D. Two hours

13. What is available in the club lounge?

A. Free meals
B. Free Wi-Fi
C. Fitness equipment
D. Television classes

14. What should parents do if their child cannot attend a holiday activity?

A. Contact the swimming instructor
B. Find another child to take the place
C. Cancel the booking in advance
D. Pay an additional fee

PART 2 – Questions 15–27

Reading Passage 2: Learning a New Skill as an Adult

A. The Importance of Lifelong Learning

For many years, education was viewed primarily as something that happened during childhood and early adulthood. People attended school, perhaps continued to university or vocational training, and then entered the workforce.

This model is increasingly outdated. Changes in technology and employment mean that many workers need to learn new skills throughout their careers. At the same time, adults may study simply because they want to develop a personal interest.

Learning as an adult can be challenging, but it can also provide significant professional and personal benefits.

B. Choosing the Right Skill

The first step is deciding what to learn. Adults should consider both their current abilities and their objectives.

Someone hoping to change careers may need formal qualifications, whereas a person learning for enjoyment may not require certification.

It is also important to consider how much time is available. A demanding course may be unsuitable for someone who has a full-time job and family responsibilities.

Experts often recommend starting with a realistic goal rather than attempting to master a complex subject immediately.

C. Motivation

Motivation plays a major role in successful adult learning.

Children are often required to attend school, but adults generally choose whether to continue studying. If the subject feels irrelevant or the workload becomes overwhelming, adults may abandon the course.

One useful strategy is to divide a large objective into smaller goals. Completing a short task can provide a sense of progress and encourage continued effort.

Another strategy is to connect learning with practical outcomes. Someone studying a language, for example, may remain more motivated if they regularly use it in real conversations.

D. Time Management

Time is one of the greatest obstacles for adult learners.

Adults may have jobs, family responsibilities and social commitments. Finding several uninterrupted hours every day may therefore be unrealistic.

Instead, learners can make use of shorter periods. Thirty minutes of focused study several times a week may be more effective than an occasional long session.

Creating a regular schedule can also help. Once learning becomes part of a routine, it requires less conscious effort to begin.

E. Digital Learning

The growth of online education has made learning more accessible.

Adults can now take courses offered by institutions located hundreds or thousands of kilometres away. Recorded lessons also allow students to study at times that suit their schedules.

However, online education requires self-discipline. Without a fixed classroom schedule, some learners may postpone assignments or lose motivation.

For this reason, learners should evaluate their own habits before choosing an entirely online programme.

F. Learning with Others

Although independent study has advantages, learning with other people can provide additional benefits.

Study groups allow learners to discuss difficult ideas and explain concepts to one another. Teaching a concept to someone else can also reveal gaps in one’s own understanding.

Face-to-face classes may additionally create social connections. Adults who begin a course with little contact outside their professional or family circles may value this aspect of education.

Nevertheless, group learning is not ideal for everyone. Some people learn more effectively when they can work independently and at their own pace.

G. Dealing with Failure

Failure is a normal part of learning.

Adults sometimes become frustrated because they expect themselves to progress quickly. Previous professional experience can even create unrealistic expectations about how easily a new subject should be mastered.

Making mistakes should therefore be regarded as part of the learning process rather than evidence of inability.

Successful learners are generally willing to identify weaknesses, adjust their methods and continue practising.

H. Long-Term Benefits

Learning a new skill can produce benefits beyond the skill itself.

It may increase confidence, improve problem-solving abilities and encourage people to approach unfamiliar situations more positively.

Professional learning can also increase employability, particularly when workers develop skills that are in demand.

Perhaps most importantly, lifelong learning can create a habit of curiosity. Instead of viewing education as something that ends with formal schooling, people begin to see learning as a continuing part of life.

Questions 15–20

Which paragraph contains the following information?

Write the correct letter, A–H.

15. A suggestion that learners should divide a major objective into smaller stages.

16. A reason why some people may prefer studying alone.

17. An explanation of why online learning requires personal discipline.

18. A warning that adults should consider how much time they have available.

19. A statement that making mistakes is a normal part of education.

20. Benefits of learning that extend beyond acquiring a particular skill.

Questions 21–24

Complete the summary below.

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

Adult learners should first consider their abilities, objectives and available 21. ______ before selecting a course.

Motivation can be strengthened by establishing small goals and connecting education to 22. ______ outcomes.

One major challenge for adult learners is finding enough time. Short periods of concentrated study may be more effective than occasional 23. ______ sessions.

Online education provides flexibility, but learners need sufficient 24. ______ to complete their work without regular classroom supervision.

Questions 25–27

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

25. What does the passage suggest about adult education?

A. It is mainly useful for changing careers.
B. It can have both professional and personal benefits.
C. It is generally less effective than childhood education.
D. It should always lead to a formal qualification.

26. Why can study groups be useful?

A. They guarantee better examination results.
B. They allow students to avoid difficult subjects.
C. They provide opportunities to discuss and explain ideas.
D. They require less study time.

27. What does the writer say about failure?

A. It should be avoided whenever possible.
B. It indicates that a learner has selected the wrong subject.
C. It is an ordinary part of learning.
D. It is more common among older learners.

PART 3 – Questions 28–40

Reading Passage 3: The Future of Urban Transportation

A. Changing Cities

Cities around the world are experiencing rapid population growth. As urban populations increase, transportation systems face growing pressure.

For much of the twentieth century, urban planning in many countries was heavily influenced by private cars. Roads were expanded, parking spaces were constructed and residential areas were often separated from commercial districts.

This approach enabled people to travel greater distances, but it also created significant problems, including congestion, air pollution, noise and extensive land use.

Today, planners are reconsidering how urban transportation should be organized.

B. Public Transportation

Public transportation is central to many strategies for reducing dependence on private cars.

Buses, trains and trams can transport large numbers of people using considerably less road space per passenger than individual cars.

However, simply increasing the number of buses or trains does not guarantee that people will stop driving. Public transport needs to be reliable, reasonably priced, safe and convenient.

Frequency is also important. A service that operates only occasionally may be unsuitable for workers who need to travel at specific times.

C. Walking and Cycling

Walking and cycling are among the most environmentally friendly forms of transportation.

They produce no direct emissions and require relatively little public space. Regular walking and cycling can also provide health benefits.

Nevertheless, people are unlikely to cycle regularly if roads are dangerous or cycling routes are disconnected.

Successful cycling programmes therefore require more than painted lines on existing roads. They often involve protected lanes, secure bicycle parking and connections between major destinations.

Walking infrastructure also matters. Wide pavements, safe crossings and attractive public spaces can make walking more appealing.

D. Electric Vehicles

Electric vehicles are frequently presented as an important part of the future transport system.

They produce no exhaust emissions while being driven, which can improve local air quality. However, electric vehicles do not eliminate every environmental problem associated with transportation.

Their production requires energy and raw materials. The environmental impact also depends partly on how the electricity used to charge them is generated.

Electric cars can therefore contribute to cleaner urban transportation, but they should not necessarily be regarded as a complete solution to congestion or land-use problems.

E. Autonomous Vehicles

Self-driving vehicles could potentially transform urban transportation.

Supporters argue that autonomous vehicles may reduce accidents caused by human error and allow passengers to use travel time for other activities.

They might also provide greater mobility for some people who cannot currently drive.

However, the effect on congestion is uncertain. If autonomous vehicles make travel easier and cheaper, people may actually travel more frequently.

There are also unresolved questions concerning regulation, cybersecurity, liability and the interaction between autonomous and human-driven vehicles.

F. Integrated Transportation

Increasingly, experts emphasize that cities should not rely on one transportation technology.

Instead, different modes should be integrated into a single system.

A passenger might walk from home to a bus stop, take a bus to a railway station, travel by train and then use a bicycle for the final part of the journey.

Digital technology can make such combinations easier by providing real-time information about routes, delays and available vehicles.

Integrated ticketing can also reduce inconvenience by allowing passengers to use different forms of transportation without purchasing separate tickets.

G. The Importance of Urban Design

Transportation cannot be separated entirely from the design of cities.

If homes, workplaces, schools and shops are located far apart, residents may have little choice but to travel long distances.

Mixed-use neighbourhoods can reduce the need for long journeys because daily necessities are located closer to residential areas.

Urban density can also support public transportation by creating enough demand for frequent services.

However, high density must be accompanied by appropriate infrastructure. Poorly planned development can create overcrowding without producing efficient transportation.

H. Equity and Accessibility

Transportation policy also raises questions about fairness.

Not everyone owns a car, and some people cannot drive because of age, disability or other circumstances.

If cities invest heavily in roads while neglecting public transportation, people without access to private vehicles may be disadvantaged.

Affordable and accessible public transportation can therefore provide not only environmental benefits but also greater economic and social opportunities.

Accessibility should include physical design. Stations need suitable entrances, lifts, ramps and other features for people with mobility difficulties.

I. The Road Ahead

There is unlikely to be one universal transportation solution for every city.

A densely populated city with an extensive railway network may require a different strategy from a smaller city where residents are widely dispersed.

The most successful transportation systems are likely to combine several approaches: reliable public transport, safe walking and cycling infrastructure, appropriate use of electric vehicles and carefully designed urban development.

The central challenge is not simply moving more vehicles. It is creating cities in which people can reach employment, education, healthcare and social activities efficiently, affordably and safely.

Questions 28–32

Choose the correct heading for each paragraph.

Choose the correct heading from the list below.

List of Headings

i. The limitations of electric transportation
ii. Transportation and social equality
iii. Why cities are reconsidering traditional planning
iv. The importance of combining different transport methods
v. The possible consequences of self-driving technology
vi. The relationship between city design and transportation
vii. Requirements for successful cycling
viii. Why public transport must be convenient
ix. The future will require one universal solution

28. Paragraph A

29. Paragraph C

30. Paragraph E

31. Paragraph F

32. Paragraph H

Questions 33–36

Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage 3?

Write:

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

33. Electric vehicles completely solve the problem of traffic congestion.

34. Some people may benefit from autonomous vehicles because they cannot currently drive.

35. The environmental impact of electric vehicles depends partly on how electricity is produced.

36. Every city should adopt exactly the same transportation strategy.

Questions 37–40

Complete the sentences below.

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

37. Buses and trains generally use less ______ per passenger than private cars.

38. Cycling programmes may require protected lanes and secure ______ parking.

39. Digital technology can provide passengers with real-time information about routes, delays and available ______.

40. The main goal of transportation planning should be to help people reach important destinations efficiently, affordably and ______.

ANSWER KEY

PART 1 – Questions 1–14

Question	Answer
1	FALSE
2	TRUE
3	FALSE
4	FALSE
5	TRUE
6	NOT GIVEN
7	10:00 p.m.
8	25
9	mobile application
10	three
11	B
12	C
13	B
14	C

PART 2 – Questions 15–27

Question	Answer
15	C
16	F
17	E
18	B
19	G
20	H
21	time
22	practical
23	long
24	self-discipline
25	B
26	C
27	C

PART 3 – Questions 28–40

Question	Answer
28	iii
29	vii
30	v
31	iv
32	ii
33	FALSE
34	TRUE
35	TRUE
36	FALSE
37	road space
38	bicycle
39	vehicles
40	safely