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The IELTS General Training Reading Test: A Comprehensive Guide

The General Training IELTS is typically for those aiming to migrate to English-speaking countries and for those who need to demonstrate their English-speaking capabilities at a workplace or school. This article focuses on the General Training Reading test, providing insights into its structure, question types, scoring, and helpful tips for each type of question.

Which exam to choose: General Training or Academic

The choice between General Training and Academic IELTS depends on your objectives.

The IELTS General Training is designed for people who want to work in an English-speaking country or want to pursue studies in vocational training or secondary education.

The IELTS Academic is designed for people wish to study at university or college as an undergraduate or postgraduate student or join a professional institution in an English-speaking environment.

Structure and Timing

The General Training Reading test consists of 3 sections, encompassing a total of 40 questions to be completed in 60 minutes. These sections are designed to test a range of reading skills, including gist, main ideas, and details.

📖 SECTION 1
Focuses on "social survival" in an English-speaking environment, featuring several short texts related to everyday life, such as advertisements, timetables, and notices.

📖 SECTION 2
Examines "workplace survival" skills through texts taken from job descriptions, contracts, and training manuals.

📖 SECTION 3
Presents a more complex text on a topic of general interest, often extracted from books, magazines, or newspapers.

Question Types and Tips

The test includes 14 different types of questions, which assess various reading skills. Here's a brief overview and some strategic tips for each:

❓ Matching Headings: Identify the main idea of paragraphs or sections.
‣ Start by reading the list of headings and paragraphs' first lines to grasp the key ideas quickly.

❓ dentifying Information (True/False/Not Given): Check if the statements are true, false or not mentioned in the text.
‣ Pay close attention to the facts presented in the text, and look for paraphrases-words or phrases that convey the same meaning as the statements but use different wording.

❓ Matching Paragraph Information: Identify which paragraph contains the information given in each statement from a list.
‣ Scan for key terms and synonyms or paraphrases that match the question. Remember, some paragraphs might be the answer to more than one statement, while others may not contain any relevant information at all.

Scoring the IELTS General Training Reading Test

Each correct answer earns you one mark. The total number of correct responses is your raw score, which is then converted into the IELTS band score. It is crucial to attempt all questions as there is no penalty for wrong answers.

IELTS Reading Band Scores

The General Training Reading test scores range from Band 0 (did not attempt the test) to Band 9 (expert user). Here is a brief insight into how raw scores translate into band scores:

This scoring system highlights the importance of preparation and practice. Understanding the structure, familiarizing yourself with the types of questions, and employing effective strategies are crucial for achieving a high score on the IELTS General Training Reading test.

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IELTS - Exam 1 - General Training Reading - Test-English

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Explore our IELTS General Training Reading practice test with personalised feedback and lots of info about this section of the exam.

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The IELTS General Training Reading Test: A Comprehensive Guide

The General Training IELTS is typically for those aiming to migrate to English-speaking countries and for those who need to demonstrate their English-speaking capabilities at a workplace or school. This article focuses on the General Training Reading test, providing insights into its structure, question types, scoring, and helpful tips for each type of question.

Which exam to choose: General Training or Academic

The choice between General Training and Academic IELTS depends on your objectives.

The IELTS General Training is designed for people who want to work in an English-speaking country or want to pursue studies in vocational training or secondary education.

The IELTS Academic is designed for people wish to study at university or college as an undergraduate or postgraduate student or join a professional institution in an English-speaking environment.

Structure and Timing

The General Training Reading test consists of 3 sections, encompassing a total of 40 questions to be completed in 60 minutes. These sections are designed to test a range of reading skills, including gist, main ideas, and details.

📖 SECTION 1
Focuses on "social survival" in an English-speaking environment, featuring several short texts related to everyday life, such as advertisements, timetables, and notices.

📖 SECTION 2
Examines "workplace survival" skills through texts taken from job descriptions, contracts, and training manuals.

📖 SECTION 3
Presents a more complex text on a topic of general interest, often extracted from books, magazines, or newspapers.

Question Types and Tips

The test includes 14 different types of questions, which assess various reading skills. Here's a brief overview and some strategic tips for each:

❓ Matching Headings: Identify the main idea of paragraphs or sections.
‣ Start by reading the list of headings and paragraphs' first lines to grasp the key ideas quickly.

❓ dentifying Information (True/False/Not Given): Check if the statements are true, false or not mentioned in the text.
‣ Pay close attention to the facts presented in the text, and look for paraphrases-words or phrases that convey the same meaning as the statements but use different wording.

❓ Matching Paragraph Information: Identify which paragraph contains the information given in each statement from a list.
‣ Scan for key terms and synonyms or paraphrases that match the question. Remember, some paragraphs might be the answer to more than one statement, while others may not contain any relevant information at all.

Scoring the IELTS General Training Reading Test

Each correct answer earns you one mark. The total number of correct responses is your raw score, which is then converted into the IELTS band score. It is crucial to attempt all questions as there is no penalty for wrong answers.

IELTS Reading Band Scores

The General Training Reading test scores range from Band 0 (did not attempt the test) to Band 9 (expert user). Here is a brief insight into how raw scores translate into band scores:

This scoring system highlights the importance of preparation and practice. Understanding the structure, familiarizing yourself with the types of questions, and employing effective strategies are crucial for achieving a high score on the IELTS General Training Reading test.

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IELTS - Exam 1 - General Training Reading - Test-English

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Explore our IELTS General Training Reading practice test with personalised feedback and lots of info about this section of the exam.

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Cambridge IELTS Book 16 Listening Test 1 | with Answer Keys | IELTS INFINITY

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Cambridge IELTS Book 16 Listening Test 1 | with Answer Keys | IELTS INFINITY

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Cambridge IELTS Book 16 Listening Test 1 | with Answer Keys | IELTS INFINITY

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Cambridge IELTS Book 16 Listening Test 1 | with Answer Keys | IELTS INFINITY

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Hiring a public room | IELTS LISTENING TEST

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IELTS Listening Section-3(Scandinavian Studies) with answers

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IELTS Listening Map with Answers and Script - Bestley Castle and Grounds

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Event Cost Venue Notes | IELTS LISTENING Section-1

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IELTS Listening Map with Answers and Script - Croft Valley Park

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IELTS Listening Practice Test | Form Completion [ Very Important ]

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The listening exercise below is based on section 4 of IELTS listening and this particular exercise focuses on short answer questions. Read through the tips below before you start to listen.

Section 4 Tips

Section 4 is an academic talk by one speaker

Academic lectures are usually structured (introduction, main points, examples etc)

Notice when the speaker moves from one main point to another

Follow the structure of the talk to keep your place in the audio

Academic talks contain academic vocabulary

Don't try to understand everything

Focus on listening for answers only

Predict the type of answer you need to listen for

Listen out for paraphrases

For this type of question type, answers will come in order

Make notes as you listen

Section 4 usually has 10 questions - this is a practice exercise

When you finish your listening practice, listening again and read the transcript at the same time. Answers are given below.

Section 4 Practice

Questions 1-5
Write no more than three words and/or a number.
Dolphin Intelligence
1. The lecture will concentrate on tools, communication, sonar and what other aspect of dolphin intelligence?
2. How big is the brain of the bottle-nosed dolphin?
3. What other species use tools?
4. What can dolphins copy from other species?
5. Can dolphins see out of the water?
6. What does a dolphin hear through?

Transcript

Today I'm going to talk to you about dolphin intelligence and in particular their use of tools, methods of communication, sonar and also their sensory capacity.
But first let's look at how the dolphin brain compares to the brains of other species in terms of size. The largest brain in the world belongs to the sperm whale. Weighing some 9,000 grams, it is six to seven times larger than the human brain. The second largest brain in the world is the killer whale (or orca) at 6,000 grams. The next largest brain among the marine mammals is the bottlenosed dolphin at 1,500 grams, followed by human brains at approximately 1,200 grams. Strong connections between the sensorial and motive areas of a dolphin's brain to the body indicate that it is very much sensitive to pain and stress.
Looking at the way dolphin's use tools, while many believe that primates, such as chimpanzees, are the only species who use tools for activities, dolphins studied in the wild have been seen using sea sponges to protect their snouts from getting scratches as they scavenge for food on the ocean floor. Dependent calves, young baby dophins, are also provided with sponges from their mothers, as research in the wild has seen infant dolphins wearing tiny sponges on their snouts while swimming close to their mothers.
With regards to dolphin communication, dolphins utilize "signature whistles" to identify themselves to others. In other words, these whistles can be seen as representing their names. Furthermore, dolphins also mimic movements, of both humans and other animals.
Another interesting point about dolphins is of course their sonar. It has been suggested by several noted scientists that dolphins may be able to create acoustical holographic images from the interlacing of their sonic output. It is well known that dolphins can see inside the bodies of their fellow dolphins, and other animals in the water. This is because dolphin sonar evolved to pass through water and does not reflect until it hits something like bone or air sacs. Since animal bodies are more than 50% water, their sonar enables them to literally "see" inside other animals.
And finally, dolphins have fantastic sensory capacity. They have the ability to focus their eyesight due to the curvy characteristics of their lenses, thus they are able to see both in and out of water. Moreover, dolphins have little more than a small hole for hearing, as having larger ears would severely affect the creature's ability to swim. Rather, studies show that sounds are obtained through tiny bones, and then are transferred to the inner ear through the fatty material that surrounds the eardrum. Adapted from here.

1. sensory capacity
2. 1500 grams / 1500g
3. primates / chimpanzees
4. movements
5. yes
6. a small hole / small hole

Vocabulary

capacity = ability

indicate = show / point to

primate = monkey

snouts = noses (for dolphins and pigs)

scavenge = hunt / forage

infant = new born / child

mimic = copy

Recommended
More Short Answer Questions Practice
More Section 4 Practice

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The listening exercise below is based on section 4 of IELTS listening and this particular exercise focuses on short answer questions. Read through the tips below before you start to listen.