General Training Reading 2026-01 Test 3

General Training

Exam month: 2026-01

Rebuilt from test-taker recalls — not official IELTS material. Audio and passages are recreations for practice.

Reading Passage 1 — Why not visit Wales and go to a festival

A. Winter Food and Craft Festival
Our ever-popular Winter Food and Craft Festival is back! This year it's going to be bigger and better than ever. The event will host a variety of stalls, selling items ranging from fashion and personal ornaments, including beautiful necklaces or earrings, to handmade gifts. There will also be a large seating area where visitors can enjoy some of the hot and cold ready-to-eat delights on offer.
B. Other Voices
On 1st and 2nd November, Other Voices makes its way from its home in Dingle on the west coast of Ireland to the town of Cardigan on the west coast of Wales, for a phenomenal weekend which celebrates the longstanding cultural and musical ties between these regions. Over the weekend we will showcase a line-up of over 30 free musical and cultural events, featuring incredible vocal performances.
C. Festival of Senses
Festival of Senses is an annual free festival in the West Wales town of Llandeilo. It offers craft and fashion stalls, food stalls and more. The Country Market will be open all day on Friday and Saturday. Do visit us for light snacks and to view our wide range of goods, all produced in the area by our cooks, crafters and growers.
D. Craft Festival Cardiff
Craft Festival Cardiff (formerly Made by Hand Cardiff) moved to City Hall, Cardiff in 2014. There is a range of bookable workshops for all ages. Our workshops are very popular and most sell out quickly. To book you must be over 16 years of age. We also have a range of free workshops for children between the ages of 2 and 18.
E. Sparks in the Park
Our annual event enables up to 20,000 people to view one of the UK's largest firework displays, accompanied by live presenters from HeartFM radio, a full fun-fair, food and drinks stalls and a carnival atmosphere. Two displays will be taking place again this year: a children's firework display from 6 pm and Wales's largest firework display from 7 pm onwards. All funds raised will be distributed to organisations that help people in need.

Questions 1–7: Matching events to statements

Look at the five advertisements for entertainment events in Wales, A–E. For which event are the following statements true? Write the correct letter, A–E. NB You may use any letter more than once.

  1. 1

    This event used to be known by a different name.

  2. 2

    At the end of this event any profits are handed over to charities.

  3. 3

    People can buy refreshments here that have all been made locally.

  4. 4

    This event has increased in size since it was last held.

  5. 5

    It is advisable to reserve places for certain activities at this event.

  6. 6

    This event also takes place in another country.

  7. 7

    People can listen to a range of singers here without paying.

Reading Passage 2 — FROG VALLEY DEVELOPMENT

Creating a better area to meet the needs of the local community
The proposal to develop the part of our city known as Frog Valley has now been passed to the local council for consideration and approval. In case you missed earlier newspaper reports, here briefly are some of the changes and improvements that are being planned for the site.
An area of land in the south-east corner of Frog Valley has been allocated to the construction of a new primary school which, if building does go ahead, will accommodate 300 children. The size and location of the school mean that admission will not be limited to families who live in the area.
Another feature that will bring people together will be the new shopping mall. Plans are to move all the existing local shops, which are currently located in small groups around the site, into one shopping zone, and this will see the addition of an organic farm shop and a vegan store.
A community centre will be central to the development of the site. It will provide a much needed meeting place for clubs and societies that, until now, have had to meet wherever they can find a venue. The pride of the center will be a gym complex with swimming pool - something younger residents have been requesting for some time but that has never been possible, due to cost.
For many years now, local businesspeople have been asking for better business premises, and this is now a priority for Frog Valley. Twenty thousand square metres of space will be used to house anything from small startups to large existing local businesses. It will be built to the south-east of the site, with dedicated car parking for office workers, either within each office area or in a single car park.
At our public consultation meeting, some residents asked if it would be possible to include services such as dentistry and various types of medical testing facilities within the health center. This would mean adding to the existing building and there are no plans to do this at present. However, it will be possible to see a doctor at weekends and in the evenings, which is a welcome development.

Questions 8–14: TRUE/FALSE/NOT GIVEN

Do the following statements agree with the information given in the text? TRUE - if the statement is true; FALSE - if the statement is false; NOT GIVEN - if the information is not given in the text.

  1. 8

    The new school will take in children from outside Frog Valley.

  2. 9

    There will be an increase in the number of shops.

  3. 10

    The community centre will replace an existing social club building.

  4. 11

    The office space will accommodate businesses of different sizes.

  5. 12

    The business car parking area will be underground.

  6. 13

    The health centre will offer a wide range of new services.

  7. 14

    At present, there are too few doctors at the health centre.

Reading Passage 3 — THE ABC'S OF CV WRITING

Your Curriculum Vitae (CV) is one of the most important documents you will ever write. This summary of your academic and work history is an essential tool in your job search and is commonly the first form of contact with a potential employer.
With so many people in the job market, it is your responsibility to 'sell' yourself, so before you put pen to paper, it is worthwhile taking time to carefully think about your approach. To assist you in this process, we have listed the most common advice for preparing your CV below:
A. Your main goal is to demonstrate a match between your accomplishments and the position you are applying for. The job description will outline the qualifications and requisites for the position, so read it carefully.
B. Update your CV each time you apply for a job, specifically tailoring it to each position.
C. If you are applying for a position in another country, present your academic and work achievements in terms that your future employer will understand and demonstrate your familiarity with the culture and business practices, where possible.
D. The format of your CV is always important. A clear, concise presentation will make your application stand out and be easier to read. A summary on page one, outlining your key strengths, will draw attention to your best features. The use of bullet points in the formatting can not only contribute to brevity but also increase the impact of your CV.
E. Never send out a CV without a covering letter highlighting the areas of your CV that particularly relate to the job being advertised.
F. In their enthusiasm for a particular position, some people may be tempted to exaggerate on their CVs. Employers are aware of this tendency and will check any claims you make concerning your experience, qualifications, or remuneration levels. It pays to be truthful. If you are caught lying, your application will not be considered.
G. Grammatical and spelling errors are unacceptable in a CV. However, they are one of the most common problems. Your CV must have no mistakes and be attractively presented. A good strategy is to ask someone to check it for you before it is submitted to make sure it is error-free.
H. If you have difficulty writing your CV and feel that it will detract from your job application, there are professional services that will assist you for a reasonable fee.

Questions 15–20: Note completion

Complete the notes below. Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS for each answer.

15. A CV is usually the initial _________ made with a future boss.
16. Writing a CV requires a well-considered _________
17. All _________ must show a relationship with the desired position.
18. The requirements of a position are explained in the _________
19. In addition to a CV, applications must also include a _________
20. If CV writing is too challenging, consider help from _________

Reading Passage 4 — Waiting at JAKARTA Mahal

When you finally hear the words 'Congratulations, you've been hired!' from the supervisor of the famous Jakarta Mahal Indian Restaurant, you might wonder 'Now what do I do?'
On your first day, you will be assigned to an experienced employee who will act as your adviser for the first week. Your mentor will also take you on a tour of the restaurant to familiarise you with the layout. Once you know where everything is and have met the staff, you will be advised of the daily routine. An important key to success is to memorise this and faithfully adhere to it.
Upon arrival at the restaurant, change into your uniform – ensure it is ironed and stain-free. Depending on the time of the day, you may be required to lay the tables and stock the service areas with supplies of coffee, tea, clean tableware and linen. Once those tasks are complete, familiarise yourself with the menu and any alterations made since you were last on duty. Pay particular attention to the daily specials and check the drinks menu and wine list. It may be necessary to consult with the head waiter about the dishes on offer so you can answer queries, which could include describing cooking methods and ingredients.
Be on hand to greet the patrons, answer their questions, and escort them to their table. When everyone is seated and has a menu, take their drink orders and inform them of the specials of the day. Be prepared to make recommendations if requested to do so. Take the meal orders when the guests indicate they are ready and check to see if additional beverages are needed. When the meals are ready they should be served quickly and efficiently.
A hallmark of an excellent waiter is table maintenance. During the meal ensure that empty glasses, dirty dishes and unused cutlery are removed. Also, be alert for anyone looking around in need of assistance.
Be sure to check the bill before presenting it to the guests, making sure it is itemised and that the total and sales tax is correct. After you have collected payment and taken leave of your patrons, it is time to reset the table and begin again.

Questions 21–27: Flow-chart completion

Complete the flow-chart below. Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the text for each answer.

DAILY ACTIVITIES AT JAKARTA MAHAL
21. Waiters must put on a clean _________
22. Become aware of any changes to _________
23. Prepare for questions about the menu by talking to the _________
24. Tell guests about specials after they have been _________
25. Once meal orders have been taken, inquire about _________
26. Write all sales tax on _________
27. After guests have left, _________

Reading Passage 5 — Benefits for children working with Archaeologists

A. A group of excited children are instructing community archaeologist Colin Shepherd when to drop a china mug on the floor so that they can see how it breaks on impact. They will use the results of this experiment to better understand an archaeological find: the broken pieces of an old marmalade jar, last used for breakfast around 100 years ago. The children had recently excavated the jar from woodland as part of an archaeological investigation.
B. When schoolchildren are invited to visit archaeological excavations, they rarely have much specific knowledge about the site's history. They are normally given straightforward tasks like washing and sorting finds, which refers to any discoveries that are of archaeological interest. What is less common is to find primary school pupils working as partners with an archaeologist. Our project lets primary school children take a joint role in an archaeological investigation, working actively alongside an expert in the field.
C. The children's archaeological investigations were part of a larger project initiated by a community group which works to study and preserve the landscape of the Bennachie hills region in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. The main project was developed with a team from the University of Aberdeen and funded by a Community Heritage Fund and the National Lottery. It focused on the history and archaeology of an abandoned mid-19th-century settlement located on common ground on the lower slopes of the Bennachie hills. Colin Shepherd set up two additional archaeological projects with local primary school children and their teachers. Each project investigated the history of the place in which the pupils lived and go to school.
D. At one of the schools, the excavation took place in woodland where pupils usually take part in outdoor learning. Before the archaeology project began, the children viewed the woodland as existing only in the present. Through their work, they became aware of its history and the people who lived and worked on the land near their school in the past. Taking on the role of historians and working with primary source materials, such as maps, census returns and tax payments, the children were able to develop their own lines of enquiry. Their research suggested that there had been a water mill in the area, so the excavations set out to find it. The children, working with the community archaeologist, found evidence for this. They also discovered the remains of a 19th- or 20th-century midden, or rubbish dump, containing many pieces of broken pottery.
E. My role as a teacher educator specialising in history education was to work alongside pupils and staff to create an exhibition for their families and the general public. Following a visit to the university to see the museum there, the children produced a timeline of everything they had found to show the period in history to which each item belonged. They went on to invent a 'guess the object' game to engage visitors in their discoveries. The children were given the use of the museum's replica of a 17th-century collection cabinet for their exhibition. During the identification of the pottery pieces, one was identified as coming from the distinctive Seaton Workshop in Aberdeen, so a complete example was borrowed from the museum and included in the cabinet alongside it. Because it used a high-quality display cabinet, the children's exhibition gained a similar status to that of a real museum for the parents and community members who came to see it.
F. The project meant the children could lead their own historical investigations and expand their understanding of the places in which they live and the heritage of their families and community. This is a key principle in the Social Studies section of Scotland's Curriculum for Excellence, the national framework for learning for children between the ages of three and 18. Not only did the children learn the history of the place, they learned to understand the process of creating historical knowledge. Through their museum visit, they learned how to select items for display and to think about how to talk to other people about the history they had created.
G. Setting up the exhibition and showing it to people aided conversations between children and the community. One of the children discovered that their great-grandfather had once owned the Seaton workshop, so a grandmother of another child recounted her memories of making oatmeal porridge in a small bowl decorated with the same floral design as a pottery piece on display. The archaeological investigations carried out by the children created a real-life context for them to play an active part in learning — educating not just themselves but their community too.

Questions 28–32: Paragraph matching

The text has 7 paragraphs. Which paragraph contains the following information? Write the correct letter, A–G.

  1. 28

    how unusual it is for archaeologists and children to have equal responsibilities

  2. 29

    the relevance of the children's achievements to country's educational requirements

  3. 30

    the location of the archaeologists' main project

  4. 31

    a place where a large amount of archaeological material was found

  5. 32

    a relative's connection to a local business

Questions 33–36: Multiple choice

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

  1. 33

    The experiment described in paragraph A is designed to show

    • A. why objects break up when they are left in woodland.
    • B. how modern objects differ from those made in the past.
    • C. what happens to a breakable object when it hits the ground.
    • D. how long it takes to put a broken object back together again.
  2. 34

    In paragraph B, what does the writer say most schoolchildren do when they visit archaeological sites?

    • A. They meet with experts at the site.
    • B. They talk to people living near the site.
    • C. They are given information about the site.
    • D. They engage in simple activities at the site.
  3. 35

    The water mill is an example of something that the children

    • A. had read about in history lessons.
    • B. discovered using written documents.
    • C. had heard about from local people.
    • D. remembered from previous activities.
  4. 36

    What does the writer say about one child's grandmother?

    • A. She recognised the pattern on some pottery.
    • B. She showed the children how to decorate pottery.
    • C. She regularly cooked using a pot that was very old.
    • D. She offered the children an old pot that she had kept.

Questions 37–40: Summary completion

Complete the summary below. Choose ONE WORD ONLY for each answer.

The children's exhibition
The writer helped the children to exhibit what they had found. First the children went to look at the exhibits on display at the 37 _________ museum. After that, they placed their discoveries on a timeline to show the age of the objects. Then they created a 38 _________ for visitors to test their knowledge of the items. The children were allowed to use a cabinet that belonged to the museum to display all the things they had found. One piece of pottery was recognised as being made at a particular 39 _________. It was placed next to an unbroken example of the pottery. The quality of the display area raised the 40 _________ of the children's exhibition for everyone who went to see it.

Answer sheet

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Answer key

  1. 1. D

    D is correct because it says 'Craft Festival Cardiff (formerly Made by Hand Cardiff)', showing it used to have a different name.

  2. 2. E

    E is correct as it states 'All funds raised will be distributed to organisations that help people in need', meaning profits go to charities.

  3. 3. C

    C is correct because it says the goods at the Country Market are 'all produced in the area by our cooks, crafters and growers', so refreshments are made locally.

  4. 4. A

    A is correct since it says 'this year it's going to be bigger and better than ever', which means the event has grown.

  5. 5. D

    D is correct as it mentions 'Our workshops are very popular and most sell out quickly. To book you must be over 16 years of age', so it is advisable to reserve places. The tempting wrong answer A fails because it does not mention booking activities.

  6. 6. B

    B is correct because it says 'Other Voices makes its way from its home in Dingle on the west coast of Ireland to the town of Cardigan', showing it also takes place in another country.

  7. 7. B

    B is correct as it mentions 'a line-up of over 30 free musical and cultural events, featuring incredible vocal performances', so people can listen to singers for free.

  8. 8. TRUE

    TRUE is correct because the passage says 'admission will not be limited to families who live in the area', so children from outside Frog Valley can attend.

  9. 9. TRUE

    TRUE is correct since the passage says the new shopping mall will add 'an organic farm shop and a vegan store', so there will be more shops.

  10. 10. FALSE

    FALSE is correct because the passage says the community centre 'will be central to the development of the site', not that it replaces an existing building.

  11. 11. TRUE

    TRUE is correct as it says the office space will house 'anything from small startups to large existing local businesses', so it will accommodate different sizes.

  12. 12. NOT GIVEN

    NOT GIVEN is correct because the passage only says there will be 'dedicated car parking', but does not mention if it is underground.

  13. 13. FALSE

    FALSE is correct since the passage says 'there are no plans to do this at present' about adding new services, so there won't be a wide range of new services.

  14. 14. NOT GIVEN

    NOT GIVEN is correct because the passage does not mention the number of doctors at the health centre.

  15. 15. contact

    'contact' is correct because the passage says a CV 'is commonly the first form of contact with a potential employer.'

  16. 16. approach

    'approach' is correct as the passage says 'it is worthwhile taking time to carefully think about your approach.'

  17. 17. accomplishments

    'accomplishments' is correct because it says 'Your main goal is to demonstrate a match between your accomplishments and the position you are applying for.'

  18. 18. job description

    'job description' is correct since the passage says 'The job description will outline the qualifications and requisites for the position.'

  19. 19. covering letter

    'covering letter' is correct as it says 'Never send out a CV without a covering letter highlighting the areas of your CV that particularly relate to the job.'

  20. 20. professional services

    'professional services' is correct because the passage says 'there are professional services that will assist you for a reasonable fee.'

  21. 21. uniform

    'uniform' is correct as it says 'change into your uniform – ensure it is ironed and stain-free.'

  22. 22. the menu

    'the menu' is correct because it says 'familiarise yourself with the menu and any alterations made since you were last on duty.'

  23. 23. head waiter

    'head waiter' is correct since it says 'consult with the head waiter about the dishes on offer so you can answer queries.'

  24. 24. seated

    'seated' is correct as it says 'When everyone is seated and has a menu, take their drink orders and inform them of the specials of the day.'

  25. 25. additional beverages

    'additional beverages' is correct because it says 'check to see if additional beverages are needed' after taking meal orders.

  26. 26. the bill

    'the bill' is correct since it says 'check the bill before presenting it to the guests, making sure it is itemised and that the total and sales tax is correct.'

  27. 27. begin again

    'begin again' is correct as it says 'After you have collected payment and taken leave of your patrons, it is time to reset the table and begin again.'

  28. 28. B

    B is correct because it says 'What is less common is to find primary school pupils working as partners with an archaeologist', showing it is unusual for children and archaeologists to have equal roles.

  29. 29. F

    F is correct as it says 'This is a key principle in the Social Studies section of Scotland's Curriculum for Excellence', showing the children's achievements match educational requirements.

  30. 30. C

    C is correct because it says the main project focused on 'the history and archaeology of an abandoned mid-19th-century settlement located on common ground on the lower slopes of the Bennachie hills.'

  31. 31. D

    D is correct as it says the children 'discovered the remains of a 19th- or 20th-century midden, or rubbish dump, containing many pieces of broken pottery', which is a large amount of material.

  32. 32. G

    G is correct because it says 'one of the children discovered that their great-grandfather had once owned the Seaton workshop', showing a family connection to a local business.

  33. 33. C

    C is correct as the experiment is to 'see how it breaks on impact', so it is about what happens when a breakable object hits the ground. The tempting wrong answer A fails because it is not about why objects break in woodland, but about the act of breaking.

  34. 34. D

    D is correct because it says children are 'normally given straightforward tasks like washing and sorting finds', which are simple activities. The tempting wrong answer C fails because the passage does not say they are given information about the site.

  35. 35. B

    B is correct as it says 'Their research suggested that there had been a water mill in the area, so the excavations set out to find it', showing they discovered it using written documents.

  36. 36. A

    A is correct because it says a grandmother 'recounted her memories of making oatmeal porridge in a small bowl decorated with the same floral design as a pottery piece on display', so she recognised the pattern.

  37. 37. university

    'university' is correct as it says 'Following a visit to the university to see the museum there, the children produced a timeline...'

  38. 38. game

    'game' is correct because it says 'They went on to invent a 'guess the object' game to engage visitors in their discoveries.'

  39. 39. workshop

    'workshop' is correct as it says 'one was identified as coming from the distinctive Seaton Workshop in Aberdeen.'

  40. 40. status

    'status' is correct because it says 'the children's exhibition gained a similar status to that of a real museum for the parents and community members who came to see it.'

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