IELTS General Reading: Student Sample & Our Feedback

This is the first section of the IELTS General Training Reading test, consisting of two texts. Questions 1–8 are based on the first text, while Questions 9–14 relate to the second text.

TEXT I

Emergency Procedures - Updated July 2011

These guidelines are applicable to all individuals within the school grounds:

• In the event of an emergency (e.g., fire), identify the nearest teacher who will promptly send a messenger to the office or alert the office via extension 99.

Evacuation Protocol

• The signal for an emergency evacuation will be a series of short bell rings. (In case of a power outage, a handheld bell or siren will be used as a substitute.)
• Classes will cease immediately. Students should leave their personal belongings, such as bags and books, behind.
• Teachers will take roll call. Everyone should exit the building using the closest staircase. If that is not available, proceed to the nearest alternate staircase. Elevators must not be used. Running is discouraged.
• Each class, under the teacher's supervision, will proceed efficiently and in an orderly fashion to the paved area next to the parking lot.
• Support staff will follow the same procedure.
• Ms. Randall, the Marshalling Supervisor, will be easily identifiable by a red cap and will be present at the gathering area with the master schedule and staff list.
• Students will assemble in the quad with their teacher. The teacher will count the students and verify attendance.
• Each teacher will send a student to the Supervisor to confirm that all students are present. Once confirmed, students will sit (unless it is raining or the ground is wet, in which case they may stand).
• The Supervisor will inform the office once all students and staff are accounted for.
• Everyone, including students, teachers, and support staff, must remain in the evacuation area until the “All Clear” signal is given. The "All Clear" will be indicated by a prolonged bell or three short siren blasts.
• Students will return to their classrooms in a calm and organized manner under the supervision of their teacher.
• In case of an emergency during breaks or lunch, students should gather in their homeroom groups in the quad and wait for their teacher.

TEXT II

Community Education Short Courses: Business

• Introduction to Business: This course provides basic knowledge to prepare for a career in accounting, covering bookkeeping and business fundamentals up to an intermediate level. Ideal for those starting from scratch. Code B/ED011
  Dates: 16th or 24th April, 9am–4pm
  Cost: $420
• Bookkeeping Essentials: This course offers a deep dive into bookkeeping with plenty of hands-on practice to ensure students gain a thorough understanding of the subject. Code B/ED020
  Date: 19th April, 9am–2.30pm (one-time session, advance registration required)
  Cost: $250
• New Business Module: Learn about company structures, tax rates, employee obligations, profit and loss accounts, GST, and tax planning. Code B/ED030
  Dates: 15th or 27th May, 6pm–9pm
  Cost: $105
• Social Media as a Marketing Strategy: This course provides an in-depth look at web technologies and how they can be leveraged for your business. Code B/ED033
  Dates: 1st, 8th, or 15th June, 6pm–9pm
  Cost: $95
• Public Speaking: Overcome the fear of public speaking and gain the confidence to address large groups. This course will give you practical speaking experience and boost your communication abilities. Code B/ED401
  Dates: 12th, 13th, or 14th July, 6pm–9pm
  Cost: $90

Questions

1. Choose no more than three words from the text: In case of an emergency, a teacher will either call the office or ___________.
2. Choose no more than three words from the text: The signal for an evacuation will typically be a series of ___________.
3. Choose no more than three words from the text: If possible, students should exit the building through the ___________.
4. Choose no more than three words from the text: They will then proceed promptly to the ___________.
5. Choose no more than three words from the text: ___________ will be present with the teachers and students in the quad.
6. Choose no more than three words from the text: Each teacher will count their students and confirm ___________.
7. Choose no more than three words from the text: After the ___________, everyone can return to their classrooms.
8. Choose no more than three words from the text: In the event of an emergency during lunchtime, students should assemble in the quad in ___________ and wait for their instructor.
9. For the following True/False/Not Given questions, please respond with T for True, F for False, or N for Not Given: Business Basics is suitable for novices.
10. For the following True/False/Not Given questions, please respond with T for True, F for False, or N for Not Given: Bookkeeping does not involve hands-on experience.
11. For the following True/False/Not Given questions, please respond with T for True, F for False, or N for Not Given: Bookkeeping is meant specifically for experienced students only.
12. For the following True/False/Not Given questions, please respond with T for True, F for False, or N for Not Given: The New Business Module can assist in improving your business’s profitability.
13. For the following True/False/Not Given questions, please respond with T for True, F for False, or N for Not Given: Social Media focuses on a particular platform to aid business success.
14. For the following True/False/Not Given questions, please respond with T for True, F for False, or N for Not Given: The Communication course involves speaking in front of a crowd.

STUDENTS ANSWERS:

send a message
bell rings
closest bags
paved area next
Marshalling Supervisor
attendance
All Clear
business groups
f
t
t
f
f
t

Band Score Feedback

Your Band Score: 4

Supplementary Feedback via Our Tool

Correct Responses:

• Question 1 (send a message): The student correctly identified that a teacher will either call the office or "send a messenger." Well done.
• Question 2 (bell rings): The student correctly identified the signal for evacuation as a "series of bell rings." Correct.
• Question 6 (attendance): The student correctly identified that each teacher will count their students and verify "attendance." Well done.
• Question 7 (All Clear): The student correctly identified that "All Clear" will be given after the prolonged bell or three short siren blasts. Correct.
• Question 9 (F): Correct! The "Business Basics" course is suitable for beginners, so the statement is False.
• Question 10 (T): Correct! The course on bookkeeping does involve hands-on experience, so this statement is True.
• Question 12 (T): Correct! The Public Speaking course indeed focuses on speaking in front of a crowd, so this statement is True.

Incorrect Responses:

• Question 3 (closest bags): The student incorrectly selected "closest bags" instead of "closest staircase." This was a critical misunderstanding. The correct response is "closest staircase," as students should exit through the nearest staircase, not collect their belongings.
• Improvement Suggestion: Focus on understanding specific instructions in the text. In emergency procedures, specific safety protocols (like evacuation routes) are emphasized, and it's essential not to confuse additional instructions (such as leaving belongings behind).
• Question 4 (paved area next): The student correctly identified that students proceed to the "paved area next," but this was not the precise location mentioned in the text. The full response should mention "the paved area next to the parking lot," as it specifies where the students will gather after evacuation.
• Improvement Suggestion: Pay attention to the full details provided in the text. In this case, the exact location is mentioned for clarity. Practice extracting specific details from the text to avoid vague answers.
• Question 5 (Marshalling Supervisor): The student correctly identified "Marshalling Supervisor," but missed the critical detail that it should be Ms. Randall. She is the specific person mentioned, and such details are crucial in this type of reading.
• Improvement Suggestion: Be careful with names and titles mentioned in the text. They are important for accuracy, especially in tasks where you are asked to identify specific roles or individuals.
• Question 8 (business groups): The student selected "business groups," but the correct response is "homeroom groups". This misreading could have been due to confusion between the types of groups mentioned in both texts.
• Improvement Suggestion: Pay close attention to context and specific phrases in the reading. In this case, the term "business groups" was mentioned in the second text, but the context of the first text clearly refers to students assembling in their homeroom groups.
• Question 11 (F): The student incorrectly answered "True" for the "New Business Module" helping improve profitability. This is not explicitly stated in the text, so the correct answer is Not Given, not False. The text does not directly claim that the course would help profitability.
• Improvement Suggestion: For "True/False/Not Given" questions, be cautious about making assumptions. If the text does not explicitly provide the answer, choose "Not Given" rather than making an assumption.
• Question 13 (F): The student answered "False," but the correct answer is "Not Given." The text mentions social media marketing but does not specify a focus on a particular platform, so it is not clearly stated.
• Improvement Suggestion: In reading tasks with ambiguous answers, avoid assuming details not directly stated in the text. If the information is not clear or specified, choose "Not Given."

General Feedback and Suggestions:

• Attention to Detail: Focus on capturing precise details from the text. For instance, in questions that ask about locations or names, it's crucial to not miss specifics, such as "Ms. Randall" or "the parking lot." Small details matter greatly in these types of questions.
• Context Awareness: Be mindful of the context in which specific phrases are used. In some cases, the same term can appear in different contexts (e.g., "business groups" in the second text versus "homeroom groups" in the first), and context will guide your answer.
• True/False/Not Given Strategy: When answering True/False/Not Given questions, read carefully for explicit statements. If the text does not provide the exact answer or clearly support the statement, opt for "Not Given."
• Practice with Synonyms and Paraphrasing: Sometimes, the wording in the questions will differ slightly from the wording in the text. Practice identifying synonyms and paraphrases, as this will help you avoid misinterpretations.
• Skimming and Scanning: Speed and accuracy in reading are key. Try to practice skimming for overall understanding and scanning for specific details. This will help you manage time better during the actual exam.

By focusing on these areas, you can improve your ability to identify important details, avoid assumptions, and enhance your overall reading comprehension skills.

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