Reading · Unit 3: Core strategies
R35: General Training Reading: Sections 1 to 3
Target band 6.5 to 7
This lesson is for students taking IELTS General Training, usually for migration or work. GT Reading has the same 60 minutes and 40 questions as Academic, but the texts are different. They come from everyday life: notices, adverts, workplace documents and a longer general article. The texts are easier, but you need more correct answers for the same band.
Why this matters
For GT Reading, band 7 needs about 35 out of 40 (R02). That means you can only make about five mistakes. So in GT, accuracy matters even more than in Academic. Careless mistakes are very expensive.
The three sections
| Section | What you read | Typical sources |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Two or three short factual texts | Notices, adverts, timetables, short guides |
| 2 | Two short work-related texts | Job descriptions, staff rules, training information |
| 3 | One longer text on a general topic | A magazine or newspaper-style article |
The sections get harder, just like Academic. Section 3 is the closest to an Academic passage.
Section 1: Everyday texts
These are short and practical. A list of gym classes. An advert for flats. Rules for a library.
- Questions are often matching ("Which advert mentions...?") or True/False/Not Given.
- Scanning is the key skill. Look for prices, times, places and conditions.
- Watch for small conditions: only on weekdays, except students, must book in advance.
Section 2: Workplace texts
These are about jobs and work: how to apply for leave, health and safety rules, a staff training programme.
- Questions are often sentence completion or matching headings.
- The language is more formal. Words like eligible, entitled, submit, in accordance with.
- Read carefully for rules and exceptions.
Section 3: The long text
This is a longer article, often descriptive, on a general interest topic like the history of a sport or a famous invention.
- Use the same strategies as Academic: map the passage (R33), skim, scan, read carefully.
- Give it the most time. About 25 minutes.
A suggested time plan for GT
| Section | Time |
|---|---|
| Section 1 | 15 minutes |
| Section 2 | 20 minutes |
| Section 3 | 25 minutes |
A worked example (Section 1 style)
City Swimming Pool: Opening Times
Monday to Friday: 6 am to 9 pm. Weekends: 8 am to 6 pm.
Children under 8 must be with an adult at all times.
The pool is closed on public holidays.
True, False or Not Given?
- The pool opens earlier on weekdays than at weekends.
- Seven-year-olds can swim alone.
- Swimming lessons are available for adults.
Show the answers
1) TRUE. 2) FALSE. 3) NOT GIVEN.
Honest note
Many GT students think Reading will be easy because the texts are everyday. Then they lose marks to small careless mistakes, and the high conversion makes each mistake hurt. Treat every question seriously.
Your task today
If you're taking GT, do one full GT Reading test from a Cambridge General Training book. Count your careless mistakes separately.