Table of Contents
BEST IELTS General Reading Test 276
IELTS GENERAL READING TEST – PASSAGE – 2
IELTS GENERAL READING TEST
READING PASSAGE – 2
Preparing for an interview
Congratulations! You’ve made it to the interview stage. Now is your opportunity to show that you have the skills, experience and personal attributes necessary for the job. Before the interview, do your research. Learn more about the public profile of the organisation and its products or services. You could do this through the Internet, company brochures or business publications. Talk to anyone you know who has worked for the organisation. It is advantageous to visit the workplace too.
Arrange to do this openly by making an appointment. It shows you are eager, even if the visit is not feasible. When you visit, make sure you have prepared appropriate questions and are well groomed and well dressed. You should aim to discover more about the size of the company, their products and key markets.
You should get a good idea of the dress code and what level of formality is required with regard to workplace communication and also how members of staff address one another. Above all, ascertain where the interview will take place. Predict what the interviewer might ask and prepare possible answers by reviewing the application form, the information package (if one was supplied) and the job description.
IELTS GENERAL READING TEST
Boost your self-assurance by practising mock interviews with a friend or family member. Have your physical evidence organised and ready to show the employer. He or she will want to sight original documents diplomas and certificates (with official translations), work or residence visas (if applicable) etc.
Finally, prepare a neat and tidy outfit and decide how you will get to the interview on the day. It is a good idea to make a contingency plan for unforeseen events — in any case, allow for extra time so that you are not rushed. Avoid becoming flustered at the actual interview by anticipating all sorts of eventualities. For example, you may be asked to take a test of some kind (a skills or aptitude test for instance); you may be asked to solve a hypothetical problem, take part in a group activity or confront a whole panel of interviewers instead of just one.
IELTS GENERAL READING TEST
Questions 15-20
Complete the notes below. Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the text for each answer.
Before the interview
Research:
• Find out more about the company by using (15)………………..reading published material or talking to people.
• Set up (16)…………………… to see the workplace. Present yourself well.
When you visit:
• Ask relevant questions
• Notice what employees wear and the (17)……………..they use when speaking at work
• Find out location of interview.
Prepare for the interview:
• How will you answer questions? Arrange (18)………………..to gain more confidence.
• Sort out all your (19)………………..for the employer to inspect
On the day:
• Dress neatly.
• Set off for the interview with plenty of time to spare and have a (20)…………………..in case something unexpected happens
• Stay calm — anticipate possible requests
IELTS GENERAL READING TEST
Read the text below and answer questions 21-27.
Work Emails
A Email is extensively used as a tool for communication at work. However, the number of emails office workers receive every day is overwhelming. Therefore, consider firstly whether the email you are about to write is necessary or even the best way to communicate. A telephone call or instant messaging is more appropriate for a back-and-forth dialogue, and reports of a potentially distressing nature should always be delivered in person if possible.
B A well-written subject line should be concise, ideally no more than 6-8 words (so that the entire subject line can be read on a mobile device as well as an ordinary computer screen). It should highlight the most important information. A quick glance at their inbox will be enough for the addressee to get your message — if they do not need to waste time opening the email, use EOM (End of Message) to indicate all the information is in the subject line. Example: Marketing meeting 9.00 a.m. Friday 13th EOM.
IELTS GENERAL READING TEST
C If you do need to write a message, keep it straightforward and to the point. If you must communicate several different but related items, consider using numbered paragraphs or bullet points where you can chunk information into separate, well-structured segments. A different topic is best covered in a separate email permitting the recipient to respond to one topic at a time. If you want the recipient to do something, make this clear. If you are merely informing the reader of something, use FYI (For Your Information) in the subject or as a preface to the first sentence.
D Emails are not necessarily less formal than traditional letters — they will reflect your professionalism, so be polite. They could also be printed and distributed to colleagues; therefore, avoid informal language, slang, emoticons and inappropriate abbreviations, such as LOL and others commonly used in casual text messages. Although it is good to be succinct, pay attention to your choice of words and sentence length or your intention might be misinterpreted. You could unwittingly convey a tone of annoyance by appearing terse when you are aiming to appear concise and economical.
E Begin your email with a greeting. Choose a level of formality to reflect your relationship with the reader. Intra-company or peer-to-peer communications are generally less formal than messages to outside businesses. It is also polite to finish with an appropriate closing and signature. Use your full name and title for formal emails. A first name only is sufficient for colleagues with whom you are familiar. You may also want to include contact information — this can be part of your customised automatic signature. Finally, carefully proofread your emails before you hit the ‘send’ button.
IELTS GENERAL READING TEST
Questions 21-27
The text has five paragraphs, A-E. Which paragraph mentions the following? Write the correct letter, A—E, in boxes 21-27 on your answer sheet. NB You may use any letter more than once.
21. ways to present material in small units
22. how to sign off at the end of an email
23. methods to use for topics that require a lot of discussion
24. how the writer could give the wrong impression
25. an abbreviation that tells the recipient there is no need for action
26. a time-saving tip
27. how to communicate bad news
IELTS GENERAL READING TEST
ANSWERS ARE BELOW
IELTS GENERAL READING TEST
ANSWERS
15. THE INTERNET
16. AN APPOINTMENT
17. LEVEL OF FORMAILITY
18. MOCK INTERVIEWS
19. PHYSICAL EVIDENCE/ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS
20. CONTINGENCY PLAN
21. C
22. E
23. A
24. D
25. C
26. B
27. A
IELTS GENERAL READING TEST