Table of Contents
BEST IELTS General Reading Test 474
IELTS GENERAL READING TEST 474 – PASSAGE – 3
IELTS GENERAL READING TEST – 474
READING PASSAGE – 3
Futures in Psychology
People who choose to study psychology have a variety of choices when it comes to long-term careers. A bachelor’s degree in psychology can provide a good foundation for a range of different professions. Statistics show that many students who graduate with a bachelor’s degree in the subject have no intention of actually becoming psychologists.
Professionals who hold a PhD in psychology have far more options open to them than graduates with a bachelor’s or a master’s degree. In fact, completing doctoral level training is often a requirement in order to be officially recognized as a ‘psychologist.’ Higher salaries and improved career prospects are also an incentive.
IELTS General Reading Test
In general, anyone wishing to continue a career in psychology at a 4-year institution of higher education must earn a doctoral degree in psychology. In most areas of psychology, this translates into earning a PhD in a relevant area of psychology, such as family counseling or trauma. Some PhD candidates choose applied psychology whereas others opt to focus on research. Depending on the amount of training received, or the desired specialty of a candidate, an individual could be anything from a biological psychologist to a clinical psychologist in an academic setting.
The term ‘PhD’ refers to a doctor of philosophy degree, but ‘philosophy’ is a broad term. In this case, ‘philosophy’ refers to diverse disciplinary perspectives that would be grouped together in a traditional college of liberal arts and sciences.
IELTS General Reading Test
Although the requirements to earn a PhD vary depending on the country, individuals obtaining this degree can expect to complete a dissertation, which is a thorough research paper describing experiments or studies done as part of the doctoral training of a candidate. In order for the degree to be conferred, a dissertation usually must be defended before a committee of expert reviewers. However, this requirement varies depending on the country.
Once someone earns a PhD, the individual can begin seeking out a faculty appointment at a college or university. This usually involves multi-tasking duties and splitting time between teaching, research, and service to the institution and profession. This is one reason why professors relocate to different institutions in a short amount of time; they must find the best personal fit among the various academic environments that are available to them.
IELTS General Reading Test
Often times, schools offer more courses in psychology than their full-time faculty can handle. In these cases, it is not uncommon to find adjunct faculty members or instructors who take on teaching various courses. Although adjunct faculty members have the necessary training to teach in the university setting, they often hold primary careers outside of the academic setting and utilize their teaching experiences as secondary careers. Although rare, these faculty members may not hold the doctoral degree required by most accredited 4-year institutions and use these opportunities to gain useful experience in teaching.
As many 2-year colleges are coming to fruition, many of them are in need of faculty to teach their psychology courses. Although a qualification at this level will not lead directly to employment in the field, it can provide a solid foundation in the subject and a stepping stone to more advanced studies. These types of colleges are often in need of faculty to teach their psychology courses. In general, many of the people who pursue careers at these institutions hold at least a master’s degree in psychology, although some PhDs choose to develop careers at these institutions as well.
IELTS General Reading Test
Recent PhD graduates may also choose to start an independent career, establishing an office and offering therapy sessions to the public. Usually, these individuals completed job shadowing or internships with an experienced psychologist during their academic career, efficiently preparing them for best practices when choosing to work in this setting. Although this option is very appealing to many newly qualified psychologists, some find it difficult to manage the business side of the practice. While they may have all the skills required to be a good clinician, they may lack the necessary financial and marketing acumen.
It is not uncommon for individuals who have just earned their PhD to enroll in postdoctoral training programs. These programs assist candidates in obtaining experience before going on to serve as faculty at the given institution. Those interested in scientific psychology will usually complete a few postdoctoral programs, allowing them to develop research programs and broaden their research skills under the helpful supervision of other professors in the psychology field.
IELTS General Reading Test
In terms of what the future holds, it is widely predicted that the demand for psychological services in schools, hospitals and health centers will increase dramatically in the next ten years. Industrial-organizational psychologists, who focus on behavior in the workplace, are expected to be particularly sought after. In addition, aging populations in many parts of the world will require the services of psychologists specifically trained to help people face the mental and physical challenges associated with growing older.
Questions 28-36
Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.
28. Psychologists who hold a PhD
A. must work in a 4-year institution of higher education.
B. have most likely studied a specific area of psychology.
C. are automatically qualified to teach in a 4-year institution.
D. usually do not pursue careers in academia.
29. The term ‘philosophy’
A. refers to a set of principles and studies taught to candidates.
B. differentiates the level of the PhD obtained by Psychology candidates.
C. is only used for candidates studying in liberal arts colleges.
D. refers to the specific details of a doctor of philosophy degree.
IELTS General Reading Test
30. When earning a PhD, a dissertation is
A. an optional requirement
B. always defended before a committee of experts in the field.
C. a complete description of various experiments relating to the training a candidate has completed
D. required during job interviews in 4-year institutions
31. The requirements for completing a PhD
A. usually depend on the country in which the degree is attained.
B. are different in each institution.
C. rely mostly on oral, project-based learning.
D. do not overlap with the doctoral training of a candidate.
IELTS General Reading Test
32. Candidates who apply for work as full-time faculty at the university level
A. can expect to be hired while obtaining a PhD.
B. can expect to devote all of their time on a given task, such as teaching or researching.
C. can expect to be involved in various responsibilities and activities.
D. can expect to have other careers outside of education.
33. Those who hold a PhD and teach in higher education
A. end up pursuing other degrees as their careers progress.
B. are more likely to obtain a career outside of education.
C. train adjunct professors in their spare time.
D. could move to different institutions with opportunities.
IELTS General Reading Test
34. Adjunct faculty members are usually hired
A. to serve as mentors to graduate students
B. to offset the burden of extra courses on full-time faculty
C. to bridge the gap between doctoral research and full-time teaching.
D. to complete the necessary training and accreditation for a PhD
35. The increase of 2-year colleges
A. provides more career opportunities for potential Psychology faculty.
B. only increases opportunities for candidates who hold PhDs in Psychology.
C. only increases opportunities for candidates who have Master Degrees in Psychology.
D. provides competition in terms of enrollment in 4-year institutions.
IELTS General Reading Test
36. Individuals who choose to follow a self-governing career path
A. have usually had a PhD for a few years.
B. were likely not accepted to work in higher education.
C. most likely completed on-the-job training with a professional.
D. are usually not fully prepared for the challenge.
Questions 37-40
Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer.
(37)………………. programs are popular for candidates who want more experience before committing as a professor in higher education. Additionally, candidates whom are keen on (38)………………. will take a few of these programs. A candidate in this type of program can expect to expand his or her (39)……………….. As extra assistance, individuals in these programs usually get helpful (40)………………. by professors in the field when crafting independent research programs.
IELTS General Reading Test
IELTS General Reading Test
ANSWERS
28. B
29. A
30. C
31. A
32. C
33. D
34. B
35. A
36. C
37. POSTDOCTORAL TRAINING
38. SCIENTIFIC PSYCHOLOGY
39. RESEARCH SKILLS
40. SUPERVISION
IELTS General Reading Test