Table of Contents
BEST IELTS General Reading Test 539
IELTS GENERAL READING TEST 539 – PASSAGE – 1
IELTS GENERAL READING TEST – 539
READING PASSAGE – 1
Changing your Child’s School
There is always a time when someone needs to change their child’s school. This does not happen very often, but we have provided these guidelines to help you if this is necessary for you.
Applications for schools open on different days in each local council area – usually at the start of the autumn term of the year before your child is due to start school. Therefore, schools don’t usually have many spaces during a school year. Schools try and get full as this influences their government funding.
IELTS General Reading Test
To apply for a school mid-year, you follow the same procedure as you would normally at the beginning of the year. You begin by contacting your local education authority and get your child on the waiting list. As your child will already be at a school, the authority will want to know why a change is necessary. The most frequent explanation in this country for a child going to a new school is moving house. Your reasons for changing school will be kept confidential if you ask. We aim to let you know the outcome of your application within 10 working days after we receive your completed form and necessary paperwork, including:
– proof of address (dated within the last 3 months)
– proof of arrival into the country (if applicable).
IELTS General Reading Test
We need agreement from some schools that are their own admitting authority (such as an Academy) before we can allocate a place. As such, there could be a delay over the summer break when schools are closed.
Sometimes it is difficult to know when a place becomes available in a new school. If a place becomes available, you have to take it up within two weeks or you will risk losing it to another applicant.
In each local council area, there is the children’s bureau that can give you help and advice with the application procedure or any problems that might crop up. These offices are open from Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., but they are closed all day on Wednesdays when they catch up with administration. Things they might help you with could include:
IELTS General Reading Test
– Child care while you wait for a new place
– Lists of available schools and their contacts
– Financial assistance for your situation
– Help with special educational needs
– Criteria for schools’ admissions
All schools have admission criteria that they use to decide which children can be allocated places. Admission criteria are different for each school. For example, schools may give priority to children who have a recommendation from their former school.
IELTS General Reading Test
Changing school can be a stressful time for your child. There is the problem of settling in and making new friends and catching up with work that might be a bit different to what they were doing. Most schools have a councillor and it is important that your child gets together with him or her to help with the transition.
If you feel that you are treated unfairly at any point, you can issue a grievance to the schools’ adjudicator. He or she will consider all evidence provided before reaching an independent decision within the law.
IELTS General Reading Test
Questions 1-7
Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER from the text for each answer.
1. What does having no empty places at a school affect?
2. What is the most common reason given for changing a child’s school?
3. How quickly must an available place at a school be taken up before it might be lost?
4. Which organisation can provide help for people with the changing school process?
5. What could people ask their child’s previous school to provide that might help a school’s acceptance?
6. Who is it advised that children meet with when they go to a new school?
7. To which person can people complain if they wish?
IELTS General Reading Test
Read the text below and answer questions 8-14.
Buying a 2nd Hand / Used Car – Hints + Advice
Buying a car can be a stressful and expensive process. In order to help you, we have created these notes. Please be aware though that there is no mechanical advice here. There are different ways you can find a used car to buy: a dealer, online, a newspaper, an auction or a private person. Below is some advice about buying a car in different ways.
A. A Dealer
Buying from a dealer can be the safest way to buy a used car, but watch out for unscrupulous dealers! One way you can check a dealer’s credentials is by seeing if they follow a code of practice. Nowadays you can also visit feedback and chat websites, where you may find comments about dealers, but friends and colleagues’ suggestions is still a good way to find a good place. Check if the cars are inspected independently and ask for any inspection report. Watch out for any notices saying “as seen” or “no refunds”. A reputable dealer should offer a warranty and guarantees.
IELTS General Reading Test
B. Online
Online is probably the most simple way nowadays to buy a car. The danger of course is that you only see the pictures of the car before you buy it. It’s often a good idea therefore to choose a car not too far from where you live and arrange a meeting to see, inspect and drive it before paying.
C. A Newspaper and/or a Private Sale from an Individual
Newspapers can be an advertising channel for dealers and individuals. Be careful of dealers pretending to be individuals, so that they can avoid legal restrictions! This can be avoided by looking at the log book. This should record all the owners. It’s also important to check that you’re not buying a stolen car. Ask the seller for the registration number, make and model and MOT test number. Then use the government’s online vehicle enquiry service to check that the details you’ve been given match their records.
IELTS General Reading Test
Also, check that the vehicle’s technical check is up to date and the technical check history matches the details you’ve been given. Finally, check that the vehicle identification number and engine number match the details that are in the log book.
D. An Auction
An auction can be an exciting place to buy a car and you can often pick up a great deal. Apart from the usual things to consider when buying a car, two things are important with auctions. Firstly, go to an auction as only an observer, so you can learn what happens. Secondly, make sure you are completely happy with the car before making any bid.
IELTS General Reading Test
E. For all Purchases
Some advice is good for however or wherever you buy a car.
– Get an independent mechanical check.
– Check up on prices for the make, model and year of production you are considering.
– If you don’t know much about cars, take a friend who does to see any car you are considering.
– Whoever is selling a car, it’s illegal to sell a car that is not roadworthy.
IELTS General Reading Test
Questions 8-14
The text on the following page has five sections (A – E).
Which section (A – E) mentions the following information?
Write the correct letter (A – E)
8. This can be a good way to get a bargain.
9. Check that sellers’ car information corresponds with the publically available information on the car.
10. Make sure to try a car out prior to buying.
11. Some people try to sell a car privately when they are in fact part of a business.
12. Ask people you know for a recommendation.
13. Watch other people doing this method first.
14. Research how much the car you want should cost before buying.
IELTS General Reading Test
IELTS General Reading Test
ANSWERS
1. GOVERNMENT FUNDING
2. MOVING HOUSE
3. (WITHIN) 2/TWO WEEKS
4. THE CHILDREN’S BUREAU
5. A RECOMMENDATION
6. A COUNCILLOR
7. THE SCHOOLS’ ADJUDICATOR
8. D
9. C
10. B
11. C
12. A
13. D
14. E
IELTS General Reading Test