Table of Contents
BEST IELTS General Reading Test 544
IELTS GENERAL READING TEST 544 – PASSAGE – 1

IELTS GENERAL READING TEST – 544
READING PASSAGE – 1
Schools Fair
Next month, on Saturday 15th May and Sunday 16th May, the annual Town Schools Fair will take place. Whether you have a child of primary or secondary school age or whether you live in the area or are thinking of moving here, you’ll find everything you need to know about the schools in our area.
Government primary schools are often called public primary schools and they are all co-educational. At primary schools, children start with four terms of pre-school. When they’re ready, they join the regular year groups and go through to year 7. Children attending public schools usually attend a school near their home. Parents can send their children to another school if the school is not under enrolment pressure and has vacancies available to accommodate the request. Some primary schools need to restrict the number of students they can take, so this means giving priority to children living in a particular area.
IELTS General Reading Test
Parents should contact primary schools directly for any enrolment criteria. For high schools, parents can register their interest in their child attending a public high school of their choice during the transition process. This generally runs from April to May of the year prior to your child starting high school. All public primary school students will have the correct forms and information distributed to them by their primary school.
As well as having stations for every primary and high school, the fair will have various other stations and presentations of interest. First of all, just after the opening of the fair, there is a presentation about choosing the right school for your child. There are many factors to consider when choosing a school, and what may be a great school for your neighbour’s child may not be the best fit for yours. Gain insider information on how to assess your child’s learning style against your family’s ‘wants’ and ‘needs, and get advice on where to start, research tips and must-ask questions.
IELTS General Reading Test
Another useful presentation will be on the choice between a single sex school and a coed school. This choice really depends on your child and how well you feel he or she will fit in to the school that you are considering. There’s a widespread belief that single sex schools help to defy gender preconceptions and labels and broaden the aspirations of both girls and boys. Single sex schools enable girls and boys to feel free to learn and discover any subject, with girls pursuing interests in male-dominated subjects, such as maths and science, and boys exploring music and the arts. This presentation explores some of these issues.
The final presentation is on trends in education. There are a number of reasons to acquaint yourself with the key issues in education. Firstly, you’ll be able to better decipher what is being talked about by both schools and the media. Secondly, you’ll be able to identify the reasons your child struggles or thrives under different systems and methods. Thirdly, you’ll be better able to find the right fit for your child. The schools in our town offer a wide array of pedagogies; understanding them is a necessary step to capitalising on this wide selection. Finally, you’ll be able to ask intelligent and probing questions on your school visits, making them a lot more productive.
IELTS General Reading Test
Just as every student has unique needs, every school has unique strengths. We hope that at our town’s Schools Fair you’ll find the time to speak with a variety of schools to find out which one will be the most suitable for your child. Equally, we hope you’ll be able to attend the presentations, so that you’ll be more informed about the issues that affect your choice of the right school. The town Schools Fair is free, but, as the fair is always phenomenally well-attended, pre-registration is mandatory. Apply on our website for tickets and they will be sent to you within 3 working days.
Questions 1-7
Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the text for each answer.
The Schools’ Fair – Saturday 15th May and Sunday 16th May
Primary and High Schools
– Government public primary schools are for children from (1)…………… year 7.
– Children usually attend a local school, but if there is no (2)…………… , children can attend other schools.
– Because of numbers restrictions, some schools grant (3)…………… to local families.
– Primary schools should be approached directly.
– When the (4)…………… procedure starts, parents should register with high schools.
IELTS General Reading Test
The Right School
– This presentation addresses many school issues and how your child’s needs can fit what schools offer.
Single Sex v. Coed
– Although this depends on your child, single sex schools can challenge stereotypes and develop the (5)…………… of both genders.
– Girls and boys are able to follow their interests more easily.
IELTS General Reading Test
Education Trends
You can:
– learn about education jargon.
– understand the effects of different systems and methods on your child.
– understand how the differing schools’ (6)…………… may be suitable for your child.
You can also ask questions that are important to you.
Book early as it’s popular and (7)…………… is required!
IELTS General Reading Test
Read the text below and answer questions 8-11.
The Technology Training Program
Technology is advancing at a rapid pace, and we rely more and more on computers for everything from cooking to organising our taxes. An understanding of computer basics is invaluable, and we provide the necessary courses to help you get started. The Technology Training Program offers information technology courses and seminars that enable users to make efficient and effective use of computers, networks, and information systems. The training program is open to any residents of the town and most courses are free of charge. The program includes classroom courses and classroom seminars. Online courses are not available.
Students must apply via the website and they will be sent an email confirmation within one working day. Applications can still be submitted any time after the courses are announced or actually begun, as there are often spaces remaining. Students will be accepted as long as there is space in the class. Any applicant who cannot be accepted because a course is filled or who applies for a course after it has taken place will be placed on a waiting list.
IELTS General Reading Test
If you are on the waiting list but don’t get onto the course you wanted, you will be notified when the next session of the course is added to the schedule. Students should make certain that they meet the pre-requisites given in the “Who Should Attend” section of each course.
All the courses that are available in the Technology Training Program are described on our website. Just click on the “Our Courses” icon at the top right of the page and browse. All relevant information is given here, but if you do have a question, go to the “Contact Us” section of the website and we’ll try and get back to you as soon as possible. Please note that all communication is by email. Unfortunately, we cannot telephone back any prospective students. Please note that many questions can be answered by accessing the “Frequently Answered Questions” section of our website.
IELTS General Reading Test
Because space is limited, students who cannot attend a class for which they have been enrolled must notify the Training Program as soon as they can, so another student can take their place. Students who are on a waiting list may attempt to get into the class as a standby. Seats left empty 10 minutes into a class will be considered available. Students who attend class and successfully complete any required assignments will receive completion certificates. Please note that classroom buildings are secure. Students should bring their printed course confirmation emails or show the email on a smart phone or tablet in order to check in.
IELTS General Reading Test
All the lessons that are given as part of the Technology Training Program have all their resources posted on the student area of our website. Once any student is enrolled, he or she will be informed of the login details. The materials on the website are under copyright protection, so students must understand that it is an offence to post or share the material elsewhere.
Most of our Technology Training courses are free of charge to the community. Any fees associated with a training course will go towards essential materials in the course. All fees’ information will be listed in the course description.
IELTS General Reading Test
Our Training Programs are run and taught by unpaid volunteers, who comprise 75 per cent of the faculty, and it would not be possible to offer this large and varied program to our residents and the community without them. If you have expertise you would be willing to consider sharing, please let us know.
Read the text below and answer questions 12-14.
Sunshine Cottage
1-bedroom cottage for rent!
Sunshine Cottage is a charming and well-appointed cottage. It is situated just outside the small village of Bradbury in a picturesque and tranquil location. A wood-burning stove is installed to keep you nice and warm during your stay. Sunshine Cottage is a well-equipped property with free WIFI (fibre broadband), fridge freezer, dishwasher, oven and hob.
IELTS General Reading Test
There is a launderette a short distance along the main street. There is one double bedroom and also a double sofabed in the lounge. Sunshine Cottage also offers a warm, clean outdoor kennel for up to 2 dogs if required. There is secure, outdoor storage available for bicycles. The extensive gardens are available for the use of guests. Parking for up to 2 cars is available. There is no smoking inside any part of Sunshine Cottage.
Booking is done directly with the owners. Please contact David by email on: david@sunshinecottage.com for reservation details.
IELTS General Reading Test
Questions 8-11
Choose the correct letter A, B, C or D.
8. Applicants placed on the waiting list
A. will only be accepted if they apply before the courses start.
B. are guaranteed a place on the course they have chosen.
С. will be contacted once the next course is planned.
D. are required to pay a refundable deposit.
9. Any enquiries sent through the website will be answered
A. by phone.
B. by a return email.
С. by reference to the “Frequently Answered Questions” section of the website.
D. within 24 hours.
IELTS General Reading Test
10. Students can only join their classes
A. if they can show confirmation of their acceptance.
B. if they can show they have paid the relevant fees.
С. if they arrive at least 10 minutes early.
D. if they possess a smart phone.
11. The teachers at the Technology Training Program
A. are recruited by personal recommendation.
B. are all vetted to ensure they are properly qualified.
С. are all available online for consultation.
D. do not receive a salary.
IELTS General Reading Test
Questions 12-14
Do the following statements agree with the information given in the text?
In boxes 12-14 on your answer sheet write:
TRUE – if the statement agrees with the information
FALSE – if the statement contradicts the information
NOT GIVEN – if there is no information on this
12. Sunshine Cottage has nice views around it.
13. Sunshine Cottage has only facilities for 2 people to sleep in it.
14. Guests must pay a returnable deposit when they book Sunshine Cottage.
IELTS General Reading Test

IELTS General Reading Test
ANSWERS
1. PRE-SCHOOL
2. ENROLMENT PRESSURE
3. PRIORITY
4. TRANSITION
5. ASPIRATIONS
6. PEDAGOGIES
7. PRE-REGISTRATION
8. C
9. B
10. A
11. D
12. TRUE
13. FALSE
14. NOT GIVEN
IELTS General Reading Test