THE GENERAL TRAINING READING TEST

This is a 1 hour test in 3 sections with 40 questions based on 1 or more reading texts per section. The length of the General Training Reading Test will be between 2000 and 2750 words. Candidates are given a question paper and an answer paper. They may write on the question paper but they may not remove it from the test room after the test. All answers must be put onto the reading answer sheet before the end of the hour – there is no extra time after the 1 hour set for the General Training Reading Test for the transfer of answers to the answer paper.

A variety of question types are used in the General Training Reading Test. Questions types that you will use will come from the following list:

multiple choice

short answer

sentence completion

notes/summary/diagram/flow chart completion

choosing from a heading bank to identify paragraphs or parts of the text

identification of writers opinions/ideas – yes/no/not given

identification of information in the text – yes/no/not given OR true/false/not given

classification

matching lists or phrases

Texts are taken form notices, advertisements, official documents, booklets, newspapers, instruction manuals, leaflets, timetables, books and magazines.

The first section is concerned with social survival in an English speaking country. The second section is concerned with survival in an education, training or welfare context. The third section tests the candidates’ abilities with a longer more complex text.

Click here for the free general training reading tutorial.