IELTS General Training · Reading · R2

IELTS General Reading Section 2: Workplace Texts

IELTS General Training Reading Section 2 uses two texts about work, such as job advertisements, staff handbook pages, workplace policies or training material. Questions check that you can find and understand specific details, often numbers, conditions and deadlines, using tasks such as matching, sentence completion and TRUE/FALSE/NOT GIVEN.

Texts: Two work-related texts (job ads, policies, handbooks, training)
Questions: Part of the 40 Reading questions (our mocks use 13)
Time: Shares one 60-minute timer with Sections 1 and 3
Typical tasks: Matching features, sentence completion, TRUE/FALSE/NOT GIVEN, multiple choice, short answer

How it works

1Open Text A or Text B from the tabs in the left pane.
2Read the instruction for each question group, including which text it uses and the word limit.
3Locate the relevant clause of the policy or advert and answer from it.
4Continue to Section 3 when finished; unanswered questions can be revisited while time remains.

Sample task

Original sample · not from an official test

Sentence completion. Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the text for each answer. Text B (staff handbook, overtime): "Overtime must be approved in writing by your line manager before it is worked. Approved hours are paid at time and a half, or may be taken as time off in lieu within the following month." Overtime needs written approval from your ______ before you work it.

Show a strong response

Outline: line manager

The handbook says overtime must be approved 'by your line manager'. Two words, copied exactly, fit the limit. 'Manager' alone changes the text's wording and could be marked wrong.

Tips that work

Workplace texts are full of conditions (only if, after, unless, within); underline them, because questions test them.
Numbers matter: note every time period, percentage and date as you scan.
Use headings in the handbook or advert to jump straight to the right paragraph.
Keep answers inside the word limit and spelled as in the text.

Common mistakes

Ignoring a qualifier such as 'after six months' and marking a statement TRUE.
Taking an answer from Text A when the question group refers to Text B.

Questions candidates ask

Do I need work experience in an English-speaking country for Section 2?

No. Every answer is in the text. Familiarity with words like probation, shift, entitlement and notice period helps you read faster, so build that vocabulary while you practise.

Why do my answers in Section 2 keep being marked wrong when the meaning is right?

Completion questions require words copied from the text within the word limit. A correct idea in your own words, or one word too many, is marked wrong. Copy the exact phrase.

How long should I spend on Section 2?

A common plan is around 20 minutes, leaving 20 to 25 minutes for Section 3. Adjust after a few timed practice sets, since only the total 60 minutes is fixed.