Situations Vacant: Reading Answers & Explanations
IELTS Reading practice test · 8 questionsGeneral Trainingeasy
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About this passage
The passage opens: “We are looking for a friendly, reliable person to join our busy tearoom. Duties include serving customers, preparing hot drinks and light snacks, and keeping the café clean and tidy.”
- Passage length: about 361 words
- Questions: 8
- Question types: Multiple Choice, Short Answer
“Situations Vacant” is an original IELTS-style practice passage written by IELTS-Bank. It is not taken from an official IELTS or Cambridge test, so these answers only apply to our version.
Answer key at a glance
Situations Vacant answers with explanations
Question 1: Multiple Choice
Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.
- A. A, the Café Assistant
- B. B, the Delivery Driver
- C. C, the Weekend Receptionist
- D. D, the Gardening Helper
- 1
Which job requires a driving licence held for at least two years?
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Answer: B — B, the Delivery Driver
Why: This is the part of the passage that supports B — B, the Delivery Driver.
Evidence · Paragraph 5 “…a full, clean driving licence held for at least two years is required.”
Question 2: Multiple Choice
Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.
- A. A, the Café Assistant
- B. B, the Delivery Driver
- C. C, the Weekend Receptionist
- D. D, the Gardening Helper
- 2
Which job states that no previous experience is necessary?
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Answer: A — A, the Café Assistant
Why: This is the part of the passage that supports A — A, the Café Assistant.
Evidence · Paragraph 3 “No previous experience is necessary, as full training will be given”
Question 3: Multiple Choice
Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.
- A. A, the Café Assistant
- B. B, the Delivery Driver
- C. C, the Weekend Receptionist
- D. D, the Gardening Helper
- 3
For which job would the ability to speak a second language be welcomed?
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Answer: C — C, the Weekend Receptionist
Why: This is the part of the passage that supports C — C, the Weekend Receptionist.
Evidence · Paragraph 7 “…the ability to speak a second language would be welcomed by our many overseas visitors.”
Question 4: Multiple Choice
Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.
- A. A, the Café Assistant
- B. B, the Delivery Driver
- C. C, the Weekend Receptionist
- D. D, the Gardening Helper
- 4
Which job is described as suitable for a retired person?
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Answer: D — D, the Gardening Helper
Why: This is the part of the passage that supports D — D, the Gardening Helper.
Evidence · Paragraph 9 “The position is suitable for a retired person seeking light, flexible work.”
Questions 5–8: Short Answer
Answer the questions below. Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER from the text for each answer.
- 5
At what time must the Café Assistant be available to start work?(max 3 words)
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Answer: 7.30 a.m. (also accepted: 7.30 am / 7.30 / 7:30)
Why: The answer “7.30 a.m.” is taken from this sentence — copy the word(s) exactly as they appear. It fits the 3-word limit.
Evidence · Paragraph 3 “You must be available to start work at 7.30 a.m.”
- 6
How should applicants apply for the Delivery Driver job?(max 3 words)
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Answer: by email (also accepted: email / by e-mail)
Why: The answer “by email” is taken from this sentence — copy the word(s) exactly as they appear. It fits the 3-word limit.
Evidence · Paragraph 5 “Send your application by email to the address below.”
- 7
How can someone apply for the Gardening Helper position?(max 3 words)
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Answer: telephone the manager (also accepted: by telephone / telephone / phone the manager)
Why: The answer “telephone the manager” is taken from this sentence — copy the word(s) exactly as they appear. It fits the 3-word limit.
Evidence · Paragraph 9 “Please telephone the manager to arrange an informal visit.”
- 8
Where can an applicant for the Weekend Receptionist job download an application form?(max 3 words)
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Answer: the website (also accepted: our website / from our website / website)
Why: The answer “the website” is taken from this sentence — copy the word(s) exactly as they appear. It fits the 3-word limit.
Evidence · Paragraph 7 “To apply, download a form from our website and return it by the end of the month.”
Estimated band score for this test
Your raw score out of 8 scaled to the 40-question IELTS Reading (General Training) conversion table. This is the same estimate the practice page shows after you submit. A single passage is a small sample, so treat it as a guide.
| Correct answers | Estimated band |
|---|---|
| 8 / 8 | 9.0 |
| 7 / 8 | 7.0 |
| 6 / 8 | 6.0 |
| 5 / 8 | 5.0 |
| 4 / 8 | 4.5 |
| 3 / 8 | 4.0 |
| 2 / 8 | 3.0 |
| 1 / 8 | 2.0 |
| 0 / 8 | 0.0 |
Full-test score? Use the IELTS band calculator.
Tips for the question types in this test
Multiple Choice
- Read the question stem carefully before the options so you know exactly what is being asked.
- Because multiple-choice questions follow passage order, locate the relevant section and read it in full — the answer usually depends on more than one sentence.
Common trap: Distractors that use exact words from the passage but distort the meaning.
Full Multiple Choice strategyShort Answer
- Read the instructions and note the exact word limit; going over it means zero marks even if the meaning is right.
- Turn each question into a set of keywords and predict what kind of answer it needs (a person, a date, a place, a noun).
Common trap: Exceeding the word limit (writing four words when only three are allowed).
Full Short Answer strategyPractise “Situations Vacant” under exam conditions
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