Working at Fairfield Foods: Conduct and Overtime: Reading Answers & Explanations
IELTS Reading practice test · 13 questionsGeneral Trainingmedium
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About this passage
The passage opens: “— Uniform and appearance. All production staff are provided with a uniform free of charge, and a name badge must be worn at all times while on site.”
- Passage length: about 412 words
- Questions: 13
- Question types: Matching Information, Sentence Completion, True / False / Not Given
“Working at Fairfield Foods: Conduct and Overtime” 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
Working at Fairfield Foods: Conduct and Overtime answers with explanations
Questions 1–5: Matching Information
The two texts have eight sections, A–H. Which section mentions the following? Write the correct letter, A–H.
- A. Section A
- B. Section B
- C. Section C
- D. Section D
- E. Section E
- F. Section F
- G. Section G
- H. Section H
- 1
the cost of replacing a lost item
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Answer: Section A
Why: Section A says a replacement name badge can be obtained from the Human Resources office for £5.
Where to find it · Text 1, paragraph A “If you lose your badge, a replacement can be obtained from the Human Resources office for £5.”
- 2
how much notice must be given before exchanging shifts
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Answer: Section G
Why: Section G states that the shift-swap form must be handed in at least 48 hours before the shift begins.
Where to find it · Text 2, paragraph G “Both employees must sign a shift-swap form and hand it in at least 48 hours before the shift begins.”
- 3
the rate of pay for working on a public holiday
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Answer: Section E
Why: Section E says overtime on a public holiday is paid at double time.
Where to find it · Text 2, paragraph E “Weekday overtime is paid at one and a half times your normal rate; overtime on a public holiday is paid at double time.”
- 4
the minimum rest period between two shifts
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Answer: Section H
Why: Section H requires a rest period of at least 11 hours between one shift and the next.
Where to find it · Text 2, paragraph H “No employee may work more than 48 hours per week, averaged over 17 weeks, and there must be a rest period of at least 11 hours between one shift and the next.”
- 5
when a doctor's note becomes necessary
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Answer: Section C
Why: Section C says a medical certificate is required for any absence of more than three consecutive days.
Where to find it · Text 1, paragraph C “A medical certificate is required for any absence of more than three consecutive days.”
Questions 6–9: Sentence Completion
Complete the sentences below.
Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER from the texts for each answer.
- 6
During working hours, personal mobile phones must be kept in your ______.(max 2 words)
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Answer: locker
Why: Section B states that personal mobile phones must be kept in your locker during working hours.
Where to find it · Text 1, paragraph B “Personal mobile phones must be kept in your locker during working hours.”
- 7
To be paid in the same week, timesheets must be handed in by ______ on Wednesday.(max 2 words)
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Answer: noon (also accepted: 12 noon / midday / 12)
Why: Section F says timesheets must be submitted by noon on Wednesday to be included in that week's payroll.
Where to find it · Text 2, paragraph F “Timesheets must be submitted by noon on Wednesday to be included in that week's payroll; claims received after this deadline will be paid the following month.”
- 8
Staff may only swap shifts with a colleague who has the same ______.(max 2 words)
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Answer: training grade (also accepted: grade)
Why: Section G allows shift exchanges only with a colleague who holds the same training grade.
Where to find it · Text 2, paragraph G “You may exchange a shift with a colleague provided they hold the same training grade as you.”
- 9
All overtime must be approved in advance by the ______.(max 2 words)
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Answer: shift supervisor (also accepted: supervisor)
Why: Section E states that all overtime must be approved in advance by the shift supervisor.
Where to find it · Text 2, paragraph E “All overtime must be approved in advance by the shift supervisor.”
Questions 10–13: True / False / Not Given
Do the following statements agree with the information given in the texts?
Write TRUE if the statement agrees with the information, FALSE if the statement contradicts the information, or NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this.
- 10
Staff receive their uniform free of charge.
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Answer: TRUE
Why: Section A says all production staff are provided with a uniform free of charge.
Where to find it · Text 1, paragraph A “All production staff are provided with a uniform free of charge, and a name badge must be worn at all times while on site.”
- 11
Employees may wear any jewellery they like on the production floor.
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Answer: FALSE
Why: Section A says no jewellery may be worn on the production floor apart from a plain wedding band, so employees may not wear any jewellery they like.
Where to find it · Text 1, paragraph A “Long hair must be tied back, and for hygiene reasons no jewellery may be worn on the production floor apart from a plain wedding band.”
- 12
Overtime claims received after the deadline are never paid.
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Answer: FALSE
Why: Section F says late claims are paid the following month, so they are still paid — just later.
Where to find it · Text 2, paragraph F “Timesheets must be submitted by noon on Wednesday to be included in that week's payroll; claims received after this deadline will be paid the following month.”
- 13
Most staff at Fairfield Foods accept the overtime they are offered.
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Answer: NOT GIVEN
Why: The texts explain how overtime is offered and paid, but say nothing about how many staff actually accept it.
Closest related text · Text 2, paragraph E “Overtime is always voluntary and is offered first to staff within the department where the extra hours are needed.”
Estimated band score for this test
Your raw score out of 13 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 |
|---|---|
| 13 / 13 | 9.0 |
| 12 / 13 | 8.0 |
| 11 / 13 | 7.0 |
| 10 / 13 | 6.0 |
| 9 / 13 | 5.5 |
| 8 / 13 | 5.0 |
| 7 / 13 | 4.5 |
| 5–6 / 13 | 4.0 |
| 4 / 13 | 3.5 |
| 3 / 13 | 3.0 |
| 2 / 13 | 2.5 |
| 1 / 13 | 1.5 |
| 0 / 13 | 0.0 |
Full-test score? Use the IELTS band calculator.
Tips for the question types in this test
Matching Information
- Read each statement and identify exactly what kind of information you are looking for — a reason, a result, an example, a definition, a contrast.
- Note that the statements do NOT follow paragraph order, so treat each one as an independent search.
Common trap: Assuming the questions run in order — they do not, which makes linear reading inefficient.
Full Matching Information strategySentence Completion
- Circle the word limit before reading anything else.
- Predict the missing word class: noun, verb, adjective, number or short phrase.
Common trap: Exceeding the word limit.
Full Sentence Completion strategyTrue / False / Not Given
- Read the statement first and underline the key idea, especially any qualifiers like "all", "only", "never", "always", "more than" or dates and numbers.
- Because the questions follow the order of the passage, scan for the paragraph that deals with the same topic rather than re-reading everything.
Common trap: Confusing "False" with "Not Given": choose False only when the passage actively contradicts the statement; if the passage is silent, it is Not Given.
Full True / False / Not Given strategyPractise “Working at Fairfield Foods: Conduct and Overtime” under exam conditions
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