This Academic IELTS Reading post focuses on solutions to IELTS Cambridge Official Guide to IELTS Test 6 Reading Passage 1 which is titled ‘Why Are Finland’s Schools Successful?’. This is a targeted post for IELTS candidates who have big problems finding and understanding Reading Answers in the AC module. This post can guide you to the best to understand every Reading answer without much trouble. Finding out IELTS Reading answers is a steady process, and this post will assist you in this respect.

Cambridge Official Guide to IELTS, Test 6: AC Reading Module

Reading Passage 1: Questions 1-13

The headline of the passage: Why Are Finland’s Schools Successful?

Questions 1-6: List of headings

[In this question type, IELTS candidates are provided with a list of headings, usually identified with lower-case Roman numerals (i, ii, iii, etc,). A heading will refer to the main idea of the paragraph or section of the text. Candidates must find out the equivalent heading to the correct paragraphs or sections, which are marked with alphabets A, B, C, and so forth. Candidates need to write the appropriate Roman numerals in the boxes on their answer sheets. There will always be two or three more headings than there are paragraphs or sections. So, some of the headings will not be used. It is also likely that some paragraphs or sections may not be included in the task. Generally, the first paragraph is an example paragraph that will be done for the candidates for their understanding of the task.

TIPS: Skimming is the best reading technique. You need not understand every word here. Just try to gather the gist of the sentences. That’s all. Read quickly and don’t stop until you finish each sentence.]

Question no. 1: Paragraph A

The answer can be found in different lines of paragraph A.

First, we find two names in the first paragraph, Principal Kari Louhivuori and the young learner Besart, who was an immigrant student. We also find the information that Besart was “was falling behind, resisting his teacher’s best efforts.”

Here, falling behind = facing problems,

Then, in lines 10-16, the writer of the text says, “ . .. . . …  ‘I took Besart on that year as my private student,’ explains Louhivuori. When he was not studying science, geography and math, Besart was seated next to Louhivuori’s desk, taking books from a tall stack, slowly reading one, then another, then devouring them by the dozens. By the end of the year, he had conquered his adopted country’s vowel-rich language and arrived at the realization that he could, in fact, learn.”

Here, I took Besart on that year as my private student, & Besart was seated next to Louhivuori’s desk, taking books from a tall stack, slowly reading one, then another = an approach,  

he had conquered his adopted country’s vowel-rich language = helped a young learner,

So, the answer is: vi (An approach that helped a young learner)

Question no. 2: Paragraph B

Paragraph B deals completely with the PISA test records by Finnish students. The numbers clearly show the success of the students. Take a look at these lines, “ . . …  In this year, the first results from the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), a standardized test given to 15-year-olds in more than 40 global venues, revealed Finnish youth to be the best at reading in the world. Three years later, they led in math. By 2006, Finland was first out of the 57 nations that participate in science. In the latest PISA scores, the nation came second in science, third in reading and sixth in math among nearly half a million students worldwide.”

Here, By 2006, Finland was first out of the 57 nations & In the latest PISA scores, the nation came second in science, third in reading and sixth in math = proof of education success,

So, the answer is: vii (Statistical proof of education success)

Question no. 3: Paragraph C

In paragraph C, lines 1-7, the writer says, “In the United States, government officials have attempted to improve standards by introducing marketplace competition into public schools. In recent years, a group of Wall Street financiers and philanthropists such as Bill Gates have put money behind private-sector ideas, such as charter schools, which have doubled in number in the past decade. . .. .. .”

Here, introducing marketplace competition into public schools = A business-model approach to education,

So, the answer is: i (A business-model approach to education)   

Question no. 4: Paragraph D

The first lines of paragraph D say, “There are no compulsory standardized tests in Finland, apart from one exam at the end of students’ senior year in high school. . . .. . . .” 

Then, in the final few lines, the writer mentions, “ . . .. . .. . Every school has the same national goals and draws from the same pool of university-trained educators. The result is that a Finnish child has a good chance of getting the same quality education no matter whether he or she lives in a rural village or a university town.”

Here, Every school has the same national goals, draws from the same pool of university-trained educators & good chance of getting the same quality education = Ways in which equality is maintained in the Finnish education system,  

So, the answer is: iv (Ways in which equality is maintained in the Finnish education system)  

Question no. 5: Paragraph E

In paragraph E, the writer explains how the government is supporting families in work and living. Take a look at these lines, “ . . . .. . Finland provides three years of maternity leave and subsidized day care to parents, and preschool for all five-year-olds, where the emphasis is on socializing. In addition, the state subsidizes parents, paying them around 150 euros per month for every child until he or she turns 17. Schools provide food, counseling and taxi service if needed. Health care is even free for students taking degree courses.”

Here, Finland provides three years of maternity leave and subsidized day care to parents, and preschool for all five-year-olds,  . .. . .the state subsidizes parents, paying them around 150 euros per month for every child until he or she turns 17, Schools provide food, counseling and taxi service if needed & Health care is even free for students = government support for families,

So, the answer is: viii (Support for families working and living in Finland)

Question no. 6: Paragraph F

In lines 3-6 of paragraph F, the writer of the text says, “ .. . .. . . But in 1963, the Finnish Parliament made the bold decision to choose public education as the best means of driving the economy forward and out of recession. . .. .. … . ”

Here, the Finnish Parliament made the bold decision to choose public education as the best means of driving the economy forward and out of recession = the reforms take had been introduced by the government,

Then, in the following lines, the writer explains what reforms were taken by the government in detail. Also, the final few lines explain the positive results of the reforms.

So, the answer is: ii (The reforms that improved education in Finland)

Questions 7-13: Completing sentences with NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER

In this type of question, candidates are asked to write a maximum of two words to complete sentences on the given topic. For this type of question, first, skim the passage to find the keywords in the paragraph concerned with the answer, and then scan to find the exact word.

[TIPS: Here scanning technique will come in handy. Target the keywords of the questions to find the answers. Remember to focus on Proper nouns, random Capital letters, numbers, special characters of text etc.]

The title of the note: The school system in Finland

Question no. 7:
PISA tests:

• In the most recent tests, Finland’s top subject was ______________.

Keywords for the question: PISA tests, most recent years, top subject was,  

Paragraph B gives answer to this question as the writer says in lines 11-13, “ . . .. .. . In the latest PISA scores, the nation came second in science, third in reading and sixth in math among nearly half a million students worldwide.

Here, latest PISA scores = recent PISA tests, the nation came second = Finland’s top subject,

So, the answer is: science

Question no. 8:

History:

1963

• A new school system was needed to improve Finland’s ______________.

Keywords for the question: 1963, new school system, needed, to improve, Finland’s,  

We find the mention of the year 1963 in paragraph F. So, we must go there to find the answer to this question. In paragraph F, the writer says in lines 3-6, “ . . .. . . But in 1963, the Finnish Parliament made the bold decision to choose public education as the best means of driving the economy forward and out of recession.”

Here, choose public education = A new school system,

the best means of driving . .. . forward and out of recession = to improve,

So, the answer is: economy

Question no. 9:

• Schools followed ____________ that was created partly by teachers.

Keywords for the question: Schools followed, created, partly, by teachers,  

In lines 8-10 of paragraph F, the writer says, “ .. .. . . Teachers from all over the nation contributed to a national curriculum that provided guidelines, not prescriptions, for them to refer to. .. . .. . ”

Here, Teachers . . .. . . contributed to a national curriculum = created partly by teachers, creating = made worse,

So, the answer is: guidelines

Question no. 10:

• Young pupils had to study an additional ______________.

Keywords for the question: Young pupils, had to study, an additional,  

In paragraph F, take a look at lines 10-13, “ . . .. . . Besides Finnish and Swedish (the country’s second official language), children started learning a third language (English Is a favorite) usually beginning at age nine. . .. . . .. .”   

Here, children started learning = young pupils had to study, a third = an additional,

So, the answer is: language      

Question no. 11:

• All teachers were given the same ____________ to use.

Keywords for the question: All teachers, were given, same, to use,      

In lines 11-13 of paragraph F, the author of the text mentions, “ . . . The equal distribution of equipment was next, meaning that all teachers had their fair share of teaching resources to aid learning. . . . .. . ..”

Here, The equal distribution & all teachers had their fair share = given the same,

So, the answer is: equipment/ resources

Question no. 12:

In 1979

• Teachers had to get a ____________ but they did not have to pay for this.

Keywords for the question: 1979, teachers, had to get, but, did not, have to pay,    

In paragraph F, the writer describes in lines 17-20 , “ .. . .. . .. . The second critical decision came in 1979, when it was required that every teacher gain a fifth-year Master’s Degree in theory and practice, paid for by the state. .. . . . .” 

Here, it was required that every teacher gain = Teachers had to get, paid for by the state = they did not have to pay for this,

So, the answer is: Master’s/ Masters degree    

Question no. 13:

• Applicants were attracted to the ___________ that teaching received.

Keywords for the question: Applicants, were attracted to, teaching received,   

In paragraph F, lines 20-24 say, “ . . .. . .. . . From then on, teachers were effectively granted equal status with doctors and lawyers. Applicants began flooding teaching programs, not because the salaries were so high but because autonomous decision-making and respect made the job desirable. .. . . .. .”

Here, Applicants began flooding teaching programs/ made the job desirable = Applicants were attracted to teaching because,

The lines suggest that the applicants were attracted to the teaching profession because of the status/ respect received from the government.  

So, the answer is: respect/ status

© All the texts with inverted commas used in this post are taken from Cambridge Official Guide to IELTS Test 6

Click here for solutions to Cambridge Official Guide to IELTS AC Test 6 Passage 2

Click here for solutions to Cambridge Official Guide to IELTS AC Test 6 Passage 3