This General Training IELTS Reading post focuses on solutions to IELTS Cambridge 15 Reading Test 3 Section 1 that has two texts entitled ‘Young Fashion Designer UK competition’ & ‘Which keyboard should you buy?’. This is a targeted post for GT IELTS candidates who have big problems finding out and understanding Reading Answers in the GT module. This post can guide you 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.

IELTS Cambridge 15 Test 3: GT Reading Module

Section 1:

Question 1-7: Young Fashion Designer UK competition

Questions 1-7: TRUE, FALSE, NOT GIVEN

[In this type of question, candidates are asked to find out whether:

The statement in the question agrees with the information in the passage – TRUE
The statement in the question contradicts with the information in the passage – FALSE
If there is no information on this – NOT GIVEN

For this type of question, you can divide each statement into three independent pieces and make your way through with the answer.]

Question 1: Participants are required to create a new item of clothing for the Young Fashion Designer UK competition.

Keywords for this question: Participants, required to create, new item of clothing,

In the second paragraph, the writer of the text says in lines 1-2, “The competition is designed for students to enter the coursework they are currently working on rather than specifically producing different pieces of work. .. ..”  

Here, rather than specifically producing different pieces of work = Participants are NOT required to create a new item of clothing,

So, the answer is: FALSE

Question 2: Participants must send information about the thoughts that led to the item they are entering for the competition.   

Keywords for this question: Participants must send, information, thoughts that led to, item,       

In the third paragraph, the writer describes the requirements to enter the competition. Take a close look at the first requirement,

“ 1) Provide three A3 colour copies from your design folder.

You must include:

• Initial ideas about the clothing
• A close-up photograph of the front and back view of the finished clothing.

Here, Initial ideas about the clothing = the thoughts that led to the item they are entering for the competition,

So, the answer is: TRUE                      

Question 3: The shortlist will consist of a fixed number of finalists.  

Keywords for this question: shortlist, will consist of, fixed number, finalists,  

We find the keyword ‘shortlist’ in the first line of paragraph no. 4. However, the paragraph doesn’t say anything about any fixed number of finalists.

This means the information is NOT GIVEN in the paragraph.

So, the answer is: NOT GIVEN       

Question 4: Finalists can choose how to present their work to the judges on their stand.

Keywords for this question: Finalists can choose, how to present, their work, judges, their stand,      

In paragraph no. 4, look at lines 3-5, “ . … Each finalist will have their own stand consisting of a table and tabletop cardboard display panel. Feel free to add as much creativity to your stand as possible. .. . .”

Here, Feel free to add as much creativity to your stand as possible = finalists can choose how to present their work . .. . on their stand,

So, the answer is: TRUE                   

Question 5: It is strongly recommended that finalists support their entry with additional photographs.

Keywords for this question: strongly recommended, finalists support, their entry, additional photographs,

Again, in paragraph no. 4, look at lines 5-7, “ . … Some students bring tablets/ laptops with slideshows or further images of work but it should be emphasised that these may not necessarily improve your chances of success.”

Here, further images = additional photographs, it should be emphasised that these may not necessarily improve your chances of success = NOT strongly recommended,

So, the answer is: FALSE

Question 6: Questions that the students ask the judges may count towards the final decisions.

Keywords for this question: questions, students, ask the judges, may count, towards, final decisions,  

In the fifth paragraph, take a look at lines 3-4, “ . .. . You are welcome to ask the judges questions. In fact, you should make the most of having experts on hand.”

Here, there’s NO INFORMATION on whether asking questions may count towards the final decisions or not.

So, the answer is: NOT GIVEN

Question 7: Extra prizes may be awarded depending on the standard of the entries submitted.  

Keywords for this question: extra prizes, may be awarded, depending on, standard, entries submitted,  

In the final paragraph, have a close look at lines 1-2, “There are 1st, 2nd and 3rd prize winners for each category. The judges can also decide to award special prizes if the work merits this. . .. .”

Here, The judges can also decide to award special prizes if the work merits this = Extra prizes may be awarded depending on the standard of the entries submitted,

So, the answer is: TRUE

Questions 8-14: Which keyboard should you buy?

Questions 8-14:  Identifying information:

[This question asks you to find information from the passage and write the number of the paragraph (A, B, C or D … .. ) in the answer sheet. Now, if the question is given in the very first part of the question set, I’d request you not to answer them. It’s mainly because this question will not follow any sequence, and so it will surely kill your time. Rather, you should answer all the other questions first. And just like List of Headings, only read the first two lines or last two lines of the expected paragraph initially. If you find the answers, you need not read the middle part. If you don’t find answers yet, you can skim the middle part of the paragraph. Keywords will be a useful matter here.]

Question 8: This keyboard may not suit users who prefer the keys to be almost silent.  

Keywords for this question: may not suit, users, prefer, keys, to be almost silent,  

In the description of Keyboard B (Cherry MX 3.0 Keyboard), have a close look at line no. 3, “ . . .. It’s also rather loud though, which can take some getting used to.”

Here, rather loud = may not suit users who prefer the keys to be almost silent,

So, the answer is: B

Question 9: This keyboard is easily portable because it can be made to fit into a small space. 

Keywords for this question: easily portable, because, can be made, to fit into, small space,

In the description of Keyboard E (Microsoft Universal Bluetooth Keyboard), the author of the text says in the first lines, “Microsoft’s Bluetooth keyboard has one very handy feature – you can fold it in half and carry it around in your jacket pocket or bag. .. .. .”

Here, you can fold it in half = can be made fit into a small space, carry it around = easily portable,

So, the answer is: E

Question 10: This keyboard includes a special place to put small devices.

Keywords for this question: includes a special place, put, small devices,  

In the description of Keyboard C (Logitech K780), the author of the text says in lines 1-2, “ . .. . There’s an integrated stand for smartphones and tablets too. .. . ..”

Here, an integrated stand = a special place, smartphones and tablets = small devices,  

So, the answer is: C

Question 11: This Keyboard is designed to prevent injury to those who spend a lot of time on the computer.  

Keywords for this question: designed, to prevent injury, who spend, a lot of time, on the computer,  

In the description of Keyboard D (Microsoft Sculpt Ergonomic), the author says in lines 1-3, “. … .. It provides wrist support and lifts your forearms into a relaxed position so you don’t hurt yourself from typing for lengthy periods. . . .”

Here, you don’t hurt yourself = prevent injury, typing for lengthy periods = spend a lot of time on the computer,

So, the answer is: D

Question 12: This keyboard offers good value for money.

Keywords for this question: offers, good value for money,   

In the description of Keyboard A (Logitech K120), the author says in line no. 3, “ . … . For the price, it’s a tempting choice.”

Here, For the price, it’s a tempting choice = offers good value for money,

So the answer is: A

Question 13: This keyboard is primarily aimed at people who use their computer for entertainment.  

Keywords for this question: primarily aimed at, people who use, computer, for entertainment,   

In the description of Keyboard F (Corsair Strafe RGB Keyboard), the author says in line no. 3, “ . … .. All this is because it’s designed for gamers. … …”

Here, it’s designed for gamers = primarily aimed at people who use their computer for entertainment,

So the answer is: F

Question 14: It shouldn’t take long for users to get used to the shape of the keys on this keyboard.

Keywords for this question: shouldn’t take long, users, to get used to, the shape of the keys,   

In the description of Keyboard C (Logitech K780), the author of the text says in lines 3-4, “ . .. . and the circular keys are easy to familiarise yourself with, well-spaced and large enough to hit accurately. .. ..”

Here, easy to familiarise yourself with = It shouldn’t take long for users to get used to,

the circular keys .. .. . well-spaced and large enough to hit accurately = the shape of the keys,

So the answer is: C

Click here for solutions to Cambridge 15 GT Test 3 Reading Section 2

Click here for solutions to Cambridge 15 GT Test 3 Reading Section 3