Cambridge IELTS 10 · General Training · Test 2 · Section 2
Planning A Gap Year & Succeeding At Interviews — IELTS Reading Answers
All 13 answers for Planning A Gap Year & Succeeding At Interviews, Cambridge IELTS 10 General Training Reading Test 2 Section 2, with the passage evidence and an explanation for each.
← All Cambridge 10 GT Test 2 answers
Planning A Gap Year & Succeeding At Interviews answer key at a glance
Questions 15–27. Tap an answer to see the evidence.
What this section tests
This section is tested with True / False / Not Given (Q15–20), Matching Information (Q21–27). Each section below gives the strategy for that question type, the answers, and the sentence that proves them.
Questions 15–20: True / False / Not Given
Strategy: Judge the whole statement against the text. FALSE contradicts the passage; NOT GIVEN means the passage never addresses that specific claim.
For some young British people, the purpose of a gap year is to improve their academic qualifications.
“The best reason to take a gap year between school and work or higher education is to improve your CV with experience overseas”
The passage gives the 'best reason' for a gap year as improving 'your CV with experience overseas', not gaining academic qualifications, so the statement is false.
Shooting Star finds employment for young people in the catering industry.
“Well, we don't do that it's not our idea of excitement”
'Well, we don't do that' rejects the idea of finding catering jobs; Shooting Star offers training and international adventure instead.
Training with Shooting Star can be expensive.
“A gap year with Shooting Star means professional training and international adventure”
Professional training is mentioned, but the passage never says whether it is expensive, so cost cannot be checked either way.
New trainees find it easy to get the sort of work they want.
“Those who qualify with Shooting Star are very soon using their skills in jobs they could only dream about before”
Those who qualify 'are very soon using their skills in jobs they could only dream about before', which means the work they want comes quickly.
New trainees who want work experience should check out vacancies before they depart.
“What's more important to you – travel or work experience? You can be flexible with travel plans but you must research job opportunities in advance”
The advice is that 'you must research job opportunities in advance', so vacancies should be checked before departure.
Shooting Star helps with travel arrangements.
“These are your responsibility”
Travel arrangements, the text says, 'are your responsibility', so Shooting Star does not help with them at all.
Questions 21–27: Matching Information
Strategy: Scan for the idea, not the exact words. The answer is a paragraph letter, and one paragraph may be used more than once unless the instructions say otherwise.
The importance of good manners.
“Whatever the circumstances, you will give yourself an advantage by being friendly and polite, by making eye contact with the interviewer and by selling yourself by focusing on your strengths”
Paragraph F matches: 'Whatever the circumstances, you will give yourself an advantage by being friendly and polite', the good manners described.
Using your contacts
“Firstly you can do some research. Find out about the employer and the job, ask for an information pack or speak to people you know who work for the company”
Paragraph B matches: you should 'ask for an information pack or speak to people you know who work for the company', which is using contacts.
Giving adequate responses
“Don't simply give 'yes' and 'no' answers, but answer questions as fully as you can”
Paragraph G matches: 'Don't simply give yes and no answers, but answer questions as fully as you can', the adequate responses asked for.
Getting on well with colleagues
“One final thing to remember: it is important to show good team spirit, that you possess good people skills and that you are friendly and approachable”
Paragraph H matches: 'it is important to show good team spirit ... good people skills ... friendly and approachable', the colleague relationship described.
The information you may need to provide
“Prepare for questions you might be asked. Some common ones are the reason why you want the job, whether you have done this kind of work before, what your strengths and weaknesses are, and which leisure pursuits you enjoy”
Paragraph C matches: candidates should prepare answers about 'the reason why you want the job, whether you have done this kind of work before', personal details to supply.
Being honest with the interviewer
“First of all, don't exaggerate. For example, if you don't have the exact experience the employer is looking for, say so and explain you are willing to learn”
Paragraph G matches: 'don't exaggerate ... if you don't have the exact experience the employer is looking for, say so', which is honesty.
Being punctual
“Another important point is never to run the risk of arriving late. For example, consider making a 'dummy run' in advance to see how long the journey will take”
Paragraph D matches: 'never to run the risk of arriving late', with a 'dummy run' suggested beforehand, which is punctuality.
Learn the question types in this section
Frequently asked questions
Where does the Planning A Gap Year & Succeeding At Interviews passage come from?
It is Section 2 of Cambridge IELTS 10 General Training Reading Test 2, and it covers Questions 15–27.
What question types appear in Planning A Gap Year & Succeeding At Interviews?
The section is tested with True / False / Not Given, Matching Information. Each type is explained on this page, alongside the answers.
Are these reading answers reliable?
Every answer is paired with the sentence that proves it, so you can check each one against the passage yourself. Use the page after a timed attempt, not instead of one.
Cambridge IELTS is published by Cambridge University Press & Assessment. Band9Prep is not affiliated with Cambridge. This page is an independent study aid: it gives the answer key, the passage evidence and an explanation so you can review an attempt you have already made.