Cambridge IELTS 21 · General Training · Test 3 · Section 1
Supermarket Reviews & Getting a Credit Card — IELTS Reading Answers
All 14 answers for Supermarket Reviews & Getting a Credit Card, Cambridge IELTS 21 General Training Reading Test 3 Section 1, with the passage evidence and an explanation for each.
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Supermarket Reviews & Getting a Credit Card answer key at a glance
Questions 1–14. Tap an answer to see the evidence.
What this section tests
This section is tested with Matching Information (Q1–8), True / False / Not Given (Q9–14). Each section below gives the strategy for that question type, the answers, and the sentence that proves them.
Questions 1–8: 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 items on sale are of a high standard.
“This is overall the most popular supermarket with shoppers, who appreciate the wide range of products available and their excellent quality”
Supermarket F earns the point: customers appreciate the range and 'their excellent quality', which is the high standard described.
Customers have to wait a long time before they can pay.
“checkout queuing times are a problem”
Only D reports that 'checkout queuing times are a problem', matching the long wait before paying.
Some of the food is not always very fresh.
“the fruit and vegetables on sale are sometimes a bit past their best”
In C the fruit and vegetables are 'sometimes a bit past their best', so some food is not always fresh.
The products bought are well worth the price.
“This is generally accepted as the best of all the supermarkets for value for money”
B is 'generally accepted as the best of all the supermarkets for value for money', meaning goods are worth the price.
There is now a greater variety of products available.
“A wider range of goods has recently been introduced”
A states that 'A wider range of goods has recently been introduced', so there is now greater variety.
The limited choice available can be an advantage.
“Stock range isn’t as wide as in some other supermarkets, but this doesn’t appear to put customers off – in fact they say they’re happy that they don’t have to spend time making decisions on what brand to buy”
B says the narrower stock range saves shoppers 'time making decisions on what brand to buy', turning limited choice into an advantage.
It is easy to order goods online.
“However, customers are impressed with how straightforward the website is to use, and the availability of delivery slots”
E praises 'how straightforward the website is to use', which is what makes ordering goods online easy.
Customers praise the service provided by employees.
“The staff here are also extremely helpful”
F reports that 'The staff here are also extremely helpful', matching praise for employees' service.
Questions 9–14: 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.
It may be a good idea to repay only the minimum amount required each month.
“You should avoid only paying the minimum your provider asks for each month, as interest has to be paid on outstanding balances”
This contradicts the advice: the text says to avoid paying only the minimum because interest accrues on outstanding balances.
You should take out insurance in case you lose your card.
“Many cards have some form of insurance built into them, covering damage to goods purchased with the card or cancellation of a flight or holiday”
The text mentions cards with built-in insurance covering damaged goods or cancelled flights, but never discusses taking out insurance against losing your card.
You should make yourself aware of any restrictions on insurance claims you make using your card.
“This is free, but there are usually conditions attached so read the small print if you intend to rely on the cover”
Card insurance is 'free, but there are usually conditions attached', so you should 'read the small print' before relying on the cover.
You can only claim insurance for the full cost of a product or service if you paid for it all on your credit card.
“Bear in mind that you don’t have to pay the full amount on your card to get protection – the key thing is the price of the product you are buying. For example, if you’re buying a £500 flight, and pay £100 on your card and £400 in cash, your credit card will protect you for the full amount”
Paying only £100 of a £500 flight on the card still protects 'the full amount', so paying everything on the card is not required.
A card provided by your bank may offer more security than one from another provider.
“When choosing a card the easiest option is to go to your bank, but it may not offer the best deal for your circumstances”
The text says a bank card 'may not offer the best deal', but it never compares the security levels of bank and other providers.
You can generally get a store card quite quickly while you are in the store.
“Store cards are usually available at the point of sale and can be used to make a purchase once a credit check and application form have been completed, which can take as little as 10 minutes”
Store cards are issued at the point of sale, and a credit check plus form 'can take as little as 10 minutes', so a quick decision is possible.
Learn the question types in this section
Frequently asked questions
Where does the Supermarket Reviews & Getting a Credit Card passage come from?
It is Section 1 of Cambridge IELTS 21 General Training Reading Test 3, and it covers Questions 1–14.
What question types appear in Supermarket Reviews & Getting a Credit Card?
The section is tested with Matching Information, True / False / Not Given. 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.