Date: October 01, 2026
IELTS General Reading Practice Test 01
Reading Passage: The Riverside Community Centre
Reading Passage: The Riverside Community Centre
A — A New Centre for the Neighbourhood
The Riverside Community Centre opened in May 2024 after the town council converted a former railway warehouse beside Greenford River. The building had stood empty for almost a decade. Rather than demolishing it, the council decided to retain the original brick exterior while completely renovating the interior. The project took eighteen months and cost £2.4 million.
The centre was designed to provide affordable recreational and educational services for people living in the surrounding neighbourhoods. Although anyone may use the building, residents of Greenford receive a 15% discount on most paid activities. Entry to the building itself is free.
B — Opening Hours and Facilities
The centre is open Monday to Friday from 6:30 a.m. until 10:00 p.m. On Saturdays, it operates from 8:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m., while Sunday hours are 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. The reception desk closes thirty minutes before the building.
Facilities include a 25-metre swimming pool, a fitness room, two indoor sports courts, four meeting rooms and a computer suite containing 24 computers. There is also a small café near the main entrance.
Children under 12 may use the swimming pool only when accompanied by an adult. The fitness room is restricted to people aged 16 and over. Lockers are available in the changing rooms, although visitors must bring their own padlock.
C — Classes and Activities
More than 40 organised activities are offered each week. Fitness classes include yoga, indoor cycling and strength training. Most sessions last 45 minutes, although the Saturday morning yoga class lasts one hour.
The centre also runs evening courses intended primarily for adults who want to develop practical skills. Current courses include basic computer skills, photography, conversational Spanish, first aid and household budgeting.
Computer classes are held in the computer suite on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Participants do not need to own a laptop because the centre provides all necessary equipment. However, anyone attending the photography course, which begins next month, must bring a digital camera.
D — Membership
Visitors do not need to become members to use the center. Activities can be paid for individually. However, frequent visitors may save money by purchasing a membership.
Three membership options are available. Basic membership costs £18 per month and provides discounted admission to classes. Active membership costs £32 and includes unlimited use of the fitness room. Complete membership costs £45 and includes the fitness room, swimming pool and all standard group exercise classes.
Members may cancel at any time but must provide 30 days’ notice. There is no joining fee for people who register online. Those registering in person pay a one-time £10 administration charge.
E — The Community Garden
Behind the center is a community garden containing 36 individual plots. Local residents can apply to grow vegetables, herbs and flowers there. Demand for plots has been high, and there is currently a waiting list.
The garden also contains a greenhouse shared by all plot holders. Rainwater from the centre’s roof is collected in two large tanks and used for watering plants. Compost is produced from garden waste and vegetable scraps collected from the centre’s café.
A volunteer gardening group meets every Wednesday evening from April until October. People do not need their own plot to join the group.
F — Volunteering
Approximately 70 volunteers currently assist at Riverside. Some help organize children’s activities, while others maintain the garden or provide basic computer assistance to older residents.
Anyone aged 16 or over can apply to volunteer. Applicants first complete an online form and are then invited to an informal interview. Volunteers working directly with children must also complete a background check before beginning.
The center asks volunteers to contribute at least four hours each month. In return, they receive free training and a 20% discount at the café.
Questions 1–5: Multiple Choice
Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.
Choose one answer for each question.
1. What happened to the original railway warehouse?
2. Which facility has an age restriction of 16 or over?
3. What must participants provide themselves for the photography course?
4. Which membership includes swimming-pool use?
5. What happens before an applicant can begin volunteering with children?
Questions 6–10: True / False / Not Given
Do the following statements agree with the information in the passage?
TRUE — the statement agrees with the information.
FALSE — the statement contradicts the information.
NOT GIVEN — there is no information about this.
6. Greenford residents receive a discount on most paid activities.
7. The centre stays open later on Saturday than it does on weekdays.
8. All fitness classes at Riverside last 45 minutes.
9. The conversational Spanish course is taught by a native Spanish speaker.
10. People can use Riverside without purchasing a membership.
Questions 11–15: Matching Information
Which paragraph contains the following information?
Choose A–F. You may use any letter more than once.
Questions 16–20: Matching Headings
There are more headings than paragraphs.
- Opportunities to contribute your time
- When visitors can enter and what they can use
- An environmentally responsible growing space
- Plans to construct a larger centre
- Ways regular users can reduce their costs
- Learning and exercise opportunities
- Problems caused by increasing membership
- Transport options for centre visitors
Questions 21–25: Matching Features
You may use any letter more than once.
- A — Swimming pool
- B — Fitness room
- C — Computer suite
- D — Community garden
- E — Café
- F — Sports courts
Questions 26–30: Summary Completion
NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER
from the passage for each answer.
Membership at Riverside
It is not compulsory for visitors to become members because activities can be purchased 26. . Those who visit regularly can choose from three membership levels.
The least expensive option costs 27. per month. People wanting unrestricted access to the fitness room can select Active membership, while Complete membership also provides access to the swimming pool and standard 28. .
Members who wish to leave must give 29. notice. People registering through the website avoid the 30. that applies to people registering in person.
Questions 31–35: Diagram Label Completion
NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER
from the passage for each answer.
31.
32.
33.
34.
35.
Questions 36–40: Short-Answer Questions
NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER
from the passage for each answer.
View Answer Key
Complete the practice test before opening the answer key.
IELTS General Reading Answer Key
Check your answers for questions 1–40 below.
Questions 1–10
- B
- C
- B
- C
- A
- TRUE
- FALSE
- FALSE
- NOT GIVEN
- TRUE
Questions 11–20
- C
- E
- A
- F
- D
- ii
- vi
- v
- iii
- i
Questions 21–30
- A
- C
- B
- D
- E
- individually
- £18
- group exercise
- 30 days’
- administration charge
Questions 31–40
- large tanks
- 36
- greenhouse
- compost
- Wednesday
- a decade
- 15%
- 24
- padlock
- yoga
