IELTS General Training Reading Practice Test 1 – Section 1

IELTS General Training Reading Practice Test 1 – Section 1

⚡ TL;DR

Essential strategies and practice techniques for this IELTS Reading question type. Learn how to manage time and improve accuracy.

Originally published June 2017. Last reviewed 3 July 2026.

Practice the reading test section below or purchase an easy to print out PDF, which includes all 3 test sections for Reading Test 4 here.

There is also an IELTS General Training Practice Test PDF download that includes all 4 practice tests.

With each test, you get the following >

  • PDF for each section of the reading test.
  • PDF explaining the reading test band scores.
  • PDF example of a reading test answer sheet. 

Reading Section 1 - Questions 1-14

This text is from The Telegraph

Read the text below and answer Questions 1-7

The 6 most exciting activities you can do on a family holiday

A

Siemens Cookery School

Whether you have children who need to be fed or a busy working life, finding time to learn new cooking skills is a challenge. Expert chefs share all the tricks and skills required to cook to a professional standard. In the summer you may even learn to cook in the open air. Heaven.

B

Cycling

The landscape surrounding the hotel has some of the best cycling terrains in the world. Whether you want to ride along the glorious coast on a road bike or take on some serious climbs and downhills in the Sierra Nevada, there are options for all abilities. Robinson can also organise group tours to Salobreña and Calahonda.

C

Archery

Your holiday experiences of archery are probably limited to cheap equipment in a random part of the hotel. But here there’s a unique archery centre with distances of up to 40m for true experts. There are also beginners’ classes for keen novices.

D

Padel Tennis

This exciting game, which originated in Mexico, is a cross between tennis and squash. There is a net, and back and side walls to bounce the ball off. This hotel has introduced the game for the first time this year.

E

WellFit

Robinson coined this term to describe its extensive spa and fitness facilities. At Cala Serena, there is a huge range, including a fitness studio, GroupFitness classes including step, Aqua Fit and indoor cycling, a body and mind room offering Yoga and Stretch & Relax classes and the soothing WellFit spa, with a Finnish sauna and even a Cleopatra bath (additional charge).

F

Diving

The Red Sea is a veritable Eden of underwater delights and when you stay at Soma Bay in Hurghada you can take a range of diving courses to explore the world beneath the sea.

The latest dive equipment waits and instructors can guide you through a taster session to your PADI Open Water qualification and beyond with SSI Diamond Dive Resort Daily excursions. The ultra-sporty can even try freediving, or if you prefer, there are snorkelling courses available.


Questions 1-7

Look at the six advertisements above, A-F

For which activity are the following statements true?

Write the correct letter, A-F, in boxes 1-7 on your answer sheet.

NB You may use any letter more than once.

1. You can ride along the beach or try something more difficult, depending on their capabilities.

2. Travel underwater to explore

3. Play an exciting game

4. Prepare something to eat

5. Participants can try something for both beginners and the more experienced

6. Take a class or relax

7. Participants can learn new skills


The following text is from www.padi.com

Read the text below and answer Questions 8-14.

LIVE THE DREAM – TEACH DIVING

If you like people, have a passion for scuba diving and want an extraordinary life – become a PADI Instructor. Teaching scuba diving allows you to share your love of the aquatic world with others while doing what you enjoy – being in, around and under water. PADI Open Water Scuba Instructors and PADI Assistant Instructors are the most sought-after dive professionals around the world because they’ve completed the program that sets the standard for training dive professionals. You earn a PADI Instructor rating through hard work and commitment, but you’re rewarded with a job that lets you share incredible underwater adventures with others – transforming their lives for the better and enriching yours.

Are you ready to join the ranks of the dedicated professionals who teach the world’s most progressive and popular scuba diver education programs? Then Go PROSM with an Instructor Development Course. The Instructor Development Course (IDC) is made up of two parts – the Assistant Instructor (AI) course and the Open Water Scuba Instructor (OWSI) program. Most dive professionals complete the entire IDC and go on to attend an Instructor Examination (IE), which is the final step to earning a PADI Instructor certification.

Successfully completing just the AI course results in a PADI Assistant Instructor qualification. When an AI is ready to progress, attending an OWSI program allows entry into an IE to earn a full PADI Instructor rating. Dive professionals who hold an instructor rating with another diver training organisation may be eligible to enrol directly in the OWSI program. This recognises prior instructor training and provides a path to become a PADI Instructor.

Over a minimum of five days, but usually, more like seven, the IDC teaches you to conduct all PADI core courses. You’ll be able to organise and present information, conduct skill development sessions and control open water dives. Basically, you become a better public speaker and get really good at demonstrating skills while watching out for student diver safety.


Questions 8-14

Do the following statements agree with the information given in the text above?

In boxes 8-14 on your answer sheet, write

  • True - if the statement agrees with the information
  • False - if the statement contradicts the information
  • Not Given - if there is no information present

8. You need to be enthusiastic and motivated on this course

9. To complete the course you have to perform well and show responsibility

10. The diving course takes more than two days to complete

11. The Instructor development Course is made up of 3 parts

12. You can enrol onto the OWSI program if you have previous training

13. It is important that you are a strong swimmer

14. An important part of the course is diving in deep water to look for sea life


For help to answer these questions with practice please read the posts below >>


Part Two of GT Reading Test 1

Part Three of GT Reading Test 1

General Training Reading Band Scores

We hope you found this post useful in helping you to study for the IELTS Test. If you have any questions please let us know in the comments below or on the Facebook page.

The best way to keep up to date with posts like this is to like us on Facebook, then follow us on Instagram and Pinterest

If you need help preparing for the IELTS Test, join the IELTS Achieve Academy and see how we can assist you to achieve your desired band score. We offer an essay correction service, mock exams and online courses.


Answers >

Questions 1-7

1 - B

2 - F

3 - D

4 - A

5 - C

6 - E

7 - A/C

Questions 8-14

8. Not Given

9. True

10. True

11. False

12. True

13. Not Given

14. False


IELTS General Training Reading Practice Test 1 – Section 1

IELTS General Training Reading Practice Test 1 – Section 2

⚡ TL;DR

Essential strategies and practice techniques for this IELTS Reading question type. Learn how to manage time and improve accuracy.

Originally published June 2017. Last reviewed 3 July 2026.

Practice the reading test section below or purchase an easy to print out PDF, which includes all 3 test sections for Reading Test 4 here.

There is also an IELTS General Training Practice Test PDF download that includes all 4 practice tests.

With each test, you get the following >

  • PDF for each section of the reading test.
  • PDF explaining the reading test band scores.
  • PDF example of a reading test answer sheet. 

READING SECTION 2 - QUESTIONS 15-27

The text below is from Direct Recruiters.

Read the text below and answer Questions 15-20.

The 10 Job Interview Don’ts

We all know the simple don’ts of an interview such as don’t arrive late, don’t dress inappropriately and don’t show up looking unprepared. However, I have compiled a more in-depth Top 10 List of Don’ts derived from the feedback of industry companies and candidates alike.

1) Don’t mispronounce the names of those interviewing you. Double check the pronunciation of names with the receptionist or hiring manager prior to your interview. Getting names correct is a simple matter of courtesy and respect.

2) Don’t walk into the interview without knowing about the company. Do your homework and research the company prior to the interview. Visiting their website is a good place to start.

3) Don’t even think about answering your cell phone during the interview. It’s best to turn it off prior to entering the building.

4) Don’t make negative comments or remarks about your present or past employers. When explaining why you are seeking a change, communicate your rationale professionally.

5) Don’t answer questions with a simple “yes” or “no”. Explain and give details whenever possible. However, make sure you provide the details in a succinct and articulate manner.

6) Don’t expect your resume to close the deal. Sell yourself by providing more information and cite specific examples of how you have been successful at your current or past job(s).

7) Don’t pretend to know-it-all. If you don’t know the answer to a question, say so. Never pretend to know something or someone if you don’t.

8) Don’t inquire about salary, vacation, benefits, bonuses or retirement during the initial interview. This information will be provided at a later date if the process proceeds. If the interviewer asks about the salary you want, give a range based on your research of competitive rates. However, it might be best to indicate that you are more interested in the opportunity than a specific salary.

9) Don’t falsify application information. Most companies do background checks on candidates and any false information you provide will be exposed.

10) Don’t’ leave the interview without asking about the next steps in the process and don’t forget to write a thank-you note immediately after the interview.


Questions 15-20

Complete the sentences below.

Choose ONE WORD ONLY from the text for each answer.

Write your answer in boxes 15-20 on your answer sheet.

15. Before the interview make sure you.............................. the company.

16. Only say good things about your past employers, nothing ................................

17. Give good answers to questions with lots of ..................................

18. Include............................. of how you have used your skills in previous jobs.

19. It is better not to ask questions about the ....................................

20. Be honest, most places will do a ............................ check.


The following text is taken from The British Red Cross Society.

Read the text below and answer Questions 21-27.

First Aid At Work

Who is it for?

This course is suitable for people aged 16+ who work in high-hazard environments such as construction, manufacturing or agriculture.

It is also ideal for organisations whose needs assessment identifies a requirement for additional first aid training (e.g. due to having employees with a disability or medical condition).

It gives learners the skills and confidence to respond to a range of accidents and first aid emergencies they could encounter in the workplace.

Length

3 days

Time

09:00-17:00

Course content includes:

Our first aid at work course covers the content specified in the Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981.

It gives learners the first aid skills to help someone who:

  • is unresponsive and breathing
  • is unresponsive and not breathing (including the use of an automated external defibrillator/AED)
  • is choking
  • is bleeding
  • is suffering from shock
  • is burnt
  • feels faint
  • has been poisoned
  • has a head injury
  • has hypothermia or heat exhaustion
  • is having a medical emergency:
    • seizure
    • heart attack*
    • angina attack
    • stroke
    • asthma attack
    • severe allergic reaction
    • diabetic emergency
  • has an injury to a bone muscle or joint (including spinal injuries).

The course also includes information on:

  • dealing with an emergency:
    • assessing a casualty
    • monitoring a casualty
    • where to get help
    • electrical incidents
  • accident recording and reporting
  • control of substances hazardous to health (COSHH).

Each learner receives a training pack including a host of resources to help them practice the skills covered. The pack includes a course companion workbook, first aid manual, bandages and more.

Qualification

The HSE requires at least 18 training and contact hours for this course. Learners must attend all sessions to be eligible for assessment, which is done by continuous observation and questioning during the course.

On successful completion of this course, you will receive a first aid at work certificate which is valid for three years.

For best practice, we support the HSE recommendation to complete an annual first aid skills update.

Pre-requisites

Our courses offer a practical, hands-on approach that delivers the skills and confidence to use first aid skills in a real life situation. Learners must be physically able to carry out the practical elements of the course.


Questions 21-27

Answer the questions below.

Choose ONE OR TWO WORDS ONLY AND/OR A NUMBER from the text for each answer.

Write your answers in boxes 21-27 on your answer sheet.

21. What is the minimum age to enrol on the course?

22. Which position is the certificate intended for?

23. How many days does the course cover?

24. What does each participant receive during the course?

25. How many hours must the students attend in order to pass the course?

26. How long is the course certificate valid for?

27. What do the students have to be, so that they can manage the course?


For help to answer these questions with practice please read the posts below >>


Part One of GT Reading Test 1

Part Three of GT Reading Test 1

General Training Reading Band Scores

We hope you found this post useful in helping you to study for the IELTS Test. If you have any questions please let us know in the comments below or on the Facebook page.

The best way to keep up to date with posts like this is to like us on Facebook, then follow us on Instagram and Pinterest

If you need help preparing for the IELTS Test, join the IELTS Achieve Academy and see how we can assist you to achieve your desired band score. We offer an essay correction service, mock exams and online courses.


Answers >

Questions 15-20

15. research

16. negative

17. details

18. examples

19. salary

20. background

Questions 21-27

21. 16

22. One of the following - Construction/Manufacturing/Agriculture 

23. 3

24. training pack

25. 18

26. 3 years

27. physically able


IELTS Academic Reading Practice Test 1 – Text 1

IELTS Academic Reading Practice Test 1 – Text 1

⚡ TL;DR

Essential strategies and practice techniques for this IELTS Reading question type. Learn how to manage time and improve accuracy.

Originally published June 2017. Last reviewed 3 July 2026.

Reading Text 1

This text is from Science Mag and written by Carrie Arnold

You should spend around 20 minutes on Questions 1-13, which are based on reading text 1.

Shhh, The Ants Are Talking

If you want to survive as an ant, you'd better get ready to make some noise. A new study shows that even ant pupae—a stage between larvae and adult—can communicate via sound and that this communication can be crucial to their survival.

"What's very cool about this paper is that researchers have shown for the first time that pupae do, in fact, make some sort of a sound," says Phil DeVries, an entomologist at the University of New Orleans in Louisiana who was not involved in the study. "This was a very clever piece of natural history and science."

Scientists have known for decades that ants use a variety of small chemicals known as pheromones to communicate. Perhaps the most classic example is the trail of pheromones the insect's place as they walk. Those behind them follow this trail, leading to long lines of ants marching one by one. However, the insects also use pheromones to identify which nest an ant is from and its social status in that nest. Because this chemical communication is so prevalent and complex, researchers long believed that this was the primary way ants shared information.

However, several years ago, researchers began to notice that adults in some ant genuses, such as Myrmica, which contains more than 200 diverse species found across Europe and Asia, made noise. These types of ants have a specialised spike along their abdomen that they stroke with one of their hind legs, similar to dragging the teeth of a comb along the edge of a table. Preliminary studies seemed to indicate that this noise served primarily as an emergency beacon, allowing the ants to shout for help when being threatened by a predator.

Larvae and young pupae have soft outer skeletons, which means their specialised spikes haven't yet formed and they can't make noise. However, as the pupae mature, their covering hardens into a tough exoskeleton like that found in adult ants. These older pupae do have fully functional spikes but were generally thought to be silent.

Karsten Schönrogge, an entomologist at the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Wallingford, in the United Kingdom, thought it odd that mature pupae would have the capability to produce sound but remain silent. So he and his colleagues listened in to a group of Myrmica scabrinodisants. These 4- to 5-millimeter-long, reddish-brown ants are commonly found in northern Europe, in low-lying areas like peat bogs.

Using an extra-sensitive microphone that would pick up on the faint acoustic signals, the researchers measured the sounds produced by 10 differentM. scabrinodis larvae, six immature pupae, and six mature pupae. Whereas the larvae and immature pupae were completely silent, the mature pupae produced brief pulses of sound, the team reports online today in Current Biology.

Further analysis of this noise showed that it was a simplified version of the more complex adult sound. It was as if the mature pupae were saying, "Help!" while the adults were saying "Hey, I'm over here! Please come help! It's your friend!"

To test the function of these noises in the mature pupae, the researchers first played back the sounds made by either the mature pupae or adult M. scabrinodis. Adult worker ants responded the same way to both recordings, such as walking over to the speaker, rubbing their antennae against it, and guarding it. They didn't show these responses when Schönrogge and colleagues played white noise. These behaviours, which represent a worker ant's attempts to protect its nestmates, indicate that acoustic communication served to bring assistance in both mature pupae and adult ants.

To see how the ants used this acoustic communication, the team removed the abdominal spike from some of the mature pupae in a nest. The researchers then disturbed the nest, spilling out larvae, pupae, and adult workers into an experimental arena. Normally, the adult ants rescue their nestmates in a specific order: mature pupae, immature pupae, and, finally, the larvae. In the experiments by Schönrogge and colleagues, the adult workers indeed rescued the unmuted mature pupae first. However, the adult ants completely ignored the muted ants. It was as if the mute mature pupae simply didn't exist.

"The sounds they make rescue them by signalling their social status," Schönrogge says. "There is complex information in these signals," that combine with chemical signals to provide an array of information about the individual. Researchers have yet to decode everything the ants are communicating by sound and how the ants interpret these signals. Acoustic communication may be especially important in mature pupae because they don't yet produce the full array of adult pheromones, but they also don't smell and behave like larvae, either.

DeVries cautions that the discovery doesn't mean that chemical communication in ants is less important. "Ants live in these enormously sophisticated societies," he says. "Acoustic signalling adds another gorgeous piece to what we know about how insect societies communicate."


Questions 1-6

Do the following statements agree with the information in the text?

In boxes 1-6 on your answer sheet, write

  • True - if the statement agrees with the information
  • False - if the statement contradicts the information
  • Not Given - if there is no information present

1. Adult ants have spiked legs

2. Mature ants and pupae can convey they need help by creating sounds

3. The larvae do no produce any signals

4. Quiet ants were not retrieved by the mature ants

5. The ants tested did not show any positions relating to hierarchy

6. Ants live in practical communities


Questions 7-9

Complete each sentence with the correct ending, A-F below

Write the correct letter A-F, in boxes 7-9 on your answer sheet.

7. The ants can use their sense of smell

8. Some ants can create a sound

9. Some researchers 

A. to detect other insects

B. to talk to each other and gain knowledge of their place in the hierarchy

C. from using their antennae

D. that is used to ask for help

E. documented the tone from various stages of ant formation

F. created a support network for the ants


Questions 10-13

Complete the flow chart below.

Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the text for each answer.

Write your answers in boxes 10-13 on your answer sheet.


If you need help to answer these questions with extra practice please read the posts below >>


Answers >>

Questions 1-6

1. Not Given

2. True

3. False

4. True

5. False

6. True

Questions 7-9

7. - B

8. - D

9. - E

Questions 10-13

10. specialised spike

11. threatened

12. pupae

13. tough exoskeleton


Part Two of Academic Reading Test 1

Part Three of Academic Reading Test 1

Academic Reading Band Scores

We hope you found this post useful in helping you to study for the IELTS Test. If you have any questions please let us know in the comments below or on the Facebook page.

The best way to keep up to date with posts like this is to like us on Facebook, then follow us on Instagram and Pinterest

If you need help preparing for the IELTS Test, join the IELTS Achieve Academy and see how we can assist you to achieve your desired band score. We offer an essay correction service, mock exams and online courses.

IELTS Academic Reading Practice Test 1 – Text 2

IELTS Academic Reading Practice Test 1 – Text 2

⚡ TL;DR

Essential strategies and practice techniques for this IELTS Reading question type. Learn how to manage time and improve accuracy.

Originally published June 2017. Last reviewed 3 July 2026.

READING TEXT 2

This text is from The World Health Organisation (WHO) 

You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 14-26, which are based on reading text 2.

Questions 14-18

The text below has five paragraphs A-E.

Choose the correct heading for each paragraph from the list of headings below.

Write the correct number, i-viii, in boxes 14-18 on your answer sheet.

List of Headings

i. A new beginning

ii. A career like no other

iii. Integration and education

iv. The result of the overall benefits

v. Some drawbacks of working in the healthcare system

vi. From the initial process to the workplace

vii. The future of healthcare for refugees and migrants

viii. Examples of medical staff success

14. Paragraph A

15. Paragraph B

16. Paragraph C

17. Paragraph D

18. Paragraph E


World Refugee Day: WHO training enables Syrian doctors and nurses to provide health care in Turkey

A

“We and the Turkish doctors are working like brothers and sisters.” These are the words of Muhammed Hattab, 1 of more than 3 million Syrian refugees now living in Turkey – the country with the highest number of refugees in the world. A doctor who fled his home in Aleppo more than 2 years ago, Muhammed did not know whether by leaving northern Syria he was also abandoning his profession and the career he had built in his home country. However, thanks to a joint programme of the WHO Country Office in Turkey and the Turkish Ministry of Health, he has been able to begin a new chapter of his life and career, working in the Turkish national health system and providing care for his fellow Syrians in Turkey.

B

In 2016, the Turkish government enacted a law that allows Syrian health professionals to enter the workforce in the Turkish health system, with the aim of both integrating Syrian professionals into the health system and also ensuring that Syrian refugees can receive health care without encountering language or cultural barriers. In order to implement this law, the Public Health Institution of Turkey, associated with the Ministry of Health, and the WHO Country Office developed an adaptation training for Syrian health workers living Turkey – including doctors, nurses and midwives. The initiative is supported financially by the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Operations (ECHO).The training provides classroom and practical coursework, resulting in a certificate that authorises Syrian health-care workers to practice in refugee health centres established in Turkey and to deliver health services to Syrian refugees.

C

Since the trainings began in November 2016, over 380 doctors and 360 nurses and midwives have received vocational competence certificates, allowing them to serve refugee populations in Turkey. Ultimately, they will staff the 260 refugee health centres and 600 refugee health units that the Ministry of Health has opened and will establish in the future. These centres and units provide primary health care, with services offered to Syrian refugees free of charge. “This project in Turkey was the salvation for Syrian doctors,” says Muhammed. “With this programme, we felt like doctors for the first time in 2 years.”

D

While the health-care profession has general underlying principles that are universal across different parts of the world, some important regulations and practices differ greatly from country to country. The adaptation training seeks to give Syrian health workers the knowledge and experience they need in order to be fully competent and skilled in the Turkish setting. They must first apply for the programme and go through a selection process. Once approved by the Ministry of Health, they undergo a 1-week classroom training with Turkish university professors and lecturers, followed by 6 weeks of on-the -job training in a Refugee Health Centre. By working under the mentorship of Turkish health professionals for several weeks, they are able to familiarise themselves with the Turkish health system and prepare to provide care within this system. They are also evaluated at each stage of the training process before becoming certified to work in Turkey, helping to ensure good results for Syrian patients in the country.

E

“These trainings are not only a way to address language barriers but a good example of the collaboration between national and international partners in Turkey to help the integration of Syrian medical doctors, nurses and midwives to serve the community of refugees. We appreciate that the Government of Turkey, the Ministry of Health and Turkish health staff ensure equitable access to health services. And we consider this a one-of-a-kind collaboration among WHO, academia and the Ministry of Health to set an example for other countries, accommodating high numbers of refugees and migrants,” comments Dr Pavel Ursu, WHO Representative to Turkey. WHO supports the classroom portion of the training, in collaboration with the Ministry, and is committed to making sure that Syrian health professionals are equipped with the essential theoretical background for their future career. In addition, WHO provides trainees with financial support for the duration of practical training to cover living expenses and travel costs.


Questions 19-22

Look at the following titles/names (Questions 19-22) and the list of statements below.

Match each title/name with the correct statement, A-F.

Write the correct letter, A-F, in boxes 19-22 on your answer sheet.

19. Muhammed Hattab

20. The Turkish Government

21. The Ministry of Health

22. Dr Pavel Ursu

A. Moved to Turkey

B. Provides healthcare for Syrians in Turkey

C. Implemented a system allowing migrant and refugee medical workers to undergo training in similar practices

D. Are evaluating the Turkish health system

E. Has opened many places for people to receive free healthcare

F. Gives praise to the new collaboration amongst professionals and the government


Questions 23-26

Complete the sentences below.

Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the text for each answer.

Write your answers in boxes 23-26 on your answer sheet.

23. Muhammed Hattab refers to working with fellow Syrians like working with brothers .................................................

24. The Turkish government is making it easier for Syrians to be treated medically by fellow .................................

25. Syrian medical professionals are entered into a ............................... program that updates their knowledge of the Turkish healthcare system.

26. Everyone involved is trying to set an ............................ to other places in the world.


If you need help to answer these questions with extra practice please read the posts below >>


Answers >>

Questions 14-18

A - i

B - iii

C - iv

D - vi

E - vii

Questions 19-22

19 - B

20 - C

21 - E

22 - F

Questions 23-26

23 - and sisters

24 - Syrians

25 - training

26 - example


Part One of Academic Reading Test 1

Part Three of Academic Reading Test 1

Academic Reading Band Scores

We hope you found this post useful in helping you to study for the IELTS Test. If you have any questions please let us know in the comments below or on the Facebook page.

The best way to keep up to date with posts like this is to like us on Facebook, then follow us on Instagram and Pinterest

If you need help preparing for the IELTS Test, join the IELTS Achieve Academy and see how we can assist you to achieve your desired band score. We offer an essay correction service, mock exams and online courses.

IELTS Academic Reading Practice Test 1 – Text 3

IELTS Academic Reading Practice Test 1 – Text 3

⚡ TL;DR

Essential strategies and practice techniques for this IELTS Reading question type. Learn how to manage time and improve accuracy.

Originally published June 2017. Last reviewed 3 July 2026.

READING TEXT 3

This text is from Psychology Today written by Allison Abrams

You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 27-40, which are based on reading text 3.

Mental Health and the Effects of Social Media

Is Facebook making you depressed? If so, you’re not alone. According to a recent study by UK disability charity Scope, of 1500 Facebook and Twitter users surveyed, 62 percent reported feeling inadequate and 60 percent reported feelings of jealousy from comparing themselves to other users.

I’ve heard similar complaints from friends and I’ve felt it myself on a bad day. Most frequently, I hear such statements from those who are struggling with depression. It makes sense that if you are already in a low mood or not feeling good about yourself, having pictures of happy couples and smiling babies pop up on your screen on a consistent basis may make you feel worse. The same is true if you tend to generally have a negative outlook on life.

If Facebook posts depress you, the solution is simple. Here are four things you can do today to help you cope:

  1. Deactivate your Facebook account (you can always reactivate it later)
  2. Unfollow your most (seemingly) happy and successful, friends
  3. Remember that Facebook isn’t a representation of reality
  4. Turn off the computer and go make your own annoyingly happy moments

Should you really take the four actions above?

In a 2015 study on the effects of Facebook use on mental health, researchers at the University of Missouri discovered that regular use could lead to symptoms of depression if the site triggered feelings of envy in the user.

“If it is used as a way to size up one's own accomplishments against others, it can have a negative effect,” said Professor Margaret Duffy, one of the professors who co-authored the research. She explains that if it’s used “to see how well an acquaintance is doing financially or how happy an old friend is in his relationship - things that cause envy among users - use of the site can lead to feelings of depression.”

However, those who use the site primarily to feel connected do not experience the negative effects. In fact, when not triggering feelings of envy, the study shows, Facebook could be a good resource and have positive effects on well-being.

Further studies have shown that the majority of social media users tend to edit and post only their most attractive pictures, or ‘put a rose-tinted gloss over their lives’ in an effort to idealise themselves and, researchers believe, to improve others’ impressions of them.

To avoid Facebook-induced depression, users should be aware of the risks of using the site as a tool for comparison. Furthermore, users should be aware that most people are presenting a biased, positive version of reality on social media. Finally, if you’re still feeling down, angry, or generally disillusioned because of the positive news shared by your Facebook friends, on or offline, you should question why you feel that way.

Barring clinical depression or a recent life setback, is it really such a bad thing to see another human being enjoying life, especially if it’s a friend- or at least someone you tolerate enough to accept as a Facebook friend?

With all of the suffering and pain in the world, wouldn’t it be a tragedy if people stopped sharing joyful events for fear of making someone else jealous? Imagine if people only discussed all of the negative things that surrounded them. Especially over this past year, don’t we have enough tragic posts appearing in our newsfeeds 24/7?

Given that there will always be someone who’s taller, richer, better-looking, who has more friends, a better job, etc., we can either allow ourselves to fall into the dangerous trap of comparison, or we can choose to remember that regardless of what others around you appear to have, everyone is grappling with their own struggles. For every promotion, a book deal and Tony nomination, chances are, the recipient has experienced equally or more significant life setbacks.

Also important to remember is that for every person that seems to have more, there is another with less. For each individual whose qualities you covet, there’s someone out there who wishes they had what you have. If we can’t change our outer circumstances, at least we can try to change our perspective and learn to be grateful for what we have. We can also learn to celebrate other’s successes. Sharing in other people’s joy can often lift our spirits.

"Be aware of what others are doing, applaud their efforts, acknowledge their successes, and encourage them in their pursuits. When we all help one another, everybody wins" - Jim Stovall

These suggestions may be difficult, especially if you’re struggling with low self-worth or depression. If that is the case, seek help from a friend or a professional. Whether it’s reaching out for support, practising gratitude or simply surrounding yourself with more of the positive, you owe it to yourself to make the best out of this life.

Stop torturing yourself by comparing your life with everyone else’s positively biased representations of theirs. Seek to improve your own life in a realistic manner. Choose to look at the positives and to celebrate your wins… as well as theirs.


Questions 27-32

Do the following statements agree with the claims of the writer in the text?

In boxes 27-32 on your answer sheet write

  • YES - if the statement agrees with the views or claims
  • NO - if the statement contradicts the views or claims
  • NOT GIVEN - it is impossible to say what the writer's views/claims are

27. Social media makes many people unhappy

28. When people see photographs of others having fun it makes them feel really happy

29. There are steps you can take to lessen the effects of social media on your wellbeing

30. Research shows how certain aspects can make you feel good about yourself

31. Ask for help on Facebook and Twitter

32. Seek positivity in your own life and stop comparing yourself to others


Questions 33-40

Complete the summary below.

Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the text for each answer.

Write your answers in boxes 33-40 on your answer sheet.

Mental Health And Social Media

There is a desire among most people to check their social media accounts obsessively with many people feeling 33. ............................. when they compare their lives to others. This is often felt by those suffering from depression or who have simply had a bad day. When looking through your newsfeed and seeing photographs of people having a great time, could make you feel 34. ................................. There are steps that can be taken to reduce these feelings, including removing yourself from Facebook or other social media accounts. Another step is to leave the computer alone and go and do something you enjoy. Research has shown that looking at Facebook obsessively can point your mental health into the direction of 35 ......................................... When comparing your life to those that you see on social media feeds it can have a 36..................................... effect. When people start to envy others on social media, it can lead to a person thinking badly about their own lives and themselves. Those people who use Facebook to keep in touch with friends and family experience more 37........................................ effects. Research also shows that most people who post photographs, heavily edit in an attempt to make others see them how they want to be seen. It is important to think about how everyone has their own problems in the world, glamorous people on Facebook included. For each person you see who inspires you to crave what they have, there are others who want what 38 ............................................. We should be happy for others good fortune and learn to be grateful for our own successes. If you feel like you are having difficulties with depression or low 39 ........................................ ask for help. Even if you talk through it all with a good friend or colleague or envelop yourself in a more positive environment, small changes can make sure that you get 40 ..................................... out of your life.


If you need help to answer these questions with extra practice please read the posts below >>


Answers >>

Questions 27-32

27 - Yes

28 - No

29 - Yes

30 - Not Given

31 - Not Given

32 - Yes

Questions 33-40

33. inadequate

34. worse

35. depression

36. negative

37. positive

38. you have

39. self-worth

40. the best


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