Job Sharing IELTS Reading Answers

This article provides complete Job Sharing IELTS Reading answers, taken from a real IELTS Reading test passage. Since reading passages are often repeated in different forms, practising authentic IELTS materials is essential for success. With regular practice, the IELTS Reading module can become one of the highest-scoring sections of the exam. By reviewing sample questions from past IELTS papers and understanding various question types, you can sharpen your reading skills effectively. Try the Job Sharing practice test below and explore more IELTS Reading practice tests on IELTSMaterial.com to boost your confidence and accuracy.

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Job Sharing  IELTS Reading Passage

The social effects of job-sharing are likely to be beneficial, since it attempts to match work opportunities to a wider variety of lifestyles. The combination of one full-time and one part-time spouse might become much more common: which was the husband and which was the wife would vary according to taste, time of life and career requirements.

What exactly is job-sharing? The Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) defines it as “a form of part-time employment where two people voluntarily share the responsibility of one full-time position.” Salary and benefits are divided between the two sharers. Each person's terms and conditions of employment are the same as those of a full-timer. If each works at least 15 hours a week, then they enjoy certain employment rights that ordinary part-time workers do not have.

Part-timers usually earn less per hour than full-timers, have fewer benefits and less job security. They have virtually no career prospects. Employers often think that working part-time means that a person has no ambitions and so offer no chance of promotion.

But job-sharing bridges that gap and offers the opportunity of interesting work to people who can only work part-time and that does not mean just married women. As Adrienne Broyle of “New Ways to Work” – formerly the London Job-Sharing Project- points out: “There are various reasons why people decide they want to job-share and so have more free time.”

"A growing number of men want to job-share so that they can play an active role in bringing up their children. It allows people to study at home in their free time, and means that disabled people or those who otherwise stay at home to look after them, can work. Job-sharing is also an ideal way for people to ease into retirement."

Many employers are careful of new work schemes, but a survey carried out by the EOC shows that they can profit in various ways from sharing. If one sharer is away sick, at least half the job continues to be done. Skilled workers who cannot work full-time can bring years of experience to a job.

One job-sharer in the EOC survey said, “Both I and my job-sharer do at least one and a half times the hours of work we are paid for. Half-timers have to work flat out without a tea break.” Another attraction is that two people bring to one job twice as much experience, sets of ideas and discussion. At best, two workers can complement one another's skills.

But there are financial pitfalls for the job-sharers.

– If you become unemployed, you should be eligible for Unemployment Benefit. But you have to sign on as being available for full-time work. So, those who chose to job-share because they could not work full-time cannot claim the benefit unless they are prepared to sign on for full-time employment.

– Pensions are a big stumbling block. Many job-sharers may be ineligible to join company pension schemes. The EOC paper points out that the Local Government Scheme excludes people who work under 30 hours a week.

– Those who are attracted to job-sharing as a way of easing into retirement, beware. Most vocational pension schemes are based either on the average annual earnings during membership of the scheme, or on the employee's final salary. 

In the latter case, it could mean that a person who has worked for 15 years full-time, and job shares for the next five years for the same firm, will receive a very much smaller pension than if she or he had worked those last five years full-time.

Job Sharing  IELTS Reading Questions

Questions 1–6
Match the following words with their correct definitions.

1. Spouse
2. Pitfall
3. Promotion
4. Voluntary
5. Survey
6. Complement

Questions 7–12

Refer to the passage “Job-Sharing: Half a Job Is Better than None” and read the statements below.

Write:

TRUE if the statement agrees with the information in the passage

FALSE if the statement contradicts the information in the passage

NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this in the passage

7. It is suggested that wives should try job-sharing.

8. Job-sharers volunteer to share the responsibility of one full-time job.

9. Job-sharers may enjoy employment rights that common part-time workers do not have.

10. Not qualifying for any benefits is one of the disadvantages part-time workers face.

11. Part-time workers are not considered ambitious, but they are still promoted.

12. There are now more men than women who want to job-share.

Job Sharing  IELTS Reading Answers

Let’s now review the answers to the questions from the passage in the reading section, Job Sharing IELTS Reading Answers, and assess your improvement for a high IELTS Reading band score.

1. Answer: Spouse

Question Type: Matching words with definitions
Answer Explanation:
The word spouse refers to a person’s husband or wife, which matches the definition given in the question set.

2. Answer: Pitfall

Question Type: Matching words with definitions
Answer Explanation:
A pitfall means a hidden danger or problem, which aligns with the definition related to risks or disadvantages.

3. Answer: Promotion

Question Type: Matching words with definitions
Answer Explanation:
Promotion refers to advancement in a job or position, usually involving increased responsibility or salary.

4. Answer: Voluntary

Question Type: Matching words with definitions
Answer Explanation:
The word voluntary means something done willingly, without being forced, which matches the given definition.

5. Answer: Survey

Question Type: Matching words with definitions
Answer Explanation:
A survey is a method of collecting information or opinions from a group of people, as described in the definition.

6. Answer: Complement

Question Type: Matching words with definitions
Answer Explanation:
To complement means to complete or enhance something by adding matching qualities, which fits the definition provided.

7. Answer: NOT GIVEN

Question Type: True / False / Not Given
Answer Explanation:
The passage discusses job-sharing in general but does not suggest that wives specifically should try job-sharing. Therefore, the information is not given.

8. Answer: TRUE

Question Type: True / False / Not Given
Answer Explanation:
The passage defines job-sharing as two people voluntarily sharing the responsibility of one full-time job, which directly supports the statement.

9. Answer: TRUE

Question Type: True / False / Not Given
Answer Explanation:
It is stated that job-sharers working at least 15 hours a week enjoy certain employment rights that ordinary part-time workers do not have.

10. Answer: FALSE

Question Type: True / False / Not Given
Answer Explanation:
The passage says part-timers have fewer benefits, not that they do not qualify for any benefits at all. Hence, the statement is incorrect.

11. Answer: FALSE

Question Type: True / False / Not Given
Answer Explanation:
Employers often believe part-time workers lack ambition and therefore offer no chance of promotion, which contradicts the statement.

12. Answer: NOT GIVEN

Question Type: True / False / Not Given
Answer Explanation:
Although the passage mentions a growing number of men wanting to job-share, it does not compare this number with women. Hence, the information is not given.

Tips to Ace Job Sharing IELTS Reading Answers

Let us check out some quick IELTS Exam Preparation Tips for Band Score of 8+ to answer the types of questions in the Reading Answers. 

Matching Paragraphs

1. Read the questions first to understand the main idea you are looking for in each paragraph.
2. Scan paragraphs quickly to identify keywords or synonyms that match the question.
3. Focus on the first and last sentences, as main ideas are often highlighted there.
4. Avoid overthinking; each paragraph usually matches only one question.
5. Eliminate paragraphs that clearly do not relate to the statement to narrow down options.

True/False/Not Given (T/F/NG)

1. Understand the statement carefully, noting absolute words like “all,” “always,” “never,” or “only.”
2. Find the part of the passage that relates to the statement and read carefully.
3. Use True if the statement matches the passage exactly, False if it contradicts, and Not Given if no information is provided.
4. Watch for paraphrasing; the passage may use different words than the question.
5. Avoid guessing; if information is missing, select Not Given rather than assuming.

Mastering passages like Job Sharing IELTS Reading Answers requires careful attention to keywords, paraphrasing, and logical connections in the text. Using this guide’s answers, explanations, and tips, you can strengthen your reading strategies, boost accuracy, and enhance your overall IELTS Reading performance. Keep practising with more IELTS Reading Recent Actual Tests  and answers on IELTSMaterial.com to improve your speed, accuracy, and overall performance.

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