Personal Training in the UK - IELTS Reading Answers

Section 3 of the IELTS General Reading Test is often considered the most challenging part of the entire reading module. Unlike Sections 1 and 2, which focus on everyday topics and workplace-related texts, Section 3 presents a lengthy, complex passage that is more closely aligned in style with the IELTS Academic Reading test. Therefore, practicing passages like ‘Personal Training in the UK IELTS Reading Answers’ will help you prepare and achieve your desired band score.

Take the passage, ‘Personal Training in the UK’ below, and try more IELTS General reading practice tests. We have provided explanations, locations for the answers, and tips to help you handle the two different types of reading questions here.

Passage for Personal Training in the UK IELTS Reading Answers

Go through the IELTS General Reading passage for Personal Training in the UK Reading Answers given below, and be prepared to solve similar topics for the reading section.

Personal Training in the UK

Studies have shown that average weights for British men, women and children have increased considerably over the last 20 years. Recent research predicts that half the UK population will be seriously overweight by the year 2050.

Reports of this type often lead to a sudden rush of people deciding to join a gym or buy an exercise bike to use at home. The fitness industry has become very big business and is now worth approximately £3.92 billion. One aspect of this that is growing particularly fast at the moment is the personal training business. More and more people are choosing to pay a coach to give them regular individual fitness advice. And more and more people are choosing to become personal trainers.

Once only the rich successful film stars and professional footballers, for example – used personal trainers but now they provide themselves services for bank clerks, teachers. A number of recent television programmes have raised people’s awareness of personal training and made them realise that it is no longer something that only the wealthy can afford. One major leisure company has identified personal training – either for individuals or for a small group of friends – as a key area of future growth. The company understands that people prefer a more tailored and personal programme over a one-size-fits-all approach.

The main reason for this preference is the clients’ belief that personalised training will be matched to their individual fitness needs and so will help them achieve the great results they want. But there is another reason as well. Many people feel uncomfortable working out in a gym where everyone else seems so much more athletic. People like this feel much happier exercising in privacy at home. Of course, they could do this without a personal trainer but most people find it motivating to have someone else give them encouragement.

For all these reasons, then, it is a good time to set up a personal training business and there are only a few requirements for anyone wishing to do so. Firstly, they must get a general qualification in personal training. This can cost them from £300 to several thousand, depending on their previous knowledge and on the specific focus of the course. They must also take out insurance and they will need transport and access to fitness equipment. They should also identify a specialism to offer their clients. This could mean focusing on helping people to lose weight or to improve their muscle tone, or it could mean specialising in helping women during pregnancy or athletes.

Fitness training offers a flexible career as trainers can work on a full-time or part-time basis. It is possible to fit in training around an existing job so that trainers can see if the business is going to be right for them before they give up a regular salary. Most fitness trainers work on a freelance basis, advertising for their own clients. This is popular because trainers can choose their own hours and can set their own charges. However, others are associated with gyms or sports clubs where they provide fitness classes as well as offering private sessions to individual customers. Despite the fact that there are many more personal trainers in the country than there were ten years ago, there are still plenty of clients to keep them busy and this allows them to keep a good living.

It can be a satisfying career choice. Nick Wood, a freelance personal trainer in London says, ‘For me, nothing is better than helping someone towards their dream. They might want to lose weight, gain muscle or get better after an injury – I just love seeing them reach their goal. This is a big motivator for me and the reason why I became a personal trainer.’

Wood says anyone setting up as a trainer should start by teaching keep fit classes locally. ‘I put a lot of energy into every single one I do and, trust me, if people think you are a good motivator in a studio, then it is only a matter of time before they want your advice to achieve their own personal goals. Posters, social media and other types of ad have also helped me get clients, but you have to get out of there and get noticed.’

So, the personal training industry in the UK may not only be an interesting career choice, but also an important way of stopping those predictions of serious weight problems by 2050 from coming true.

Questions for Personal Training in the UK IELTS Reading Answers

The passages, Personal Training in the UK Reading Answers, consist of 10 questions, which showcase two different IELTS Reading question types. They are:

• IELTS Reading Note Completion (Q. 1-6)
• IELTS Reading Multiple-Choice Question (Q. 7-10)

Questions 1-6

1 __________ in the UK valued at just under £4 billion.

2 Growth in the role of personal trainers predicted by a 2 __________.

People like using a trainer because:

Training is personalised.

3 They prefer the environment of their  __________

4 They like the  __________ a trainer provides

To set up a personal training business, people need:

Qualifications

5 __________

Transport

6 __________ they can use

Questions 7-10

7 The writer says that a career in fitness training

A Is rewarding despite a need to work long hours.

B Suits people already working in the fitness industry.

C Offers flexibility and a variety of work opportunities.

D Provides a good income and interesting work.

8 Which aspect of his work does Nick Wood enjoy most?

A Helping a client to cover from an injury.

B Encouraging people to do their best

C Finding new ways to motivate people.

D Watching his customers achieve.

9 The key advice Nick Wood gives people who want to start a training business is:

A To become known by teaching groups well.

B To make sure they keep fit themselves.

C To advertise in local gyms and sports clubs.

D To make good use of social media.

10 What is the writer’s conclusion about personal training?

A It is likely to grow in popularity for a long time.

B It helps both trainers and clients to keep fit.

C It may be good for both the trainer and society.

D It will prevent many health problems in the future.

Personal Training in the UK IELTS Reading Answers with Location and Explanation

In this section, you will find all the answers, as well as the location of each answer in the passage and the keywords that help you locate the answers. Check out 'Personal Training in the UK' answers and assess your improvement for a high IELTS band score.

1 Answer: Fitness industry

Question type: Notes completion

Answer location: Paragraph 2, line 2 – 3

Answer explanation: It is mentioned that the fitness industry has become very big business and is now worth approximately £3.92 billion. As the amount is just under £4 billion, hence the fitness industry is the answer.

2 Answer: Major leisure company

Question type: Notes completion

Answer location: Paragraph 3, line 4

Answer explanation: It is stated that a major leisure company has identified (predicted) personal training – either for individuals or for a small group of friends – as a key area of future growth. Hence, the answer is leisure company.

3 Answer: Home

Question type: Notes completion

Answer location: Paragraph 4, line 5

Answer explanation: It is stated that many people opt for personal training because they are uncomfortable in gyms and feel much happier (prefer) exercising in privacy (environment) at home. Hence, it is the answer.

4 Answer: Encouragement

Question type: Notes completion

Answer location: Paragraph 4, line 6

Answer explanation: It is mentioned that people could do the exercise without a personal trainer but most people find it motivating to have someone else give them encouragement. As people like to feel more motivated and encouraged when exercising and their personal trainers provide them this, hence the answer is encouragement.

5 Answer: Insurance

Question type: Notes completion

Answer location: Paragraph 5, line 5

Answer explanation: People need to take out insurance as part of setting up a personal training business as mentioned hence, it is the answer.

6 Answer: Fitness equipment and specialisation

Question type: Notes completion

Answer location: Paragraph 5, lines 5-7

Answer explanation: It is also mentioned that people should invest in training equipment they will use as personal trainers and offer a specialisation that their clients can avail when seeking their services, hence it is the answer.

7 Answer: C

Question type: Multiple choice question

Answer location: Paragraph 6, lines 1-3

Answer explanation: The writer mentions that fitness training offers a flexible career as trainers can work on a full-time or part-time basis. It is possible to fit in training around an existing job. As this profession offers flexibility and ability to work in a variety of work opportunities, C is the answer.

8 Answer: D

Question type: Multiple choice question

Answer location: Paragraph 7, lines 3-4

Answer explanation: It is mentioned that Nick Wood, a freelance personal trainer in London says, ‘For me, nothing is better than helping someone towards their dream. …. It shows that for Wood, seeing his clients achieve their dream is a big motivator for him and he enjoys it the most. Hence, the answer is D.

9 Answer: A

Question type: Multiple choice question

Answer location: Paragraph 8, lines 1-3

Answer explanation: It is stated that Wood says anyone setting up as a trainer should start by teaching keep fit classes locally. He encourages anyone starting out as a personal trainer to teach local classes and become well known as a good motivator. If one does so, people will automatically come to them. Hence, the answer is A.

10 Answer: C

Question type: Multiple choice question

Answer location: Paragraph 9, lines 1-3

Answer explanation: The writer is stated to say that the personal training industry in the UK may not only be an interesting career choice, but also an important way of stopping those predictions of serious weight problems by 2050 from coming true. So, personal training is not only good for the trainer but also benefits the society by keeping people fit in the long run. Hence, the answer is C.

To conclude, this reading section demands not only good comprehension but also an ability to handle dense language, abstract ideas, and varied question types efficiently. So, it is recommended to practice IELTS Reading topics for General and Academic, like ‘Personal Training in the UK - IELTS Reading Answers’, and you will not only build confidence but also develop the reading precision that’s essential for a high IELTS band score

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