B2CEFRReading18 min

Reading: Why People Change Careers

Work and careers

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Unit: Work and Careers • Lesson 3/6 • 18 mins

Why Many People Change Careers

IELTS Academic Reading Masterclass: Dissecting statistics, identifying hedging language, and mastering evidence extraction.

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How to Use This Lesson

For Teachers

1. Set a strict 18-minute timer for students to read the passage and complete all 10 items.

2. Review student answers directly using the structured Answer-Evidence-Why breakdown provided.

For Students

1. Skim the four labeled paragraphs first to map where specific statistics and opinions sit.

2. Answer questions 1 to 10 sequentially and locate the exact sentence evidence before confirming.

Reading Passage Total Word Count: ~230 words • 4 Paragraphs

Paragraph A

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, people born between 1957 and 1964 held an average of 12.9 jobs between the ages of 18 and 58. An average of 5.6 of these jobs were held between the ages of 18 and 24. Here, a job means a period of work with one employer.

Paragraph B

In a 2022 survey by the Pew Research Center, US adults who had quit a job by choice in 2021 were asked why. 63% said low pay was a reason, 63% said there were no opportunities for advancement, and 57% said they felt disrespected at work.

Paragraph C

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that quits, which are mostly decisions made by the worker, reached a record 4.5 million in November 2021.

Paragraph D

However, we should read these figures with care. People seem to change career for pay and progress, but I think most have more than one reason. The figures also cannot tell us what happens to them next.

Questions 1 – 10

Complete all four task formats below. Base all answers strictly on the text.

Questions 1 – 3: Yes / No / Not Given

Do the following statements agree with the claims of the writer in the passage? Choose YES if the statement agrees with the claims of the writer, NO if the statement contradicts the claims of the writer, or NOT GIVEN if it is impossible to say what the writer thinks about this.

1. People aged 18 to 24 switch jobs at a quicker pace than they do in later periods of their working lives.

____ YES ____ NO ____ NOT GIVEN

2. Low pay was the only factor that led a majority of workers to quit voluntarily in 2021.

____ YES ____ NO ____ NOT GIVEN

3. Workers who quit their positions in November 2021 went on to secure jobs with higher earnings.

____ YES ____ NO ____ NOT GIVEN

Questions 4 – 5: Multiple Choice

Choose the correct letter, A, B, C, or D.

4. Which statement accurately reflects the results of the 2022 Pew Research Center survey?

____ A. The same percentage of employees resigned due to poor salary and lack of promotion. ____ B. A larger share of workers left because of disrespect (63%) than because of low pay (57%). ____ C. Exactly 57% of departing employees resigned solely because of poor advancement opportunities. ____ D. Low pay caused a record 4.5 million American workers to quit their jobs in 2022.

5. What is the writer's primary perspective concerning career change in Paragraph D?

____ A. Resignations are predominantly triggered by one single unresolved dispute with an employer. ____ B. Official employment records prove that people who leave jobs obtain better career satisfaction. ____ C. Most people who change career have more than one reason for doing so. ____ D. Young individuals born between 1957 and 1964 experienced far more job mobility than modern workers.

Questions 6 – 7: Matching Information

Which paragraph contains the following information? Choose the correct letter, A, B, C, or D.

6. A formal explanation of what is considered to be an individual "job" for statistical calculations.

____ Paragraph A ____ Paragraph B ____ Paragraph C ____ Paragraph D

7. A reference to an all-time peak in the overall number of employees leaving their roles voluntarily.

____ Paragraph A ____ Paragraph B ____ Paragraph C ____ Paragraph D

Questions 8 – 10: Summary Completion

Complete the summary below. Choose ONE WORD ONLY from the passage for each answer.

Understanding Career Movement Trends

Surveys highlight distinct drivers behind career transitions. In a 2022 Pew Research study, workers cited low pay alongside a notable shortage of (8) [ ___ ] for advancement. Shortly before that, nationwide labor records in late 2021 recorded unprecedented monthly (9) [ ___ ], exceeding four million. However, the writer thinks that most people who change career have more than one (10) [ ___ ].

Question 8: Enter ONE word for blank (8) — a notable shortage of ... for advancement

____ (Type your answer here...)

Question 9: Enter ONE word for blank (9) — unprecedented monthly...

____ (Type your answer here...)

Question 10: Enter ONE word for blank (10) — most people who change career have more than one...

____ (Type your answer here...)

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