The Blog post contains the following IELTS Reading Questions:
- IELTS Reading Matching features
- IELTS Reading Summary completion
- IELTS Reading True/False/Not given
Stay informed and prepared for success – Explore our comprehensive Reading Test Info page to get valuable insights, exam format details, and expert tips for mastering the IELTS Reading section.
IELTS Reading Passage: To MBA or not to MBA
To MBA or not to MBA
A. According to Anthony Hesketh of Lancaster University’s management school, “You could be forgiven for thinking just about every man and his dog has an MBA these days.” We comprehend his meaning. Due to the MBA’s rapid expansion and increased visibility on a global scale, it has almost entirely replaced other postgraduate degrees in the business sector as a symbol of professional success and high salaries.
B. An MBA is not the only postgraduate degree available, though. Around 2,400 MBA programs are offered globally, and more than 10,000 other master’s and advanced courses across the entire business education spectrum.
C. Matching what prospective students want with what universities offer involves two important distinctions: first, generalisation versus specialisation; and second, pre-experience versus post-experience; and the two distinctions are linked. The first distinction is explained by Carol Blackman of the University of Westminster’s business school. “Specialist masters programs are intended to develop or improve professional competence in people who are already experienced, or they are designed to prepare students for careers in a clearly defined type of job or profession. The objective is to increase their knowledge in the specialty area to a deeper level. On the other hand, the MBA is a general management program that offers working managers the chance for personal growth while providing a broad introduction to all management subject areas as well as the theory and practice of management.
D. Having specialised knowledge, however, is not the only requirement for employment. The personal skills that will make graduates valuable employees are what employers seek, and continue to find scarce, according to surveys conducted by the UK’s Association of Graduate Recruiters (AGR). In fact, when hiring recent graduates, the majority of employers gave these skills a higher priority than specialised knowledge. Employers look for new graduates who possess the following qualities: enthusiasm, self-motivation, interpersonal skills, teamwork, and effective oral communication. Just three of the 19 skills deemed important in the AGR’s 2002 survey required specialised education, and those three skills—numeracy, computer literacy, and foreign languages—were ranked low on the list.
E. The chief executive of topcareers.net, Nunzio Quacquarelli, elaborates on this. ‘Salary differentials for those with a second degree but little or no relevant work experience are obviously lower than for those with a strong MBA and some relevant work experience. According to the AGR study, 14% of employers paid new graduates with master’s degrees or even doctorates more. In my opinion, the salary increase from 0% to 5% more closely reflects the recruit’s age and expected earnings than it does the employer’s perception of an increase in human capital. In contrast, according to the most recent topmba.com MBA Recruiters Survey results, the typical salary paid to an MBA with solid work experience in the US and Europe is US$80,000, or roughly two and a half times the average beginning salary for a young postgraduate.
F. Anthony Hesketh queries whether having a second degree might even be detrimental. Over the years, I have read numerous reports that claim employers view postgraduates as significantly less employable than those with a first degree. Employers value and are willing to pay for drive, motivation, and career focus in addition to ability. A postgraduate faces the difficult task of justifying a further year, or three years, of study.
G. This point of view might seem pessimistic, but if you’re about to graduate and thinking about getting another degree, you should consider the facts and really examine your options:
Will the degree I’m thinking about getting impress employers? Will it put me at a competitive advantage over less qualified candidates?Is the reason I’m thinking about getting a second degree that I’m unsure of my career path?Employers might assume that I lack motivation and ambition if I put off looking for a good job.There are many postgraduate options available that can assist you in developing the soft skills that employers in the business world are looking for. Take Durham University and Strathclyde University, for instance, and their offerings.
H. ‘The MSc in business management (MBM), offered at USGS, is suitable for students with a good first degree — particularly a non-business first degree — but little or no business experience,’ says Dr. Nic Beech of the University of Strathclyde graduate school of business. With the help of our MBM, these graduates will have the chance to combine the focus of their first degree with a general management credential, which is something employers value in a well-rounded employee.
I. Graduates claim that the MBM enables them to access industries that were previously inaccessible. It is intended to help students gain the business expertise, real-world experience, and soft skills that employers value.
J. Sheena Maberly, the careers development officer at the University of Durham business school, agrees that degrees like the Durham MA in management (DMAM) are highly valuable. She claims that a postgraduate business degree can give you a competitive edge in a crowded job market, regardless of your first degree, which could be anything from zoology to anthropology. A business master’s degree, such as the DMAM, will enable you to develop skills that are specifically pertinent to the demands of employers if your career is just getting started. Therefore, expanding your studies in management can better prepare you to “hit the ground running” — and employers expect that. Recruiters are very picky, and a professional qualification adds another level of motivational support.
K. Consider your options before committing to postgraduate study. The best course of action might be to accept a job now and arrange to complete an MBA a few years from now. Try to secure company sponsorship. Alternatively, consider pursuing a master’s degree that will aid in your employment. The final decision is yours, but it emphasises the expectations of your target employer and the future.
Unlock your full potential in the IELTS Reading section – Visit our IELTS Reading Practice Question Answer page now!
Recommended Questions:
Renewable Energy IELTS Reading Question with Answer
To MBA or not to MBA Reading Questions
Questions 1-4
The text quotes various individuals. Match the four people A-D with the four points made in Questions 1-4. You may use any of the people more than once.
1. Because they are older and have higher expectations, employees with postgraduate degrees make more money.
2. It can be challenging to persuade a potential employer that the additional time spent in college was necessary.
3. Of course, one type focuses on a specific area of the business, whereas the other takes a more all-encompassing approach.
4. Graduates who haven’t studied or worked in business are a good fit for our program.
List of people:
A An Anthony Hesketh
B Carol Blackman
C Nunzio Quacquarelli
D Nic Beech
Improve your performance in Matching Features questions by clicking here to access our comprehensive guide. Learn how to match specific features or characteristics with the options provided in the IELTS Reading section.
Questions 5-10
Complete the summary below. Choose ONE word from Reading Passage for each answer.
Sheena Maberly asserts that a second degree can enhance graduates’ 5.__________prospects in any field. Getting a management MA enables them to immediately start working and gives them the 6.__________companies are looking for. It demonstrates they possess the 7._________ that businesses look for. But first, it’s crucial to think about the 8._________: whether to begin a carefully chosen postgraduate course right away or to postpone it for a few years while working, ideally with financial support from the 9._________. Regardless of what they choose, they should consider the 10._________ and what the company wants.
Boost your performance in Summary, Notes, Table, and Flowchart Completion tasks. Click here to explore our detailed guide and learn how to effectively complete summaries, notes, tables, and flowcharts in the IELTS Reading section.
Questions 11-13
Do the following statements agree with the information given in the Reading Passage?
Write:
TRUE the statement agrees with the information
FALSE if the statement contradicts the information
NOT GIVEN there is no information on this
11. British employers are more concerned with potential hires’ abilities than their knowledge.
12. A new hire with a specialised master’s degree typically makes as much money as an experienced worker with a strong MBA.
13. The author asserts that undergraduates frequently intend to pursue a master’s degree because they are unsure of which career path to take.
Enhance your skills in identifying information as True, False, or Not Given. Click here to discover expert strategies and techniques for mastering this question type in the IELTS Reading section.
Unlock your full potential in the IELTS Reading section – Visit our IELTS Reading Practice Question Answer page now!
Recommended Questions:
Renewable Energy IELTS Reading Question with Answer
To MBA or not to MBA Reading answers
1. C
2. A
3. B
4. D
5. Job
6. Skills
7. Motivation
8. Options
9. Company
10. Future
11. True
12. False
13. Not given
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.
