Practice English Reading Exercises for B2 – University Life & Transitions 2

Exercises:   123456

Reading 1

You are going to read an article about four university students talking about the moment they realized they had chosen the wrong degree and how they dealt with it.

For questions 1-10, choose from the people (A-D). The people may be chosen more than once.

Which person

1   pushed through to the end of the academic year before making a change?

2   was achieving excellent academic results despite their dissatisfaction?

3   felt that the reality of the profession was too psychologically demanding?

4   relied on professional guidance to navigate their academic shift?

5   discovered their course was far more theoretical than they had anticipated?

6   took a complete break from studying to figure out their next steps?

7   had a sudden revelation during a hands-on assignment?

8   faced disapproval from their family regarding their decision?

9   compromised by combining their original subject with a new one?

10   was frustrated by the lack of opportunities to express their imagination?

Changing Course: When Your Degree Doesn’t Go to Plan

A Mark

I’d always been fascinated by buildings, so Architecture felt like the obvious path. My parents were surprisingly supportive of this choice, even though they had initially wanted me to study medicine. However, my wake-up call came during a group project where we had to construct a 3D scale model. I suddenly realised I was dreading the strict engineering constraints. There was virtually no room for out-of-the-box thinking; everything had to be perfectly calculated and rigid. I felt utterly stifled. I briefly considered taking a gap year, but instead, I booked an appointment with the university’s career counsellor. That turned out to be the best decision I could have made. She expertly helped me identify my true passion and facilitated a seamless transfer to the Graphic Design department. I haven’t looked back since. The new course allows me to let my creativity run wild, and I finally feel like I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be.

B Sarah

Enrolling in Nursing was something I did because I genuinely wanted to help people. I passed all my written exams with flying colours in the first semester, so I truly thought I was on the right track. But the moment I started my clinical placement at a local hospital, everything fell apart. Seeing patients in severe distress took a massive toll on my mental well-being. I quickly realised that I simply wasn’t thick-skinned enough to handle the daily emotional rollercoaster. Instead of pushing through to the end of the year, I withdrew from the course immediately. I decided to press pause on my education and spent twelve months working as a medical receptionist. That period away from the classroom gave me the clarity I desperately needed. I eventually reapplied to study Psychology, which still allows me to support others, but in a much more controlled and less chaotic environment.

C David

When I signed up for Computer Science, I was anticipating a heavily practical course focused on software development and app creation. Therefore, I was bitterly disappointed to discover that the syllabus was dominated by abstract mathematics and complex algorithms. I was completely out of my depth and barely scraped passing grades. A university counsellor suggested I withdraw, but I simply couldn’t accept defeat so easily. I forced myself to endure the misery and sit the final exams of my first year because I didn’t want to leave things half-finished. Over the summer, I managed to negotiate a compromise with the faculty. Rather than abandoning the tech field entirely, I switched to a dual degree program, blending Business Management with Information Technology. This tailored approach turned out to be the perfect middle ground, offering the practical application I originally craved without the overwhelming academic jargon.

D Elena

From a young age, my family had always pictured me as a highly successful corporate lawyer. Wanting to make them proud, I enrolled in Law school and threw myself into the coursework. On paper, I was thriving; I was consistently achieving top marks and my tutors frequently praised my essays. Yet, internally, I was miserable. The turning point came late one night while I was memorising hundreds of dry, outdated property statutes for a seminar. I suddenly asked myself why I was dedicating my life to something I found so incredibly tedious. The very next morning, I switched my major to History. Naturally, my parents were absolutely devastated when I broke the news to them, and things were tense at home for a while. To fund my new studies, I had to pick up a part-time job, but the financial strain is totally worth it to study a subject I genuinely love.

Reading 2

You are going to read an article about four graduates discussing the benefits and drawbacks of taking a gap year before starting their university studies.

For questions 1-10, choose from the graduates (A-D). The graduates may be chosen more than once.

Which person

1   admits they initially lacked direction during their year off?

2   found the transition back into a classroom setting tougher than expected?

3   explicitly mentions that their year out was a drain on their finances?

4   states that their experience helped them decide on their university degree?

5   felt a sense of insecurity when comparing their progress to that of their friends?

6   undertook unpaid work that had a positive impact on others?

7   appreciated being able to start their studies in a strong financial position?

8   had to drastically alter their travel plans due to unexpected events?

9   highlights the value of experiencing a different way of life firsthand?

10   feels that the practical skills they gained gave them an advantage over their peers?

Taking a Break: Was it Worth it?

A Liam

When I finished school, the thought of plunging straight into a degree felt overwhelming. Instead, I opted to join the workforce, securing a full-time administrative role at a local logistics firm. I’d be lying if I said it was always easy; seeing my peers posting pictures from their university dorms on social media certainly triggered a wave of self-doubt. I took it for granted that I was falling behind them. Nevertheless, that year was instrumental in my personal growth. By the time I finally enrolled in university, I had a substantial safety net in my bank account, meaning I didn’t have to stress over part-time jobs during my studies. Furthermore, the corporate environment had drilled into me a level of professionalism and time management that my fellow undergraduates lacked. If I hadn’t taken that year to work, I wouldn’t have possessed the practical know-how that eventually made my university coursework feel far more manageable. I definitely bounced back from any initial regrets.

B Maya

My gap year was spent on the other side of the globe, participating in a grassroots conservation project in Costa Rica. It was a purely voluntary position, involving long, exhausting days monitoring sea turtles, but the sense of contributing to the local community was incredibly fulfilling. Living with a host family allowed me to immerse myself completely in their daily routines, and that profound exposure to a foreign culture broadened my horizons in ways textbooks never could. On the other hand, the return to reality was something of a shock. Having spent twelve months tracking wildlife in the rainforest, sitting in a stuffy lecture hall trying to absorb complex theories proved astonishingly difficult. I really struggled to come to terms with the rigid academic schedule at first. While my friends were used to the rhythm of essays and exams, I felt completely out of practice. Still, the global mindset I’d acquired was worth every moment of that initial struggle.

C Ethan

To be completely honest, my gap year didn’t exactly get off to a flying start. I had originally intended to backpack across Southeast Asia, but a sudden family health crisis meant I had to cancel my flights and stay close to home. Consequently, for the first few months, I was drifting aimlessly, waking up late and lacking any real sense of purpose. It was a frustrating period, and I often wondered if taking a year out had been a terrible mistake. Eventually, realizing I couldn’t waste the entire year, I pulled myself together and managed to secure a short-term apprenticeship with a local graphic designer. It wasn’t the exotic adventure I had dreamt of, but it taught me a vital lesson in adaptability. If I had just given up, I would never have discovered my passion for digital design. It taught me that sometimes, you have to make the best of a bad situation and carve out your own opportunities.

D Chloe

I spent my gap year in Paris, determined to achieve fluency in French. I enrolled in an intensive language school, assuming I could easily fund my stay with part-time bar work. Unfortunately, the cost of living in the French capital was astronomically higher than I had anticipated. Despite working long hours, my savings dwindled rapidly, and the constant financial anxiety cast a shadow over the whole experience. I was practically living on a shoestring budget by the end. However, the linguistic fluency I achieved paid off spectacularly. Before my gap year, I was entirely undecided about my university major. The challenge of mastering a foreign language and navigating a new city independently inspired me to pursue International Relations. Looking back, I must have been crazy to think it would be a cheap endeavor, but that linguistic immersion directly paved the way for my current career trajectory. I certainly don’t regret the path I chose, despite the empty wallet!

Exercises:   123456