Business Studies Course - IELTS Listening Answers & Explanations
From IELTS Trainer 1 Academic Listening Test 2 · Part 3 · Questions 21–30
Audio
Questions
Questions 21–25 Multiple Choice (One Answer)
Choose the correct letter, A, B or C.
Questions 26–30 Matching
What does Chloe decide about the following subjects?
Write the correct letter, A, B or C, next to questions 26-30.
A. She will study it.
B. She won't study it.
C. She might study it.
Answers & Explanations Summary
| # | Answer | Evidence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q21 | B | Yeah, I know and I'm used to dealing with figures and percentages and things, but it's been a while since I've sat down and put my ideas into an essay. I was never that good at it and I'm not sure I can do it now | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows that while Chloe is comfortable with math (figures and percentages), she feels nervous about writing essays because she hasn't done it for a long time and didn't think she was good at it before. Answer Explanation: The answer means that Chloe is worried about her skill in writing long papers for school, called essays. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is B because Chloe directly mentions that she is worried about writing essays. She explains that it has been a long time since she had to write one. She also admits that she was never very good at writing them in the past and is worried about whether she can do it well now. Since she says she is good with numbers and has worked for four years, she is not worried about math or a lack of business experience. |
| Q22 | C | It was OK but I was hopeless at getting them in by the deadline and I was always late for lectures, so I had to work hard at that and I tend to be early now | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Ivan admitting he was very bad at meeting deadlines and being on time at first. He says he had to try hard to change this, and as a result, he is now early for his classes. This directly shows he improved his time management. Answer Explanation: The answer means Ivan is now better at organizing his schedule, finishing work on time, and arriving at classes when they start. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is C because Ivan explains that he used to have problems with schedules and deadlines. Specifically, he mentions he was 'hopeless'—meaning very bad—at finishing his essays on time and used to be late for his classes. Because he worked hard to fix these behaviors, he now arrives early. This shift from being late and missing deadlines to being early shows a clear improvement in his time management skills. While he mentions computer programs and presentations, he notes that he only needed basic computer skills and was already good at presentations from school, so those were not areas where he made a big improvement. |
| Q23 | A | What really appeals to me, though, is the idea of being assessed throughout the year. I think that's a much more productive way of learning instead of everything being decided in an exam at the end | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Chloe saying she likes the idea of being graded for her work all through the year, rather than having one final exam determine everything. Answer Explanation: The answer means Chloe is happy that her grade depends on her work throughout the year instead of one big test at the very end. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is A because Chloe explicitly states that the thing she likes most is 'being assessed throughout the year.' She believes this is a better way to learn than having a single final exam. She rejects choice B by saying working in a business is not important to her, and choice C is incorrect because she notes that using foreign languages is not even offered on the course. Keywords to watch for are 'appeals to me' (meaning what she likes) and 'assessed' (meaning how her work is graded). |
| Q24 | C | Well, yes and no. They've made the study area bigger but it means they've taken some of the magazines and periodicals away, so I think it was better as it was. The university's expanding all the time and there are lots of new courses coming next year. Chloe: Well, that's great news, isn't it? It means the college will have a better reputation as more people will hear about it, so that's good for us. Ivan: Mm, I agree but they really need to add more lecture rooms as we often have lectures in tiny rooms | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Ivan explaining that there will be many new classes next year. Chloe thinks this is good news for the school, and Ivan agrees with her. He also explains that he liked the old library better and that the school still needs to get bigger rooms for lectures. Answer Explanation: The answer means Ivan is happy that the university will offer many new subjects for students to study starting next year. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is more courses because Ivan says that many new classes are starting next year. When Chloe says this is great news and will improve the school's reputation, Ivan says, 'I agree.' In contrast, Ivan is not happy about the larger library because he preferred it how it was before. He also mentions they need more lecture rooms, but he does not say that they are actually going to have them yet. |
| Q25 | A | But you could email my tutor – I know he'd be happy to answer any questions. I can give you his email address | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Ivan telling Chloe that a good way to get answers is to write an email to his teacher at the university because the teacher is friendly and helpful. Answer Explanation: The answer is that Ivan suggests Chloe send an email to his teacher to ask for more information. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is A because Ivan explicitly tells Chloe that she should contact his tutor (teacher) if she has more questions. He mentions that he can provide her with the tutor's email address and that the tutor would be willing to help. He actually advises against visiting the university at that moment because it is the holidays and not much is happening there. While he mentions that he looked at other universities himself in the past, he does not suggest that Chloe should do the same; instead, he helps her with the specific university she is interested in. |
| Q26 | C | That's true, but I need to find out a bit more about it first before I decide – if it will really help me. It's difficult to tell from the prospectus | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Chloe saying she wants to learn more about the course before she can decide if it is right for her. Answer Explanation: The answer C means that Chloe is not sure yet if she will take the public relations course because she needs to learn more about it first. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is C because Chloe says she needs to get more information before making a choice. Even though she says the course looks easy and like 'common sense,' she agrees with Ivan that it could be useful. Because she wants to 'find out a bit more' before she can 'decide,' she hasn't said yes or no yet. |
| Q27 | A | Mm, it's good to put on your CV that you've done a marketing course, though, so that would be a definite for me and maybe I'd get a different tutor | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Chloe explaining that a marketing course looks good to future employers. She uses the phrase 'a definite for me' to show that she has firmly decided to take this subject. Answer Explanation: The answer A means Chloe decides she will study the Marketing subject. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is A because Chloe believes that having a marketing course on her CV (a document showing your work history) is very useful for her future. Even though Ivan says he did not like the teacher, Chloe says the course would be a 'definite' choice for her, which means she is certain she will take it. |
| Q28 | A | Oh, that will be a good option for me because I enjoy working with figures. Although I don't want to be an accountant, it'll be good to have an understanding of taxation, especially if I ever run my own business | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Chloe saying that taxation is a smart choice for her. She likes math and thinks it is important to understand taxes for when she owns an organization. Answer Explanation: The answer is that Chloe will choose to study the class about taxation. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is A because Chloe clearly states that taxation is a "good option" for her. She gives two main reasons for this: she enjoys working with "figures" (numbers or math), and she believes it will be useful knowledge if she decides to start her own company in the future. |
| Q29 | B | My friend works in human resources and she's really good at it, but I don't think I've got the right personality so I'd give that one a miss. I'm more interested in how businesses actually work – the structure | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Chloe comparing herself to a friend who works in human resources. She concludes that because of who she is (her personality), she will not choose this course. Using the phrase 'give that one a miss' confirms she is rejecting the option. Answer Explanation: The answer B means Chloe has decided that she will not study the subject of Human Resources. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is B because Chloe explicitly states that she will skip this subject. Although her friend is successful in that field, Chloe feels her own personality—your natural character and way of behaving—is not a good match for it. She uses the idiomatic expression 'give that one a miss,' which is a common way to say that you choose not to do something or skip it. |
| Q30 | C | Chloe: Oh, sounds useful, but I'll have to look at some of the other possibilities first | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Chloe saying the subject seems helpful, but she wants to check other choices before making a final decision. Answer Explanation: The answer C means that Chloe is not sure yet if she will take the Information Systems course. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is C because Chloe has a mixed reaction to the subject. While she thinks it 'sounds useful,' she also says she needs to look at other 'possibilities' (other options) first. This shows she is interested but has not made a firm decision to study it or not, placing her in the 'might study it' category. |
Transcript
You will hear two people called Chloe and Ivan talking about a business studies course. First you have some time to look at questions 21 to 25.
[Pause the recording for 30 seconds.]
Now listen carefully and answer questions 21 to 25.
Chloe: Oh, hi Ivan.
Ivan: Oh, hi Chloe.
Chloe: I'm glad I bumped into you because I've been looking at this prospectus about courses at the university. I'm thinking of doing a business studies degree. Isn't that what you're doing?
Ivan: Yes, I'm about to start my third year. I think you'd enjoy it. Is there something on the course that you're not sure about?
Chloe: Well, you know I've been working for a publisher for the last four years as a production assistant ...
Ivan: That will be really valuable experience because a lot of people go to university straight from school and don't have that kind of background.
Chloe: Yeah, I know and I'm used to dealing with figures and percentages and things, but it's been a while since I've sat down and put my ideas into an essay. I was never that good at it and I'm not sure I can do it now.
Ivan: But you did OK at school, so I'm sure you'll soon get into it again. I was worried about different things when I started, like if I'd be able to use all the computer programs, but you only really need the basics. You have to do a lot of presentations and I thought that would be hard, but we'd actually had such a lot of practice at school it was fine.
Chloe: But did you find writing essays easy?
Ivan: It was OK but I was hopeless at getting them in by the deadline and I was always late for lectures, so I had to work hard at that and I tend to be early now.
Chloe: It's good that you've sorted yourself out before you go and get a job or you might not have it very long! I think the course looks really interesting.
Ivan: It is and it also gave me the chance to spend six months working in a local business last year.
Chloe: That's not so important for me unless I could go abroad to use my foreign languages but that doesn't seem to be on offer, which is a shame. What really appeals to me, though, is the idea of being assessed throughout the year. I think that's a much more productive way of learning instead of everything being decided in an exam at the end.
Ivan: It's good for people like you who are hard-working all year round. You'll be spending all your time in the library. They've just expanded it too.
Chloe: That's good.
Ivan: Well, yes and no. They've made the study area bigger but it means they've taken some of the magazines and periodicals away, so I think it was better as it was. The university's expanding all the time and there are lots of new courses coming next year.
Chloe: Well, that's great news, isn't it? It means the college will have a better reputation as more people will hear about it, so that's good for us.
Ivan: Mm, I agree but they really need to add more lecture rooms as we often have lectures in tiny rooms.
Chloe: Well, you obviously think overall it's a good place to do a degree. I should probably go and have a look round.
Ivan: Well, it's holidays now and there's not much going on there.
Chloe: Oh, so it's probably not worth going in now.
Ivan: But you could email my tutor – I know he'd be happy to answer any questions. I can give you his email address. I looked at quite a lot of other universities and read loads of prospectuses but I thought this one was the best.
Before you hear the rest of the conversation, you have some time to look at questions 26 to 30.
[Pause the recording for 30 seconds.]
Now listen and answer questions 26 to 30.
Chloe: I was a bit unsure about all the different subjects you can choose on this course.
Ivan: Well, I can tell you a bit about them. There are some subjects you have to do and some that you can choose. The most interesting course I've done is public relations.
Chloe: From what I've read it doesn't look very demanding – some of it is really just common sense.
Ivan: But it will be really useful if you want to go into marketing or advertising.
Chloe: That's true, but I need to find out a bit more about it first before I decide – if it will really help me. It's difficult to tell from the prospectus.
Ivan: But you are interested in marketing?
Chloe: Oh, yes.
Ivan: Well, you can choose a marketing course. I wasn't very impressed with that course actually. The tutor didn't make it very interesting.
Chloe: Mm, it's good to put on your CV that you've done a marketing course, though, so that would be a definite for me and maybe I'd get a different tutor. What other courses did you choose?
Ivan: I'm doing taxation as I was thinking of training to be an accountant but I'm not sure now.
Chloe: Oh, that will be a good option for me because I enjoy working with figures. Although I don't want to be an accountant, it'll be good to have an understanding of taxation, especially if I ever run my own business.
Ivan: Then there's the most popular course, which is human resources and a lot of people seem to get jobs in that field.
Chloe: My friend works in human resources and she's really good at it, but I don't think I've got the right personality so I'd give that one a miss. I'm more interested in how businesses actually work – the structure.
Ivan: That's a compulsory course – the structure of business – but you might find information systems helpful.
Chloe: Is that kind of computer programs?
Ivan: Some of it is, but also databases, project management, and other things.
Chloe: Oh, sounds useful, but I'll have to look at some of the other possibilities first. You know, Ivan, this course sounds as though it would suit me. I'm going to apply.
Ivan: Great! If there's anything else you want to ask me, you've got my number.
Chloe: Thanks!
That is the end of section 3. You now have half a minute to check your answers.