Advice For Overseas Students Planning To Study In The UK - IELTS Listening Answers & Explanations
From Collins Practice Tests For IELTS 1 Academic Listening Test 4 · Part 2 · Questions 11–20
Audio
Questions
Questions 11–11 Multiple Choice (One Answer)
Choose the correct letter, A, B or C.
Questions 12–15 Note Completion
Complete the notes below.
Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer.
Student Railcards
For young people between 16 and 25
Mature students 25+ studying 12
Get 13 train fares in the UK
Discounts for theatre tickets and 14
1 year £28
3 years £15
Questions 16–17 Multiple Choice (Two Answers)
Choose TWO letters, A-E.
Local bus operators offer bus passes
Questions 18–20 Matching
Write the correct letter, A, B or C, next to questions 18-20.
Which places are useful for the following?
A. Household items
B. Vintage clothes
C. Second-hand textbooks
Answers & Explanations Summary
| # | Answer | Evidence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q11 | C | The card only costs about £12 for one year | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript says that the student must pay a small amount of money to have the card for a period of twelve months. Answer Explanation: The answer means that the NUS extra card allows students to get price reductions for a full year. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is C because the speaker explains that the NUS extra card has a cost for a one-year period. This implies that the benefits and savings provided by the card last for that entire year. While the speaker mentions another card (the ISIC) is recognized internationally, the NUS extra card itself is specifically noted for its one-year duration and cost. It is not free, as it costs about £12. |
| Q12 | full time | To be eligible you need to be between 16 and 25 mature students over the age of 25 can also apply so long as they're in full-time education |
Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript says that if you are over 25 years old, you can still get the card if you are in school for a full-time course. Answer Explanation: The answer "full time" means a person is a student who goes to school all day and follows a complete schedule of classes. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "full time" because the speaker, Jenny, explains the rules for getting a railcard. While the card is mainly for young people, older students (called mature students) can also get it if they are studying in a "full-time education" program. This matches the note about mature students aged 25 or older. |
| Q13 | a third off / one third off | You can buy a one-year or three-year card, and it gives you a third off rail journeys across the UK | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that by purchasing either a one-year or a three-year railcard, students will receive a discount of 1/3 on the price of train travel in the United Kingdom. Answer Explanation: The answer means that the price of train tickets is reduced by one-third (1/3). This means you pay much less than the full price. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is based on the information Jenny provides about the Young Person's railcard. She explains that having this card allows students to pay a lower price for their travel, specifically stating that they get 'a third off' the cost of train trips throughout the UK. |
| Q14 | holiday offers | The card also gives you access to competitions and things like theatre discounts and holiday offers | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that the railcard provides several extra perks, specifically naming theater discounts and holiday deals as examples. Answer Explanation: The answer "holiday offers" means special lower prices or deals for vacations and trips. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "holiday offers" because the speaker lists various benefits of having a Young Person's railcard. Besides giving students cheaper train tickets, she mentions that the card provides access to contests, lower prices for the theater, and deals for holidays. |
| Q15 | 65 | At the moment, a one-year card costs £28, and it's £65 for a three-year card | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript says that right now, a three-year railcard costs sixty-five pounds. Answer Explanation: The answer is the amount of money (£65) a student must pay for a railcard that lasts for three years. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is £65 because the speaker directly mentions the specific price for different types of railcards. She notes that while a card for one year is cheaper, the version that is valid for three years has a price of £65. |
| Q16 | — | — | |
| Q17 | B / C | You can usually get these cards for a week, a month, a term or a whole year with bigger savings the longer the period | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript states that bus cards come in different time options (week, month, term, or year) and that longer cards save you more money. Answer Explanation: The answer means that bus passes can be bought for different amounts of time, and they provide better value if you buy them for a longer time. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is B and C because the speaker explains that bus cards are available for various durations, such as a week, a month, a term, or even a whole year (various lengths of time). Additionally, she mentions that you get 'bigger savings' the longer the card lasts, which means it is cheaper per day when you buy it for a longer period. |
| Q18 | C | They'll be a roaring trade in used coursebooks in the student union on campus | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript says that at the student union building on the university grounds, many people buy and sell school books that have been used before. Answer Explanation: The answer means that when you are at the university campus, you can find used school books (textbooks) for your classes. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is C because the speaker mentions that the student union, which is located on the university campus, has a lot of buying and selling of used books. These are books that students from previous years no longer need. Using the word "used coursebooks" is another way to say second-hand textbooks. |
| Q19 | B | Off campus you'll find lots of charity shops in your local town centre with a good selection of novels and you'll often get some really nice clothes, CDs and DVDs that people have donated and all at very cheap prices | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that charity shops are located in the town centre. These shops sell things like books and clothes that people gave away for free, so the prices are very low. Answer Explanation: The answer is B, which refers to vintage clothes. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is B because charity shops are mentioned as a great place to find 'really nice clothes' that people have donated. Since clothes in charity shops are used and often older, they fit the description of vintage or second-hand clothing. The speaker mentions that you can buy these items at 'very cheap prices' in your local town centre. |
| Q20 | A | Car boot sales are a very British style of market where private individuals come together to sell home and garden goods | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that car boot sales are a type of market where people sell things specifically used in their houses and gardens. Answer Explanation: The answer means that car boot sales are good places to find things for your home or garden. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is A because the speaker describes car boot sales as places where people sell things for their houses and gardens. The phrase 'home and garden goods' used in the transcript is a synonym for 'household items.' |
Transcript
Presenter: Welcome to our monthly podcast for overseas students planning to study in the UK. This month we're looking at how to make your money last longer whilst studying here. And to help us find some bargains I have Jenny Lubeck from the student union. Jenny, students are renowned for being hard up but there are lots of savings to be made, aren't there?
Jenny: Well, as soon as students start their course at university or college they'll be able to buy their NUS extra card. This will enable them to get a wide range of discounts on essentials like books, clothes and eating out. The card only costs about £12 for one year and for about the same amount you can include an ISIC card. The ISIC is an internationally recognised discount card for full-time students. Discount offerings vary and usually include things like travel, guidebooks, music, eating out – that kind of thing. Students are told all about this when they start their studies but if your listeners want to find out more about these cards before they arrive I've put some details of websites on the podcast page.
Presenter: Now travel costs can mount up for students, can't they? I know the ISIC card is useful here but are there any other things students should be aware of?
Jenny: Understandably lots of overseas students like to take the opportunity to travel around the country whilst they're in the UK and for this reason I'd strongly recommend they invest in a Young Person's railcard. To be eligible you need to be between 16 and 25 ... mature students over the age of 25 can also apply so long as they're in full-time education. You can buy a one-year or three-year card, and it gives you a third off rail journeys across the UK. The card also gives you access to competitions and things like theatre discounts and holiday offers. At the moment, a one-year card costs £28, and it's £65 for a three-year card.
Presenter: And what about buses?
Jenny: Erm, well, as well as the railcard, it's also more than likely the local bus operators will offer discounted bus travel with their own travel cards. These aren't aimed specifically at students but can still save you a lot of money if you use the buses regularly. You can usually get these cards for a week, a month, a term or a whole year with bigger savings the longer the period. Another advantage of these cards is that as well as making it cheaper to commute to and from university you'll also find them very handy free transport whenever you need to do some shopping or visit friends in your area.
Presenter: Are there any cultural things that students coming to the UK might not be aware of that can save them money?
Jenny: Some overseas students are surprised by the amount of recycling that goes on in the UK and how much money can be saved in the process. They'll be a roaring trade in used coursebooks in the student union on campus. Lots of students who were on the same course as you the year before will be selling their books at the end of their course – they'll be a lot cheaper than buying them new. Off campus you'll find lots of charity shops in your local town centre with a good selection of novels and you'll often get some really nice clothes, CDs and DVDs that people have donated and all at very cheap prices. Of course, shopping in this way means you're contributing to a worthwhile cause as well. And check your local paper frequently for car boot sales. Car boot sales are a very British style of market where private individuals come together to sell home and garden goods. In fact they're a great way of recycling some of your own unwanted stuff and can help you make some money in the process. Finally there are websites and mailing lists where local people offer up items they no longer want, for free – as long as you agree to collect them ...