Assignment On Teaching Handwriting To Children - IELTS Listening Answers & Explanations
From Cambridge IELTS 20 Academic Listening Test 4 · Part 3 · Questions 21–30
Audio
Questions
Questions 21–22 Multiple Choice (Two Answers)
Choose TWO letters, A-E
Questions 23–24 Multiple Choice (Two Answers)
Choose TWO letters, A-E
Questions 25–30 Multiple Choice (One Answer)
Choose the correct letter, A, B or C
Answers & Explanations Summary
| # | Answer | Evidence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q21 | — | — | |
| Q22 | C / E | What's less obvious is how it helps develop their concentration. They have to sit still and focus on one thing. I never associated spatial awareness with handwriting either |
Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript says that it's not easy to see how handwriting helps kids focus and pay attention. Kids need to sit still and think about one thing when they write. Also, understanding where things are in relation to each other (spatial awareness) is very important for writing because kids need to keep space between words. Answer Explanation: The answer says that both students were surprised about how handwriting helps children focus better (concentration) and understand space better (spatial awareness). Reason For Correctness: The correct answer includes improved concentration and improved spatial awareness. The woman said she didn't realize that handwriting helps develop concentration, and they both learned that good spatial awareness is needed to space words correctly when writing. This shows that they were surprised by these benefits. |
| Q23 | — | — | |
| Q24 | A / C | Yeah, I like the idea of using one of those pens that lights up if you press too hard. That seems like a really simple solution. One quite simple thing you can do is to use grid paper. So they write each letter in a box and that trains them to space the letters correctly. |
Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript talks about ways to help children with dyspraxia improve their handwriting. One idea is to use a special pen that lights up when you press too hard, which helps with the problem of applying too much pressure. Another idea is to use grid paper to help them learn to space letters correctly. Answer Explanation: The answer says that the two problems easiest to correct for dyspraxic children are 'not spacing letters correctly' and 'applying too much pressure when writing.' Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is A (not spacing letters correctly) and C (applying too much pressure when writing) because the transcript suggests using grid paper to help children space letters properly, and it mentions a pen that helps them not press too hard. This shows these two issues can be improved with certain tools. |
| Q25 | C | Yeah, it's not as frustrating for them if they get things wrong. On a keyboard, they can be more willing to have a go | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript says that when children use a keyboard, they do not feel as upset when they make mistakes. This makes them more ready to try writing. Answer Explanation: The answer is C, which means that children feel better and are more willing to try when they make mistakes on a laptop. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is C because the woman explains that using a keyboard makes it less frustrating for children with dyslexia when they make mistakes, which encourages them to keep trying. |
| Q26 | A | teachers' attitudes have changed because it's been proved that cursive is more difficult to learn, especially for children with learning difficulties who find joining up letters really challenging | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that teachers now think differently about cursive writing. They know that it is harder for some children to learn because they have trouble connecting the letters together. Answer Explanation: The answer means that the woman believes cursive writing is not good for some children, especially those who have difficulties learning. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is A because the woman mentions that cursive writing is more difficult to learn, especially for children with learning difficulties. This shows her concern about the problems that cursive writing causes for some children. |
| Q27 | A | I was always worried that my poor handwriting affected my exam results, and now research shows that I was right to worry. | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows someone worried that bad handwriting can make exam results worse. They mention that research supports this worry. Answer Explanation: The answer says that there is proof that bad handwriting can lower grades. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is A because the person in the transcript clearly states that their poor handwriting affected their exam results and that research confirms this worry. This reveals that there is evidence supporting the idea that grades are impacted by how well students write by hand. |
| Q28 | B | I can’t see that changing much. Touch typing still isn’t taught in most schools, which is a shame. But maybe that won’t be necessary in the future, because people will also be able to write by hand on digital devices. Anyway, teachers understand the value of handwriting. It’s a basic life skill | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript talks about the future of handwriting. The man thinks that even though typing on a computer is becoming more common, people will still learn to write by hand. He believes that handwriting is a very important skill that teachers value. Answer Explanation: The answer shows that the man believes children will keep learning to write by hand in the future. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is B because the man says that teachers understand the value of handwriting and that it is a basic life skill. He indicates that even with changes in technology, handwriting will not disappear and that children will continue to learn it. |
| Q29 | B | But my mum is shocked by my awful spelling and the fact that my punctuation is really inconsistent. I think you can put that down to lack of practice | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript means that the woman's mother is very surprised by how poorly she spells and uses punctuation. The woman thinks that the reason for this is that she does not write by hand enough, which makes it harder for her to improve. Answer Explanation: The answer is B, which means the woman is worried that using digital devices has made her have problems with spelling and punctuation. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is B because in the conversation, the woman talks about how her mother is surprised by her bad spelling and inconsistent punctuation. She believes this is because she does not practice writing by hand enough. This shows that she feels relying on digital devices has affected her ability to spell and use punctuation correctly. |
| Q30 | C | Nobody I know would be able to identify my handwriting now. It’s a shame. | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript mentions that the man feels sad because nobody can recognize his handwriting anymore. He thinks it is a shame, showing that he misses writing by hand. Answer Explanation: The answer says that the students feel sorry for not writing by hand anymore. This shows they regret losing the habit of writing. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is C because the comments in the transcript show that both the man and woman feel that using digital methods instead of handwriting has made them lose their writing skills. They express sadness and regret about no longer practicing handwriting, which connects to feeling regretful for not having the habit anymore. |
Transcript
MAN How are you getting on with the assignment on handwriting?
WOMAN Not too bad. You know, I hadn’t realised that children benefit in so many ways from learning to write. It’s such an important skill, and yet most people think handwriting is less important than in the past, because people hardly ever write by hand these days.
MAN Yes, and all the evidence suggests children should learn to write by hand before they learn to type, not least because it helps their memory.
WOMAN That’s right. The physical act of writing helps children to remember letters. That seems pretty obvious when you think about it.
MAN What’s less obvious is how it helps develop their concentration. They have to sit still and focus on one thing.
WOMAN Yeah, that aspect of handwriting had never occurred to me before.
MAN Same here. I’m not sure I understand how it improves children’s imagination, though.
WOMAN Well there was that study which showed that primary age children generated more ideas when they were writing by hand than using a keyboard I would have guessed that would be the case.
MAN Hmm yeah I never associated spatial awareness with handwriting either. I thought spatial awareness was more to do with knowing where you are in relation to objects or other people.
WOMAN I thought that too. But good spatial awareness is essential for writing because you have to space words correctly. It’s not just fine motor skills that improve through writing, as I’d always assumed.
MAN Handwriting is so much harder for children with dyspraxia, who have problems coordinating movement. It’s good there are lots of things you can do in the classroom to help them. They need so much more support with letter formation. You need to play lots of games to help them distinguish letter shapes. It takes a lot of patience.
WOMAN Yeah, I like the idea of using one of those pens that lights up if you press too hard. That seems like a really simple solution.
MAN Yes, absolutely. I’m not sure there’s much you can do about children with dyspraxia writing very slowly. It’s more important to focus on accuracy and as they get more confident, I think they eventually speed up.
WOMAN One quite simple thing you can do is to use grid paper. So they write each letter in a box and that trains them to space the letters correctly.
MAN Indeed, that’s more important for legibility than trying to get them to write in a straight line.
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MAN For some children, it might be better to teach them to write on a laptop rather than by hand, like children with dyslexia. They often really struggle with handwriting and some just give up.
WOMAN Yeah, it’s not as frustrating for them if they get things wrong. On a keyboard, they can be more willing to have a go. But I read that developing fluency isn’t any faster.
MAN That’s right. Did you read that article on the benefits of teaching print rather than cursive handwriting, where the letters are joined up?
WOMAN Yes. Well, in the past, cursive writing was certainly considered more stylish and educated, but not anymore. Teachers’ attitudes have changed because it’s been proved that cursive is more difficult to learn, especially for children with learning difficulties who find joining up letters really challenging.
MAN I agree. I was always worried that my poor handwriting affected my exam results, and now research shows that I was right to worry. I’m sure a lot of students think it’s unfair that they’re being judged on their handwriting, not just their knowledge.
WOMAN Marks are definitely affected if examiners can't read the script. That is why it has always been so important to teach children to write legibly. Do you think the role of handwriting will change in the future?
MAN I can’t see that changing much. Touch typing still isn’t taught in most schools, which is a shame. But maybe that won’t be necessary in the future, because people will also be able to write by hand on digital devices. Anyway, teachers understand the value of handwriting. It’s a basic life skill.
WOMAN True. However, the fact is that people are writing by hand less and less and relying on digital devices. That does cause some problems.
MAN You mean like note-taking. There are lots of apps for that.
WOMAN And for reading historical documents, apparently. But my mum is shocked by my awful spelling and the fact that my punctuation is really inconsistent. I think you can put that down to lack of practice.
MAN I expect so. Personally, I miss writing by hand. I hardly ever write anything now. I remember my grandparents had such beautiful handwriting and it was so individual. Nobody I know would be able to identify my handwriting now. It’s a shame.
WOMAN I know. I feel the same way. I used to write a diary by hand and now I do that digitally. It just seems less effort to do it that way. So it’s not just a problem…