Benefits Of Student Work Placements - IELTS Listening Answers & Explanations
From IELTS Practice Test Plus 3 Academic Listening Test 6 · Part 3 · Questions 21–30
Audio
Questions
Questions 21–26 Multiple Choice (One Answer)
Choose the correct letter, A, B or C.
Questions 27–30 Matching
What does Linda think about the books on Matthew's reading list?
Choose FOUR answers from the box and write the correct letter, A-F.
A. helpful illustrations
B. easy to understand
C. up-to-date
D. comprehensive
E. specialised
F. useful case studies
Answers & Explanations Summary
| # | Answer | Evidence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q21 | A | But I've had an email from the university about a vacancy that looks quite interesting | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows that Matthew received a digital message from his school regarding an available job position that looks good to him. Answer Explanation: The answer means that Matthew is thinking about doing a work placement because he received information about a job opening that caught his attention. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is A because Matthew mentions that he usually doesn't think work placements are necessary, and he specifically says he doesn't need the money (ruling out option B). He also doesn't mention trying out a career path as his personal reason; instead, he explains that he saw an email from his university about a 'vacancy' (a job opening) that seems 'interesting.' This email is the reason he is now considering it. |
| Q22 | B | Then there was an activity that we did in groups, which I found really fascinating | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Linda saying that when they worked together as a team (in groups), she found it extremely interesting. Answer Explanation: The answer is the group activity, because this was the part of applying for the job that Linda liked the most. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is B because Linda uses the word 'fascinating' to describe the group activity. In English, 'fascinating' is a strong synonym for 'very interesting.' Linda describes the other parts as 'dull' (which means boring) or simply says the individual task was like normal student work. Therefore, the group part was clearly her favorite. |
| Q23 | A | I was helping to design some diagnostic software to identify any waste in the car assembly process No, time. Anything that can speed the process up helps to cut costs |
Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Linda explaining that she worked on software to find wasted time in the factory. She explains that her goal was to make the process faster to save money. Answer Explanation: The answer means that during her work project, Linda helped find ways to make the car-building process go faster. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is A because Linda explains that her task involved creating software to find 'waste' in how cars are put together. When Matthew asks if she means waste of 'materials' (like scrap metal), she clarifies that she means waste of 'time.' She notes that making the work faster (speeding it up) is how the company saves money. Therefore, her work was about increasing the speed of the assembly line. |
| Q24 | C | I think when you're on placement, you're always trying to prove yourself | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows that Linda believed the reason the work was difficult was the constant need to show people that she was capable and deserved to be there. Answer Explanation: The answer means that Linda felt tired during her work placement because she felt a lot of pressure to show her employers that she was a good and talented worker. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is C because Linda explains that she found the placement much harder than her previous jobs. She mentions that she had already worked full-time and worked long hours in the past, so those weren't the reasons she was tired. Instead, she says the difficulty came from always feeling like she had to "prove herself," which is another way of saying she had to show her value or her worth to the company. |
| Q25 | B | The evaluation was about general workplace things, like organizational ability, initiative, that sort of thing | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows that the feedback Linda received was about her professional habits, specifically naming her ability to organize things. Answer Explanation: The answer is Choice B, which means Linda's bosses gave her feedback on how well she planned and managed her work tasks. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is B because Linda explains that her final evaluation (formal feedback) focused on general skills used in a workplace. She directly mentions "organizational ability" as an example of what her employers observed and commented on, rather than focusing on her technical engineering skills. |
| Q26 | B | Well, the best thing is that they've offered me a job for next year, depending on my exam results, of course, but still | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows that Linda considers the invitation to work for the company next year as the most positive result of her time there. Answer Explanation: The answer means that the top advantage Linda gained from her work experience was that the company promised her a job for the next year. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is B because Linda uses the phrase "the best thing" to describe the job offer she received from her employer. While she mentions other benefits like learning new software and improving her time management, she ranks the job offer as the most important one. Keywords such as "the best thing" often highlight the main benefit or point in a conversation. |
| Q27 | B | Yes, this one, The Science of Materials. I found the subject quite hard generally, but this book is very accessible, so it suited me | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Linda saying the book is 'accessible', which is a way of saying it is easy to understand. Answer Explanation: The answer means that the book is simple to read and follow for a student. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is B because Linda uses the word 'accessible' to describe the book 'The Science of Materials'. In an academic context, when a book is called accessible, it means it is easy to understand even if the topic is difficult. She notes that although she found the subject hard, the book was easy for her to use. |
| Q28 | A | But what I liked about it were the pictures. They really helped to understand the descriptions. It's useful just from that point of view | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows that Linda recommends the book for its visual aids, explaining that the images were very beneficial for understanding the technical information provided in the text. Answer Explanation: The answer means that Linda liked the book because it contains helpful pictures or drawings. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is A because Linda mentions that while the book might be old, she liked the pictures because they helped her understand the written descriptions. In the context of books, 'illustrations' is a synonym for 'pictures.' |
| Q29 | D | Oh, yes, that one there, Engineering Basics. I think out of all these, that's got the widest coverage | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows that Linda likes 'Engineering Basics' because it covers more topics than any of the other books Matthew mentions. Answer Explanation: The answer D means the book includes a lot of information and covers many topics. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is D because Linda says that the book 'Engineering Basics' has the 'widest coverage' compared to everything else on the list. In English, 'comprehensive' and 'widest coverage' both mean that something contains a large amount of information and covers a wide range of subjects. |
| Q30 | C | The Evolution of Materials does, though. It's a recent publication, so it covers all the latest developments | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows that Linda likes this book because it was printed recently and includes the most recent changes and discoveries in the field. Answer Explanation: The answer 'C' means that the book *Evolution of Materials* is modern and contains the newest information. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'C' because Linda describes the book as a 'recent publication' that 'covers all the latest developments.' In English, 'recent' and 'latest' are synonyms for 'up-to-date,' meaning the information is current and not old. |
Transcript
Narrator: CD 3. Test 6, section 3. You will hear two engineering students, a woman in her sixth year called Linda and a man in his fifth year called Matthew, discussing the benefits of student work placements. Before you listen, you have some time to look at questions 21 to 26. Now listen and answer questions 21 to 26.
Matthew: Hi Linda, can you spare a few minutes?
Linda: Hello Matthew, no problem.
Matthew: I just wanted to talk to you about temporary work placements. I've never really thought there was a good reason for doing one. I've got some savings, so I don't really need the money at the moment. But I've had an email from the university about a vacancy that looks quite interesting. You did a placement last year, didn't you?
Linda: I did, yes. In my case, I wanted to find out if I was making the right career choice before I began applying for permanent jobs. I thought I wanted to work in car manufacturing, but I wasn't sure, so I applied to Toyota.
Matthew: What was the application process like?
Linda: Lengthy. There were a lot of different parts to it. The dullest one was a psychometric test. You know, when you have to answer loads of questions about yourself.
Matthew: And you're trying to guess what's the best thing to say.
Linda: Yes. Then there was an activity that we did in groups, which I found really fascinating. Engineers are renowned for being a bit unsociable, but I thought we made a great team. And we had an individual task too. We had to sort through various business documents and prioritize them. It was just like what you have to do as a student, really, just with different content.
Matthew: What exactly were you doing on the placement?
Linda: I was helping to design some diagnostic software to identify any waste in the car assembly process.
Matthew: Do you mean waste of materials?
Linda: No, time. Anything that can speed the process up helps to cut costs.
Matthew: How did the work placement compare to being a student? Was it hard work?
Linda: Yes, it was. I'd had full-time work before. I've done various unskilled jobs during university holidays, and some of those involved long hours. So I thought I'd find it easy. I was wrong, though. I think when you're on placement, you're always trying to prove yourself.
Matthew: So you push yourself hard to succeed?
Linda: Yes. But I got a lot of support from my employers. They were always helpful. And then, at the end of the placement, I was given formal feedback.
Matthew: Do you mean on your engineering ability?
Linda: Well, no. I didn't really need that because we had team meetings every other day, and so I had the chance to discuss technical issues and ask about anything that wasn't clear. The evaluation was about general workplace things, like organizational ability, initiative, that sort of thing.
Matthew: I get the impression you think you benefited from the placement.
Linda: Well, the best thing is that they've offered me a job for next year, depending on my exam results, of course, but still.
Matthew: A permanent one?
Linda: Yes. But apart from that, I learned so much. The industrial environment was much more demanding than the academic one, so my general skills improved, like time management, meeting deadlines. And on the technical side, I learned new software packages, like MS Project.
Matthew: Well, I think you've convinced me that work placements are worthwhile. But while you're here, can you give me advice on something else?
Narrator: Before you hear the rest of the conversation, you have some time to look at questions 27 to 30. Now listen and answer questions 27 to 30.
Matthew: I'm about to make a start on the Engineering Materials module, and I've got a booklist here. Can you have a quick look and tell me what you would recommend? That's if you can remember.
Linda: Let's see. I do remember some of them. Hmm. Yes, this one, The Science of Materials. I found the subject quite hard generally, but this book is very accessible, so it suited me. It doesn't cover everything, though.
Matthew: What about this one then, Materials Engineering?
Linda: Oh, yes. I do remember that. But it's a bit out of date now, isn't it? Unless it's a new edition.
Matthew: I don't think so.
Linda: But what I liked about it were the pictures. They really helped to understand the descriptions. It's useful just from that point of view. Let's see, hmm, what else? Oh, yes, that one there, Engineering Basics. I think out of all these, that's got the widest coverage.
Matthew: But I've looked at the contents page and it hardly mentions nanotechnology.
Linda: Yes, you're right. The Evolution of Materials does, though. It's a recent publication, so it covers all the latest developments. It's a bit thin on the 1960s, though, and that decade was quite important.
Matthew: Well, it sounds as if they all complement each other in some ways. I don't suppose you can lend me...
Narrator: That is the end of section 3. You now have half a minute to check your answers. Now turn to section 4.