Caitlin and Hideki’s Course Options - IELTS Listening Answers & Explanations
From Achieve IELTS Practice Tests Academic Listening Test 3 · Part 3 · Questions 21–30
Audio
Questions
Questions 21–23 Matching
What is the advantage of each course?
Choose THREE answers from the box and write the correct letter A – E.
A. will be tested in the final exams
B. will be useful for a future job
C. will help with research skills
D. will improve writing skills
E. will support material already covered
Questions 24–30 Sentence Completion
Complete the sentences below.
Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS for each answer.
- The Maths course will run in the 24 .
- The tutor for Pharmacology is visiting from 25 .
- 26 for the project must be submitted by the end of January.
- Resources for experiments are available in the 27 .
- Extra 28 will be held in December.
- Students are allowed to do presentations in 29 .
- Course assessment will be based on 30 .
Answers & Explanations Summary
| # | Answer | Evidence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q21 | D | But what it would do is to force us to get better at doing essays and reports – you know, organising them and using the right kind of language | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Caitlin explaining that this course will help them improve their skills in writing essays and reports. Answer Explanation: The answer 'D' means that taking the Science and Ethics course will help students become better at writing. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is D because Caitlin notes that taking the Science and Ethics course would "force us to get better at doing essays and reports – you know, organising them and using the right kind of language." Here, getting better at writing essays and reports with the proper language directly corresponds to improving writing skills. |
| Q22 | C | apparently they send you off to find out about various companies and the differences between their products – it would give you lots of practice in investigative studies and analysis | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript says that students in this course will investigate companies and compare products, which gives them plenty of training in doing research and analyzing data. Answer Explanation: The answer "C" means that taking the Pharmacology Prelim course will help students improve their research skills. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is C because Hideki mentions that in the Pharmacology Prelim course, students have to find information about different companies and their products. He explains that this "would give you lots of practice in investigative studies and analysis." The phrase "practice in investigative studies and analysis" directly means building or improving research skills. |
| Q23 | B | Well, I could certainly do with some help in that because if you go out into industry, that's what you'll spend most of your time doing, so it's got a very practical application | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Hideki saying that people who work in the industry spend most of their time reporting test results, so learning this skill will be very useful in a real job. Answer Explanation: The answer B means that the course will help students in their work when they start working in their careers later. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is B because Hideki explains that learning how to report test results has a very practical purpose. He mentions that if you "go out into industry" (meaning working in a real job or company), reporting test results is "what you'll spend most of your time doing." Therefore, this course will be directly useful for a future job. |
| Q24 | third term | The Chemistry department are responsible and they do it in the third term | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript states that the department in charge of the Maths course holds it during the third term of the academic year. Answer Explanation: The answer "third term" means the third period or semester of the school year. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "third term" because Hideki mentions that the supplementary Maths course is organized by the Chemistry department and is taught during the third term. Therefore, the course will run in the "third term". |
| Q25 | industry | he's a lecturer who's coming in for a few weeks from industry | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript states that the teacher (lecturer) is temporarily coming to teach from his regular job in business and real-world work (industry). Answer Explanation: The answer "industry" means commercial business or professional workplace sectors, rather than academic universities. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "industry" because Caitlin talks about the lecturer teaching the course. She mentions that he is "coming in for a few weeks from industry", which directly matches the sentence prompt stating that the tutor is "visiting from industry". |
| Q26 | plans | We have to make a decision about what we want to do on the project as soon as we start in January, and then hand in our plans before the end of the month | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript states that students need to decide on their project topic in January and submit their project plans by the end of that month. Answer Explanation: The answer "plans" refers to the outline or detailed proposals that students prepare for their project. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "plans" because Hideki mentions that after starting the project in January, they must "hand in our plans before the end of the month". In the question, "must be submitted" matches the phrase "hand in", and "by the end of January" matches "before the end of the month". |
| Q27 | new lab / new laboratory | For example, it says that if we need to do any experiments, then we can use all the equipment in the new lab, as long as we book it | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript states that students are allowed to use all the equipment located in the new laboratory if they need to carry out experiments. Answer Explanation: The answer means that the equipment or items needed for science tests are in the newly built science room (lab/laboratory). Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "new lab" (or "laboratory") because Hideki explains where students can find tools and equipment to do their experiments. In the conversation, Caitlin asks about the equipment they can use, and Hideki responds that they can use all the equipment located in the "new lab" if they reserve it. |
| Q28 | seminars | Actually it says that if you're not sure, then, in December, they'll be running one or two additional seminars – so I might go to those | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript states that one or two extra discussion classes (seminars) will be provided for students in December. Answer Explanation: The answer refers to small group classes or discussion sessions for students. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "seminars" because Caitlin mentions that extra or additional sessions will take place in December. In the sentence, the word "extra" means the same as "additional", and "will be held" matches "they'll be running". |
| Q29 | pairs | Well, it shouldn't be too bad as they say that we can do it in pairs | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that doing the presentation will not be too hard because students are allowed to work in two-person teams. Answer Explanation: The answer "pairs" means groups of two people working together. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is confirmed when Hideki mentions that they have to do a presentation at the end of the project, and notes that students are permitted to give the presentation in "pairs" to share the workload. Keywords include "do it in pairs", which directly completes "allowed to do presentations in [pairs]". |
| Q30 | an interview / interview | Caitlin: Oh, good. I have done presentations before but I'm always very nervous. And is the presentation what we're assessed on then? Hideki: Let me look Ah, it says that we have an interview and we get a mark for the whole course depending on how well we do in that |
Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Caitlin asking how they will be graded, and Hideki replying that they have to do an interview to receive their overall score for the course. Answer Explanation: The answer "(an) interview" means a formal meeting where a student answers questions to show their knowledge and earn their grade. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "(an) interview" because Caitlin asks if their final grading ("what we're assessed on") is based on the presentation. Hideki checks the information and clarifies that students will have an "interview" to get their final grade ("get a mark for the whole course"). Keywords to pay attention to include "assessed on", which relates to "assessment", and "get a mark", which refers to grading. |
Transcript
Caitlin: Hi, Hideki. How are you?
Hideki: Fine. I'm glad I bumped into you. Have you got five minutes to sit down and discuss our extra course options for next term?
Caitlin: Yes, sure. You mean the support courses for our modules?
Hideki: Yes. We've got three choices and I'm not sure which would be best for us to do.
Caitlin: Let's have a look. Yeah – we could do Science and Ethics – sounds quite interesting.
Hideki: Yes – but I think we should be thinking what we get out of each course. So Science and Ethics – there's a lot of reading and research to do. And I don't think it comes up in the exams, does it?
Caitlin: Um – I'm not sure. Er – oh, I see we have to do assignments and we get our score from that. But what it would do is to force us to get better at doing essays and reports – you know, organising them and using the right kind of language. Might be worthwhile?
Hideki: Yeah, you're right. An alternative is the Pharmacology Prelim course. I think it's in case we want to go on to transfer to Pharmacology at the end of the year because lots of students do. So it depends what we want to do in the future, but apparently they send you off to find out about various companies and the differences between their products – it would give you lots of practice in investigative studies and analysis. I think I'd quite enjoy that.
Caitlin: Yes, I see your point. Um, then the other option is Reporting Test Results – sounds a bit boring. Not sure why they have a separate course just for that?
Hideki: Well, I could certainly do with some help in that because if you go out into industry, that's what you'll spend most of your time doing, so it's got a very practical application. I think I'm going to go for Pharmacology.
Caitlin: Me too.
Hideki: So let's have a look at it in more detail. Oh, goodness – if we do Pharmacology then we have to do a supplementary Maths course.
Caitlin: Oh no – that's not fair. Mind you, I think I need it. Does that mean we have twice as many lectures?
Hideki: No, this Maths is only a short course. The Chemistry department are responsible and they do it in the third term. So we've got all next term to settle into the Pharmacology bit.
Caitlin: I find the tutor makes a real difference – some of them make Chemistry so easy and some of them I can't understand at all – like that one we had from Oxford University. Mind you, the one on this course should make sense because he's a lecturer who's coming in for a few weeks from industry so at least it'll be linked to the real world!
Hideki: Yeah. The project we have to do on this pharmacology course is huge and it doesn't give us much time. We have to make a decision about what we want to do on the project as soon as we start in January, and then hand in our plans before the end of the month!
Caitlin: Doesn't give us much time to sort out what's possible or not. I mean, doesn't the scale of our project depend on what resources we can have, like what equipment we can use?
Hideki: I suppose so, though I think there's plenty available. For example, it says that if we need to do any experiments, then we can use all the equipment in the new lab, as long as we book it.
Caitlin: Oh, OK. It's slowly beginning to take shape for me. I think it'll be a good course. I'm just worried that I get enough support to do it.
Hideki: I think you'll be OK. And the tutors are always available if you get stuck.
Caitlin: Actually it says that if you're not sure, then, in December, they'll be running one or two additional seminars – so I might go to those.
Hideki: Actually, what's quite interesting is that at the end of the course, when our project is completed, then we have to do a presentation on it. I think that's quite good practice.
Caitlin: Bit scary though!
Hideki: Well, it shouldn't be too bad as they say that we can do it in pairs. Spread the load, as it were!
Caitlin: Oh, good. I have done presentations before but I'm always very nervous. And is the presentation what we're assessed on then?
Hideki: Let me look .... um ... . Ah, it says that we have an interview and we get a mark for the whole course depending on how well we do in that.
Caitlin: Right ... (fade) ...