English Courses Available - IELTS Listening Answers & Explanations
From Expert on Cambridge IELTS 08 Academic Listening Test 5 · Part 1 · Questions 1–10
Audio
Questions
Questions 1–7 Note Completion
Complete the notes below.
Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer.
Courses Available
Writing in first term
1 in second term
2 throughout the year
3 during long vacation
Class sizes: 4 maximum
Course costs often paid by the 5
Exams available in 6
Must enroll by 7
Questions 8–10 Three Choices
Choose THREE letters, A-G.
Which THREE items does the student need to bring to the first class?
Answers & Explanations Summary
| # | Answer | Evidence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 | listening | That means we don't usually do speaking courses but next term you can do listening | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript states that during the following term, students have the option to take a listening class. Answer Explanation: The answer means a course that helps students practice hearing and understanding English. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is confirmed by the administrator when discussing courses offered in different terms. After mentioning that a writing course is held in the first term, the administrator says that in the "next term" (meaning the second term), students can take "listening". |
| Q2 | vocabulary and grammar | Student: So is everything term-based – there's nothing that you run all year? Administrator: Well, let's have a look. Yes, there is a class for vocabulary and grammar every term | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows the student asking whether any course takes place across the entire year. The administrator confirms that a class teaching vocabulary and grammar is offered in every term. Answer Explanation: The answer refers to the class that teaches words and the rules of the English language. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "vocabulary and grammar" because the student asks if any course runs "all year" (which matches "throughout the year" in the notes). The administrator answers that there is a class for "vocabulary and grammar every term". |
| Q3 | general classes | over the summer there're just general classes because that's what most students want – a bit of everything | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that during the summer break, students can take general classes that cover a little bit of everything. Answer Explanation: The answer refers to lessons covering general English skills instead of just one specific topic. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "general classes" because the student asks about courses held during the holidays, which matches "long vacation" in the notes. The administrator explains that during the summer holiday, the school offers "general classes". |
| Q4 | 15 / fifteen | We try to keep it at about twelve and certainly not more than fifteen | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript states that a class aims to have around 12 students and never more than 15 students. Answer Explanation: The answer means that the highest number of students permitted in one class is 15. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 15 (or fifteen) because the administrator says they try to have about twelve students and "certainly not more than fifteen". The phrase "not more than fifteen" matches the note's requirement of "maximum". |
| Q5 | department | usually the department will fund you | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript states that most of the time, the student's academic department provides the money to pay for the courses. Answer Explanation: The answer means the university academic department where the student studies. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "department" because the administrator explains that the student will likely not need to pay for the classes themselves. In the conversation, the administrator says that "usually the department will fund you". Here, the phrase "paid by" matches the word "fund", and "often" matches "usually". Therefore, the student's department covers the costs. |
| Q6 | May | Yes. But we don't like them to clash with your main course exams in June, so we run them in May | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript states that to avoid a time conflict with the students' main university exams in June, the language exams are scheduled in May. Answer Explanation: The answer "May" is the fifth month of the year, which is when the language tests take place. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is confirmed when the student asks about taking exams. The administrator explains that they hold the exams in May so they do not conflict with the university's main June exams. |
| Q7 | week five | All we insist is that you sign up before week five | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript states that the only strict rule is for students to complete their registration before the fifth week. Answer Explanation: The answer means that students have to register or sign up for their classes before the fifth week of the term. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "week five" because the student asks if they have to register immediately, and the administrator explains that students must sign up before this deadline. The phrase "sign up" means the same thing as "enroll", and "before week five" matches "Must enroll by week five". |
| Q8 | — | — | |
| Q9 | — | — | |
| Q10 | B / D / G | Then you'll be given a registration form which you'll have to show to the teacher when you have your first class Yes, you'll be given a password when you go to your first class, so remember to bring a disk with you to save your work on as you won't be allowed to save it on the hard drive. Student: OK. Will I need anything else? Dictionary? Administrator: We've got loads of those here that you can borrow, but you'll need a notebook as we don't provide paper or files |
Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript states that for the first lesson, the student must show the teacher a registration form, carry a computer disk to store their work, and bring their own notebook to write in. Answer Explanation: The answer means that the three things the student must take to their first lesson are a computer disk (B), a notebook (D), and a registration form (G). Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is B, D, and G because: 1. Registration form (G): The administrator explains that the student will receive a "registration form" that must be shown to the teacher at the "first class". 2. Computer disk (B): The administrator reminds the student to "bring a disk" to the first class to save computer work. 3. Notebook (D): When the student asks about a dictionary, the administrator notes that dictionaries can be borrowed, but the student will need a "notebook" because paper and files are not supplied. Other choices like the passport and identity card are used when enrolling at the office, and the note from the tutor is handed in when registering, not taken to the first class. |
Transcript
Student: Hi, I've come to ask about the English courses you run for international students.
Administrator: Oh right – I assume you're a student at the university?
Student: Yes, I've just started.
Administrator: OK. Well, we've got a range of courses. It depends what you think you need. And how much. Um – we can't run everything at the same time though so, for example, in this first term we are just doing a writing course.
Student: I see. That sounds quite useful. What else is there?
Administrator: Um, some of the courses only run for single terms and we tend to focus on what students have difficulty with. That means we don't usually do speaking courses but next term you can do listening. That'll help you with lectures and things. Our provision is all based on what the majority of our international students need.
Student: So is everything term-based – there's nothing that you run all year?
Administrator: Well, let's have a look. Yes, there is a class for vocabulary and grammar every term. That's for everybody but it's split into three or four levels.
Student: And what about in the holidays?
Administrator: We don't do anything during the winter or spring break but over the summer there're just general classes because that's what most students want – a bit of everything.
Student: OK. Quite a variety then. I'll have a think about what I really need because I haven't got much time. Do you have about twenty students in each class – the same as our Science seminars?
Administrator: We try to keep it at about twelve and certainly not more than fifteen. It's important for language classes. They're very different from your normal courses.
Student: Right – and how much are the classes?
Administrator: The rate varies depending on how many hours you attend but you shouldn't have to pay – usually the department will fund you and even sort out which classes you need.
Student: Brilliant! It would be quite useful for me to have a certificate to take back to my country. Do you put us in for exams?
Administrator: Yes. But we don't like them to clash with your main course exams in June, so we run them in May. That leaves you time for revision.
Student: Do I have to sign up for something now? I'm not quite sure what I want.
Administrator: Classes haven't quite started yet so you've got time to decide what you do. All we insist is that you sign up before week five. That gives you about three weeks to decide.
Student: OK.
Administrator: Then, when you've made up your mind, you need to come back here to the administration office to enroll.
Student: What do I need to bring with me when I enroll? My identity card, I guess?
Administrator: Yes, or your passport. Then you'll be given a registration form which you'll have to show to the teacher when you have your first class.
Student: OK. And should I ask my tutor about which classes I should do then?
Administrator: Yes, then you get a note from him and give that to the desk when you register.
Student: Can I use the computers here as well?
Administrator: Yes, you'll be given a password when you go to your first class, so remember to bring a disk with you to save your work on as you won't be allowed to save it on the hard drive.
Student: OK. Will I need anything else? Dictionary?
Administrator: We've got loads of those here that you can borrow, but you'll need a notebook as we don't provide paper or files.
Student: OK. Thanks.