Note-Taking Skills - IELTS Listening Answers & Explanations
From Expert on Cambridge IELTS 08 Academic Listening Test 2 · Part 3 · Questions 21–30
Audio
Questions
Questions 21–22 Two Choices
Choose TWO letters, A-E.
Which Two factors can affect note-taking?
Questions 23–30 Table Completion
Complete the table below.
Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS for each answer.
| Note-taking Skills | |
|---|---|
| Step 1 | prepare for 23 in advance
use a loose-leaf binder use 24 notebooks for different class |
| Step 2 | put a 25 on the first page
use divider to set aside different parts adopt different 26 pen |
| Step 3 | only write 27
main words: nouns, adjectives, 28 and numbers |
| Step 4 | use 29 to speed up writing
pay attention to: speak loudly, repeat and pause |
| Step 5 | 30 after class
check notes with others |
Answers & Explanations Summary
| # | Answer | Evidence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q21 | — | — | |
| Q22 | B / E | Before making suggestions I'd like to analyse some factors that can affect note-taking. Of course the first one is your vocabulary. A instructor cannot spell all words in class. So it is necessary to master a massive vocabulary for students, especially for non-native students of English language. Good psychology is also important for note-taking | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that vocabulary and psychology are two factors that have an impact on how well students can take notes in class. Answer Explanation: The answer means that the two things affecting a student's ability to take notes are vocabulary and psychology. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is B and E because the speaker introduces factors that influence note-taking right at the start. The speaker states that the first factor is "vocabulary" and goes on to say that "Good psychology is also important for note-taking." The other choices (such as handouts) are part of the steps or suggestions, not the factors introduced here. |
| Q23 | course handouts | As usual, students can get course handouts in advance, so preparing for them will help you know about what the instructor will talk about in a class and then to help with your note-taking | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript states that students normally receive class sheets early, and reading or getting ready with them ahead of time helps them take better notes. Answer Explanation: The answer refers to printed paper materials given to students for a class. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is supported by the speaker's instructions for the first step of note-taking. The speaker explains that students usually receive "course handouts in advance" and that "preparing for them" helps them understand the lecture. Therefore, the words that fill the blank for "prepare for [input] in advance" are "course handouts". |
| Q24 | separate | Separating notebooks for each class can help students think clearly about different classes' notes | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that using a different notebook for each class helps students organize their thoughts and study their notes more clearly. Answer Explanation: The answer means having different or individual notebooks for each subject instead of using just one for everything. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is correct because the speaker suggests keeping notes distinct for every subject during Step 1. In the lecture, the speaker states that "Separating notebooks for each class can help students think clearly", which matches the prompt's instruction to "use separate notebooks for different class". |
| Q25 | date and title | The second step is to put a date and title on the first page | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript states clearly that the second stage of note-taking is writing the date and lecture title on the first page. Answer Explanation: The answer means writing the day and the name or headline of the lecture at the top of the very first page. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'date and title' because the speaker discusses Step 2 of note-taking and explicitly says that it involves putting a 'date and title' on the first page. The prompt asks what to 'put a on the first page', which directly matches this statement. |
| Q26 | colour ball-point pens / color ball-point pens | According to some students' experiences it is a good idea to use different colour ball-point pens to make different marks of lecture in class | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that using ball-point pens in different colors helps students mark and highlight lecture points during class. Answer Explanation: The answer means pens of various colors used for writing notes. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is supported by the speaker's advice in Step 2. The speaker says that students find it helpful to use different 'colour ball-point pens' to create marks and organize their notes during class. In the summary table, 'adopt' matches 'use', making 'colour ball-point pens' the right words to complete the point. |
| Q27 | key points | In class a good note-taker should only write key points, not all information | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript states that during a lesson, someone who takes good notes writes down only the essential ideas instead of every detail. Answer Explanation: The answer means the most important ideas or main facts, rather than writing down every single word. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "key points" because the speaker discusses Step 3 and explains what students should write down during class. The speaker explicitly states that a good note-taker should "only write key points, not all information." Therefore, "key points" completes the prompt "only write ". |
| Q28 | verbs | These points are usually nouns, adjectives, verbs and numbers | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that the main points to write down in notes are usually nouns, describing words (adjectives), action words (verbs), and numbers. Answer Explanation: The answer refers to action words, which are called "verbs". Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "verbs" because the speaker lists the main types of words that students should write down in their notes. In the transcript, the speaker says these key points are usually "nouns, adjectives, verbs and numbers". In the table, the missing word in the list "nouns, adjectives, and numbers" is therefore "verbs". |
| Q29 | abbreviation and symbol | In order to save time and speed up writing I advise you to use abbreviation and symbols instead of words | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript states directly that using short words and signs helps people write faster and save time when taking notes. Answer Explanation: The answer means short forms of words and special signs instead of writing full words. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer fills in what students should use to write faster during Step 4. The speaker states that to save time and "speed up writing", students are advised to use "abbreviation and symbols" instead of full words. |
| Q30 | review | The last suggestion is that you should review your notes after class when the information is still fresh in your mind | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript says that the final tip is to read and study your notes again after the lesson ends, because you can still remember the ideas clearly. Answer Explanation: The answer "review" means to look at or study something again to remember it well. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "review" because the speaker gives the final suggestion (Step 5) for note-taking. The speaker explains that students should look over their notes again ("review your notes") right "after class" while the information is still fresh. Therefore, "review" correctly completes the blank before "after class". |
Transcript
Note-taking is an important skill for successful study. Today I'm going to introduce some effective skills for taking notes. Before making suggestions I'd like to analyse some factors that can affect note-taking. Of course the first one is your vocabulary. A instructor cannot spell all words in class. So it is necessary to master a massive vocabulary for students, especially for non-native students of English language. Good psychology is also important for note-taking. Some students are very nervous in class and cannot follow instructor in time although they have a good ability to take notes. Well, what skills can help you improve the ability and speed of note-taking?
Let's begin with the first one of five steps. As usual, students can get course handouts in advance, so preparing for them will help you know about what the instructor will talk about in a class and then to help with your note-taking. A good suggestion is to use a loose-leaf binder for notes and the instructor's handout may be taken out of it. Separating notebooks for each class can help students think clearly about different classes' notes.
Now, that's the work for preparation. The second step is to put a date and title on the first page. This will help you make sure about the lecture topic and the class in which the instructor happens. Some students think this is very important for your studies later. And then I advise you to use a divider which can set aside different parts in one notebook, for example drawing a line in the middle of the notebook and then write main points on the left and some extra information (e.g. reference books recommended by instructor on class) on the right. According to some students' experiences it is a good idea to use different colour ball-point pens to make different marks of lecture in class. And now for the third step. In class a good note-taker should only write key points, not all information. Some students cannot know what they write on notebook after class. So how to master key points is what's so important. These points are usually nouns, adjectives, verbs and numbers. Writing only one or two points on each line can help you to understand the notes when you read them later.
The most difficult part for nearly all students is, of course, to have enough time to write the notes. So the next step is coming. In order to save time and speed up writing I advise you to use abbreviation and symbols instead of words, such as: info for information, unit for university, dept. for department and even use "+" instead of "and". When your instructor speaks loudly or repeats some contents or has a short pause you should pay attention to the important points. The last suggestion is that you should review your notes after class when the information is still fresh in your mind. Try to summarise the key points and check notes with your classmates after class. That's some of easy methods you can use to take notes. I hope this can help you with your note-taking in class. If you want to know more about the topic please contact the study consultant in the...