Planning a Research Project - IELTS Listening Answers & Explanations
From Barrons IELTS Practice Exams Academic Listening Test 3 · Part 3 · Questions 21–30
Audio
Questions
Questions 21–23 Short Answers
Answer the questions below.
Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer.
Questions 24–30 Note Completion
Complete the outline showing the steps the students will take to complete their projects.
Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS for each answer.
A. Read 24
B. design the 25
C. Get professor's 26
D. 27
E. Get together to 28
F. Prepare 29
G. Give 30
Answers & Explanations Summary
| # | Answer | Evidence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q21 | in three weeks / in 3 weeks / three more weeks / 3 more weeks | Student 1: We’d better start planning our research project, because we don’t have much time left before it’s due. Student 2: I know, only three more weeks | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Student 1 talking about the upcoming deadline for their project, and Student 2 answering that there are only three weeks left. Answer Explanation: The answer means that the students have to finish and submit their work in three weeks. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is chosen because Student 1 mentions that there is not much time left before the project is due, and Student 2 confirms that they only have three weeks left. |
| Q22 | a shopping mall / the shopping mall | Student 1: We haven’t decided anything definitely yet, but I think the shopping mall would be a better place. We’d get more of a variety of shoppers there. Student 2: Yes, that’s a good point. So, let’s do that | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Student 1 suggesting the shopping mall as a good location for interviewing shoppers, and Student 2 agreeing to conduct the interviews there. Answer Explanation: The answer means the students will carry out their interviews at a shopping mall. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "a shopping mall" because Student 1 suggests that the shopping mall would be a better location to interview a wider variety of people, and Student 2 agrees to go there. |
| Q23 | thirty / 30 / at least thirty / at least 30 | How many interviews did the professor say we had to complete? Student 1: She said at least thirty | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Student 2 asking how many interviews are needed, and Student 1 answering that the professor told them to complete at least thirty. Answer Explanation: The answer means that the students will do a total of 30 interviews. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is thirty because Student 1 mentions that the professor required them to complete at least thirty interviews in total. Student 2 then calculates that dividing thirty between the two of them equals fifteen interviews each, confirming thirty as the combined total. |
| Q24 | a government study / the government study | Well, we have to do some reading first, don’t we? Didn’t we say we were going to compare our results to the results of a government study | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Student 2 stating that before doing anything else, they need to read a government study. Answer Explanation: The answer refers to an official report created by the government that the students need to read first. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'a government study' because the students discuss their first step in the project, which is to do some reading. Student 2 explicitly mentions reading a 'government study' so they can compare their project's results with its findings. |
| Q25 | questionnaire | Yes, so we’d better read that first and then design our questionnaire | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Student 2 stating that after reading the study first, the next action is to design their set of questions (questionnaire). Answer Explanation: The answer means creating or writing the list of questions for their study. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'design the questionnaire' because Student 2 explains the order of their work: they need to read the study first, and right after that, they will 'design our questionnaire'. This fits step B in the project outline. |
| Q26 | approval / approval for questionnaire | The professor said she had to approve our questionnaire first, before we actually conducted the interviews. Student 2: Oh, right. So we’ll get her approval and then conduct the interviews | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Student 1 telling Student 2 that the professor must agree to (approve) their questions first, and Student 2 agrees that getting her approval is the next step before doing the interviews. Answer Explanation: The answer means that the students need to get permission or approval from their teacher (professor) for their set of questions (questionnaire). Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "professor's approval" (or "approval for questionnaire") because the students discuss the required steps for their project. Student 1 reminds Student 2 that the teacher must look over and approve their questionnaire first, and Student 2 confirms that they will "get her approval" before interviewing shoppers. |
| Q27 | conduct interviews / conduct the interviews | Student 2: Oh, right. So we’ll get her approval and then conduct the interviews | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Student 2 stating that right after getting the professor's approval, their next action is to conduct the interviews. Answer Explanation: The answer means doing or carrying out the questions and answers session (interviews) with shoppers. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'conduct interviews' because it follows step C in the project plan. The transcript shows that after getting the professor's approval for their questionnaire, the students plan to go out and conduct the interviews next. |
| Q28 | analyze results / analyse results / analyze the results / analyse the results | Student 2: And let’s also plan to get together the next day to analyze the results | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Student 2 suggesting that they meet up the next day so they can study the information they gathered. Answer Explanation: The answer means that the students will meet up to carefully study and understand the information they collected from their interviews. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'analyze the results' because Student 2 suggests that the two students meet up the day after interviewing shoppers to look at their findings. In the conversation, Student 2 specifically proposes that they 'get together the next day to analyze the results', which fills in step E of their project plan. |
| Q29 | some charts / charts / charts showing results | Well, I think the obvious thing is to prepare some charts showing our results and how they compare with the government study | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Student 1 suggesting that they make charts displaying their findings so that the class can easily understand their presentation. Answer Explanation: The answer means the students need to create charts that show the results of their study. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "charts (showing results)" because Student 1 suggests preparing charts that display their findings to help make the information clearer to the class. The keyword "prepare" in the prompt directly matches Student 1's statement to "prepare some charts showing our results". |
| Q30 | the class presentation / class presentation | And then that’s it. All that will be left to do is give the class presentation | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Student 1 explaining that once the other parts of the project are done, the only remaining task is to give the class presentation. Answer Explanation: The answer means the final step in the students' project outline is to give a talk or talk about their work in front of their class. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'class presentation' because Student 1 says that after finishing all the other steps, the last thing left for them to do is to give the presentation to the class. |
Transcript
Student 1: We’d better start planning our research project, because we don’t have much time left before it’s due.
Student 2: I know, only three more weeks.
Student 1: Is that all? I thought we had more time than that. Well, let’s get to work, then.
Student 2: OK, so we agreed we’re going to interview shoppers about their spending habits. Did we decide to conduct our interviews at the department store?
Student 1: We haven’t decided anything definitely yet, but I think the shopping mall would be a better place. We’d get more of a variety of shoppers there.
Student 2: Yes, that’s a good point. So, let’s do that. How many interviews did the professor say we had to complete?
Student 1: She said at least thirty. That sounds like a lot, doesn’t it?
Student 2: Yes, but if we divide it up between the two of us, that’s just fifteen each. That’s not so bad.
Student 1: OK, so I guess we’d better start designing our questionnaire.
Student 2: Well, we have to do some reading first, don’t we? Didn’t we say we were going to compare our results to the results of a government study?
Student 1: Right, the government study about how the economic crisis has changed people’s spending habits. We want to see if we get similar results.
Student 2: Yes, so we’d better read that first and then design our questionnaire. Then I guess we’ll be ready to go out and interview shoppers.
Student 1: No. Don’t you remember? The professor said she had to approve our questionnaire first, before we actually conducted the interviews.
Student 2: Oh, right. So we’ll get her approval and then conduct the interviews. I think a Saturday would be the best day for the interviews, because everyone’s out shopping then.
Student 1: Right. We’ll do it on a Saturday, then.
Student 2: And let’s also plan to get together the next day to analyze the results. It’s best to do that while everything’s fresh in our minds. Don’t you think?
Student 2: Sure. That sounds like a good idea. OK, so then we’re going to have to present our results to the class. Do you have any ideas for that? It’s an important part of our grade, so I think we should plan it well.
Student 1: Well, I think the obvious thing is to prepare some charts showing our results and how they compare with the government study. That will help make the information a lot clearer to the class.
Student 2: Right. OK, so we’ll draw up some charts of the results.
Student 1: And then that’s it. All that will be left to do is give the class presentation. Do you think we can be ready on time?
Student 2: I sure hope so. Let's get started now.