Proofreading Checklist - IELTS Listening Answers & Explanations
From Collins Practice Tests For IELTS 3 Academic Listening Test 4 · Part 3 · Questions 21–30
Audio
Questions
Questions 21–25 Multiple Choice (One Answer)
Choose the correct letter, A, B or C.
Questions 26–30 Note Completion
Complete the sentences below.
Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS for each answer.
Proofreading checklist
- Make sure you express yourself clearly.
- Your paragraphs must be 26 and in an order that makes sense to the reader.
- Check you have given a full answer to the question.
- The points you have made should be 27 Don't write just anything to get to the required word count.
- Avoid the use of informal language.
- Pay attention to any 28 and spelling.
- Check your 29 are grammatically correct.
- Check your 30 to make sure you have expressed yourself effectively.
Answers & Explanations Summary
| # | Answer | Evidence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q21 | C | Professor Collins is away until next week and I thought I'd speak to you in the meantime | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows the student explaining that the professor is currently absent (not there) and won't be back for a few more days, so she decided to speak with the tutor instead. Answer Explanation: The answer means that the student did not talk to Professor Collins because he is not at the university or available to talk right now. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is C because the student says that the professor will not return until next week. Since she needs to start her work as soon as possible, she chose to talk to a tutor instead of waiting for the professor to come back. The word 'away' is a synonym for 'not around' or absent. |
| Q22 | C | You'd be surprised how many students fail to do this and only provide a partial answer | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows that many students do not look at every part of the prompt, so they only write an answer that covers some of what was asked. Answer Explanation: The answer means that many students write assignments that are missing information and do not answer everything asked. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is C because the tutor explains that students often forget to check if a question has several parts. Because of this mistake, many students only give a 'partial answer.' In English, 'partial' is the opposite of 'full' or 'complete.' Therefore, giving a partial answer is the same as failing to provide a full answer. |
| Q23 | B | When you're asked to analyse or discuss or evaluate different views, it's often a similar exercise | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows the tutor telling the student that for their specific studies, these three words require the student to do the same type of task. Answer Explanation: The answer means that these specific words usually ask the student to do the same kind of work when writing an essay. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is B because the tutor explains that in the subject of History, using the words 'analyse', 'discuss', or 'evaluate' usually results in a 'similar exercise'. This means that even though the words are different, the task the student must complete—looking at different opinions and arguments—is basically the same. |
| Q24 | A | Students who rely on internet sources like those tend to be marked down by assessors. You just can't trust the accuracy of the information and it's likely to be politically biased and often promotes a particular point of view | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows the tutor warning that teachers (assessors) give lower grades (mark down) to students who use those kinds of websites because the facts might be wrong or unfair. Answer Explanation: The answer means that using specific types of websites for research might cause a student to get a lower score on their homework assignment. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is A because the tutor explains that students who use websites like blogs and wikis often get 'marked down' by the people who grade their work. In a school setting, being 'marked down' means getting a lower grade or fewer points. The tutor explains that this happens because these internet sources are often 'politically biased' (meaning they show only one point of view) and might contain wrong information. |
| Q25 | C | The books on the reading list will often have a wide range of opinions but they'll have been critically reviewed by other academics and will be respected by the academic community | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript says that while books contain different ideas, they are reliable because other experts (academics) have looked at them carefully (critically reviewed) to make sure they are good. Answer Explanation: The answer means that the books on the official list have been checked and approved by other people who are experts in that subject. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is C because the tutor explains that books on the reading list are trustworthy. Unlike common internet sources, these books have been 'critically reviewed'—which means assessed or checked carefully—by 'academics,' who are experts in the university community. This process ensures the information is accurate and meets high academic standards. |
| Q26 | well constructed / well-constructed | Are the paragraphs well constructed and in a logical order | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript asks if the different parts of the writing are put together correctly and if they follow a plan that is easy to understand. Answer Explanation: The answer "well constructed" means that the sections of writing (paragraphs) should be built or organized in a very good and clear way. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is identified when the tutor explains how to check an essay after writing it. The tutor suggests that a student should look at their paragraphs to see if they are "well constructed" and organized in a "logical order." This matches the part of the checklist that asks for paragraphs to be in an order that makes sense to the reader. |
| Q27 | relevant | Check you've answered the question fully and make sure everything you've written is relevant. Some students think it's all about hitting the word count and fill their essay with information that doesn't answer the question | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows the tutor advising the student to ensure their writing is related to the question. He warns that some students add extra information just to make the essay long enough, even if that information does not help answer the question. Answer Explanation: The answer "relevant" means that the information you write must be directly related to the topic or question you are talking about. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "relevant" because the tutor specifically tells the student to check that every point they write is important for answering the question. He explains that students should avoid adding extra, useless information just to reach the required "word count." |
| Q28 | typing mistakes | Watch out for any typing mistakes as well as incorrect spelling | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows the tutor advising the student to be careful and look for errors made when typing the essay and also to check that all words are spelled right. Answer Explanation: The answer refers to small errors or accidents made while typing on a keyboard, such as hitting the wrong key. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is determined by the tutor's specific advice on what to check during the proofreading process. He lists several things for the student to look for, specifically grouping keyboard errors together with spelling. In the transcript, he explicitly tells the student to 'Watch out for any typing mistakes as well as incorrect spelling,' which matches the sentence structure of the task. |
| Q29 | sentence structures | And don't forget to check your grammar: your sentence structures need to be correct | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows the teacher telling the student to check their grammar and make sure their sentences are built the right way. Answer Explanation: The answer "sentence structures" means the way words are put together to make complete and correct sentences. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is chosen because the tutor gives proofreading advice at the end of the meeting. He tells the student to look at their grammar and expressly mentions that "sentence structures" must be correct. This fits the blank in the checklist about checking things that must be grammatically correct. |
| Q30 | punctuation | Finally, punctuation can make a huge difference to how effective a piece of work is so give that some attention as well | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows the teacher telling the student to look at their punctuation last because it is very important for making the essay clear and powerful. Answer Explanation: The answer means that the student must check their use of punctuation marks (like periods and commas) before finishing their work. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is punctuation because the tutor mentions it as the final step in the proofreading process. He explains that it significantly changes how successful or 'effective' the writing is. In the checklist, the student is told to check it to ensure they expressed themselves 'effectively', which exactly matches the tutor's advice about punctuation making a piece of work effective. |
Transcript
Student: Thanks for making time to see me, Mr Gregson. I really appreciate it. I've got an assignment due in for Professor Collins next Monday and I'm having a few problems with it. I was hoping you could help me with a few questions.
Tutor: Well, not with the topic itself, of course. It's not my area.
Student: No, I understand that. It's more about the writing process.
Tutor: OK, how far have you got?
Student: I haven't actually started yet. Professor Collins is away until next week and I thought I'd speak to you in the meantime. It took me a few days to get an appointment. The deadline's the end of next week so I need to get started as soon as possible.
Tutor: I hope you aren't going to use me as an excuse if you don't finish in time. Tutors usually set essays some time in advance of the deadline to give you the chance to read the required literature. If you leave it till the last minute, the books are often all out on loan. I presume you've got the reading list?
Student: Yes, there are lots of sources on there and I've managed to get hold of some of the main ones. I wanted to speak with you to get some more advice on essay writing. You know, just some general tips on what makes a good essay. I don't feel confident writing an academic piece of work but that lesson you gave everyone on planning essays was really useful.
Tutor: Pleased to hear it. You should always start by focusing on the question. Do you remember my advice? It's really important to underline any key words and make sure you check whether there's more than one part to the question. You'd be surprised how many students fail to do this and only provide a partial answer.
Student: Yes, I remember you telling us that. What confuses me are all the different words you see in a question, like 'analyse', 'discuss', 'evaluate', and so on. I'm never quite sure what the difference is between them.
Tutor: Well, that often depends on the context of the question. In your subject area, History, you're expected to be able to show you understand why certain events took place and to be able to evaluate various points of view. One historian will have a different opinion from that of another, and a good response to the question will show an understanding of the arguments put forward by different people. When you're asked to analyse or discuss or evaluate different views, it's often a similar exercise.
Student: Yes, I think I see what you mean. The essay for Professor Collins is on whether there would have been a revolution in Russia without Lenin, and yes, it's basically all about presenting different points of view.
Tutor: That's it. Now, I'm planning on holding a session on research and referencing with your year soon. You say you've managed to get some of the sources on the reading list?
Student: Yes, there were a couple of books in the library that I managed to get. And there are journals we can use on the online portal.
Tutor: Yes, that's very useful. The information in the journals will be up to date and a great addition to the books.
Student: Is it best to avoid using blogs, wikis, that kind of thing?
Tutor: Yes, definitely. Students who rely on internet sources like those tend to be marked down by assessors. You just can't trust the accuracy of the information and it's likely to be politically biased and often promotes a particular point of view
Student: But isn't that the case with the books we're recommended as well? The authors all have a particular opinion.
Tutor: That's true. The books on the reading list will often have a wide range of opinions but they'll have been critically reviewed by other academics and will be respected by the academic community. The authors will have researched their subject thoroughly and basically met certain academic standards.
Student: OK, I'll remember that. Thanks for your help.
Tutor: No problem. The other thing to remember is to proofread your work carefully before you submit it.
Student: Yes, I do tend to make some basic spelling mistakes.
Tutor: Well, it's partly about that, yes, but you need to do a bit more than just check for spelling mistakes. Read your work through first to make sure your arguments are clear. Are the paragraphs well constructed and in a logical order?
Student: Yes, that's where planning comes in, doesn't it?
Tutor: Yes, and remember what I said earlier. Check you've answered the question fully and make sure everything you've written is relevant. Some students think it's all about hitting the word count and fill their essay with information that doesn't answer the question.
Student: Yes, I think I might have been guilty of that in the past.
Tutor: Once you've read through the main content, check your use of language. Make sure you haven't used any informal language. This is an academic piece of work so you don't want to be using slang words or idiomatic language. Watch out for any typing mistakes as well as incorrect spelling. And don't forget to check your grammar: your sentence structures need to be correct. Finally, punctuation can make a huge difference to how effective a piece of work is so give that some attention as well.
Student: OK, I will do. Many thanks for all your help.