Revising for Exams - IELTS Listening Answers & Explanations
From Collins Practice Tests For IELTS 1 Academic Listening Test 3 · Part 3 · Questions 21–30
Audio
Questions
Questions 21–23 Short Answers
Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS for each answer.
Questions 24–28 Sentence Completion
Complete the sentences below.
Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS for each answer.
- It's best to avoid taking notes 24.
- Relate 25 to key theories and arguments.
- Using diagrams can help keep a lot of information 26.
- Bullet points can enable you to highlight 27.
- Keep a record of your sources, such as the 28.
Questions 29–30 Multiple Choice (One Answer)
Choose the correct letter, A, B or C.
Answers & Explanations Summary
| # | Answer | Evidence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q21 | Monday and Thursday | What about Tuesday and Thursday? Oh no I have a late seminar on Tuesday. Monday and Thursday? What about that? Adam: Yes, that'll be okay |
Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows that Elaine asks if they can meet on Monday and Thursday instead of Tuesday. Adam says that this plan is fine with him. Answer Explanation: The answer means Adam and Elaine will study together on two days every week: Monday and Thursday. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is Monday and Thursday because these are the days Adam and Elaine agree on to meet and study. At first, Elaine thinks about meeting on Tuesday and Thursday, but then she remembers she has a class (a seminar) that ends late on Tuesday. She suggests Monday and Thursday instead, and Adam agrees to this plan. |
| Q22 | a revision timetable / a timetable / the revision timetable / the timetable / revision timetable / timetable | That sounds sensible. Then we can use the timetable to work independently It'll help us to make sure we're both working on the same subjects We can make that the first thing to do in our first session - write up a timetable |
Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Adam saying that having a study plan will allow them to study on their own and stay organized. Answer Explanation: The answer is a schedule or plan that lists the specific dates and times for studying different subjects. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is supported by Adam's response to Elaine's suggestion. After Elaine mentions creating a revision schedule, Adam agrees and specifically mentions that they can use this schedule (the timetable) to study by themselves (work independently) while staying focused on the same topics. |
| Q23 | arranging their materials / arranging materials | I reckon the kinds of things we can do on our own in between meetings are things like arranging our materials - lecture and seminars notes, handouts, feedback from our tutors, that kind of thing | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript highlights Elaine's suggestion for their independent study time, which involves putting their lecture notes and other papers in the right order according to their revision plan. Answer Explanation: The answer means that Elaine wants them to spend their time alone organizing their study papers and notes. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is correct because Elaine explicitly suggests that they can spend their time alone between their sessions organizing their study resources. She mentions 'arranging our materials' as a task they can handle independently to help them stay focused and 'get organised'. In this context, 'materials' refers to school-related papers like notes and handouts. |
| Q24 | word for word | They reckon you shouldn't copy word for word | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript states that people believe you should not write down notes by copying every single word exactly. Answer Explanation: The answer "word for word" means writing down exactly what you read or hear without changing any of the language. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "word for word" because Adam shares advice from a seminar which says people should not copy notes exactly as they appear. The word "avoid" in the task matches Adam’s phrase "shouldn't copy." He says that changing the words, or paraphrasing, is a better way to learn. |
| Q25 | facts | And don't just copy loads of facts either try to get a feel for the main arguments or theories and match any facts to these |
Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that instead of just writing down many true pieces of information, one should understand the main ideas and connect the information to those ideas. Answer Explanation: The answer "facts" refers to detailed pieces of information that are known to be true or real. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "facts" because Adam gives advice on how to take good notes. He mentions that students should not just copy long lists of data. Instead, they should understand the big ideas, which are called theories or arguments, and then link or "match" the specific information to those ideas. To match something to an idea is the same as relating it. |
| Q26 | nicely organised / organised / nicely organized / organized | I also like using mind maps or spidergrams when I make notes. It means you can put down a lot of information but so that it's nicely organised | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Elaine talking about how she takes notes. She explains that using diagrams like mind maps helps her keep her many notes in a clear and tidy order. Answer Explanation: The answer "(nicely) organised" means putting information in a clear and tidy way so it is easy to find and understand. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "(nicely) organised" because Elaine mentions that she likes to use mind maps or spidergrams (which are types of diagrams) when making notes. She explains that these tools allow her to include a lot of information while ensuring it stays systematic and tidy. The word "organised" describes the state of the information when these diagrams are used. |
| Q27 | key points / main points | And bullet points they really help you focus on main points rather than trying to link them together in sentences |
Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript says that using a list with dots (bullet points) is a good way to look at the most important ideas in your notes without worrying about making full sentences. Answer Explanation: The answer 'main points' refers to the most important parts or ideas in a piece of information or text. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'main points' because Elaine explains how bullet points are useful for note-taking. She mentions that they help you 'focus on'—which is a synonym for 'highlight'—the 'main points' (the key points) instead of spending time trying to connect every idea into full sentences. |
| Q28 | author and publisher / author,publisher | We also need to remember to make a note of where the information comes from - the author, publisher that kind of thing | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Adam reminding Elaine that they need to write down specific details about their sources, like the person who wrote the material and the company that produced it. Answer Explanation: The answer means you should write down the name of the person who wrote the book (author) and the company that printed it (publisher). Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is based on Adam's suggestion for their revision process. He mentions that it is important to record where information comes from, specifically naming the 'author' and 'publisher' as examples of details to keep a record of. This ensures they can cite their sources correctly later. |
| Q29 | C | I know I said earlier about testing each other when we get together but, now I think about it, do you think it would be a better idea to talk through our notes on a particular subject, have a kind of discussion between ourselves? We could use the questions in the past papers to base the discussion on | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Adam asking if they should have a conversation about their notes. He says they can use the questions from past exam papers to start and guide that conversation. Answer Explanation: The answer means that Adam wants to talk about the questions from old exams with Elaine during their study time. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is C because Adam proposes that they talk about their notes together instead of just testing each other. He suggests using the questions found in old exam papers (past papers) as the topic for these talks. In the transcript, he uses the word 'discussion' to describe this activity. |
| Q30 | B | Then after each session we could go away and do a timed essay on the subject maybe swap and mark each other's essays. That's a good way to learn, I think; critique each other's work |
Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Elaine saying that after their study meetings, they should write an essay using a timer. She then says they can trade their essays and grade them for each other. Answer Explanation: The answer means Elaine thinks they should practice writing essays with a time limit, which is how people take a real exam. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is B because Elaine suggests doing a 'timed essay' after their meetings. A 'timed essay' means writing something within a specific time limit, which is what happens during a real test or under 'exam conditions.' She also mentions marking the essays themselves by swapping them, rather than asking a tutor to do it. |
Transcript
Adam: Elaine. Have you seen the exam timetable? They've just put it up on the department noticeboard.
Elaine: Yeah, I've just come from there. I must be honest, I'd put the thought of exams to the back of my mind. Now the dates are there it all seems a little scary. Have you been revising much?
Adam: No, not really. We've got a month so I'm going to really get going on it now. Why don't we try and work together?
Elaine: Yes, let's meet a few times a week. I don't like working on my own; I never seem to be able to focus properly. What about Tuesday and Thursday? Oh no ... I have a late seminar on Tuesday. Monday and Thursday? What about that?
Adam: Yes, that'll be okay. How do you go about revising? Have you got any tips?
Elaine: Well, our tutor said we shouldn't start background reading or writing notes until we're clear in our mind what we need to revise. He said start with a revision timetable so we know what to revise and when.
Adam: That sounds sensible. Then we can use the timetable to work independently ... It'll help us to make sure we're both working on the same subjects ... We can make that the first thing to do in our first session - write up a timetable.
Elaine: Okay. I reckon the kinds of things we can do on our own in between meetings are things like arranging our materials - lecture and seminars notes, handouts, feedback from our tutors, that kind of thing. If we arrange all these by subject, according to the timetable, it will help us get organised.
Adam: Good idea. Once we have all the content I suppose we could make notes based on past exam papers. We had a talk about note taking in one of the seminars. They reckon you shouldn't copy word for word. It helps to learn things if you paraphrase main points. And don't just copy loads of facts either ... try to get a feel for the main arguments or theories and match any facts to these.
Elaine: I also like using mind maps or spidergrams when I make notes. It means you can put down a lot of information but so that it's nicely organised. It also means you can add new notes after. And bullet points ... they really help you focus on main points rather than trying to link them together in sentences.
Adam: We also need to remember to make a note of where the information comes from - the author, publisher that kind of thing.
Elaine: That's really important ... otherwise when you're writing the assignment you can never remember where you got a particular quote from.
Adam: I know I said earlier about testing each other when we get together but, now I think about it, do you think it would be a better idea to talk through our notes on a particular subject, have a kind of discussion between ourselves? We could use the questions in the past papers to base the discussion on.
Elaine: Yes, so basically the timetable can be a discussion schedule. Then after each session we could go away and do a timed essay on the subject ... maybe swap and mark each other's essays. That's a good way to learn, I think; critique each other's work.
Adam: Great idea. So we'll start next Monday with the timetable ...