Sarah’s Health & Fitness Club - IELTS Listening Answers & Explanations
From Official Cambridge Guide to IELTS Academic Listening Test 3 · Part 1 · Questions 1–10
Audio
Questions
Questions 1–5 Form Completion
Complete the form below.
Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer.
SARAH’S HEALTH & FITNESS CLUB
MEMBERSHIP FORM
| Example
First name: |
Harry |
| Last name: | 1 |
| Date of Birth: | Day: 11th; Month: December; Year: 2 |
| Type of Membership: | 3 |
| Activities: | Badminton and 4 |
| Payment details: | Total: £450
To be paid 5 |
Questions 6–10 Form Completion
Answer the questions below.
Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS for each answer.
Lifestyle questionnaire
| What exercise do you do regularly? | 6 |
| Do you have any injuries? | has a 7 |
| What is your goal or target? | a better 8 |
| What is your occupation? | a 9 |
| How did you hear about the club? | 10 |
Answers & Explanations Summary
| # | Answer | Evidence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 | SYMONDS | B: It's Symonds.A: Is that like Simon with an 's'?B: No, um, it's S-Y-M-O-N-D-S. Most people find it rather difficult to spell | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows the conversation where the person (B) says his last name is Symonds and then spells it out: S-Y-M-O-N-D-S. He explains that it is hard for many people to spell. Answer Explanation: The answer is the correct letters used to spell the last name (surname) of the person joining the club. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is determined by the member, Harry, clarifying his last name. When the club worker tries to guess the spelling (comparing it to the name Simon), Harry corrects the worker and spells it letter by letter to ensure it is written down correctly on the form. Paying attention to spellings provided by the speakers is key in these types of listening tasks. |
| Q2 | 1996 | A: Thanks – and the year? B: 1996 | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows the employee asking for the year of birth, and Harry provides 1996 as the specific year. Answer Explanation: The answer is 1996, which represents the year Harry was born. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 1996 because Harry says this number when the club staff member asks him for the year he was born. This happens right after Harry mentions his birthday is the 11th of December. |
| Q3 | full-time / fulltime | OK – well that's not going to work for me. It looks like I'll have to be full-time. I'm afraid off-peak membership won't do as I'm not free at those times and I don't just want to be restricted to weekends | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Harry rejecting the limited membership types (off-peak and weekend) because he is busy during those times. Instead, he decides to get the membership that lets him use the club at any time, which is called full-time. Answer Explanation: The answer is the type of club membership that Harry chooses to join. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is full-time because Harry considers the other options (off-peak and weekend) but decides they do not fit his schedule. He explicitly says he will have to take the full-time membership to use the club whenever he wants. Keywords include 'membership', 'off-peak', 'weekend', and 'full-time'. |
| Q4 | swimming | B: Well, do you have badminton? A: Yes we do. B: And table tennis? A: I'm afraid not – well not at the moment anyway. B: Oh – OK. Well I'm also very keen on swimming so I'm glad you have a pool. I'll certainly be doing a lot of that | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Harry asking if the club has badminton and table tennis. Since they do not have table tennis, he says he will do a lot of swimming instead because he likes it a lot. Answer Explanation: The answer is swimming, which is the sport Harry wants to do at the health club in addition to badminton. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is identified because Harry first asks about badminton, and then mentions that he is very interested in swimming. He says he will do a lot of swimming because the club has a pool. He also asks about table tennis, but the club does not have it, leaving badminton and swimming as his chosen activities. Keywords include "keen on," which means to like something very much, and "pool," which is the place where people go swimming. |
| Q5 | monthly | You can choose to pay annually for the full year or monthly. It's up to you. B: Oh, I'd prefer to pay regularly in small amounts, rather than have a large amount to pay in one go, if that's OK | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows that the worker offers Harry two ways to pay the £450. Harry chooses to pay a little bit of money often instead of a lot of money at once, which means he will pay every month. Answer Explanation: The answer "monthly" means that Harry wants to pay his club membership fee every month instead of paying the whole price for the year at one time. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "monthly" because the worker at the club gives Harry two choices: he can pay "annually" (one time per year) or "monthly" (every month). Harry says he would like to pay "regularly in small amounts" so he does not have to pay a "large amount" of money all at once, which describes the monthly payment option. |
| Q6 | go jogging / do jogging / jogging | Well every few days I go jogging | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Harry telling the club worker that running slowly (jogging) is the activity he does every few days. Answer Explanation: The answer explains that the person runs for exercise on a regular basis. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is jogging because Harry says he goes jogging every few days when asked about doing regular exercise. The phrase 'every few days' confirms that this is a regular habit or routine for him. |
| Q7 | bad ankle | But, in the last few days I've realised I have a bad ankle | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Harry explaining that in the past few days, he noticed that his ankle is injured or in bad condition. Answer Explanation: The answer says that Harry currently has a hurt or painful ankle. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'bad ankle' because when the staff member asks if Harry has any current injuries, he first mentions an old injury that is now healed, but then specifically states that he has a 'bad ankle' that feels sore from the previous week. |
| Q8 | fitness level | Well I suppose my main aim is to build up my fitness level | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Harry explaining that his most important goal is to work on making his body stronger and healthier through exercise. Answer Explanation: The answer "fitness level" refers to how healthy, strong, and active your body is. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "fitness level" because Harry states that his primary goal at the club is to improve his physical health. In the transcript, he uses the phrase "main aim," which is another way of saying a "goal" or "target." He wants to "build up" his fitness, which matches the idea of achieving a "better" level of health. |
| Q9 | charity worker | B: Well – I'm a charity worker | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Harry responding to a question about his current job by stating that he is a charity worker. Answer Explanation: The answer "charity worker" means that Harry works for an organization that helps people or animals in need. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is found when the club employee asks Harry about his job by using the phrase "what you do for a living". While Harry mentions he used to be a student, he clarifies that his current occupation (his job at the moment) is a charity worker. |
| Q10 | on the radio / on radio / the radio / radio | And then I was listening to the radio and your club was mentioned, so I thought – I'll go along and see what it's like | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows that Harry found the club because he heard it talked about when he was listening to the radio. Answer Explanation: The answer means that Harry learned about the club because he heard about it on the radio. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'radio' because Harry explains how he found out about the club. He says that his friends did not have any good ideas for him. Then, while he was listening to a radio program, the club was talked about, which made him decide to visit. |
Transcript
A: Hi – can I help you?
B: Hello – yes, um, is your club taking on new members at the moment?
A: Oh yes – we're always interested in taking on new members. Just give me a moment and I'll get an application form. Right – here we are. So – let's start with your name.
B: It's Harry.
A: OK – and your surname?
B: It's Symonds.
A: Is that like Simon with an 's'?
B: No, um, it's S-Y-M-O-N-D-S. Most people find it rather difficult to spell.
A: I see – it has a silent D. I guess a lot of people miss that. [pause] Now let me see – can you tell me when you were born?
B: Yes certainly – the 11th of December.
A: Thanks – and the year?
B: 1996.
A: OK good. Now – are you thinking of becoming a full-time member?
B: Er, probably not. What kind of memberships do you have?
A: Well, we also have off-peak membership which is between 9 and 12 in the morning and 2 and 5 in the afternoon ... and then we do have a weekend membership.
B: So a weekend membership is just Saturday and Sunday?
A: Yes, that's right.
B: OK – well that's not going to work for me. It looks like I'll have to be full-time. I'm afraid off-peak membership won't do as I'm not free at those times and I don't just want to be restricted to weekends.
A: OK. I'll make a note of that. [pause] Right – we have several facilities at the club including a gym, a swimming pool, tennis and squash courts. What activities are you planning on doing?
B: Well, do you have badminton?
A: Yes we do.
B: And table tennis?
A: I'm afraid not – well not at the moment anyway.
B: Oh – OK. Well I'm also very keen on swimming so I'm glad you have a pool. I'll certainly be doing a lot of that.
A: OK – I've got that. Will you be using the gym?
B: No – I'm not interested in that.
A: OK. So just let me work out what the cost will be ... Yes – that comes to £450 for the year. You can choose to pay annually for the full year or monthly. It's up to you.
B: Oh, I'd prefer to pay regularly in small amounts, rather than have a large amount to pay in one go, if that's OK?
A: Sure – that's fine. Right, I've got the most important details for now.
[pause]
A: So – I'd just like to ask you a few questions about your lifestyle if that's OK with you?
B: Yes that's fine.
A: Um, do you do any regular exercise at the moment?
B: Yes I do a bit.
A: Good – and what do you do?
B: Well every few days I go jogging.
A: Yes – that's good. How long do you go for?
B: Well it varies. I guess it depends on how energetic I'm feeling.
A: Yes of course. Every little bit helps. Um, do you have any injuries at the moment?
B: Well, I did break a bone in my foot playing football a long time ago but that's all healed up now. But, in the last few days I've realised I have a bad ankle. I think I must have injured it last week and it's a bit sore now. But apart from that I'm fine.
A: Right – I guess you might need to rest it for a few days to let it recover.
B: Yes I will.
A: So – let me just ask you what you want to achieve by joining the club. Do you have any targets or goals?
B: Well I suppose my main aim is to build up my fitness level. Is that the kind of thing you mean?
A: Yes – that's fine. All the activities you're going to be doing should certainly help you with that.
B: OK.
A: And could you tell me what you do for a living?
B: Well – I was a student up until recently.
A: OK – so what are you doing at the moment?
B: Well – I'm a charity worker.
A: Oh that's fine. I'll write that down. OK – nearly done. One last question – can I ask how you heard about the club? Did you see it advertised or did you go to our website for example?
B: Well I've been looking for a health club for a while and I asked my friends for suggestions but they weren't much help. And then I was listening to the radio and your club was mentioned, so I thought – I'll go along and see what it's like.
A: Great – well we look forward to having you as a member.