STEPS TO TAKE WHEN ASKING FOR A REFERENCE AFTER GRADUATION - IELTS Listening Answers & Explanations
From Succeed in IELTS Academic Listening Test 3 · Part 3 · Questions 21–30
Audio
Questions
Questions 21–25 Sentence Completion
Complete the sentences below.
Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer.
- Jessica is interviewing Dr. Kitching for 21 for the school newspaper.
- Everyone Jessica knows is rather 22 about how to ask for references.
- Dr. Kitching gives Jessica permission to 23 their conversation.
- Dr. Kitching writes more than 24 a year.
- The majority of 25 are in the spring or early summer when students start thinking about their future.
Questions 26–30 Flow Chart Completion
Complete the flow-chart below.
Choose FIVE answers from the box and write the correct letter A - G next to questions 26 - 30.
A. message | B. meeting | C. information
D. exam | E. telephone call | F. course
G. email
STEPS TO TAKE WHEN ASKING FOR A REFERENCE AFTER GRADUATION
Start with a(n) 26.
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Say what 27 you took and when you took it.
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Give any 28 to identify yourself.
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Follow up with a(n) 29.
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Ask for a(n) 30.
Answers & Explanations Summary
| # | Answer | Evidence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q21 | an article | I work for the student newspaper. I called you last week to ask if I could interview you for an article about how to ask for references | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Jessica telling Dr. Kitching that she writes for the student newspaper and is doing an interview to write an article. Answer Explanation: The answer means a piece of writing that will be published in the school paper. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is confirmed early in the conversation when Jessica introduces herself. She mentions that she works for the student newspaper and explains that she wants to interview Dr. Kitching for "an article" concerning how to ask for references. |
| Q22 | puzzled | every-one I know is rather puzzled about how to get references from professors | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Jessica saying that all of her friends and acquaintances feel confused about how to ask teachers for reference letters. Answer Explanation: The answer "puzzled" means confused or unsure because someone does not understand something clearly. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "puzzled" because Jessica directly mentions that all the people she knows are confused about how to request references from their professors. In the recording, she says, "every-one I know is rather puzzled about how to get references from professors", which matches the sentence perfectly. |
| Q23 | record | J: First of all, do you mind if I record our conversation?K: No, I don't mind | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Jessica asking if she can save an audio recording of their talk, and Dr. Kitching says that it is totally fine with him. Answer Explanation: The answer "record" means to store audio of what people are saying so it can be listened to again later. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "record" because Jessica asks Dr. Kitching for permission by saying, "do you mind if I record our conversation?" Dr. Kitching answers, "No, I don't mind," which means he allows or gives permission for her to do so. |
| Q24 | 50 references | Let's see, it's variable of course, but I'd say I average at least 50 per year | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Dr. Kitching saying that although the number changes, he usually writes at least 50 letters of reference every single year. Answer Explanation: The answer means that Dr. Kitching writes a minimum of 50 recommendation letters each year. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is confirmed when Jessica asks Dr. Kitching if he writes many references himself. Dr. Kitching replies that he writes an average of "at least 50 per year." Therefore, the phrase "50 references" accurately completes the statement about what he writes each year. |
| Q25 | the requests / requests | And of course, most of the requests are made in the spring or early summer, when students are starting to think seriously about where they will be heading after they graduate in June | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript states that most reference requests happen in the spring or early summer, as students begin thinking about their plans after graduation. Answer Explanation: The answer means the asks or applications made by students for a reference letter. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "(the) requests" because Dr. Kitching explains that most students ask for references during this period. In the transcript, the phrase "most of the requests" matches the phrase "The majority of (the) requests" in the question, while "in the spring or early summer" matches the exact timing mentioned. |
| Q26 | E | Make a telephone call; tell him or her who you are, and what classes you attended, this sort of thing | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows that the advisor tells the student to phone the professor first and explain who they are and which classes they took. Answer Explanation: The answer means calling someone by phone. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is E because Dr. Kitching explains the first thing a student should do when reaching out to a professor for a reference. He advises students to "Make a telephone call" to say who they are. Therefore, the first step in the flow-chart begins with a "telephone call". |
| Q27 | F | So tell him or her what course you took, and what semester and year it was | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript states that students should tell the professor which course they studied and the exact semester and year they took that course. Answer Explanation: The answer "F" stands for "course", which means a class or a series of lessons in a subject at university. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is F because Dr. Kitching explains what students should say to help the professor remember them: "So tell him or her what course you took, and what semester and year it was." In the flow-chart, this matches the second step: "Say what [input] you took and when you took it." |
| Q28 | C | Any information you can give to identify yourself is going to help you out | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript states that providing any details or facts that help the professor recognize who you are will be helpful. Answer Explanation: The answer "C" refers to "information". Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is C because Dr. Kitching explains what a former student should share when contacting a professor. After explaining that students should mention their course and memorable details, Dr. Kitching says, "Any information you can give to identify yourself is going to help you out." This matches the flow-chart prompt: "Give any information to identify yourself." |
| Q29 | G | I would suggest giving the information first over the phone, then follow up by e-mailing it to your professor | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript states that after sharing the details on a phone call, students should next send that same information to their professor by email. Answer Explanation: The answer "G" refers to an email, which is an electronic letter or message sent over the internet. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is G because Dr. Kitching recommends that students call first and then "follow up by e-mailing it to your professor." In the flow-chart, the step "Follow up with a(n)..." directly matches Dr. Kitching's advice to follow up using an email. |
| Q30 | B | During the phone conversation, ask if you could meet briefly | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript states that while talking on the phone, the student should ask the professor if they can see each other and talk for a short time. Answer Explanation: The answer "B" means a "meeting", which is a time when people come together to talk in person. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is B because the professor advises students to ask to "meet briefly" during the telephone call. In the flowchart, the step asks students to "Ask for a(n) [blank]". The word "meet" directly matches the noun "meeting" (option B). |
Transcript
J = Jessica
K = Dr. Kitching
J: Hello Dr. Kitching, my name's Jessica. I work for the student newspaper. I called you last week to ask if I could interview you for an article about how to ask for references.
K: Oh, yes; I remember! Come in. Have a seat.
J: Thank you. Do you have a few minutes now to do the interview?
K: Yes, that's fine.
J: Great! I got the idea to do this article because, well, every-one I know is rather puzzled about how to get references from professors when they need them for applications for jobs or postgraduate studies. And I thought, since you're a professor, and you've been working as a student advisor for many years also, what better person to ask.
K: Yes, I have got some advice I can share on this topic. Where shall we begin?
J: First of all, do you mind if I record our conversation?
K: No, I don't mind.
J: Thanks. Do you write many references yourself?
K: Oh yes, I certainly do! Let's see, it's variable of course, but I'd say I average at least 50 per year.
J: My goodness! That's nearly five per month! It's more than one per week!
K: Yes, it's a lot. And of course, most of the requests are made in the spring or early summer, when students are starting to think seriously about where they will be heading after they graduate in June.
J: Do most professors do so many?
K: Yes, it's part of the job. Of course, because I'm an advisor, students probably feel like I know them rather better than some professors, so I probably get a few more than I would otherwise.
J: Alright, so what do we students need to know in terms of asking for references or letters of recommendation? It's incredibly daunting, actually, particularly since we have such large classes. I'm not sure if my professors even know who I am!
K: Yes, that's probably the biggest issue students face in getting references. You will invariably have to contact former Professors even if you have never spoken to them outside of class. Following on this, if I were giving a first-year student advice, I would say to make sure you've had contact with several Professors outside of class so you won't be a stranger. All it takes is visiting during office hours, even if it's just to say "Hello, I'm enjoying your lectures".
J: But what if we didn't do that?
K: Then you'll just have to contact your professor anyway.
Make a telephone call; tell him or her who you are, and what classes you attended, this sort of thing. Remember, for your professor, recalling an average student out of hundreds and hundreds isn't easy. So tell him or her what course you took, and what semester and year it was. Include what grade you got and anything memorable. Perhaps you spilled your coffee. Though at the time it wasn't funny it might be enough for Professor Brown to remember you and it won't shed any negative light on you; it was an accident. Or perhaps, although you never spoke outside of class, you went up and asked a question that was a great one. Any information you can give to identify yourself is going to help you out.
J: Should I visit Professor Brown in person?
K: Yes, that would be ideal. I would suggest giving the information first over the phone, then follow up by e-mailing it to your professor. During the phone conversation, ask if you could meet briefly. This will be both a physical reminder of who you are and also another chance to make a good impression.
J: Isn't it very difficult to write references for all these students you've never spoken to or really even met?
K: Yes; for example, I was recently called by a student from 20 years ago! He lived in another country. I really didn't recall him. He told me a little about himself and I looked back at his records. I told him that all I could do was verify that he was in my class, that he showed up for all the classes and that he received a 3.4 in my class. Sometimes I'm very surprised that students who did very poorly in my class ask me for a reference.
J: What do you do in that case? Give a poor reference?
K: I, like most Professors I know, never say anything negative about the student; however it is what is unsaid that can say it all. So you really want to make sure you're remembered in a positive way and have left a good impression.
J: Ok, thanks very much for all this information. The story should come out in our next printing, so if you're interested I'll drop one copy over to you.
K: I'll be looking forward to seeing it.