Study Skills Tutorial – Caroline Benning - IELTS Listening Answers & Explanations
From Cambridge IELTS 09 Academic Listening Test 3 · Part 3 · Questions 21–30
Audio
Questions
Questions 21–30 Note Completion
Complete the notes below.
Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer.
Study Skills Tutorial – Caroline Benning
Dissertation topic: the 21
Strengths:
- 22
- computer modelling
Weaknesses:
- lack of background information
- poor 23 skills
| Possible strategy | Benefits | Problems |
|---|---|---|
| peer group discussion | increases 24 | dissertations tend to contain the same 25 |
| use the 26 service | provides structured programme | limited 27 |
| consult study skills books | are a good source of reference | can be too 28 |
Recommendations:
- use a card index
- read all notes 29
Next tutorial date: 30 January
Answers & Explanations Summary
| # | Answer | Evidence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q21 | fishing industry | CAROLINE: Yes, it's the fishing industry | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Caroline telling her tutor directly that her chosen topic is the fishing industry. Answer Explanation: The answer is the specific subject Caroline is writing her long school project (dissertation) about. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is found when the tutor asks Caroline if she has picked a general topic area for her work. Caroline confirms her choice by saying she is focusing on the 'fishing industry'. This matches the 'Dissertation topic' section in the notes. |
| Q22 | statistics | Well, I think I'm coping well with statistics, and I'm never bored by it | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Caroline explaining that she is doing a good job with her statistics work and finds the subject interesting rather than boring. Answer Explanation: The answer "statistics" is a subject that involves working with numbers and data, which Caroline feels she is good at. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is determined by looking at the part of the conversation where the tutor asks Caroline about the areas of the course she is "good at" (her strengths). Caroline mentions two things: "statistics" and "computer modelling." Since "computer modelling" is already listed in the notes, "statistics" is the missing strength. Synonyms or phrases used that point to this include "coping well," which means she is managing or performing well in that specific subject. |
| Q23 | note-taking | CAROLINE: I'm very weak at note-taking. My teachers always used to say that | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Caroline explaining that she struggles with writing notes and that her teachers in the past also told her she was not good at it. Answer Explanation: The answer "note-taking" refers to the activity of writing down information from a lesson or a book so that you can study it later. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "note-taking" because Caroline admits that this is a skill she does not do well. In the text, she says she is "very weak" at it, which is another way of saying she has "poor" skills in this area. |
| Q24 | confidence | It really helps build confidence, you know, having to present something to others | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows the tutor explaining that presenting information to a group of people is a good way to improve how sure a student feels about themselves. Answer Explanation: The answer 'confidence' means feeling sure about your own abilities or ideas. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'confidence' because the tutor says that talking in a group helps a student feel better about their work. The tutor used the word 'build,' which is a synonym for 'increases' used in the notes. When you 'build' or 'increase' confidence, you become less shy and more certain of yourself. |
| Q25 | ideas | The drawback is that everyone in the group seems to share the same ideas they keep being repeated in all the dissertations |
Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that a negative side (drawback) of talking in groups is that all the students use the same thoughts (ideas), so their final reports look very similar. Answer Explanation: The answer "ideas" refers to the thoughts or concepts that the students talk about together and share in their groups. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "ideas" because the tutor talks about a "drawback," which is a synonym for a problem. She mentions that when students work in peer groups, they often end up sharing and using the same thoughts. This leads to the same concepts appearing in many different dissertations, which is the specific problem listed in the text's table. |
| Q26 | student support | You could also try a service called 'Student Support'. It's designed to give you a structured programme over a number of weeks to develop your skills | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows the teacher recommending a service called 'Student Support' that uses a planned schedule (a structured programme) to help students get better at their schoolwork skills. Answer Explanation: The answer is student support, which is the name of a specific helping office or program at a school. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'student support' because the tutor mentions it as a 'service' that offers a 'structured programme,' which matches the information provided in the table/notes. He suggests it to Caroline to help her improve her study habits. |
| Q27 | places | Yes, unfortunately there are only a few places | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows that the problem with the student service is that not many people can join because the number of spots is small. Answer Explanation: The answer "places" refers to the number of spots or openings available for students to join the program. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "places" because the Tutor describes a service called 'Student Support'. He mentions that it is a good, structured program, but then he points out a problem: there are only a small number of spots available. In the notes, the word "limited" is used to describe this problem. Since "limited" means "only a few," the missing word is "places." |
| Q28 | general | TUTOR: They'll be a good source of reference but the problem is they are sometimes too general | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows the tutor speaking about study books. He explains that while they are useful for information, they have a negative side because the information they provide is often too broad instead of being focused and detailed. Answer Explanation: The answer "general" means that something is basic and broad, rather than specific or detailed. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "general" because the tutor describes a problem with using study skills books as a strategy. He mentions that they are a good source of reference (something to look at for help) but points out that the downside is that they are "sometimes too general," meaning the advice is not specific enough to solve a student's unique problems. |
| Q29 | 3 times / three times | Read everything three times – that'll really fix them in your mind | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows the tutor suggesting that reading her notes three times is a good way for Caroline to make sure she remembers the information. Answer Explanation: The answer "3 times" means the teacher thinks Caroline should read her notes a total of three times to remember them better. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "3 times" because the tutor gives Caroline advice on how to improve her study skills. Under the recommendations section, he specifically tells her not to forget her notes but to read through everything three times. This action, he explains, helps fix the information in the mind (meaning to remember it well). The phrase "read all notes" in the task matches his instruction to "read everything." |
| Q30 | 25 / 25th | TUTOR: Sorry, I'm booked then. What about the following day? CAROLINE: Thursday? I can make the morning. TUTOR: Fine, we'll go for the 25th then | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows that when the teacher cannot meet on the 24th, he asks to meet one day later. They confirm that this next day is the 25th. Answer Explanation: The answer 25 is the specific day of the month when the student and teacher will meet for their next lesson. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 25 because the tutor and Caroline look for a time to meet in January. Caroline suggests the 24th, but the tutor says he is busy or 'booked'. He then suggests 'the following day' (meaning the next day), and they both agree that they will meet on the 25th. |
Transcript
TUTOR: Ah Caroline ... come on in. Sit down.
CAROLINE: Thanks.
TUTOR: So how's the dissertation planning going?
CAROLINE: Well Dr Schulmann, I'm still having a lot of trouble deciding on a title.
TUTOR: Well, that's perfectly normal at this stage. And this is what your tutorials will help you to do.
CAROLINE: Right.
TUTOR: What we'll do is jot down some points that might help you in your decision. First of all, you have chosen your general topic area, haven't you?
CAROLINE: Yes, it's the fishing industry.
TUTOR: Oh yes, that was one of the areas you mentioned. Now, what aspects of the course are you good at?
CAROLINE: Well, I think I'm coping well with statistics, and I'm never bored by it.
TUTOR: Good. Anything else?
CAROLINE: Well, I found computer modelling fascinating – I have no problem following what's being taught, whereas quite a few of my classmates find it difficult.
TUTOR: Well, that's very good. Do you think these might be areas you could bring into your dissertation?
CAROLINE: Oh yes, if possible. It's just that I'm having difficulty thinking how I can do that. You see I feel I don't have sufficient background information.
TUTOR: I see. Well, do you take notes?
CAROLINE: I'm very weak at note-taking. My teachers always used to say that.
TUTOR: Well, I think you really need to work on these weaknesses before you go any further.
CAROLINE: What do you suggest?
TUTOR: Well, I can go through the possible strategies with you and let you decide where to go from there.
CAROLINE: Okay, thanks.
TUTOR: Well, some people find it helpful to organise peer-group discussions – you know, each week a different person studies a different topic and shares it with the group.
CAROLINE: Oh right.
TUTOR: It really helps build confidence, you know, having to present something to others.
CAROLINE: I can see that.
TUTOR: The drawback is that everyone in the group seems to share the same ideas ... they keep being repeated in all the dissertations.
CAROLINE: Okay.
TUTOR: You could also try a service called 'Student Support'. It's designed to give you a structured programme over a number of weeks to develop your skills.
CAROLINE: Sounds good.
TUTOR: Yes, unfortunately there are only a few places. But it's worth looking into.
CAROLINE: Yes, of course. I know I've got to work on my study skills.
TUTOR: And then there are several study skills books you can consult.
CAROLINE: Right.
TUTOR: They'll be a good source of reference but the problem is they are sometimes too general.
CAROLINE: Yes, that's what I've found.
TUTOR: Other than that I would strongly advise quite simple ideas like using a card index.
CAROLINE: Well, yes, I've never done that before.
TUTOR: It's simple, but it really works because you have to get points down in a small space. Another thing I always advise is don't just take your notes and forget about them. Read everything three times – that'll really fix them in your mind.
CAROLINE: Yes, I can see it'd take discipline but ...
TUTOR: Well, if you establish good study skills at this stage they'll be with you all your life.
CAROLINE: Oh yes, I completely agree. It's just that I don't seem to be able to discipline myself. I need to talk things over.
TUTOR: Well, we'll be continuing these tutorials of course. Let's arrange next month's now. Let's see, I can see you virtually any time during the week starting 22nd January.
CAROLINE: What about the 24th? I'm free in the afternoon.
TUTOR: Sorry, I'm booked then. What about the following day?
CAROLINE: Thursday? I can make the morning.
TUTOR: Fine, we'll go for the 25th then.
CAROLINE: That's great, thanks.