Work Experience - IELTS Listening Answers & Explanations
From Collins Practice Tests For IELTS 3 Academic Listening Test 3 · Part 3 · Questions 21–30
Audio
Questions
Questions 21–24 Multiple Choice (One Answer)
Choose the correct letter, A, B or C.
Questions 25–26 Multiple Choice (Two Answers)
Choose TWO letters, A-E.
Questions 27–30 Summary Completion
Complete the summary below.
Write ONE WORD ONLY for each answer.
Look forward to your work experience
Your year in industry will be a memorable experience and of enormous benefit in the future. If it goes well, it will confirm that your choice of 27 has been a wise one. At the very least, the year spent at the company will give you the chance to 28 the kind of work you are interested in. If you make a positive 29, you may be offered a job when you finish your degree. There is also a good chance that you will make some 30 who may prove useful in the future.
Answers & Explanations Summary
| # | Answer | Evidence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q21 | B | Your work experience programme is a compulsory part of your degree and as a result, you're supported by the university in finding a suitable placement | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript states that the work experience is a mandatory ('compulsory') part of the student's education program. Answer Explanation: The answer means that every student must do the work experience because it is a required part of their university course. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is B because Kelly uses the word 'compulsory' when talking about the work experience programme. In English, 'compulsory' means something that you must do or that is required by a rule. She also explains that the university helps find these jobs because they are a required part of the degree, unlike internships which students usually find on their own. |
| Q22 | B | But the year-long work experience placements we organise for you will be paid posts | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript says that if the work placement lasts for a whole year, it will definitely be a job that pays money. Answer Explanation: The answer means that students will receive money for their work if they participate in a program that lasts for a full year. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is B because the guest speaker, Kelly, specifically mentions that summer placements might not give money, but the university's 'year-long' placements are 'paid posts.' This means a student is guaranteed a 'salary' or payment if they choose the longer work program. Choice A is wrong because summer jobs are not always paid. Choice C is wrong because 'responsibilities' only change how much money someone gets, but the length of the program determines if they get paid at all. |
| Q23 | C | However, it's a very competitive process and students all want to work for the more well-known companies so you may not get your first choice | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that because many students aim for the same popular companies, there is a lot of competition. This suggests that there are more applicants than there are available spots. Answer Explanation: The answer means that for many work placements, there are multiple students trying to get the same job. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is correct because Kelly mentions that finding a placement is a 'competitive process.' This competition happens because many students want to work at the famous companies, which means those companies have several students applying for the same positions at once. |
| Q24 | B | If there is an interview, I'd strongly recommend putting in some work beforehand to make sure you're ready for it | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Kelly telling the students that they should spend time getting ready before their interview starts. Answer Explanation: The answer B means that students need to do some practice or study before they go to their job interview. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer B is proven by Kelly's advice to students. She mentions that companies often want to meet students for an interview. She suggests that students should do some work before the interview happens so that they are ready for the meeting. In English, doing 'work beforehand' to be 'ready' is the same as to 'prepare'. |
| Q25 | — | — | |
| Q26 | B / D | We do have a contact in each company who we can talk with on your behalf if there are any serious issues, but as I said, that's not often the case We can help you with things like keeping a reflective journal. This is a really useful exercise even if you're not required to keep one as it will provide you with a record of what you did each day at work, the things you learned on the job as well as any difficulties you've had |
Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows that the Careers Service has a specific person to talk to at every company if a student has a big problem. It also says they help students use a journal to write down the things they did and the problems they had at work every day. Answer Explanation: The answer means that the Careers Service helps students if they have trouble at work and also helps them write down what they do and learn each day. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is B and D because Kelly explicitly mentions these two forms of support. For choice B, she explains that they have a contact at each workplace to help resolve serious issues or problems if they happen. For choice D, she says they help students keep a reflective journal, which acts as a daily record of their work experiences and learning. Other options are incorrect: for choice E, Kelly says they do not help with academic work; for choice C, she says someone at the company—not the Careers Service—supports students with work-based skills. |
| Q27 | career | You might discover that it is indeed the perfect career choice and love what you do | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript says that by doing this work experience, a student may find out that the job they chose is exactly right for them. Answer Explanation: The answer "career" refers to the job, profession, or type of work that a person chooses to do for a long period of their life. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "career" because Kelly explains that spending a year working in industry helps a student decide if they have picked the right job path. In the transcript, she specifically uses the words "perfect career choice" to describe the moment a student realizes they love the work they have chosen. |
| Q28 | reconsider | Alternatively, it might be that it helps you to reconsider the area of work you want to get into | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that the work experience might help a student think again about the specific type of job or field they originally wanted to join. Answer Explanation: The answer "reconsider" means to think about something again, specially to decide if you want to change your mind or your plans. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "reconsider" because Kelly mentions that the work experience year is useful regardless of whether it is a perfect match. If a student finds they don't love the job, it provides an opportunity to think again about their career path before they graduate. The summary uses this word to describe one of the possible outcomes of the year in industry for students researching their future interests. |
| Q29 | impression | If you make a good impression during the year, you may find yourself being offered a job at the end of your degree, and at the very least, you'll develop skills and experience that will stand you in good stead when you start job hunting | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that if you show the company you are a good worker and leave them with a positive idea of your skills, they might hire you after you graduate. Answer Explanation: The answer 'impression' is the word that fills the blank to describe the feeling a student should leave with a company to help them get a job later. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'impression' because Kelly mentions that if a student makes a 'good impression' (which is the same as a 'positive impression') while working, they might be offered a job once their degree is finished. The sentence in the summary closely matches the sentence in the transcript, where 'good' is replaced with its synonym 'positive'. |
| Q30 | contacts | You may also make a few contacts with people in the industry who might be able to help you with your career | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that students might meet some people (contacts) in their line of work who are able to assist them with their future jobs. Answer Explanation: The answer "contacts" means people you meet and get to know who can help you with your job or career later. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "contacts" because the speaker highlights that meeting people in the industry is a benefit of work experience. These people can offer help or support for your future career, which matches the idea of them being "useful in the future." |
Transcript
Lecturer: Good morning, everyone. As promised, I've invited Kelly from the university Careers Service to come along and talk to you about your work experience year. Thanks for coming, Kelly.
Kelly: Thanks for inviting me. Hello everyone. As you'll all be aware, the third year of your degree course is spent working in industry. This is an extremely valuable part of your education. You'll gain a deeper understanding of the area of work you're interested in, apply some of the things you've learned in the workplace, and perhaps even get a full-time job at the end of your degree. You'll be on what we term a "work experience year', not to be confused with an internship.
Lecturer: What's the difference between the two?
Kelly: Internships are placements students tend to organise themselves, during the summer holidays or after they've graduated. We're happy to offer some advice but we don't organise them on your behalf. Your work experience programme is a compulsory part of your degree and as a result, you're supported by the university in finding a suitable placement.
Student 1: I've been told we'll get paid for the work experience. Is this true?
Kelly: Short-term placements, like summer internships, may or may not be paid. Again, that's something you'd need to discuss with the employer. But the year-long work experience placements we organise for you will be paid posts. The salary varies but will reflect the responsibilities you'll have.
Student 2: Can we choose the company we want to work with?
Kelly: We've got a database of companies we've worked with in the past and in most cases, we'll be able to offer you two or three options for placements. However, it's a very competitive process and students all want to work for the more well-known companies so you may not get your first choice.
Lecturer: I understand students will often be asked to attend interviews. Is this the case?
Kelly: Yes, students will be required to attend an interview of some kind. Companies don't want to take on someone they haven't had the chance to meet and have a chat with. How formal the interview is will depend on the company. If there is an interview, I'd strongly recommend putting in some work beforehand to make sure you're ready for it.
Lecturer: You offer support for that kind of thing, don't you?
Kelly: Yes, it's a whole package of support, really. We'll start by helping you identify a company that's a good fit for both you and them. We want to keep the employers happy in order to maintain a good relationship. At one time we used to offer interview practice with members of staff but we now direct you to our training videos online to help you with this.
Student 1: What if we have problems working with the company? Who do we speak to?
Kelly: It's rare that we have problems like this. If you're lucky, you'll find yourself doing the perfect job, but bearing in mind how difficult it is to find a place, we always advise students to stick with it. We do have a contact in each company who we can talk with on your behalf if there are any serious issues, but as I said, that's not often the case.
Student 2: I've heard students will be assessed on their work placement. Is that true?
Kelly: There'll be some kind of assessment, yes, but you'll be told about that by your tutor and they'll be the one to talk to you about any specific issues. If the assessment involves anything to do with work-based skills, you'll also usually be supported by someone at the company. We can help you with things like keeping a reflective journal. This is a really useful exercise even if you're not required to keep one as it will provide you with a record of what you did each day at work, the things you learned on the job as well as any difficulties you've had. It will help you keep track of issues or topics that you need to read up on and act as one of the resources you can use when you come to write your end-of-year report – if that's something the course tutor needs. Again, you'll have to discuss that with the course tutor. We don't get involved with academic work as this is something your tutors will help you with.
Lecturer: Thanks for that, Kelly. That was really useful.
Kelly: My pleasure. Some students get a little stressed at the thought of joining the workforce but you'll look back on it as a really useful exercise. You might discover that it is indeed the perfect career choice and love what you do. Alternatively, it might be that it helps you to reconsider the area of work you want to get into. If you make a good impression during the year, you may find yourself being offered a job at the end of your degree, and at the very least, you'll develop skills and experience that will stand you in good stead when you start job hunting. You may also make a few contacts with people in the industry who might be able to help you with your career.