A: Matching

In this group of exercises you will review the matching task type.

TIP:

In the IELTS test you may have to listen to a group of speakers and be asked to match information related to what each speaker says, or what each group decides. In this type of question it is important that you are able to distinguish facts from opinions, and are also able to follow the stages of the conversation. To do this you need to identify important or decisive moments (signposts) in the discussion.

In the following exercises you will hear the recording more than once, but in the exam you will hear it ONCE only.

1. Before you listen.

Before you listen make sure you understand the words below. Match the words to the definitions.

2. Group discussion.

Listen to two groups discussing security in a house. What security measures do each group decide to take?  Select the correct letter, A, B or C, next to questions 1-9.


A: Group A

B: Group B

C: Neither group A nor group B

3. Group discussion.

Listen again and tick two letters A-F.

The students discuss some of the precautions which should be taken before going on holiday. Which TWO of the precautions are mentioned?

4. Fact or opinion?

Look at the transcript of the first part of the conversation you heard. Look at the phrases in blue. Do the phrases express facts or opinions?

GROUP A

Now you can listen again and read the transcript above.

5. Key phrases.

Listen to Group B’s discussion. Put the phrases in the order that you hear them.

6. Identifying decisions.

Look at the transcript of what you listened to in the previous exercise. Click on the underlined phrases. Is the speaker making a suggestion, identifying a strong point, identifying a weak point, or making a final decision?

Tutor:

Group B, you now have 3 minutes to discuss the options before making a decision.

GROUP B
Piet:

OK, so what’ll we do first? Let’s think about all our options.
Una: Good idea. Well, we could put in a burglar alarm.
Tom: Yes, but that's very expensive.
Piet: Hang on, Tom. First we're just going to run through the options and then we’ll discuss the strengths and weaknesses of each one.
Tom: All right, but it’ll take a long time that way.
Una: It’s the best way, though. So, as I was saying, burglar alarm. What else?
Piet: Locks on the windows and the doors....
Tom: And closed circuit TV connected to the local police station.
Una: Now who's talking about expensive options?
Tom: Yeah, and a safe or strong box to guard valuables.
Piet: Yes, that's important. What about a dog?
Una: Yes, let's add it to the list. Also, another simple measure is to make sure the neighbours take care of each others’ houses, check on things.
Tom: And they could put some lighting in the garden so that they can see if anybody comes near the house.
Piet: OK, good, so now we’ve got a good list of possible actions. In an ideal world, a family would have all these security options installed, but we have a very limited budget, remember, so we have to make some hard decisions.
Una: Well, I know a burglar alarm is rather expensive, but it is a very effective measure against burglary, remember.
Tom: It’s far too expensive, Una, we only have $500 to spend. Even the cheapest alarm would cost about $350.
Una:

But then we wouldn’t need to spend much else – an alarm would be so effective!
Tom: Oh come on, Una, don’t you think we’d still need to put locks on the doors and windows?
Piet: He's right, Una, there's not much point in having an alarm if the burglars can just walk straight into the house.
Una: Well, all right. We could still afford locks for the doors and windows, even if we do buy the alarm. And don’t forget, you two, that there are all sorts of things we could be doing that don’t cost any money at all. Remember the importance of the neighbours – we need to make sure that the neighbours all know what’s going on.
Tom: True. We also need to make sure the family doesn’t leave money and other valuables lying around the house. Do you think we should buy a safe?
Piet: Well, the policeman said that if you didn’t have a safe, a good thing to do is to make sure that valuables are hidden in drawers in different places in the house.
Una: OK, so no safe – we just hide the valuables. What else could we do that wouldn't cost much money?
Tom: Well, something we didn’t mention earlier is to make sure that some of the curtains in the house are drawn. If curtains are left open like this, potential burglars can see that there’s no-one home.
Una: True – they can also see just what is available to rob. What did you two think about a dog?
Piet: Well, it would be a lot of work, and anyway, since this family is going on holiday, they wouldn't be able to leave the dog to look after the house, would they? Someone would have to feed it, so I don't think it’s a very good option.
Una: You're right. So, time's almost up – how are we doing? We've got a burglar alarm – did you two finally agree to that?
Tom: Yes, if it means we can also afford locks for doors and windows.
Una: Yes, I'm sure we can. And then we decided, not a safe, but we'd tell the family to be careful to hide valuables in different places. Also to close a few of the curtains, and to make sure the neighbours know that they're away.
Piet: As long as they can trust the neighbours.
Tutor: Right, everyone, time’s up. Let’s have a look at what you’ve managed to do.

Now select the security measures that Group B decides to choose.

B: Making predictions

 

TIP:

Before listening, you are given time to look at the questions. It is important that you use this time to make predictions from the information that you are given; this will help you to listen for key words so that you will know which question to answer.

1. Before you listen.

In this exercise you will practise predicting answers to the flow-chart task type. Look at the heading of the flow-chart to see what the topic of the discussion will be. Before you listen, read the list of options you are given to complete the gaps and try to predict the probable answers.


Complete the six gaps by choosing from the list of nine options. Three options will not be needed.

Excavating an Archaeological Site

2. Flowchart completion.

The flow-chart completion task requires you to follow the development of a discussion. The order of the steps in the flow-chart is the same as the order in which you will hear the answers. The words you hear before the missing word or words may be synonyms of the words in the flow-chart.


Listen to a discussion between a tutor and two students. Complete the six gaps by choosing from the list of nine options. Three options will not be needed.

Excavating an Archaeological Site

 

Now listen again and read the transcript.

 

C: Reading instructions carefully

 

TIP:

Read the question carefully to make sure you know exactly what is required. In some questions you are required to give TWO answers. Look out for these questions. You have to get both answers correct to receive the mark.

1. Multiple choice.

Now listen to the second part of the conversation that you heard in the last exercise. You may hear all of the options to each multiple-choice question mentioned, but only TWO of them will be correct.

Choose the TWO correct options for each answer.

Now listen again and read the transcript.

 

D: Common collocations

 

TIP:

When a task requires you to complete a gap, look at the preceding word. The word or words you choose to complete the gap should be a natural collocation, i.e. commonly used in combination with the preceding word.

1. Verb and noun collocations.

Which verbs do these nouns usually go with? Put the nouns in the correct box.

For example: We assign a name.

 

2. Verb and noun collocations.

Can you remember? Type in the missing verbs from the previous exercise to complete the sentences.