A Conversation Between 2 Students Talking About Postgraduate Courses in Music - IELTS Listening Sample Answer

The IELTS Listening section examines a candidate’s ability to properly listen to audio and answer the questions. IELTS Listening contains four sections and a total of 40 questions. This topic - A conversation between 2 students talking about postgraduate courses in music is Section Three of IELTS Listening. Candidates will find different types of questions in IELTS Listening practice papers. This section contains many question types:

• Choose the correct answer
• Identify information

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Audio Transcript

(A=Anna; C=Chris)

A: Hi Chris! What are you doing here? I thought you were supposed to be revising for your finals in the library?

C: Yeah, well I decided it was time for a break. I really wasn’t being very productive so thought I’d come and have a coffee and some fresh air to see if that’d help. What are you doing with all those prospectuses?

A: Well I’m trying to decide which university to apply to for my MA in Music. The choice is really overwhelming!

C: Well that certainly is a big pile of prospectuses. Maybe talking about it will help you at least narrow it down? I’ve got some time, and to be honest, it’ll be a welcome distraction from my dissertation.

A: Great! Thanks Chris. So far, the universities that appeal the most are The Academy in London, Leeds Conservatory of Contemporary Music and The Henry Music Institute, which is also in London.

C: I’m not an expert but wouldn’t The Henry Music Institute be the best as it’s the one that everyone’s heard of?

A: Well … yes and no. Leeds Conservatory of Contemporary Music is also pretty famous and although The Academy in London is less well-known, they’ve got some excellent modules on offer.

C: But still, it’s always good to have a well-known name on your CV, even if Leeds Conservatory of Contemporary Music and The Academy in London are good… What about the entry requirements? That might help you to make a decision.

A: Well, funny you should say that as I was just looking at them. The Academy in London requires an audition as does The Henry Music Institute.

C: Leeds Conservatory of Contemporary Music doesn’t?

A: No, they want candidates to compose a piece of music instead, before attending an interview.

C: Don’t the others require you to do that? Compose, that is?

A: No, the others ask you to write an assignment stating why you want to join the course first of all, but if I pass that stage then I’ll also have to attend a face-to-face interview like the other two places with the head of school. Assuming that goes OK, then I’ll be accepted onto the course.

C: Right. Sounds tough!

A: I know, but I suppose it’s for a Master’s degree so I wasn’t expecting it to be easy.

C: What about the fees? Are they all the same?

A: Well, surprisingly, the fee structures are very different.

C: Why’s that?

A: I really don’t know, but, for example, The Henry Music Institute is the most expensive at £8,000 a year, next comes The Academy in London and the cheapest is Leeds Conservatory of Contemporary Music.

C: Mmm… How much are they exactly?

A: Well, for a full-time course lasting one year it’s 7,000 pounds at The Academy in London and 6,000 pounds at Leeds Conservatory of Contemporary Music.

C: OK. Well, what other expenses do you have to take into consideration, like train fares for example? If you’re going to be travelling home and back during the holidays, that’s got to be a factor.

A: I’m not worried about that, though insurance is an added cost as I’ll need to make sure my instrument is covered. However, all of them require me to send in a check for the charges for applying before they’ll process my application.

C: Is that normal?

A: Apparently …

C: Can I have a look?

A: Yes, of course. Here you are.

C: Ummm.

A: What is it?

C: Well, I think you might have a problem.

A: Why? What is it?

C: Well it says here that the deadline is January the 9th. That’s next week.

A: Where? Let me see… you’re right! Which prospectus is this?

C: The Henry Music Institute …

A: Oh no! What am I going to do?

C: Make your decision now?

A: Is the closing date the same for all of them?

C: Let’s check… Look here, Leeds Conservatory of Contemporary Music is on the 19th but The Academy in London isn’t until the 30th of this month.

A: Ok, I’d better hurry up and make a decision.

A: Right, now, apart from those three colleges I also wanted to have a quick flick through Northdown College’s and the one from The James Academy of Music.

C: Look here it is, facilities at Northdown College.

A: What does it say?

C: Well, it has a library with a dedicated historical research section that’s world famous.

A: That’s all very interesting, but it’s not going to make me go there.

C: OK, The Academy in London has four campuses all around central London. They all have large common rooms and there’s one 24 hour cafeteria at the biggest site.

A: That’s nice, but for me the most important thing is somewhere to practice.

C: Yes, of course.

A: Right, now where did I see it… OK, here it is. Look, now this is good. Leeds Conservatory of Contemporary Music has over 100 teaching and practice studios. What a luxury! Here there are only ten and it’s really difficult to find one empty so I often have to play in the gardens.

C: Oh dear!

A: Anyway, that’s the past and this place looks great!

C: Well what about The Henry Music Institute? Look, there’s a new suite with the latest that technology has to offer and a small museum dedicated to the history of music. That’s really impressive!

A: I don’t think I’m really that interested in using computer while making music, so that’s not a selling point really. But look, this place is interesting. The James Academy of Music. It comes recommended by lots of people in the music industry, and all of its courses have a business element though as well as having a professional studio for recording albums.

C: Wow! That sounds really cutting-edge. So are you any closer to making a decision now?

Questions 21-25

Choose the correct letter, A, B, or C , and write answers next to 21-25 on your answer sheet.

21. Which college does Chris suggest would be best?

1. Leeds Conservatory of Contemporary Music
2. The Henry Music Institute
3. The Academy in London

Answer: B

Explanation: Chris stated, “I’m not an expert but wouldn’t The Henry Music Institute be the best”. Hence the answer is B.

Also, check:

22. What entry requirements are common to all the colleges?

1. an audition
2. an essay
3. an interview

Answer: C

Explanation: Ann says “if I pass that stage then I’ll also have to attend a face-to-face interview like the other two places with the head of school". Therefore option C is the correct answer.

23. How much does the course at Leeds Conservatory of Contemporary Music cost?

1. £6,000 a year
2. £7,000 a year
3. £8,000 a year

Answer: A

Explanation: It is clearly mentioned in the conversation that “6,000 pounds at Leeds Conservatory of Contemporary Music”. Hence the answer is A.

24. What other expenses are payable to the colleges?

1. application fee
2. insurance
3. train fare

Answer: A

Explanation: It is mentioned by Anna, “However, all of them require me to send in a check for the charges for applying before they’ll process my application”. Therefore option A is the correct answer.

25. When is the deadline for Leeds Conservatory of Contemporary Music?

1. January 9^th
2. January 19^th
3. January 30th

Answer: B

Explanation: Chris informs that the Leeds Conservatory of Contemporary Music is on the 19th. Therefore option B is the correct answer.

Questions 26-30

Choose FIVE answers and write the correct letter, A-G, next to questions 26-30.

Which facilities do the colleges have?

Facilities

1. large gardens
2. multiple sites
3. practice rooms
4. recording studio
5. research facility
6. student canteen G technology suite
7. technology suite

Colleges

26. Northdown College
27. The Academy in London
28. Leeds Conservatory of Contemporary Music
29. The Henry Music Institute
30. The James Academy of Music

Question 26.

Answer: E

Explanation: As it is stated that facilities at Northdown College are all very interesting, the correct answer must be E.

Question 27.

Answer: B

Explanation: Chris mentioned, “The Academy in London has four campuses all around central London. They all have large common rooms and there’s one 24 hour cafeteria at the biggest site”. So the answer is B.

Question 28.

Answer: C

Explanation: As stated by Anna, “Leeds Conservatory of Contemporary Music has over 100 teaching and practice studios”. Thus the answer is C.

Question 29.

Answer: G

Explanation: Chris said, “a new suite with the latest that technology has to offer". Therefore, the answer is G.

Question 30.

Answer: D

Explanation: It is mentioned in the conversation that The James Academy of Music had a professional studio for recording albums. Accordingly, the answer is D. recording studio.