A Conversation between an Advisor and an Overseas Student- IELTS Listening Sample Answer
IELTS Listening section examines a candidate’s knowledge of listening and answering a wide range of questions. There is a total of 40 IELTS Listening questions. The audio is played only once. This topic - A Conversation between an Advisor and an Overseas Student is IELTS listening section three. The following are the IELTS listening question types:
- No more than 3 words
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Topic: A Conversation between an Advisor and an Overseas Student
Audio Transcript
SECTION 3
A: Good afternoon. How can I help you?
S: Good afternoon. My name is Helena Schwarz. I have an appointment at three.
A: Ah, yes. Come in. Please, take a seat. … Now, what can I do for you?
S: Well, I need some advice about my studies. I’m a foreign student – from Germany – and, well, I heard that this is the place to come.
A: It certainly is. So, what kind of problems are you having? It’s quite normal for students to meet problems, particularly overseas students who might not be familiar with the British way of life or education system.
S: Well, my first problem is the workload.
A: That’s a common problem, even with British students.
S: It seems to me that the biggest difference between university and secondary school is the university students have to do a lot of work on their own, and it’s sometimes useful to get advice on how to take control of your time and work effectively.
A: You’re right. The obvious thing to do is to make a schedule and stick to it. Bear in mind that there is enough time to do the work and enough time for extracurricular activities.
S: You mean that I shouldn’t overload myself.
A: Right, but moreover, be careful to spread your work out over the weeks and months. Don’t do anything for a while, then get worried because you have little time to get assignments finished.
S: Yes, that’s clear.
A: We get a lot of students coming to us with that problem, so we’ve produced a leaflet about it. You should have received one during orientation, but sometimes … well, here you are.
S: Thank you. I’ll read it carefully later.
A: OK. And feel free to come back if you have any questions about it.
S: OK. My second problem is with research.
A: Are you going to complain that the library isn’t open at the weekends? ,
S: How did you guess?
A: We get so many students complaining about that. We are trying to get that changed, but… well, to be honest, the library staff already work long shifts and unless we can get extra staff, the library has to remain closed at the weekends.
S: I understand, but…
A: I know. It makes organizing your time even more important. Make sure that you get all the books you need from the library before the weekend. Then, devote some of your weekend time to making notes from the books at the weekend.
S: The problem is that I’m easily distracted when I’m working at home rather than in the library.
A: Well, an alternative strategy is to work longer hours during the week, when the library is open, and do no work at all at the weekends. Sometimes, it’s very useful to forget about studies for a day or two each week.
S: Yes. That might be better for me. I can concentrate on my work in the library and then leave the weekends free. Also, I have some problems – with my essay assignments. Could you have a look at these and tell me what you think?
A: Certainly… Ah, I see. Well, even if you plan your writing carefully, this can come to nothing if the assignment doesn’t actually answer the question. That really is the most important thing to remember. You must read the question extremely carefully and give it a great deal of thought before you even start planning or writing your first draft. It’s also essential to check your work for errors. Everybody makes them, and they can influence the professor marking the work. So, always take time at the end to check what you have written. Many overseas students ask a British student to check their work for them. I have a short list of people who will do this for a small fee if you’d like it.
S: That’s OK. I have several British friends. I’m sure I can bribe them to check my grammar and spelling. Good. Anything else?
A: Yes, there is. I find it hard to keep up sometimes in lectures.
S: Do you have any tips for me? I was thinking of recording them using an MP3 player. Then I can listen to it again afterwards and…
A: Well, a lot of people find them useful, but some people point out that you might never actually have time to listen to the recording again. Something else you could try is checking your notes with a friend after the lecture. Go for a coffee or something.
S: Yes. That’s a good idea. Thanks. Thank you very much for your help.
A: That’s what I’m here for!
Questions 21-30
Questions 21-25
Answer the following questions using NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS for each answer.
- Where is the student from?
Answer: Germany
Explanation: From the above conversation, it is evident that the student asks the advisor that he needs some advice about his studies. He is a foreign student – from Germany.
Also, check:
- What does the adviser suggest the student create to manage her time?
Answer: schedule
Explanation: From the above conversation, it is evident that the advisor talks about the obvious thing to do are to make a schedule and stick to it.
- What does the adviser give the student to help her with time management?
Answer: leaflet
Explanation: From the above conversation, it is evident that the advisor talks about getting a lot of students coming to us with that problem, so we’ve produced a leaflet about it.
- What is the problem many students have with the library?
Answer: closed/ closes at weekends
Explanation: From the above conversation, it is evident that the advisor suggests students complain that the library isn’t open at the weekends.
- Why does this problem exist?
Answer: not enough staff/ too few staff/ no extra staff
Explanation: From the above conversation, it is evident that the advisor suggests students complaining about that. We are trying to get that changed, but… well, to be honest, the library staff already work long shifts and unless we can get extra staff, the library has to remain closed at the weekends.
Questions 26-30
Complete the following sentences using NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS for each answer.
- The student says she is ______________ when she is studying at home.
Answer: easily distracted
Explanation: The student talks about his problem of getting easily distracted when he is working at home rather than in the library.
- As a result, it might be better for her to __________________from Monday to Friday.
Answer: study/work long shifts
Explanation: From the above conversation, it is evident that the advisor suggests the student complaining about study/work long shifts and unless they can get extra staff, the library has to remain closed at the weekends.
- The main problem with the student’s assignments Is that they fail to _______________________
Answer: answer the question
Explanation: From the above conversation, it is evident that the advisor suggests the student if he plans his writing carefully, this can come to nothing if the assignment doesn’t actually answer the question.
- The adviser has a list of people who, for ___________________ grammar and spelling mistakes.
Answer: a small fee
Explanation: From the above conversation, it is evident that the advisor has a shortlist of people who will do this for a small fee if you’d like it.
- The adviser suggests ____________________ with another student after lectures over a coffee.
Answer: checking notes
Explanation: From the above conversation, it is evident that something else he could try is checking your notes with a friend after the lecture.
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