Conversation between a College Tutor and Student about Writing a Book Review - IELTS Listening Sample Answer

Nov 2, 2021

IELTS Listening section examines a candidate’s proficiency in understanding 4 audios containing conversations and monologues. This topic - A conversation between a college tutor and student about writing a book review is IELTS listening part three. Candidates need to answer the following IELTS listening question types:

Table completion

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Audio Transcript:

You will hear a conversation between a college tutor and a student about writing a book review.

First, you have some time to look at questions 21 to 30.

Now listen carefully and answer questions 21 to 30.

Rachel: Oh, hello. Can you spare me a few minutes, please?

Tutor: Yes, of course Rachel. What can I do for you?

Rachel: It's about the book review you've asked us to write as part of the academic writing class. You said we should ask if we didn't know how to set about it.

Tutor: Okay. Well, sit down and let's talk about it. I presume you've chosen the book you want to write about.

Rachel: Yes.

Tutor: Good, then have a look at this outline if we talked it through and you make notes on it,it will help you to structure your First of all, what's the name of the book?

Rachel: The Human mind.

Tutor: Ah, yes by Robert Winston, it was tied in with a very good television series.

So, you should start your review with the title and author. The next question is what character would you put it in? For example, fiction, history.

Rachel: I suppose it's science.

Tutor: Can you limit the field a little?

Rachel: How about Popular Science?

Tutor: Yes, I think that’s more helpful.

Rachel: And I think the subject area is the brain.

Tutor: Okay, it's important to mention the intended reader because you can't judge how effective a book is without considering who it's meant for.

Rachel: Well, it doesn't assume, you know a lot about the subject so I think it's for non-specialists. It was promoted in general bookshops.

Tutor: Right. Now the overview. What do you think Winston is trying to do?

Rachel: It’s very informative. But I think he's also telling us how to make the most of our brains.

Tutor: Then you should briefly mention the topics. I'd recommend mentioning the ones that you found the most significant and interesting.

Rachel: Well, it starts by looking back a thousand years and looks briefly at the theories developed about the brain and about its importance. It wasn’t considered important as we now believe.

Tutor: And the next topic?

Rachel: I think it should be this structure and activities of the brain that make it function. I found that very interesting but it was probably the hardest to understand.

Tutor: I probably agree with you. Anymore topics you want to mention?

Rachel: It covers so much- like the emotions, memory but I think the role of the brain in creating personality should be mentioned, it is one of the most important aspects of the book and then there's advice on how we can use our brains to boost our intelligence. I've already started acting on some of the suggestions.

Tutor: Good luck. Now, let's look at the next section of your review where you should analyze and evaluate the book. This is the main section where you give your own opinions. This first point is really a question of whether we should take the writer seriously. A musician may be qualified to write about music, but it is not necessary to write about the brain.

Rachel: Winston is a professor at the University of London and he's done a lot of research in various medical Fields. So, he's very well qualified to write about this subject.

Tutor: So, what would you say are the strengths of the boom?

Rachel: It's a complex subject. But he makes it as accessible as it can be for the general reader. That's partly because he illustrates his points with a lot of stories both about well-known people like Einstein and from his own life.

Tutor: Okay. Are there any other strengths you want to add?

Rachel: I was glad he included a word list to explain the meanings of medical terms, and I didn't find any weaknesses.

Tutor: Right, then that brings us to the conclusion. How would you sum up your overall response to the book?

Rachel: Well, I found it fascinating. I think Winston is quite ambitious in the goal to himself, but he succeeded in reaching it.

Tutor: Well, there you are. You've got the skeleton of your review keep that in front of you while you're reading it up and it should be fine.

Rachel: Thank you very much.

Tutor: You're welcome.

Section 3
Questions 21-30

Complete the form below.
Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS for each answer.

OUTLINE OF BOOK REVIEW
Introduction • Title 21 __________________________ • Author Robert Winston • Category 22_____________________________________ • Subject area brain • Intended readers 23 _________________________________ Overview Author’s purpose to inform and advise on maximising the use of the brain Main topics history of 24 ________________________________ about brain What enables the brain to 25 ________________________________________ brain’s contribution to the development of 26 _________________________________ how to increase intelligence Analysis and evaluation Writer’s qualifications professor at the University of London who carries out 27 ____________________________________ research Strengths readable, particularly through the use of 28 ____________________________________ contains a useful 29________________________________ Weaknesses none Conclusion Overall response a very interesting book that aims high and achieves its 30________________________________

Question 21:

Answer: The Human Mind

Explanation: According to the conversation, the title of the book review is ‘The Human Mind’.

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Question 22:

Answer: popular science

Explanation: The book review will be done in the category of popular science.

Question 23:

Answer: non-specialists

Explanation: The intended readers or audience of the book review ‘The Human Mind’ is intended for non-specialists.

Question 24:

Answer: theories

Explanation: The main topics revolve around theories of the brain. It states how to make the most use of our brains.

Question 25:

Answer: function

Explanation: According to Rachel, the book review can be about the structure and activities of the brain that makes it function.

Question 26:

Answer: personality

Explanation: Rachel says that the review can cover a lot about memory, emotions but how the brain affects a person’s personality needs to be mentioned.

Question 27:

Answer: medical

Explanation: For the medical review, Winston was suggested by Rachel who is a professor at the University of London and had carried a lot of medical researches.

Question 28:

Answer: stories

Explanation: Stories are used by Winston to illustrate many points.

Question 29:

Answer: word list

Explanation: Rachel stated that the book included word lists to help with the tough words.

Question 30:

Answer: goal

Explanation: Rachel found the book quite fascinating which is taken as a conclusion by the tutor.

*The article might have information for the previous academic years, please refer the official website of the exam.