Work placement: listening answers and explanations
Tim asks his fellow student Laura about the work placement she did last summer, producing a brochure for a small environmental services company. She explains what skills she improved and how the company benefited, then talks him through how to apply for a placement through a government agency called STEP.
In order. Questions 21-22 come from what Laura learned, and 23-24 from how the company gained. 'How do I go about it?' starts the matching (25-30), which follows the application steps in order, from getting the booklet to asking for a reference.
Answer key and self-check
Type what you wrote and hit mark. Hide the key first if you haven't done the part yet. Every question number jumps to its explanation.
How to attack this block: All five skills are mentioned in some way. The question is which ones she improved, so cross out skills she already had or that someone else handled.
Question 21-22
Answer: A and E (in either order)When Tim asks what skills she developed, apart from the ones she already had
Which two skills did Laura get better at on the placement?
Do you think you got any better at managing your time and prioritising … Oh, definitely. … asserting my opinions, … because I had to have weekly consultations with the marketing manager
Question says → You hear
organisationmanaging your time and prioritising … Oh, definitely
communicationasserting my opinions
Why: E: she says 'definitely' when Tim asks about managing time and prioritising, which is organisation. A: she got better at explaining things and stating her opinions in weekly meetings, which is communication.
The trap: C, IT, is the strongest distractor: she used IT skills, but 'that didn't involve anything I hadn't done before'. B: a professional photographer did the artwork. D: marketing is only who she reported to.
Multiple choice (choose TWO)
Questions 23-24
How to attack this block: The key word is 'immediate'. Two benefits happened straight away; two others are hopes for 'the long run'. One option shares a word (software) with something Laura borrowed.
Question 23-24
Answer: B and C (in either order)'But you know, the company benefited too'
Which two benefits did the company get straight away?
I worked it out - it would have been 250 per cent more. … The new brochure looks really professional; it enhances the image of the company straight away.
Question says → You hear
cost savingsit would have been 250 per cent more
an improved imageit enhances the image of the company straight away
Why: B: an agency would have cost 250 per cent more, so doing it in-house saved money. C: the brochure 'enhances the image of the company straight away'.
The trap: D and E: attracting clients and improving sales are Tim's idea for 'the long run', not immediate. A: Laura borrowed scanning software from the university, but that's not an update for the company.
Matching (A-G)
Questions 25-30
How to attack this block: Seven sources for six stages, so one is never used. Tim and Laura often suggest one source and then the other corrects it ('One of the career officers would be better'), so the first source named is often the trap.
Question 25
Answer: DWhen Laura says to start by getting STEP's booklet
Where will Tim get the booklet?
I expect you can download one from their website. … Actually, they've got copies in the psychology department - I've seen them there.
Question says → You hear
obtaining bookletthey've got copies in the psychology department
Why: Tim has seen copies in the psychology department and plans to pick one up from the office there. D.
The trap: G, internet, is Laura's suggestion ('download one from their website'). Tim's 'Actually' replaces it.
Question 26
Answer: FWhen Laura says she'd go over the options with someone
Who should Tim discuss his options with?
I suppose I should ask my tutor's advice. … One of the career officers would be better, they've got more knowledge about the jobs market
Question says → You hear
discussing optionsOne of the career officers would be better
Why: Laura says a careers officer would be better because they know more about the jobs market. F.
The trap: C, personal tutor, is Tim's idea, and Laura corrects him. The tutor comes back later, for the reference.
Question 27
Answer: GWhen Tim asks if he just waits to hear something
How should Tim get updates?
it's best to be proactive, and get updates yourself by checking the website for new placement alerts. Your mentor is supposed to keep you informed, but you can't rely on that.
Question says → You hear
getting updatesget updates yourself by checking the website
Why: Laura's advice is to check the website for new placement alerts. The website is the internet, G.
The trap: E, mentor: the mentor is meant to keep you informed, 'but you can't rely on that'. The careers office gave the advice, but isn't the source of updates.
Question 28
Answer: BWhen Tim asks about contacting companies directly
Who should Tim reply to when invited for an interview?
You get a letter of invitation or an email from personnel departments. … And do I reply directly to them? … Yes, you do.
Question says → You hear
responding to invitation for interviewAnd do I reply directly to them? … Yes, you do
Why: The invitation comes from the company's personnel department, and you reply directly to them. B.
The trap: A, company manager, is never mentioned. STEP and the mentor only get involved again after a job offer.
Question 29
Answer: EAfter the interview, 'So, once you've had an interview'
Who should Tim tell about the interview result?
So, once you've had an interview vou should let your mentor know what the outcome is? … That's right.
Question says → You hear
informing about outcome of interviewlet your mentor know what the outcome is
Why: Tim checks that he should tell his mentor the outcome, and Laura confirms. E.
The trap: F: the careers office is told too, but by the mentor. 'You don't have to do that'.
Question 30
Answer: CThe last step, after accepting an offer
Who should Tim ask for a reference?
you'll probably have to supply a reference, because the placement will be conditional on that. And that's something you should ask your own tutor to provide.
Question says → You hear
requesting a referenceyou should ask your own tutor to provide
Why: The tutor knows his academic ability and personal qualities, so he should write the reference. C.
The trap: F, careers officer, was better for discussing options, but for a reference Laura sends him back to his tutor.
Laura suggests downloading the booklet from the website, but Tim says the psychology department has copies and he'll pick one up there. His plan is the answer: D, not G.
New clients and better sales are both mentioned, but Tim says 'in the long run'. The question wants immediate benefits: the saving and the improved image.
The mentor is supposed to keep you informed, which looks like E. But Laura says 'you can't rely on that' and you should check the website yourself: G.
Words from this recording worth keeping
work placement(Start of the conversation)
a period of work experience as part of a course
occupational psychology(Laura's placement)
the study of how people behave at work
prioritising(Skills)
deciding which tasks are most important
asserting(Skills)
stating firmly and confidently
in-house(Benefits to the company)
done inside the company, not by outsiders
enhances(Benefits to the company)
improves
proactive(Applying)
acting early rather than waiting
conditional on(Applying)
depending on something happening
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The full Cambridge 10 Test 4 listening paper with the real audio: all four parts, played once, marked the moment you finish. Already done it? Take it again and listen for the traps this page showed you.
Cambridge IELTS 10, Test 4, Listening Part 3. The recording, transcript and questions belong to Cambridge University Press and are not reproduced here. We quote short extracts of the transcript only as evidence for our own commentary, and the answers are published for self-marking. Get the book for the full material, or sit the test on Langujet.
