Rexford University: listening answers and explanations
A university representative speaks to a group of international students thinking of applying to Rexford. He sells the university's strengths, explains the application process and student contacts, then deals with their worries about study, accommodation and spoken English.
The talk runs in four stages: Rexford's advantages (11-12), the application process (13-15), then life as an international student (16-20). The coffee break marks the move to applications, and 'Now to move on to the other concerns' starts the final multiple-choice block.
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: Every option is linked to something the speaker says, but three of them twist the detail: research results, not exam results; close to London, not transport links; a government assessment, not government money. Look for the two that match exactly.
Question 11-12
Answer: C and E (in either order)The opening sales talk, before the coffee arrives
Which two advantages of Rexford does the speaker give?
Rexford just is 35 minutes … all our science and engineering research departments have unusually close relationships with industry in the area
Why: C: Rexford is 35 minutes from London Airport. E: the science and engineering departments have close relationships with local industry, useful for students wanting work experience.
The trap: A is the best distractor: the 7th place is in a research assessment, not exams. B twists 'close to central London' into transport links, which he never mentions. D: the government body carried out the assessment; it didn't give money.
Note completion (ONE WORD ONLY)
Questions 13-15
How to attack this block: Three single nouns, each said plainly. The notes follow the talk closely, so listen for the words just before each gap ('delays in sending', 'from the same', 'English ... and food').
Question 13
Answer: referencesAfter he asks you not to worry if the process is slow
Apart from the post, what can slow down an application?
most often the hold-up is caused by references - the people you give as referees, shall we say, take their time to reply
Question says → You hear
delays in sendingreferees, shall we say, take their time to reply
Why: Referees are slow to reply, so the delay is in sending references. The gap after 'sending' needs the thing sent: references.
The trap: 'Referees' is the people, and it's the word said last. The notes need what they send: references.
Question 14
Answer: countryWhen he explains how they help you decide about applying
Where does the contact student come from?
put you in contact with, if possible, a student from your own country
Question says → You hear
put international applicants in touch with a student from the sameput you in contact with, if possible, a student from your own country
Why: 'Your own country' becomes 'the same country'. One word: country.
The trap: He later mentions two second-year students and a postgraduate. Those are details about who the contacts are, not what the gap needs.
Question 15
Answer: weatherIn the list of things you can ask your contact about
What English thing, besides food, can the contact student advise on?
whether the English weather and food are really as awful
Question says → You hear
English ... and foodthe English weather and food
Why: The words match the note almost exactly: English weather and food. Write weather.
The trap: Leisure facilities and academic atmosphere come just before, but they're already printed in the list.
Multiple choice
Questions 16-20
How to attack this block: Each question picks out one worry: study style, campus housing, off-campus housing, the accommodation officer, and spoken English. The wrong options are usually things the speaker says the opposite of, so listen for the full sentence before deciding.
Question 16
Answer: CAfter 'Now to move on to the other concerns you expressed'
What will international students at UK universities be expected to do?
you will be in an environment where independent learning is the norm, which takes most students a while to adjust
Why: 'Independent learning is the norm' means students are expected to work independently, so C.
The trap: B is close to the help he mentions next, but that help comes from organisations in the university and city, not lecturers. A, living with families, isn't mentioned.
Question 17
Answer: CWhen he says 'One or two of you touched on the subject of accommodation'
What does the speaker say about campus accommodation?
give priority in the allocation of residence places to three categories, and those are: visiting students, exchange students and new postgraduate students. However, demand
Why: New postgraduates get priority, but demand exceeds supply, so places are limited. That's C.
The trap: B is tempting because families come up. He only says to apply early, 'particularly if your family is accompanying you'. A: undergraduates are not in the priority groups at all.
Question 18
Answer: AWhen he asks 'What if you would prefer to live outside the university?'
When should students who want to live off campus apply?
gets snapped up months before the beginning of term … What you can't do is leave it until a few days before the start of term.
Why: Good housing goes months before term, so you must think about it in June or July for an October start. That's A, several months in advance.
The trap: C: 'the beginning of term' is said, but as the time when it's too late. B (two or three weeks) is never mentioned.
Question 19
Answer: BAfter the advice about agencies in town
What will the accommodation officer do?
she's got plenty of contacts in the town and will deal with the agencies on your behalf
Why: 'Deal with the agencies on your behalf' matches B, contact accommodation agencies for students.
The trap: A, a list of agents, sounds like help, but she deals with them herself. C promises too much: she helps, but he never says she guarantees suitable housing.
Question 20
Answer: CNear the end, when he talks about their spoken English
What does the speaker advise about English?
Some extra practice before you arrive is worth more than
Why: Extra practice before they arrive is worth more than lessons later, when they won't have time. That's C.
The trap: B: private lessons after arrival are exactly what he says are worth less. A: lecturers 'make little or no allowance' for non-native speakers, so complaining to them isn't his advice.
The speaker mentions families accompanying students, which pulls people to B. He only says that families make it more important to apply early. New postgraduates get priority, but demand is higher than supply, so C.
Private lessons (B) are named, but only to say extra practice before you arrive is worth more. The lecturers (A) won't make allowances, so telling them won't help.
Words from this recording worth keeping
research assessment(Rexford's strengths)
an official review of the quality of a university's research
referees(Applying)
people who write a report about you for an application
liaise(Applying)
act as a link between two people or groups
objective opinion(Applying)
a fair view not influenced by personal interest
independent learning(Students' concerns)
studying on your own without being told what to do
allocation(Accommodation)
giving out a limited supply of something
snapped up(Accommodation)
taken very quickly by others
on your behalf(Accommodation)
for you, in your place
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The full Cambridge 5 Test 3 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 5, Test 3, Listening Part 2. 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.
