01_IELTS Listening test, part 1 - Free practice Man: Hello, this is Business Nationwide, Daniel speaking, how can I help you? Woman: Hi there, er, I’ve recently started up a small business, and I noticed on your website that you run some courses for people who are starting up. Man: That’s right, we do. We offer two courses which may be of interest to you. Our first course is called ‘Getting Started’. It’s a two–hour evening course, and it runs from 6pm to 8pm. We discuss things like ‘Is starting a business right for me?’, writing a business plan and some of the legal issues. It runs at various locations in the area. Where are you based? Woman: I live in Eastleigh. Man: Eastleigh. So, the closest course to you would be in Handbridge, and the next one is on the 20th March. Woman: Uh-huh, and how much is that. Man: That one is free. Woman: Okay, well it might be worth it. Man: But did you say you’re trading already? Woman: Yes, since about August. Man: Well, you might be better off taking our three-day course – ‘Business Basics’. It’s not free I’m afraid – it’s subsided and costs £80 for the three days, unless you’ve been unemployed in the past six months, in which case it’s just £20. Woman: No, that doesn’t apply to me. Man: Well, it’s well worth the money. The three days cover the essential aspects of running a business. The first day covers legal issues, such as tax, insurance, employment laws and health and safety. The second day covers marketing and pricing, and the third covers accounting and book-keeping. Woman: It sounds useful. Does the ‘Business Basics’ course take place in Handbridge too? Man: Er, let me see. No, it’s not available in Handbridge, I’m afraid. The nearest course to you would be in Renton. There’s one on the 5th March, and another on the 18th April. Woman: Yes, that might be useful. Man: I’ll send out a pack to you if you like, with some details of the courses and also some information about what you need to do to set up and who you need to register with. Woman: Great. Man: Can I take your name? Woman: Yes, it’s Lila Park. Man: Lila? Is that L-A-I-L-A? Woman: NO, L-I-L-A. Man: Lila Park. And your address please? Woman: 39 White Lane, Eastleigh. Man: And have you got an email address? If so, we can send you details of any courses that are happening near you that you might be interested in. Woman: Yes, it’s lila dot park at rainbow dot com Man: Great, well I’ll have the information pack sent out to you today. Woman: Thanks, that’d be great. Man: My pleasure. Bye.
02_IELTS Listening test, part 2 - Free practice
Assistant: Worldbridges Travel Agency...Good morning. Can I help you? Susan: Yes, I need some information, please. Assistant: yes? Susan: Well, I know it's rather late for a reservation, but we are three friends..., and we'd like to travel to Greece next July... Assistant: Let's see... Where would you like to stay? Susan: We've been told Mykonos is one of the best islands in the Mediterranean.., would that be possible? Assistant: Quite difficult in July...., would you like to stay at a hotel? Susan: We'd rather make a self-catering arrangement... Assistant: Are you thinking of a villa or an apartment? Susan: I guess a small apartment will be cheaper... Assistant: Provided it's not during July, yes...You know prices are lower out of season...How long would you like to stay? Susan: About a fortnight, but it might be difficult to change dates, you know, we are three and have different times available... Assistant: I see..., how many did you say were in the party? Susan: There'll be three of us..., all girls, so we need a safe place near the beach. But we cannot spend more than £100 a day... Assistant: For that price you won't have many options, I'm afraid, but let me find out... If you could arrange to make it in late June...I might have a bedsitter for £75... It could accommodate 3 single beds, and it's 5 minutes' walk from the main beach in Mykonos... Susan: I'd love that!... What's the name of the beach, have you got it handy? Assistant: yes, "Super Paradise"..., have you heard about it? Susan: Yes! My parents went there on their honeymoon ...and they still keep advising people to visit it! Anyway, I need to talk it over with my friends, though. One of them works during June, she might not be able to change dates... Assistant: Well, contact your friends, come to an agreement and give me a ring again... My name is Arnold Smith, you'll find me here any working day from 10 am to 6 pm, but not on Saturdays... Remember we only have a month left, so you need to make up your minds I'd say today or tomorrow! Susan: I will, thank you, Arnold, you've been very kind! Assistant: Wait ! You haven't given me your name... Susan : Sorry..., I am Susan Perkins, from Kensington. Susan Perkins, P-E-R-K-I-N-S. I'll get back to you tomorrow without fail, Arnold, thank you again, bye!
03_IELTS Listening test, part 3 - Free practice Representative: Hi there, are you interested in doing a foundation course? Student: No, well, I’m not sure actually. I’m not sure what I want to do. Representative: That’s not unusual. Are you thinking about further study, or were you planning to go straight into a job? Student: I was always thinking I’d go to university, but the fees are so high now, I was looking for other options, something where I can be sure I’d get a job afterwards. Representative: Yes, that’s a real problem now, isn’t it? The high fees at university. Student: Yeah, that and the fact that I’m really not sure whether a university courses really prepare you for any particular job. They’re too academic, not really very practical. Representative: Well, it sounds as if one of our foundation courses might be the right thing for you. The fees are lower than university fees, and not only that, but because the courses aren’t full time, you can work for two or three days a week, so you can earn and study at the same time. The other good thing is that you get real experience in the workplace where you can develop your employability skills. The teaching is also a lot more personal, with smaller class sizes, which means you get more attention. Student: So, do you get the same qualifications that you would at university? Representative: You’d be working towards a foundation degree, not an honours degree like you would at a university, but you can progress onto a honours course if you successfully complete the foundation course.PAUSE Representative: So what sort of course were you thinking of taking? Student: I was thinking of going into business or management or something like that. Do you do courses in that? Representative: Well, not as such, but we do offer a course in Managing Public Services which might be of interest to you, especially as the public sector is one of the country’s biggest employers and it’s always looking for talented individuals. A lot of the skills you need for those departments are the same as those you’d need in business, so you can decide at a late date whether you want to work in a public or a private company. Student: Yeah? What does the course involve? Representative: Well, there are a number of different modules you can take. The ones which might be of interest to you are, er..., let me have a look, this one – ‘Organisational Behaviour’. Students: What’s that about then? Representative: You’ll learn things like the theoretical and practical nature of organisations, such as how they are set up and structured. There’s another module called ‘Managing People’ which teaches some principles and management techniques for leading groups of people. Then there’s this module: ‘Individual and Group Behaviour‘ – that’s a human resources module which looks at how people behave as part of an organisation and how you can motivate them. Then there’s this module: ‘Financial resources’ – it looks at budgeting and planning, and where you can get different sources of finance. Student: This one looks interesting: ‘Applied Psychology for the Public Services.’ Representative: Yes, it is. It follows on from the ‘Individual and Group Behaviour’ module I mentioned. It looks at how you can apply psychological factors like stress and memory to work in the public sector. Student: It looks like a really practical course. Representative: It is. I don’t think you’d be disappointed. Student: So, what do I need to be able to get onto a course? Representative: You need GCSEs in Maths and English at grade C or higher. Student: Uh-huh, well I got a B in Maths and an A in English, so that’s OK. Representative: And are you doing A levels? Student: Yeah Representative: Well, you need to get at least 60 points, and that must include one complete A-level. Student: Okay, well that doesn’t sound like too much of a problem. Can I take one of these information packs? Representative: Sure, go ahead.
04_IELTS Listening test, part 4 - Free practice
Do you think that some people are naturally more lucky than others? Do you believe that you are significantly more or less lucky than other people? These are questions that have interested humans for centuries, and certainly, the large number of superstitions, lucky charms and talismans which have prevailed through history in civilisations across the world would suggest that humans have an almost innate belief in the power of luck. The superstitions we have today have long histories. The number 13 is considered unlucky because that was the number of people at the table at Jesus Christ’s last supper. Touching wood comes from pagan rituals of imbibing the powers of tree Gods. Many people do not walk under ladders. This superstition does not come from the notion that a bucket of paint may drop on your head as you pass underneath. Rather, the shape of the ladder against the wall forms the shape of a triangle, which was thought to represent the symbol of the Holy Trinity and passing through it would break these powerful bounds and bring ill fortune. But do these superstitions really have an effect? Many researchers have pondered this and all have found that superstitions have no effect on people’s fortunes. One of these experiments was conducted by a New York high school student and superstition sceptic, Mark Levin, who decided to test the notion that a black cat walking across your path would change your luck either to the better or to the worse. To find out, he asked two people to play a simple coin tossing game. Then, a black cat was encouraged to walk across their path, and the participants played the game once more, and the results were analysed. As a control, the experiment was repeated using a white cat, to test whether the fortunes of the players was any different using a black or a white cat. Unsurprisingly, neither the white nor the black cat affected the results of the coin tossing game. Other experiments involving broken mirrors and walking under ladders have shown similar results. But even though superstitions have no effect on our lives, some people really do seem to be luckier than others. Take Barnett Helzberg Junior for example. This man had built up a successful chain of jewellery stores, but was ready to sell up his business and retire. One day, he was walking in the street and heard a woman call ‘Hello Mr Buffett!’ Helzberg wondered whether the Mr Buffet in question could be the famous investor Warren Buffett. If it was, then he may well be interested in buying his company. Helzberg decided to take the chance, and approached the man. The meeting proved to be fortuitous, as about a year later, Buffett bought Helzberg’s stores, and all because he happened to overhear a woman calling his name! Professor Richard Wiseman decided to test what it was that made some people seemingly luckier than others. He invited people who considered themselves either lucky or unlucky to participate in a number of experiments. Over the years of his study, he asked his volunteers to complete diaries, take part in interviews and intelligence tests. He found that people’s behaviour and approach to life are the primary cause of their level of luck in life. In one experiment, he asked both lucky and unlucky people to count the number of pictures in a newspaper. On one page of the newspaper was written the words ‘Stop counting – tell the experimenter you have seen this and win $250’. It was found that lucky people saw this headline while unlucky people did not. Did this experiment show that some people are therefore luckier than others? Or does it show that their behaviour is different? This and other tests revealed that unlucky people tend to be more anxious than lucky people, and this anxiety means that people are fixated on one thing and less able to notice the unexpected. Lucky people are more relaxed and open, and therefore see opportunities beyond those that they are looking for. Wiseman also noticed that lucky people have more variety and change in their lives, and this in turn increases the potential for chance opportunities in people’s lives. So is it possible to change people’s luck by changing their outlook? Wiseman says yes. He created a ‘luck school’ in which he explained how lucky people create good fortune in their lives and gave them some exercises to do, such as breaking their everyday routines, and dealing with bad luck in a more positive way. The results were dramatic. A high number of people were happier and more satisfied in their lives. Some had found romantic partners through chance encounters, and others had had lucky breaks at work. So overall, Wiseman’s research in the field of luck has revealed that although there seems to be no truth behind superstitions, some people really are luckier than others, and this is mostly down to our thoughts and behaviour, and proves that by changing these, we can actually increase the amount of luck we experience in our lives.
05_IELTS Listening test 2, part 1 - Free practice
Sarah: Good morning, Brian. My name is Sarah Greene. Brian: Welcome to our programme, Sarah. What’s your query today? Sarah: Well, I’ve always admired your programme ´cause it allows ordinary citizens to air our views… and share them… Brian: Thank you. So what would you like to comment on? Sarah: I’m speaking on behalf of a group of neighbours living in a tower block in the East End of Manchester, between two busy street markets. Naturally, we suffer from traffic, noise, dirt and petrol fumes. Brian: Is that your complaint, Sarah? Sarah: No, Brian, not yet! I need to add that we have an open green space with shady trees behind us, and these trees provide us with a quiet, pleasant place where we enjoy our leisure hours. We are mostly pensioners and there are very few children on the estate. Brian: So what’s wrong with that, Sarah? Sarah: Well, our local council recently proposed to make use of this site as a temporary play centre for about 100 children. Brian: Have you done anything about it? Sarah: Yes! We have protested against this plan in different ways. We have sent emails, letters, even spoken on the phone …but the council have never paid attention to us. What’s worse, they have already started uprooting trees and grass… Brian: Would you say there's some kind of alternative solution to this problem? Sarah: There’s a disused school and playground within 300 metres… It could serve their purpose just as well… Brian: I’d advise you to try and make a personal appointment with a member of the local council. That would give you the chance to be heard face-to-face. Why don’t you contact Councillor John Edwards? I believe he’s the right person to talk to. You can book an appointment at the council offices. He’s used to considering everyday problems, and usually comes up with practical solutions. Sarah: I’ll do that, Brian, thank you very much for your advice.
06_IELTS Listening test 2 , part 2 - Free practice Presenter: Now, every time I switch on the television, there seems to be some programme about houses. Property development, that is, buying houses, working on them to increase their value, and then selling them on again, seems like an attractive money-making opportunity to many people. But the property development is a difficult thing to get right, and in the studio today, we have Marcus Lawton who is going to tell us a bit about where a lot of people make mistakes. Marcus, is it true that making money from property development isn’t as easy as it looks on TV? Marcus: Absolutely. There are several reasons why people go wrong, and the first is that many people fail to realise that in property development, you make your money when you buy a house, not when you sell it. If you spend too much money on a house, you will never make a profit out of it. So you really need to learn how to haggle over the asking price. Every pound you can knock off is money in your pocket. Presenter: Is buying a house at an auction a good idea? Marcus: Oh, it is. It’s a great way to pick up a bargain. But it’s easy to get too excited about making a purchase, and you can end up paying more than a house is worth. It’s important to give yourself a limit and stick to it. It’s also tempting at auctions to buy a house that you know nothing about, and that’s a real mistake too. You need to really do your homework before you make such a big purchase. PAUSE Presenter: What sort of things do you need to find out? Marcus: All sorts. One important thing is the location. Property is always sought after if it’s near a good school, and has nice green areas nearby. People often assume that the best property to invest in is one that’s in the nicest, smartest part of town. But you’ll pay over the odds for a house there, and you’re profit margins won’t be any bigger. Things like access to public transport and shops and services are actually far more important. You’ve also really got to consider how much the cost of refurbishing the place is going to be and how much you will realistically get for the property once you’re ready to sell it. Don’t go overboard when doing the place up. Many people fall into the trap of trying to recreate their dream home. But you need to consider who is likely to want to live there in the future, and what sort of decor and fitting they will need. A professional couple may want a nice finish, but if you plan to let it out to students, for example, there’s no point spending a fortune on a nice kitchen or bathroom. Presenter: So, how can you ensure that you’re getting a bargain? Marcus: Look for the right seller. An estate agent will be able to tell you about anyone who needs a quick sale and will be prepared to sell for less. People might be moving abroad, or getting a divorce, and those are the types of people who are more likely to accept a lower offer. Don’t just rely on agencies either, look at ads in the newspaper. People often advertise there if they want to keep their fees low. You can do a deal directly with them, and you won’t have to go through an estate agent. And keep an eye open as you’re driving around. If you see an old, run down house that looks as if it has potential, just knock on the door and ask if the owner has considered selling. That’s how I bought my first house. It might seem a bit daunting, just going up to the door like that, but what’s the worst that can happen? They can only say no. If you come across a house that doesn’t look lived in, you can always contact the land registry and find out who owns it. They may be prepared to sell it, but they just aren’t actively looking for buyers.
07_IELTS Listening test 2, part 3 - Free practice Mr Robb: Have you received the information sent to course participants, Joanna?Student: about what, Mr Robb? Mr Robb: The written work required for evaluation purposes Student: I’m afraid I haven’t Mr Robb: Well…, you have the deadline for the submission of these Tutor Marked Assignments or TMA's, as we call them, in your course guide, which was posted to all students in advance. Student: I remember I got some information on dates, but I might have to hand in my work a week later… , my parents are coming to London for a few days and I intended to join them… Mr Robb: I am very sorry to have to tell you that it’s absolutely imperative to meet requirements at University, Joanna. You should know that if you submit your assignments late they won’t be marked, and this will affect your grade for the course… Student: I didn’t know about that…, it’s my first year…So I ‘d better stay and study, no choice! Mr Robb: No choice, Joanna… Now, as to the work itself, you should bear in mind some considerations regarding word length, for example… Student: I know it should it be 2000 words long… Mr Robb: That’s right, but length doesn’t necessarily indicate quality. Besides, it’s also important to write legibly, so typed work is preferred… Student: I’m afraid I don’t have a computer at home, what can I do? Mr Robb: You can use one of the computers in the department. Student: OK thanks, and should I include a bibliography? Mr Robb: Definitely, Joanna. Do include all the sources you have drawn your information from, and acknowledge quotations.Student: One more question, Mr Robb … I’ve heard about students’ electronic identification cards in Europe…, what are they? Mr Robb: Well … , in some Universities students use a personal electronic identification card to record their entrance and exit to the school campus, as well as their entrance to each class. Student: wow, that sounds interesting! How does it work? Mr Robb: The information is electronically transmitted to a central station where it is available within seconds or minutes… The system stores the time the students use their cards as they enter and leave school or the classroom Student: I guess it will please some parents who are always worrying about their kids, even when they are at College… Mr Robb: Yes, parents responded very positively to the introduction of this card in some places… , mainly because they can learn about their child’s daily activities at school, not to mention the added security and discipline that tracking systems provide. After all, as a society, we use cards for everything these days. Student: I suppose teachers can also benefit…, no more time devoted to roll-calls… Mr Robb: Exactly, Joanna! They will no longer be responsible for their students’ attendance…, so they can spend their time and energy on teaching… Student: and what is done with all the data collected? Mr Robb: That depends on the school district. It may reduce truancy and it may increase student success in meaningful ways. In all European school districts where the system has been employed, it has been part of a broader, more comprehensive effort to address student attendance, truancy, performance and behaviour issues.Student: I’ve only been here for a week and I’ve learnt so much … there are so many differences between life here and in my country I sometimes feel at a loss… Mr Robb: Do call me whenever you need me, it’s better to learn about some issues in advance before making mistakes you might regret… Student: Thank you very much, Mr Robb. You’ve been very helpful.
08_IELTS Listening test 2, part 4 - Free practice
Welcome to this information board. This is a national charity community aimed at helping people who suffer from severe anxiety and social phobic disorders. We all know that feelings of anxiety are a part of our everyday life. Most of us feel uneasy about snakes, or mice. But for phobics it´s not just a question of disliking something: their fear has grown into such a distress that it affects their normal behaviour. They may have serious symptoms of pain, dizziness and nausea; feel they are short of breath or have shaking limbs. This fear may be triggered by the mere sight of animals, people or things, like insects, dentists or utensils. Freud was the first to attempt a systematic description of the development of phobic behaviour. The onset of social phobias generally takes place during adolescence when social awareness and interaction are evolving. Cultural influences also play a role, as well as genetic factors. In fact, parents of social phobics are more likely to develop major depression. Family difficulties, conflicts, frequent family moves, physical and sexual abuse in childhood are all factors generating phobias. Socio-cultural variations in social phobia are beginning to emerge and receive more attention. Findings suggest that there are similarities in the expression of social phobia across cultures. Phobic conditions are frequently manifested by a reluctance to interact, usually from childhood. Recent studies have proved that there are physiological factors such as conditioned fear responses produced by a disorder in the neural circuitry centred on the 'amygdala'. The amygdala may function as a protective 'brake' during evaluation of a potential threat, and it has been suggested that social anxiety may involve a de-regulation or hyperactivity of the amygdala evaluative process. Family studies have shown high rates of social phobia in offspring, or other close relatives of sufferers of social phobia. This suggests that social phobia is somehow familial and possibly specific in its transmission. There are also parenting and family environmental factors. Obsessive controlling and over-protectiveness can play a role in causing phobic conditions while, parental modelling or avoidant responses and restricted exposure to social situations have an effect on the development of social phobic “parent/child” reinforcement of each other’s anxiety. Compulsive washing is a phobia-like condition and so is agoraphobia, the fear of being in public places where there are many other people. Treatments are complicated and phobics get limited help from the medical establishment. However, there are self-help groups, like “Phobics Together”, in which sufferers learn to ease their anxiety and thus reduce symptoms by sharing experiences following special training programmes implemented by psychiatrists and psychologists working together. If you would like to discuss any kind of phobic condition you can find details of local events and confidential counselling via the website at www.phobicstogether.org.
09_IELTS Listening test 3, part 1 - Free practice We have arrived at the city of Arkeba, in the western part of the country. This is your free day in our excursion, but if you follow the instructions on the map I’ve just given out you’ll be able to sightsee the city on your own during the day. I’ll pick you up at this spot again in 6 hours, that is, at 6 pm. Please, try to be punctual, as we need to head off to Susdain to spend the night there. And remember we’ll have dinner together on the way. Now take a look at the map, I’ll give you a short description of the most important places that you shouldn’t miss… Ready? In the centre of the city is the National Congress, from where Independence Avenue goes, straight to the Railway Station, at the northernmost point of the city. West of the National Congress is St Paul’s Park, rectangular in shape, and extending almost to the limits of St James’s Circus, a circular area where you’ll find colourful antique shops and cafes. St James’s Circus is overlooked by a row of modern buildings belonging to the Army, running alongside it on the East. From the National Congress, a straight narrow road branches off to the left. It reaches the Modern Art Museum, just inside the city boundary. The Modern Art Museum presents a most extensive display of works of art, from Architecture and Design, Prints and Illustrated Books, to Film and Media. As additional information, it’s good to know that a range of hills surrounds the coast in the broadest part of the country in a rough semicircle about 30 km away from the sea, which becomes an exclusive ski resort in winter. The hills continue eastwards along the middle of the narrower part of the country, where beaches provide tourists with recreational centres in summer. It is a marvelous capital city and it’s renowned for its gastronomy based on seafood. It's also of historic interest because of the role the city played in the revolution. Does anybody play golf? Golf courses are one of the most traditional games in the country, and there are several good courses around the city. You don't have time to visit the surrounding vineyards but if you happen to have the chance…., I’d rather you tried its wine, you’ll never forget it… Anyway…, whether you come to Arkeba in winter or in summer…, you’ll always find somewhere to enjoy and relax… Have fun, and be back on time!