Answers and Discussion
Look at the discussion of the points raised by the Part 4 task. What would you recommend to your students as the most efficient strategies for dealing with this task?
- What did you do in the pause before listening to the text?
You should read through the instructions and options for both tasks before listening to the text. You will have to train students to read questions carefully and quickly.
- How did you use the task to help you with the answers?
The general instructions for the multiple matching task will give you the topic which links the five speakers, (in the sample paper this is the book the people bought). The instructions for tasks one and two give you the focus for each task. Five of the options in each task reflect the view of the five speakers and one does not. Candidates need to skim-read all the options and try to focus on the key ideas. This will help them anticipate what they need to listen for.
- What was the focus of the questions?
The first task focuses on each person’s reason for buying the book, whereas the second focusses on the outcome of buying the book. Remember that this task tests gist listening skills, so the answer may come from understanding the speaker’s whole message rather than a specific line of text or vocabulary item. Often good students know which is the correct option, even though they cannot remember the actual words spoken.
- How did you decide which option was the correct answer?
The correct answer paraphrases or summarises the ideas expressed by one of the speakers, e.g. the answer to Question 22 is Option B ‘to help prepare documents for a takeover', which reflects the information in the text, e.g. 'we were working towards the acquisition of one of our competitors, and putting together the relevant papers.'
- What did you do if you couldn't answer a question?
In Part 4 you will hear all of the five speakers once through, followed by a pause, before hearing them all again. If you can't answer a question in either task the first time, read the options through again in the pause, then when you hear the speaker for a second time, try to answer both tasks for that speaker. If you are still unsure, remember to put something in the box - you will not lose marks for an incorrect answer.
- What did you do after the first listening?
You should check all your answers, and then look again at any questions which you found difficult. Checking is a very important exam skill.
- What did you do during the second listening?
You should confirm all your answers and complete any questions that you didn't answer during the first listening.