Lesson 6 · Lesson guide
Listening Part 1: Traps — Corrections and Distractors
Hello, my dear student!
Hello! Listening Part 1 looks easy: a phone call, a form, some names and numbers. Yet many band 6 students lose two or three marks here, and almost always for the same reason. They write the first answer they hear.
IELTS recordings are designed with traps. A speaker says “Tuesday”, then corrects it to “Thursday”. A customer considers the hotel, but it is full, so they book a guesthouse. A price is forty pounds, “but students get ten per cent off”. The first word you hear is often the distractor; the real answer comes after words like actually, sorry, no wait, but, so, in that case.
Today you will train your ear for these signals, practise numbers and spellings that change, and finish with full Part 1 forms, notes and tables, exactly as in the exam.
See you in the exercises,Your teacher
Your browser has no English voice, so the listen buttons are hidden. Everything is written on the page.
Three kinds of trap
Almost every Part 1 recording uses at least one of these. Expect them.
Trap 1
The correction
The speaker says one thing and then changes it: “It’s on the 13th — sorry, the 30th.”
- Actually, …
- Sorry, I mean …
- No, wait, …
- Oh, that’s my old number. The new one is …
Trap 2
The rejected option
Two or three options are mentioned, but only one is chosen: “The hotel was full, so we booked a guesthouse.”
- …, but it’s too expensive, so …
- Most people choose …, but I’ll …
- In that case, …
Trap 3
The changed number
A number is adjusted: a discount, a cancellation, a later time. Write the final figure.
- It’s £90, but students get a third off.
- Twelve people booked, but two cancelled.
Remember!
Never write the first thing you hear. Wait for the end of the sentence, then write.
Signal words
Tap to hear them. When you hear one, the answer is about to change.
Actually, it’s Thursday.
Sorry, I mean the thirtieth.
No, wait, that’s wrong.
That was full, so we chose the other one.
In that case, I’ll take the smaller room.
It used to be on Monday, but now it’s on Friday.
Marks students lose
Not: I heard “Tuesday” and wrote it at once.Say: I waited: “Tuesday — sorry, Thursday.” I wrote Thursday.
The first answer is often the distractor.
Not: Price: £40 (but students get £5 off).Say: Price: £35.
Write the final number for the person in the question.
Not: Surname: Rod (the speaker said R-O-double D).Say: Surname: Rodd.
Spelling counts. “Double D” = DD.
A recording with two traps
- Receptionist
When would you like to start the course?
- Caller
The Monday evening group, if possible. Oh, that one’s full? In that case, Wednesday.
- Receptionist
And the fee is £120, but you said you’re a student, so it’s £100.
- Caller
Great. And my phone number is 07700 900 461. Sorry, 462 at the end.
Answers: Wednesday (Monday rejected), £100 (after the discount), 07700 900 462 (corrected).
Check yourself
“The flight is at nine fifteen. No, wait, that’s the old ticket. It’s nine fifty.” Answer?
“We wanted the beach hotel, but it was too expensive, so we chose the one in town.” Where are they staying?
Now it’s your turn!
8 short parts, each a little harder than the one before. Take your time: mistakes are how we learn.
— Your teacher