Ielts course

Task
Look at the following extract of an IELTS Listening Section 1 question and try to make predictions about the conversation. Choose the correct answers below.
 
Harper Holiday Job Agency
Application for Temporary Work
 
Personal Details
First Name: Lily
Surname: (1) …………
Date of birth: (2)…………
 
Temporary Work Requirements
Period when work wanted: From June to (3)…………
Where work wanted: (4)………… or (5) …………


1 The two speakers

• 
  are friends.
  
• 
  are colleagues.
  
• 
  probably don’t know each other.
  

2 Lily

• 
  is employed by the agency.
  
• 
  wants a temporary job.
  
• 
  can start work in December.
  

 
You were able to answer these questions by looking at the information in the question and using your world knowledge of this type of situation (top-down processing). The order of the information on the form can also give you an indication of the structure of the conversation as the listening follows the same order as the information on the form.

Answers:

• 
  probably don’t know each other
  
• 
  wants a temporary job
  

Think about questions for the other gaps in the task. Write some possibilities in the box below.

• 
  Date of birth: (2) …………
  
• 
  Period when work wanted: From June to (3) …………
  
• 
  Where work wanted: (4) ………… or (5) …………
  

Suggested answers

2 What’s your date of birth? Can you tell me your date of birth? When were you born?
3 When do you want to work? When would you like to work?
4/5 Where would you like to work? Do you have any preferences about where to work?

We make a prediction (top-down processing) and then use what we hear (bottom-up processing) to confirm or revise our predictions.

When candidates practice Section 1 of the Listening test, they will hear the exact words they need to complete the gaps and do not need to change them in any way.