Week 7 Reading and Listening tips

Reading tips Part 6

Quickly read each of the extracts and describe each one with one word, for example: supportive, critical, sceptical, undecided, etc. This will help you form a general impression of each writer.

•Now read the question stems on the next page and underline the key words and the author which the questions relate to.

•Return to the texts and find the sections related to the key words. Underline them, compare them, and choose your answers based on the evidence in the texts.

Listening tips part 3

•Quickly read the task introduction to learn the context of the recording.

•Read the question stems carefully (not the answers yet) and underline important information.  The recording will answer the questions in order, so it is important that you know when the questions are being discussed.

•Skim the answers quickly. It is unlikely you will have enough time to read them carefully.

•As you listen, identify the question you are waiting to answer and the part of the conversation that contains the information you need.

•Mark possible correct answers as you hear the recording for the first time then listen closely to the relevant sections to confirm your answers the second time.

Listening tips part 4

•Remember that there are two tasks you must complete simultaneously. All five speakers will be heard once before the recording is repeated.

•Quickly read the introduction and the headings of the columns.  Context is extremely important in this part so you must clearly understand the situation and the nature of the two tasks.  Underline the important expressions in the headings for tasks one and two.

•As you read the answers don’t focus on these words but think of synonyms and similar expressions to these. It is highly unlikely that you will hear the exact words that are written on the question sheet in the recording.

•Don’t be afraid to choose more than one possible answer as you listen to the speakers the first time.  Decide between them as you listen again.