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IELTS Listening Practice Test 23: Part 1

Registering with a work agency. A recent graduate phones a temporary-work agency to register for work and find out what happens next.

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Audio

You hear the recording once, as in the real test.

Questions 1–10

Complete the form below.

Write ONE WORD AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer.

Brightwell Recruitment: Registration Form

Personal details

Experience and skills

Choose the correct letter, A, B or C.

8. What does Ethan need to show the agency before he can start work?

  1. his degree certificate
  2. letters from his previous employers
  3. proof of his identity

9. How will Ethan record the hours he has worked?

  1. by using an app
  2. on a paper form signed by a manager
  3. by sending an email to the agency

10. What does Fiona advise Ethan to do before his first job?

  1. phone the manager to introduce himself
  2. travel to the workplace in advance
  3. buy some formal clothes
Show the answers and explanations
  1. RushworthThe surname is spelled letter by letter: R-U-S-H-W-O-R-T-H.
  2. GeographyTrap: he started on a geology course, but he switched after the first term, so his degree is in Geography.
  3. 8 / 8th / eighthTrap: the fourth of July is his graduation ceremony, and his parents stay for a few days after it, so he can start on the eighth.
  4. receptionistTrap: he started as a waiter, but for the last two years (his most recent job) he was a receptionist.
  5. 55 / fifty-fiveTrap: forty-five was his first attempt. On the second test he got fifty-five.
  6. SpanishTrap: he learned French at school but has forgotten most of it. He is fluent in Spanish because his mother is from Chile.
  7. Wednesday / WednesdaysTrap: his Tuesday afternoon course ends in June, before he starts work. He is busy on Wednesday afternoons at the youth club.
  8. CThe agency must see his original passport. It never needs to see degree certificates (A), and it contacts old employers itself for references, so he does not need letters (B).
  9. APaper forms were used until last year (B), and Fiona asks him not to email his hours because they get lost (C). Everything now goes through the app.
  10. BShe suggests making the journey a day or two before, at the same time of day. Managers are too busy for calls (A), and he should not buy a suit because the agency will tell him the dress code (C).
Show the transcript

Narrator: Part 1. You will hear a recent graduate phoning a temporary-work agency to register for work.

Narrator: First, you have some time to look at questions 1 to 7.

Narrator: You will see that there is an example that has been done for you.

Narrator: Now listen carefully and answer questions 1 to 7.

Recruitment consultant (Fiona): Good morning, Brightwell Recruitment, Fiona speaking. How can I help?

Caller (Ethan): Oh, hi. I saw on your website that I can register with you over the phone. I've just finished university, and I'm looking for some work over the next few months.

Recruitment consultant (Fiona): Yes, of course, we can do that now. It only takes about ten minutes. First of all, are you looking for something permanent, or for temporary work?

Caller (Ethan): Temporary, for now. I'm hoping to start a master's degree next year, so I don't want to commit to anything long-term.

Recruitment consultant (Fiona): That's fine. Most of the people on our books are temps. Can I take your name?

Caller (Ethan): Sure. It's Ethan Rushworth.

Recruitment consultant (Fiona): And how do you spell your surname, Ethan?

Caller (Ethan): It's R-U-S-H-W-O-R-T-H.

Recruitment consultant (Fiona): Thank you. And you said you've just graduated. What did you study?

Caller (Ethan): Geography. Well, I actually started out on a geology course, but I switched after the first term. I found I was more interested in people than in rocks.

Recruitment consultant (Fiona): Geography, then. Lovely. And when would you be able to start work?

Caller (Ethan): More or less straight away. Oh, except that my graduation ceremony is on the fourth of July, and my parents are coming to stay for a few days after that. So could we say from the eighth?

Recruitment consultant (Fiona): The eighth of July. No problem at all. Now, have you done any paid work before?

Caller (Ethan): Yes, I worked at a hotel in town all the way through university. I started off as a waiter in the restaurant, but for the last two years I was a receptionist, so I was dealing with bookings and complaints, that kind of thing.

Recruitment consultant (Fiona): That's really useful, actually. A lot of our clients want people who are confident with the public. What about computer skills? Do you know your typing speed?

Caller (Ethan): Er, yes, I did one of those online tests last week. The first time I only managed about forty-five words a minute, but I tried again and got fifty-five.

Recruitment consultant (Fiona): That's good. I'll put that down. And do you speak any other languages?

Caller (Ethan): Well, I did French at school, but I've forgotten most of it, to be honest. My mother's from Chile, though, so I grew up speaking Spanish at home. I'm completely fluent in that.

Recruitment consultant (Fiona): Oh, that could be really handy. We often get requests for Spanish speakers. Last thing for the form: are there any times when you're not available?

Caller (Ethan): Let me think. On Tuesday afternoons I'm doing a coaching course at the sports centre, but that finishes at the end of June, so it won't be a problem. The only thing is that I help out at a youth club on Wednesday afternoons, and I'd really like to keep doing that.

Recruitment consultant (Fiona): Of course. I'll make a note of it.

Narrator: Before you hear the rest of the conversation, you have some time to look at questions 8 to 10.

Narrator: Now listen and answer questions 8 to 10.

Recruitment consultant (Fiona): Right, Ethan, that's the form done. Now, before we can send you to any of our clients, you'll need to come into the office with some documents.

Caller (Ethan): OK. Will you want to see my degree certificate? Because I haven't actually received it yet.

Recruitment consultant (Fiona): No, don't worry about that. Clients sometimes ask whether people have a degree, but we never need to see the certificate itself. And you don't need to get letters from your old employers, either. We contact them ourselves for references. What we do have to see, by law, is your passport. The original, I'm afraid, not a photocopy.

Caller (Ethan): That's fine. I could bring it in tomorrow morning.

Recruitment consultant (Fiona): Perfect. Then there's the question of timesheets. Until last year, everyone filled in a paper form every week and got their manager to sign it, which caused all sorts of problems.

Caller (Ethan): I can imagine. Things must have got lost all the time.

Recruitment consultant (Fiona): Exactly. So now it's all done through our app. You put in your hours at the end of each week, and the manager approves them on there. Please don't send them to us by email, though, because they just get lost in our inbox.

Caller (Ethan): OK, so everything goes through the app. And is there anything you'd advise me to do before my first job?

Recruitment consultant (Fiona): Well, some people think they ought to phone the manager beforehand to introduce themselves, but honestly, managers are very busy, and we give them all your details anyway. And please don't rush out and buy a suit. We'll always tell you what the dress code is, and most places are fairly casual these days. My main piece of advice is to do the journey once, a day or two before you start, at the same time of day. Then you'll know exactly how long it takes to get there.

Caller (Ethan): That makes sense. I'd hate to be late on my first day.

Recruitment consultant (Fiona): Exactly. Right, I'll email you to confirm everything, and we'll see you tomorrow with your passport.

Caller (Ethan): Great. Thanks very much for your help, Fiona.

Narrator: That is the end of Part 1. You now have half a minute to check your answers to Part 1.

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