IELTS Listening Practice Test 3: Part 1

Narrator: Part 1. You will hear a man phoning a sports and leisure centre to ask about becoming a member.

Narrator: First, you have some time to look at questions 1 to 6.

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

Narrator: Now listen carefully and answer questions 1 to 6.

Receptionist (Gemma): Good morning, Westgate Sports and Leisure Centre, Gemma speaking. How can I help you?

Caller (Martin Fenwick): Oh, hi. I've just moved to the area, and I'm thinking of joining the centre. Could you tell me how the membership works?

Receptionist (Gemma): Of course. I'll take a few details as we go along and email you a summary at the end. First, is there anything in particular you're interested in? We've got a gym, a pool and a wide range of classes.

Caller (Martin Fenwick): Well, I'll probably use the gym now and then, but really it's the swimming I'm after. I swam for a club back home in Boston, and I've missed it since I moved over here.

Receptionist (Gemma): Lovely. You'll like our pool, then. Right, can I take your name?

Caller (Martin Fenwick): Sure. It's Martin Fenwick.

Receptionist (Gemma): Is that F-E-N-N-I-C-K?

Caller (Martin Fenwick): Not quite. There's a W in the middle. It's F-E-N-W-I-C-K.

Receptionist (Gemma): Sorry about that. And what's your address, Martin?

Caller (Martin Fenwick): Er, I'm still getting used to it. For the first few weeks I was staying with my sister on Beech Road, but I've got my own place now. It's nineteen Chestnut Road.

Receptionist (Gemma): Chestnut Road. That's just behind the park, isn't it?

Caller (Martin Fenwick): That's right.

Receptionist (Gemma): Great. Now, we offer three main types of membership. There's standard membership, which lets you use everything at any time. Then there's swim-only membership, which, as the name suggests, just covers the pool. And then there's off-peak membership. That covers all the facilities, including most of the classes, but only on weekdays before five o'clock.

Caller (Martin Fenwick): Hmm. I suppose swim-only would be the obvious choice for me, but I'd like to try some of the classes too. And I work from home, so I can come in during the day. I think the off-peak option would suit me best.

Receptionist (Gemma): Just remember that it doesn't cover weekends at all, so on a Saturday you'd have to pay the visitor price.

Caller (Martin Fenwick): That's fine. So how much is it?

Receptionist (Gemma): Standard membership is forty-five pounds a month, and off-peak is twenty-eight. There's normally a joining fee of fifteen pounds on top of that, but we're not charging it to anyone who signs up before the end of September.

Caller (Martin Fenwick): So just the twenty-eight a month, then. That's very reasonable.

Receptionist (Gemma): It is. Now, before you can use the gym or go to any classes, you'll need to come in for an induction. One of our instructors shows you how all the equipment works and asks a few questions about your health. Inductions are always on a Tuesday morning.

Caller (Martin Fenwick): OK. Is there one this coming Tuesday?

Receptionist (Gemma): Let me have a look. That's Tuesday the ninth of September. No, I'm afraid that one's fully booked. The next one is the sixteenth. Would that be all right?

Caller (Martin Fenwick): Yes, that's fine. Do I need to bring anything with me?

Receptionist (Gemma): Just some sports clothes and trainers. Oh, and a passport-sized photo, so that we can make your membership card. We used to ask new members for proof of address as well, but we stopped doing that last year.

Caller (Martin Fenwick): Right, a photo. I'm sure I've got a spare one somewhere.

Narrator: Before you hear the rest of the conversation, you have some time to look at questions 7 to 10.

Narrator: Now listen and answer questions 7 to 10.

Receptionist (Gemma): Now, you mentioned the classes. Most of them are included in the membership, and quite a few run during off-peak hours. Shall I tell you about the ones you'd be able to go to?

Caller (Martin Fenwick): Yes, please. That would be really helpful.

Receptionist (Gemma): Well, as you're a swimmer, the first one you'll want to know about is swimming technique. That's on Tuesday mornings, straight after the inductions, and it's run by our head coach. It's very popular, because the groups are kept small. We used to take up to ten people at a time, but the coach found she couldn't give everyone enough attention, so now it's a maximum of six.

Caller (Martin Fenwick): Six. That sounds ideal. I could do with someone looking at my turns.

Receptionist (Gemma): Then there's indoor cycling. There's a class on Monday evenings, but that starts at half past six, so it wouldn't be included in your membership. For you, it would be the one on Wednesday. That runs at lunchtime, from half past twelve until quarter past one.

Caller (Martin Fenwick): Wednesday lunchtime. And do I need to book for that?

Receptionist (Gemma): You do. All our classes have to be booked online, at least a day in advance. Then on Thursday mornings there's Pilates.

Caller (Martin Fenwick): Oh, my physiotherapist actually suggested I try Pilates, because I've had a bit of trouble with my back. Do I need any special equipment?

Receptionist (Gemma): Not really. Just wear something comfortable. You won't need to bring a towel, because we provide those. But we do ask people to bring their own mat. We've got a few spare ones, but they're getting quite old, and to be honest, most people prefer to use their own.

Caller (Martin Fenwick): Fine. I've got one somewhere, I think.

Receptionist (Gemma): And the last one I'd recommend is on Friday mornings. It's called Box Fit, and it's a mixture of boxing and general fitness training. That's one of the few classes that isn't included in the membership, I'm afraid, because we bring in an instructor from outside. Visitors pay five pounds a session, but members only pay three.

Caller (Martin Fenwick): Three pounds. That's not bad at all.

Receptionist (Gemma): So, shall I email you all of this, along with a membership form?

Caller (Martin Fenwick): Yes, please. That would be great. Thanks so much for your help, Gemma.

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