IELTS Listening Practice Test 5: Part 1

Narrator: Part 1. You will hear a woman phoning an adult education college to ask about a weekend photography course.

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.

Receptionist (Martin): Good morning, Ashcombe Adult Education College, Martin speaking. How can I help?

Caller (Joanna): Oh, hello. I'm calling about the weekend photography courses in your brochure.

Receptionist (Martin): Of course. We've got two at the moment. There's one for beginners, and one called Taking It Further, which is for people who've done some photography before. Do you know which one you'd like?

Caller (Joanna): Well, I've taken photos on my phone for years, but I've only just bought a proper camera, and I don't understand half the buttons on it. So I think it had better be the one for beginners.

Receptionist (Martin): Yes, that sounds right. Let me take a few details for an enquiry form. What's your name?

Caller (Joanna): It's Joanna Brierley.

Receptionist (Martin): Could you spell your surname for me?

Caller (Joanna): Sure. It's B-R-I-E-R-L-E-Y.

Receptionist (Martin): Thank you. And when were you hoping to do the course? We run the beginners' weekend about once a month.

Caller (Joanna): As soon as possible, really. The brochure says there's one on the eighth of May.

Receptionist (Martin): Let me just check. Ah, I'm sorry, that one's already full. The next one after that is on the twenty-second of May. That's a Saturday, and the course carries on through the Sunday.

Caller (Joanna): That's fine. I'm free that weekend.

Receptionist (Martin): Good. The classes are held in Room six. That's on the first floor of the main building, directly above the library. People sometimes go to the room above the canteen by mistake, but that's Room sixteen, so do look out for the signs.

Caller (Joanna): Above the library. Got it. And how much does the course cost?

Receptionist (Martin): The full fee is a hundred and twenty pounds for the weekend. But if you book before the end of this month, you get the early booking price, which is ninety-five pounds.

Caller (Joanna): Oh, that's good. I'll definitely book this month, then. Is there anything I need to bring?

Receptionist (Martin): Well, your camera, obviously, with the battery fully charged. And please bring the instruction manual that came with it. Every camera is slightly different, and the tutor will show you where to find the settings on your own model.

Caller (Joanna): I think that's still in the box somewhere. What about a tripod? I haven't got one.

Receptionist (Martin): Don't worry about that. The college has plenty of tripods, and we lend them out free of charge.

Caller (Joanna): That's a relief. And is lunch provided?

Receptionist (Martin): I'm afraid not, and the canteen's closed at weekends. You can bring a packed lunch, of course, but most people go to the bakery opposite the college. It does very good sandwiches, and it's open all weekend.

Caller (Joanna): Lovely. And what actually happens over the two days?

Receptionist (Martin): On Saturday, you stay in the classroom and learn the basics, like how to use light and how to hold the camera steady. Then on Sunday afternoon, the group goes out into town to practise. For years they went to the cathedral, but it's really too dark inside for beginners, so these days they go to the street market instead. There's lots of colour and movement there, so it's ideal.

Caller (Joanna): That sounds great.

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.

Receptionist (Martin): Can I ask what made you decide to do a course? We like to let the tutor know what people are hoping to get out of it.

Caller (Joanna): Well, my sister's been telling me for ages to enter a photography competition with her, but that's really not my kind of thing. And I'd like to take nicer pictures of my children, I suppose, but my phone's fine for that. No, the main reason is that I've started making jewellery, and I'm about to open a little shop on one of those websites for handmade things. At the moment my photos of the jewellery look terrible, and if the pictures aren't good, nobody's going to buy anything.

Receptionist (Martin): That makes sense. The tutor spends quite a lot of time on photographing small objects, so it should be really useful.

Caller (Joanna): Oh, good. Who is the tutor?

Receptionist (Martin): It's Neil Archer. He's been teaching here for about six years. Before that, he spent most of his career working as a photographer for a local newspaper, so he's taken pictures of just about everything, from football matches to flower shows. People often see the photos of birds and animals on our website and assume he's a wildlife photographer, but those were actually taken by his students. And he's never written a book himself, though he's always recommending other people's.

Caller (Joanna): He sounds ideal. So, can I book now, over the phone?

Receptionist (Martin): Normally, yes, but our card machine isn't working this week, so I can't take payments by phone at the moment. And you'd usually be able to book on the college website, but that's being updated, so it won't be working until the middle of next month, which is too late for the early booking price.

Caller (Joanna): Oh dear. Well, I work just round the corner from the college. Could I pop in during my lunch break tomorrow and pay at the front desk?

Receptionist (Martin): Yes, that's the best thing to do. I'll keep your details on the system, so it'll only take a minute.

Caller (Joanna): Perfect. Thanks so much for your help.

Receptionist (Martin): You're welcome, Joanna. See you tomorrow.

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