IELTS LISTENING – Project on Housing S44T3

Professor: Don’t worry. I think that you have made a good choice. Yes, a comparison of the factors influencing housing prices. Very topical!

Klara: Definitely! There seems to be something about housing prices in the Q₂₂ newspapers every day. I just wanted to compare the different factors – you know, location, the proximity of facilities such as Q₂₃ schools.

Professor: As I said, a good choice of topic. Now, the first part is very well done. You clearly introduce what you are going to look at, why, and how.

Klara: Do you think that I have covered enough points there?

Professor: I think so. Did you have anything else in mind – you know, something else you’d like to cover?

Klara: Well, a friend suggested that I might include Q₂₄ crime rates.

Professor: Actually, that’s a very good idea. You might consider it. It is something that many people take into account consciously or otherwise when choosing a place to live. Nowadays the police are required to keep quite detailed statistics on crime and you can get them fairly easily. I mean, it’s easy enough to ask for them, but it might take a while for the police to get them to you.

Klara: OK. I’ll make a note of that – contact Q₂₅ police for crime statistics.

Professor: Now, I have to say that I found the middle part more difficult to get through.

Klara: Oh! I thought I had done that rather well.

Professor: Don’t worry – it’s not awful. It’s just that… well, try to take a Q₂₆ uniform approach. Use one for each criterion people use when choosing housing. That way, you’re comparing like with like, rather than different things.

Klara: Ah, I see. So, I should stick with one as far as possible. Yes, that does seem logical. So, I don’t really need to get more data or write much more? Instead, I need to change … I’ve got it.

Professor: It just makes it a lot easier to read – that’s the main thing.

Klara: Yes, of course. How about the conclusion?

Professor: Based on the information you’ve provided, I think that you’ve done very well. You’ll have to see if the new information you include changes your conclusion at all. It probably won’t make a big difference, but you might see variations in some areas.

Klara: OK. Do you think that I used appropriate headings? And is the bibliography OK? I know that a lot of professors look long and hard at that, whilst most students think it’s unimportant.

Professor: Yes, professors find the bibliography very useful – it tells us where you are getting your information from and whether those sources are appropriate. Your bibliography is fine, but you might consider Q₂₇ changing the format. Here’s a printout of the most widely accepted format. You can keep that.

Klara: Thank you. And the headings?

Professor: I made a few notes. Here are some suggestions. Don’t feel that you have to use them – I won’t be offended! But some of your headings are long-winded whereas others are relatively Q₂₈ short – as they should be.

Klara: Thank you. I’ll take a look at these later.

Professor: How long did you work on the whole thing?

Klara: Well, two months. Perhaps an average of three hours a day – not more than that. Probably, oh, 150 hours.

Professor: That’s about what I would recommend. Anything less than 120 hours is going to be detrimental to the project. You’ll probably need another 50 hours work on it in total, you’ve still got Q₂₉ a month, so you should manage it easily.

Klara: Yes, a couple of hours a day. Easy!

Professor: I’d suggest that you come back to see me in … oh, about, let’s say, three weeks’ time? Then you should be virtually finished and I can have another look before you do your final Q₃₀ proofreading before handing it in.

Klara: OK. I’ll see you after one of the seminars to make an appointment. Is that OK?

Professor: Certainly. Thanks, Klara.

Klara: Thank you, professor

Attempt full listening test…