Question Focus: Number/spelling trap - listening carefully to a long student number
Correct Answer: 0278804
Passage Reference: What's your student number? 0278804 027. Double 804, and there should be 3 letters on the end of that.
Why this is correct: The speaker clearly gives the student number digit by digit. You hear 0278804, and that is exactly what needs to be written in the profile.
Common Mistake: Students often include the extra letters mentioned later, but those are separate from the number. This is a number/spelling trap.
Paraphrasing: Transcript: 'What's your student number? 0278804' = Form: 'Student Number'
Tips: Write numbers exactly as you hear them and ignore extra explanations.
Key Vocabulary:
- student number = ID number
Question Focus: Number/spelling trap - dates
Correct Answer: 2 May
Passage Reference: What's your date of birth, Jack? 2nd of May, 1979.
Why this is correct: The speaker asks for the date of birth and Jack answers 2nd of May, 1979. The year is already given, so only the day and month are needed.
Common Mistake: Some students write the year again or change the format incorrectly. This is a number/spelling trap.
Paraphrasing: Transcript: '2nd of May, 1979' = Form: 'Date of Birth: ___ / 1979'
Tips: Check what information is already printed so you do not repeat it.
Key Vocabulary:
Question Focus: Spelling and letter confirmation
Correct Answer: 17 Rocksford
Passage Reference: What's your new address, then? 17 Roxford Avenue, Chelmsford. Is that R-O-C-K-S-E? F-O-R-D. Yes, that's right.
Why this is correct: Jack gives his address as 17 Roxford Avenue, and then carefully spells Rocksford with a K and S. The gap already includes 'Avenue', so only 17 Rocksford is needed.
Common Mistake: Students often spell it without the K or add 'Avenue' again. This is a spelling trap.
Paraphrasing: Transcript: '17 Roxford Avenue' = Form: 'Address: ___ Avenue'
Tips: Listen carefully when speakers spell words. That is your warning sign.
Key Vocabulary:
Question Focus: Distractor trap - two different times mentioned
Correct Answer: 5pm
Passage Reference: The office is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Why this is correct: The form asks for office hours, and the speaker says the office is open until 5 p.m.. The later time refers to appointments, not office hours.
Common Mistake: Many students write 7pm because they hear it later. This is a distractor trap.
Paraphrasing: Transcript: 'open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.' = Form: 'Office Hours: 8am to ___'
Tips: Always check what the question is asking, not just the number you hear.
Key Vocabulary:
- office hours = when the office is open
Question Focus: Synonym match
Correct Answer: doorbell
Passage Reference: Just ring the doorbell and the counsellor will let you in.
Why this is correct: The speaker explains that after hours you should ring the doorbell so the counsellor can let you in.
Common Mistake: Students sometimes write 'bell' or 'phone', but those words are not used. This is a synonym trap.
Paraphrasing: Transcript: 'ring the doorbell' = Form: 'Use the ___'
Tips: Copy the exact word you hear. Do not simplify it.
Key Vocabulary:
- doorbell = bell by the door
Question Focus: Context match
Correct Answer: teacher
Passage Reference: I'm teaching French at the moment
Why this is correct: Jack says he is teaching French at the moment, so his current job is a teacher.
Common Mistake: Some students write 'French teacher', which is more than needed. This is a grammar fit issue.
Paraphrasing: Transcript: 'I'm teaching French' = Table: 'working as a ___'
Tips: Use the simplest noun that fits the sentence.
Key Vocabulary:
- teaching = working as a teacher
Question Focus: Synonym match
Correct Answer: break from
Passage Reference: which means I wouldn't be teaching. It would be nice to have a break.
Why this is correct: Jack explains that the research job means he wouldn't be teaching and it would be nice to have a break. This matches 'break from teaching'.
Common Mistake: Students write 'less teaching', but that changes the meaning. This is a paraphrase trap.
Paraphrasing: Transcript: 'wouldn't be teaching' = Table: '___ teaching'
Tips: Look for negatives like 'wouldn't'. They often explain advantages.
Key Vocabulary:
Question Focus: Synonym match
Correct Answer: summer holiday
Passage Reference: I'd still get a long summer holiday.
Why this is correct: The speaker says he would still get a long summer holiday at the university.
Common Mistake: Students sometimes write only 'holiday', which is too vague. This is a partial truth trap.
Paraphrasing: Transcript: 'still get a long summer holiday' = Table: 'would still have ___'
Tips: Include enough words to keep the meaning clear.
Key Vocabulary:
Question Focus: Synonym match
Correct Answer: by himself
Passage Reference: I'll be working by myself. I'm not really used to that.
Why this is correct: Jack says the negative is that he will be working by myself, meaning alone.
Common Mistake: Students write 'independent work', which is not said. This is a paraphrase trap.
Paraphrasing: Transcript: 'working by myself' = Table: 'working ___'
Tips: When you hear feelings or opinions, listen for exact phrases.
Key Vocabulary:
Question Focus: Synonym match
Correct Answer: pay
Passage Reference: The pay for teachers isn't very good either. In fact, I find it difficult to save any money from my salary.
Why this is correct: Jack explains that the pay is not very good and he cannot save money from his salary.
Common Mistake: Students sometimes write 'income', which is not said. This is a synonym trap.
Paraphrasing: Transcript: 'pay... salary' = Table: 'insufficient ___'
Tips: Use the exact noun you hear when talking about money.
Key Vocabulary:
General Tips:
- FIB answers follow the order of the recording. Use the previous answer to know when the next one is coming.
- Always check the word limit. Extra words automatically make the answer wrong.
- Copy the exact words you hear. Do not replace them with your own synonyms.
- Listen carefully for spelling and numbers. Speakers often slow down or repeat them.
- Pay attention to signpost words like 'but' or 'the only negative'. The answer often comes after them.