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Lesson
Listening Part 3: Feedback on a research proposal
A tutor gives a student feedback on his dissertation plan. Practise following advice, reasons and changes of plan, with multiple choice and note completion.
Tutor–student conversations
In this kind of Part 3 recording, the tutor usually criticises part of the plan and suggests something better. The questions test whether you can tell the original idea from the final decision.
Phrases that signal a suggestion
- Have you thought about…? / You might want to…
- I'd be careful about… / The risk with that is…
- What I'd suggest is… / It might be better to…
Note completion in Part 3
The notes summarise the outcome of the discussion, so you write the decision, not the first idea.
Student: "I was going to use an online questionnaire." Tutor: "With people over seventy, interviews might work better." Student: "Interviews it is, then."
Notes: Method: ___ → interviews
Notes: Method: ___ → interviews
Practise freely
Listening
Tutorial: smartphones and older adults
Sam, a sociology student, is discussing his dissertation proposal with his tutor, Dr Hughes.
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Answer the questions while you listen. In the real test you hear the recording once.
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Show the transcript (try the questions first)
Dr Hughes: Come in, Sam. I've read your proposal. It's a really interesting topic: how older people use smartphones.
Sam: Thanks. I got the idea from watching my grandmother. She uses her phone for video calls, but nothing else.
Dr Hughes: That's a good starting point. My main concern is that your research question is too broad. 'Older people' could mean anyone from fifty to a hundred.
Sam: So I should choose a narrower age group?
Dr Hughes: Yes. I'd suggest focusing on people over seventy. That group is the least studied, and you'll have more to say.
Sam: Over seventy. OK. And what about the place? I wrote "the UK".
Dr Hughes: Again, I'd narrow it. Stick to one town. Your own town would make it much easier to find people.
Sam: That makes sense. I was planning to use an online questionnaire to reach as many people as possible.
Dr Hughes: The risk with that is obvious, isn't it? People who rarely go online won't see it. You'd only hear from the confident users.
Sam: Ah. So, interviews instead?
Dr Hughes: I think so. Face-to-face interviews, and not too many. Twelve to fifteen would be realistic for a dissertation of this length, and each one should take about thirty minutes.
Sam: How would I find the people?
Dr Hughes: Community centres are usually helpful. Many run computer clubs for older residents. But remember, you need ethical approval before you speak to anyone.
Sam: When's the deadline for the ethics form?
Dr Hughes: The committee meets on the third of every month, and forms must be in a week before. So for next month, the twenty-sixth of this month.
Sam: The twenty-sixth. I'll get it done this week.
Dr Hughes: Good. Send me a new version of the proposal with these changes, and we'll meet again in two weeks.
Questions 1–4
Choose the correct answer, A, B or C.
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What is Dr Hughes's main criticism of the proposal?
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Why does she recommend studying people over seventy?
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What is the problem with an online questionnaire?
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Where does Dr Hughes suggest finding participants?
Questions 5–8
Complete the notes. Write ONE WORD AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer.
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Location: one only
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Method: face-to-face
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Length of each interview: about minutes
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Ethics form deadline: of this month
More listening practice
Practice test
Cambridge IELTS Listening tests (Books 10–21)
PDF worksheet