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IELTS Listening · Lesson 3 of 13

Note completion

Use the headings and the words around each gap to predict the answer, then follow the speaker from heading to heading.

  • 40–50 minutes
  • Level B1+
  • 5 exercises

In this lesson you will

  • use headings and prompt words to predict the missing information
  • use the examples on the page to see how to write each answer
  • follow a speaker from heading to heading by listening for paraphrases
  • complete notes about a talk (Part 2)

The question type

What is note completion?

You complete a set of notes that summarise part or all of a recording. The notes are organised under headings, and the layout shows how the ideas relate to each other. The answers follow the order of the recording.

Step 1

Predict before you listen

Exercise 1

Look at the notes

Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS for each answer. What type of word or information is missing?

Farmers' Festival

Days heldFriday evening · Saturday all day · Sunday 1 ______
Types of eventsFunfair for children · Amateur 2 ______ exhibitions · Pumpkin 3 ______
VenuesPlaying field · 4 ______ pitches · Town Hall
Duties includeChecking tickets · Setting up tables · 5 ______ disposal
1 Sunday ______
2 Amateur ______ exhibitions
3 Pumpkin ______
4 ______ pitches
5 ______ disposal
Exercise 2

Check your predictions

Your partner has a different version of the same notes. Use their notes to complete yours.

Partner's notes: Days held: Friday evening · Saturday ______ · Sunday afternoon. Types of events: Funfair for ______ · Amateur gardener exhibitions · ______ carving. Venues: Playing field · Football pitches · ______ Hall. Duties include: Checking ______ · Setting up tables · Waste disposal.

  1. Sunday
  2. Amateur exhibitions
  3. Pumpkin
  4. pitches
  5. disposal
Exercise 3

Follow the headings

The speaker won't say the headings exactly. Which heading is each extract introducing?

“So, to give you some idea of what's on, and to help you choose from the many possibilities, we've made a selection of the main attractions…”
“We're expecting to see something in the region of a thousand visitors over the course of the weekend…”
“Responsibilities for volunteer staff include…”
“The local Council has kindly offered us many locations for free…”

Step 2

Listening practice

Recording · Part 2 · radio programme

Focus on the Arts

You will hear a local radio presenter talking about the National Arts Centre.

Official sample recording. You can also use the computer voice below.

Transcript (check it after you answer)

PresenterHello, and welcome to Focus on the Arts. I'm your host, Dave Green, and this is your very own local radio programme. Every Friday evening we put the spotlight on different arts and culture facilities, and look at the shows and events that are on offer in the coming weeks.

PresenterAnd today the focus is on the National Arts Centre. Now, if you don't already know it yourself, I'm sure you've all heard of it. It's famous throughout the world as one of the major venues for classical music.

PresenterBut did you know that it is actually much more than just a place to hear concerts? The Centre itself is a huge complex that caters for a great range of arts. Under a single roof it houses concert rooms, theatres, cinemas, art galleries and a wonderful public library, as well as service facilities including three restaurants and a bookshop. So at any one time, the choice of entertainment there is simply enormous.

PresenterSo, how did they manage to build such a big arts complex right in the heart of the city? Well, the area was completely destroyed by bombs during the war in 1940. So the opportunity was taken to create a cultural centre that would be what they called the City's gift to the Nation. Of course, it took a while for such a big project to get started, but it was planned in the 60s, built in the 70s, and eventually opened to the public in 1983.

PresenterEver since then it has proved to be a great success. It is not privately owned, like many arts centres, but is still in public hands: it's run by the City Council. Both our National Symphony Orchestra and National Theatre Company were involved in the planning of the project, and they are now based there, giving regular performances every week. And as the Centre is open 363 days of the year, there are plenty of performances to choose from.

PresenterSo, to give you some idea of what's on, and to help you choose from the many possibilities, we've made a selection of the star attractions.

PresenterIf you're interested in classical music, then we recommend you go along to the National on either Monday or Tuesday evening at 7.30 for a spectacular production of The Magic Flute, probably the most popular of all Mozart's operas. It's in the Garden Hall, and tickets start at only 8 pounds, but you'll have to be early if you want to get them that cheap! And remember, it's only on for those two evenings.

PresenterFor those more interested in the cinema, you might like to see the new Canadian film which is showing on Wednesday evening at 8 p.m. in Cinema 2. It's called Three Lives. It's had fantastic reviews, and tickets cost just 4 pounds 50, which is a reduction on the usual price of 5 pounds 50. So it's really good value, especially for such a great movie.

PresenterBut you can see the centre's main attraction at the weekend, because on Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., they're showing a wonderful new exhibition that hasn't been seen anywhere else in Europe yet. It's a collection of Chinese art called Faces of China. That's in Gallery 1, and it has some really fascinating paintings and sculptures by leading artists from all over China. And the good news is that it is completely free, so don't miss it!

PresenterSo why not go along to the National Arts Centre next week for one, or all, of these great events? Next week we'll be looking at the Museum of Science ...

Exercise 4

Questions 11–16

Complete the notes below. Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer.

THE NATIONAL ARTS CENTRE

Well known for11
Complex consists ofconcert rooms, theatres, cinemas, art galleries, public library, restaurants, 12
Historical background1940: area destroyed by bombs
1960s: Centre was 13
In 14 opened to public
Managed by15
Open16 days per year

Strategy

A strategy for note and table completion

Exercise 5

Put the strategy in order

  1. Look closely at headings or prompt words to identify the type of information that's missing.
  2. Predict possible logical answers.
  3. Survey the questions to get an idea of the context.
  4. Look at the other examples on the page to see HOW to write the answer.
  5. Read the instructions carefully to check the number of words per gap.
  6. Look closely around the gaps to identify the part of speech that's missing.

While you listen: listen for the key words of the next heading or question, or their synonyms. They tell you when to move on. The language around the gaps may be paraphrased, but the answer itself is the exact word you hear.

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Activities adapted from British Council IELTS teaching materials (takeielts.britishcouncil.org).