Listening Part 4-Useful strategy: following the speaker-Gemini

 When completing notes (or a table, flow-chart, form, etc.) it is important to listen for signposting language  that shows you how the text is organised. This helps you follow the speaker and locate each answer. 

Here are three common types of signposting language:

A. Moving to the next stage of a lecture

B. Giving an example

C. Substitution words referring to something already mentioned

Mark each one A,B, or C , you can use more than one letter

1. Then, there's also the issue of ......
2. It didn't happen then because....
3. By way of illustration.....
4. The reason of this was.....
5. In terns of the results, the researchers found that....
6. The first one concerns....
7. This can be exemplified by the fact that....
8. She had some difficulties there, however, because...
9. He achieved some notable successes. such as....
10. The next thing I want to consider is ...
11. One the stood out of me was.....
12. Another aspect worth noting is .....
13. The research attracted some criticism as well, including....
14. That experiment was a success
15. Now I'd like to discuss some reasons why.......

Answer Key & Band 7 Example Sentences

1. Then, there's also the issue of... (Answer: A)

Function: Moving to a new point/stage. Sentence: "We have discussed the economic benefits; then, there’s also the issue of environmental sustainability which we must not overlook."

2. It didn't happen then because... (Answer: C)

Function: Substitution (referencing a specific time or event mentioned previously). Sentence: "Although the market crashed in 2008, a recession was avoided in 1999; it didn’t happen then because strict regulatory measures were in place."

3. By way of illustration... (Answer: B)

Function: Giving an example. Sentence: "Many animals have adapted to urban environments; by way of illustration, red foxes are now commonly sighted in central London."

4. The reason for this was... (Answer: C)

Function: Substitution (referencing a situation mentioned previously). Sentence: "The experiment failed to produce the expected heat reaction, and the reason for this was a contamination of the chemical samples."

5. In terms of the results, the researchers found that... (Answer: A)

Function: Moving to the next stage (the findings). Sentence: "In terms of the results, the researchers found that participants who slept fewer than six hours performed significantly worse on cognitive tests."

6. The first one concerns... (Answer: A)

Function: Moving to a stage (Structuring/Ordering). Sentence: "There are two main theories regarding this phenomenon; the first one concerns the role of genetic inheritance in behavioral traits."

7. This can be exemplified by the fact that... (Answer: B & C)

Function: Giving an example (Primary) & Substitution (Secondary - 'This'). Sentence: "Global warming is altering weather patterns, and this can be exemplified by the fact that we are witnessing more frequent and intense hurricanes."

8. She had some difficulties there, however, because... (Answer: C)

Function: Substitution (referencing a place or situation). Sentence: "She attempted to introduce the new curriculum in rural schools, but she had some difficulties there, however, because of a lack of digital infrastructure."

9. He achieved some notable successes, such as... (Answer: B)

Function: Giving an example. Sentence: "Throughout his medical career, he achieved some notable successes, such as the development of a low-cost vaccine for malaria."

10. The next thing I want to consider is... (Answer: A)

Function: Moving to the next stage. Sentence: "Having looked at the causes of the conflict, the next thing I want to consider is the long-term impact on the local population."

11. One that stood out to me was... (Answer: C)

Function: Substitution (referencing a specific item from a group). Sentence: "Among all the architectural designs submitted for the new museum, one that stood out to me was the proposal utilizing entirely recycled materials."

12. Another aspect worth noting is... (Answer: A)

Function: Moving to the next stage/point. Sentence: "While cost is a major factor, another aspect worth noting is the durability of the materials used in construction."

13. The research attracted some criticism as well, including... (Answer: B)

Function: Giving an example. Sentence: "Despite its breakthrough findings, the research attracted some criticism as well, including concerns regarding the small sample size used in the trials."

14. That experiment was a success (Answer: C)

Function: Substitution (referencing a specific previous experiment). Sentence: "Although the initial trials failed, the team adjusted the variables and that experiment was a success, proving the hypothesis was viable."

15. Now I'd like to discuss some reasons why... (Answer: A)

Function: Moving to the next stage. Sentence: "We have covered the history of the invention; now I’d like to discuss some reasons why it became obsolete so quickly in the 21st century."

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Summary of Signposting

• Type A (Structuring): These act like road signs (First, Next, Then). They tell you where the lecture is going.

• Type B (Illustrating): These signal that a detail is coming (Such as, Including, By way of illustration).

• Type C (Referencing): These are vital for cohesion. They prevent repetition by using words like this, that, it, one, there, then to point backward to something already said.

Would you like to try a practice exercise where I give you a paragraph with missing signposting words, and you have to fill them in?

Here is a practice exercise designed to test your ability to identify and use signposting language in an IELTS context.

Practice Exercise: The Impact of Remote Work

Topic: Urban Planning Instructions: Read the paragraph below. Fill in the blanks (1-5) using the correct phrase from the Word Bank. Pay attention to whether the missing phrase is moving the topic forward (A), giving an example (B), or referring back to something (C).

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The Paragraph

"Today we are looking at how the rise of remote work is reshaping our cities. (1) __________ is the impact on transportation infrastructure. With fewer employees commuting daily, the demand for public transit in city centers has dropped sharply. (2) __________ has forced local governments to rethink their annual budgets for subway and bus maintenance.

(3) __________, many transport authorities are now shifting funds away from inner-city lines to improve suburban connectivity instead. (4) __________ the economic effects, we can see a decline in revenue for businesses located in central business districts. Coffee shops and restaurants that relied on office workers are struggling to survive. (5) __________ is the high vacancy rate in commercial skyscrapers, which is now pushing developers to convert office space into residential apartments."

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Word Bank

• Turning now to

• One consequence of that

• The first point I’d like to cover

• This trend

• To give an example of this

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Reply with your 5 answers when you are ready, and I will check them for you!

You did a good job attempting the exercise, but there are a few mix-ups with the Type A (Structuring) and Type C (Substitution) phrases.

Here is the breakdown of your answers:

Score: 2/5 Correct

• (1) Incorrect. You wrote: "One consequence of that" → Correct: The first point I’d like to cover

• (2) Incorrect. You wrote: "The first point I’d like to cover" → Correct: This trend

• (3) Correct. (To give an example of this)

• (4) Correct. (Turning now to)

• (5) Incorrect. You wrote: "This trend" → Correct: One consequence of that

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Detailed Corrections & Explanations

1. The Logic for Blank (1)

Text: "Today we are looking at how the rise of remote work is reshaping our cities. (1) __________ is the impact on transportation infrastructure."

• Why your answer was wrong: You used "One consequence of that." While grammatically possible, standard signposting usually starts with an ordering phrase (Type A) immediately after the introduction.

• The Correct Answer: The first point I’d like to cover. This clearly signals the start of the first main section (Transportation).

2. The Logic for Blank (2)

Text: "...the demand for public transit in city centers has dropped sharply. (2) __________ has forced local governments to rethink..."

• Why your answer was wrong: You put "The first point I’d like to cover" here. This breaks the grammar because "The first point..." cannot "force local governments" to do something in this context.

• The Correct Answer: This trend. This is a Type C (Substitution) phrase. "This trend" refers back to the "drop in demand" mentioned in the previous sentence.

3. The Logic for Blank (5)

Text: "Coffee shops... are struggling to survive. (5) __________ is the high vacancy rate..."

• Why your answer was wrong: You used "This trend." It is slightly repetitive here.

• The Correct Answer: One consequence of that. "That" refers to the "economic effects" or the "struggle to survive" mentioned earlier. The high vacancy rate is a specific result of those economic struggles.

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The Corrected Paragraph

"Today we are looking at how the rise of remote work is reshaping our cities. (1) The first point I’d like to cover is the impact on transportation infrastructure. With fewer employees commuting daily, the demand for public transit in city centers has dropped sharply. (2) This trend has forced local governments to rethink their annual budgets for subway and bus maintenance.

(3) To give an example of this, many transport authorities are now shifting funds away from inner-city lines to improve suburban connectivity instead. (4) Turning now to the economic effects, we can see a decline in revenue for businesses located in central business districts. Coffee shops and restaurants that relied on office workers are struggling to survive. (5) One consequence of that is the high vacancy rate in commercial skyscrapers, which is now pushing developers to convert office space into residential apartments."

Great job with numbers 3 and 4—those were perfect uses of signposting.