# Harry Symonds' Club Membership Application: answers and explanations

The Official Cambridge Guide to IELTS, Test 3, Listening Part 1

Source: Recording, questions and answer key from The Official Cambridge Guide to IELTS, Test 3, Listening Part 1. © Cambridge University Press & Assessment. Used for educational practice. Explanations and evidence notes are written by Testmigo.

## Answer key

| Q | Answer | Proof |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | SYMONDS | It's Symonds. |
| 2 | 1996 | 1996. |
| 3 | fulltime | It looks like I'll have to be full-time. |
| 4 | swimming | I'm also very keen on swimming |
| 5 | monthly | You can choose to pay annually for the full year or monthly. |
| 6 | jogging | Well, every few days, I go jogging. |
| 7 | bad ankle | I've realized I have a bad ankle. |
| 8 | fitness level | I suppose my main aim is to build up my fitness level. |
| 9 | charity worker | I'm a charity worker. |
| 10 | radio | And then I was listening to the radio. |

## Why these answers are right

**1. SYMONDS.** The form needs the last name. Harry gives his surname as "Symonds" and then spells it out letter by letter, S-Y-M-O-N-D-S, so the correct spelling includes the Y and the silent d.

**2. 1996.** The date of birth line already shows the day and month, so only the year is missing. After giving the eleventh of December, the woman asks "And the year?" and Harry replies 1996, which is the number to write.

**3. fulltime.** The membership type is asked for. Harry hears about off-peak and weekend options but rejects both because he is not free at those times, then concludes "I'll have to be full-time", so full-time is the type.

The why and the trap for questions 4 onwards are free with an account on the [answers page](https://testmigo.com/ielts/listening/harry-symonds-club-membership-application/answers).

## Transcript

**Announcer:** You will hear a conversation between an assistant at a health club and a man who wants to join the club.

**Announcer:** First, you have some time to look at questions 1 to 5.

**Woman:** Hi, can I help you?

**Man:** Hello, yes, um, is your club taking on new members at the moment?

**Woman:** Oh, yes.

**Woman:** We're always interested in taking on new members.

**Woman:** Just give me a moment, and I'll get an application form.

**Woman:** Right, here we are.

**Woman:** So, let's start with your name.

**Man:** It's Harry.

**Woman:** OK, and your surname?

**Man:** It's Symonds.

**Woman:** Is that like Simon with an s?

**Man:** No, um, it's SYMONDS.

**Man:** Most people find it rather difficult to spell.

**Woman:** I see.

**Woman:** It has a silent d.

**Woman:** I guess a lot of people miss that.

**Woman:** Now let me see.

**Woman:** Can you tell me when you were born?

**Man:** Yes, certainly.

**Man:** The eleventh of December.

**Woman:** Thanks.

**Woman:** And the year?

**Man:** 1996.

**Woman:** OK, good.

**Woman:** Now, are you thinking of becoming a full-time member?

**Man:** Probably not.

**Man:** What kind of memberships do you have?

**Woman:** Well, we also have off-peak membership, which is between 9 and 12 in the morning.

**Woman:** And 2 and 5 in the afternoon, and then we do have a weekend membership.

**Man:** So a weekend membership is just Saturday and Sunday.

**Woman:** Yes, that's right.

**Man:** OK, well that's not going to work for me.

**Man:** It looks like I'll have to be full-time.

**Man:** I'm afraid off-peak membership won't do.

**Man:** As I'm not free at those times, and I don't just want to be restricted to weekends.

**Woman:** OK, I'll make a note of that.

**Woman:** Right, we have several facilities at the club, including a gym, a swimming pool, tennis, and squash courts.

**Woman:** What activities are you planning on doing?

**Man:** Well, do you have badminton?

**Woman:** Yes, we do.

**Man:** And table tennis?

**Woman:** I'm afraid not.

**Woman:** Well, not at the moment, anyway.

**Man:** Oh, OK.

**Man:** Well, I'm also very keen on swimming, so I'm glad you have a pool.

**Man:** I'll certainly be doing a lot of that.

**Woman:** OK, I've got that.

**Woman:** Will you be using the gym?

**Man:** No, I'm not interested in that.

**Woman:** OK, so just let me work out what the cost will be.

**Woman:** Yes, that comes to GBP 450 for the year.

**Woman:** You can choose to pay annually for the full year or monthly.

**Woman:** It's up to you.

**Man:** Oh, I'd prefer to pay regularly in small amounts, rather than have a large amount to pay in one go, if that's OK.

**Woman:** Sure, that's fine.

**Woman:** Right, I've got the most important details for now.

**Announcer:** Before you hear the rest of the conversation, you will have some time to look at the questions 6 to 10.

**Announcer:** Now listen and answer questions 6 to 10.

**Woman:** So, I'd just like to ask you a few questions about your lifestyle, if that's OK with you.

**Man:** Yes, that's fine.

**Woman:** Um, do you do any regular exercise at the moment?

**Man:** Yes, I do a bit.

**Woman:** Good.

**Woman:** And what do you do?

**Man:** Well, every few days, I go jogging.

**Woman:** Yes, that's good.

**Woman:** How long do you go for?

**Man:** Well, it varies.

**Man:** I guess it depends on how energetic I'm feeling.

**Woman:** Yes, of course.

**Woman:** Every little bit helps.

**Woman:** Um, do you have any injuries at the moment?

**Man:** Well, I did break a bone in my foot playing football a long time ago.

**Man:** But that's all healed up now, but in the last few days, I've realized I have a bad ankle.

**Man:** I think I must have injured it last week.

**Man:** And it's a bit sore now, but apart from that, I'm fine.

**Woman:** Right.

**Woman:** I guess you might need to rest it for a few days to let it recover.

**Man:** Yes, I will.

**Woman:** So, let me just ask you what you want to achieve by joining the club.

**Woman:** Do you have any targets or goals?

**Man:** Well, I suppose my main aim is to build up my fitness level.

**Man:** Is that the kind of thing you mean?

**Woman:** Yes, that's fine.

**Woman:** All the activities you're going to be doing should certainly help you with that.

**Woman:** OK, and could you tell me what you do for a living?

**Man:** Well, I was a student up until recently.

**Woman:** OK, so what are you doing at the moment?

**Man:** Well, I'm a charity worker.

**Woman:** Oh, that's fine.

**Woman:** I'll write that down.

**Woman:** OK, nearly done.

**Woman:** One last question, can I ask how you heard about the club?

**Woman:** Did you see it advertised, or did you go to our website for example?

**Man:** Well, I've been looking for a health club for a while, and I asked my friends for suggestions, but they weren't much help.

**Man:** And then I was listening to the radio.

**Man:** And your club was mentioned, so I thought I'll go along and see what it's like.

**Woman:** Great!

**Woman:** Well we look forward to having you as a member.

**Announcer:** That is the end of section 1.

**Announcer:** You now have half a minute to check your answers.

[Practice Harry Symonds' Club Membership Application](https://testmigo.com/ielts/listening/harry-symonds-club-membership-application)