Module 05 —Note Completion
Listening Part 3 (notes) · predicting word type · spelling and numbers
PET parts in this lesson · mixed-skill spiral
Why this lesson now? Recycles Listening 3 with prediction strategy.
CEFR Pathway · You are here
Get ready · 01
5 minGet talking
Look at the gap: 'Meeting place: ____.' What kind of word is missing — a place, a number, or a name?
Spell your full name aloud to your partner, using the phonetic alphabet if you know it.
Say these numbers aloud quickly: 13, 30, 40, 14, 1,400. Which pairs are easy to confuse?
Grammar for the Exam · 02
8–10 minPredicting word type from context (nouns, numbers, times)
Look at the words around a gap to predict whether the answer is a noun, a number, a time, or a name.
In Listening Part 3, you complete notes with one or two words or a number, based on a longer recording. Before you listen, you should always look at the words directly before and after each gap, because they tell you what type of answer to expect. For example, 'Cost: £____' tells you a number is missing; 'Bring a ____' tells you a noun (an object) is missing; 'Starts at: ____' tells you a time. Predicting the word type means you can ignore irrelevant information while listening and focus only on catching the right kind of detail when it comes.
→ Price: £____ → expect a number.
→ Location: ____ Hall → expect a place name.
→ Bring: comfortable ____ → expect a noun (clothing item).
→ Contact name: ____ → expect a name, possibly spelled out.
Question 1.'Meeting time: ____ pm.' What type of word is missing?
Question 2.'Please bring your own ____.' What type of word is missing?
Question 3.'Contact person: ____.' What type of word is most likely missing?
Question 4.Why is predicting word type useful?
Question 5.'Room number: ____.' What type of answer is expected?
Quick check 1.In note completion, how many words can usually go in each gap?
Exam Vocabulary · 03
5–7 minWords & phrases to own
to arrange to have something in advance
Have you ever had to book a place in advance for a class or event?
a first payment showing you intend to pay the rest later
Why might an activity ask for a deposit?
the maximum number of people/things something can hold
Do you know the capacity of any hall or venue near you?
a code used to identify a booking or order
Why is it useful to keep a reference number safe?
the tools or items needed for an activity
What equipment do you need for your favourite hobby?
money given back after a cancellation or return
Have you ever asked for a refund? What happened?
Tap an item on the left, then tap its match on the right.
Activation · Personalise · Recycle
Use the booking vocabulary in full sentences that describe real or imagined situations.
Ask your partner
- What's the best venue for a school concert?
- Why do some events have a limited capacity?
- When did you last style for something?
"I once paid a deposit for..."deposit
Should companies always give a full refund if you cancel? Give a reason.
Give your answer + one reason.
Write 35 words describing how you booked a place on a course or for an event.
Pronunciation for Speaking · 04
3–4 minDistinguishing teen and -ty numbers (13/30, 14/40)
Teen numbers stress the second syllable (thir-TEEN); -ty numbers stress the first (THIR-ty).
- • thirTEEN vs THIRty
- • fourTEEN vs FORty
- • fifTEEN vs FIFty
- • The price is thirty pounds, not thirteen.
Reading Skills · 05
8–10 minReading strategy — completing notes accurately
Even though note completion is a listening task, the way you read the notes before you listen makes a huge difference to your accuracy. Always read the whole set of notes first, not just the gaps, because the context around each gap tells you what kind of information is missing and roughly when you will hear it in the recording.
Pay close attention to whether a gap needs a number, a name, a place, or a short noun phrase. Numbers are often the trickiest part, because similar-sounding numbers like thirteen and thirty are easy to confuse if you are not listening carefully. If a speaker corrects themselves ('the class starts at six — sorry, half six'), always write the corrected, final answer, not the first one mentioned.
Finally, remember that spelling matters. If a name or word is spelled out letter by letter in the recording, write it exactly as spelled, and double-check tricky letters like 'e' and 'i' or 'm' and 'n', which sound similar when said quickly.
Question 1.Why should you read the whole set of notes before listening?
Question 2.According to the text, which numbers are easy to confuse?
Question 3.What should you do if a speaker corrects themselves?
Question 4.Why does spelling matter in note completion?
Question 5.What is the main message of the text?
Listening Skills · 06
8–10 minBooking a place on a photography workshop
Listening audio
Tap play to listen. Replay as many times as you need.
Show transcript
Receptionist:Good morning, Riverside Arts Centre, how can I help?
Ben:Hi, I'd like to book a place on the photography workshop, please.
Receptionist:Of course. That workshop is on Saturday the fourteenth, starting at ten — sorry, I mean half past ten.
Ben:Half past ten, got it. How much does it cost?
Receptionist:It's thirty pounds, and we ask for a deposit of ten pounds to reserve your place.
Ben:That's fine. Do I need to bring my own camera?
Receptionist:Yes, please bring your own camera, but we do provide tripods.
Ben:Great. Can I have your name for the booking?
Receptionist:It's Mrs Fenton — that's F-E-N-T-O-N.
Ben:F-E-N-T-O-N, thank you. And is there a reference number for my booking?
Receptionist:Yes, it's PH-2-2-9.
Question 1.What date is the workshop?
Question 2.What time does the workshop actually start?
Question 3.How much is the deposit?
Question 4.What does the centre provide?
Question 5.How is the receptionist's surname spelled?
Question 6.What is the booking reference number?
Part 3 audio
Tap play to listen. Replay as many times as you need.
Photography Workshop Booking
Booking formNotes taken during the phone call
- Date of workshop:
- Start time:
- Deposit needed:
- Centre provides:
- Surname:
- Reference number:
Exam Strategy · 07
5 minListening Part 3 — note or form completion
Predict the word type, then write the corrected final answer.
Task
Listen to a longer monologue or dialogue and complete a set of notes with one or two words, or a number, for each gap.
Example
Gap: 'Start time: ____' → predict a time is needed → listen for 'ten — sorry, half past ten' → write 'half past ten', not 'ten'.
Writing Task · 08
5 minPut it in writing
Q1.How would you write '£10' if the speaker says 'ten pounds'?
Q2.What should you write if a speaker corrects a number mid-sentence?
Write a short set of notes (35–45 words) for a phone message about booking a class, including date, time, cost and a contact name.
Your writing draft
0 words SavedShow model answer & examiner comment
Message for Mr Ahmed: Pottery class booked for Saturday 21st, starting at 2pm. Cost is £15, plus a £5 deposit to confirm the place. Please bring an apron — all other equipment provided. Reference number: PT104. Call back if any questions.
Examiner comment
| 5 | All content points covered; consistent style; range of structures; minor errors only. |
| 3 | Content mostly covered; mostly suitable style; some range; errors don't stop the reader understanding. |
| 1 | Limited content; intrusive errors; very basic structures; under-length. |
Speaking Task · 09
10–15 minMake it a real conversation
In pairs, role-play a phone booking. One student is the receptionist giving details (date, time, price, deposit, spelling a name); the other takes notes and reads them back to check accuracy.
Optional · Teacher-led
Teacher Activities
Use if the note-completion practice finishes early. ~14 min total
Homework · 10
Take-homeTake it home
Self-study — everything you need is included below. All four skills are covered so you keep the spiral going between lessons; pick the order that suits you.
Predict the word type for each gap before checking the answers.
Your response
0 words SavedMaterials included
Gaps
Attempt the task first, then check your answers.
Practise saying number pairs aloud and recording yourself, then check the stress pattern.
Your response
0 words SavedMaterials included
Pairs
Attempt the task first, then check your answers.
Listen again to the workshop booking dialogue and write the full notes from memory, then check against the script.
Your response
0 words SavedMaterials included
Notes to complete
Attempt the task first, then check your answers.
Recap · 11
2–3 minWhat you've learned
- Read all the notes before listening and predict whether each gap needs a number, name, place or noun.
- Always write the corrected, final answer when a speaker corrects themselves.
- Listen carefully for confusable numbers like thirteen/thirty and fourteen/forty.
- Check spelling closely when letters are spelled aloud, especially similar-sounding letters.