How to Master the ielts

 
[Q22]
parents are unable to assist their children with maths home­
work. A relationship exists between success in the classroom and 
parental input at home.
INTERVIEWER: So what is the main message you would like to send out to people 
who have difficulties with numbers?
PROFESSOR: 
[Q23]
Well people should not feel embarrassed about their lack of 
mathematical knowledge. It’s a widespread problem, as in fact is 
literacy. I would like to see more people enrolling on numeracy 
courses, no matter how poor someone perceives his or her numeracy 
to be.
INTERVIEWER: And what are the key skills covered in these type of classes?
PROFESSOR: Well in the past, classes tended to focus on basic arithmetic skills 
[Q24]
without sufficient real­life context. Today we like to view 
numeracy from a vocational perspective. That is to say, in relation 
to the type of work you do. Of course, number skills remain useful 
in a general way as well; for example, with financial transactions, 

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AUDIO­SCRIPTS FOR THE LISTENING TESTS 
137
such as paying for goods and checking the change you receive,
or working out the savings to be made on sale items, as well as 
budgeting for things like vacations, so that you don’t get into debt.
INTERVIEWER: Well yes. I can see the benefits of all those things.
And can you tell me the main reasons why people attend numeracy 
classes?
PROFESSOR: Well each individual will have their own personal reasons, and 
these can differ widely from person to person.
INTERVIEWER: 
[Q25]
I realize that. Do you think that people are looking to 
fill in the gaps in their education left by a poor performance at 
school?
PROFESSOR: Yes, that can be the case. Some people return to the classroom to 
prove to themselves that they can be successful academically, 
whilst others want to pass an exam that they failed previously.
The sense of achievement helps to build confidence and self­
esteem.
INTERVIEWER: Well it seems that people have nothing to lose and everything to 
gain. Thank you Professor.
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INTERVIEWER: Did you catch that question, Professor? One of our listeners would 
like to know more about the numeracy curriculum.
PROFESSOR: Well, the elements of numeracy are the same worldwide. As a first
[Q26]
step it’s essential to memorize the multiplication tables.
INTERVIEWER: Hasn’t the electronic calculator taken over most of this work, 
Professor?
PROFESSOR: It’s true that electronic calculators can do many calculations quickly, 
[Q27]
but mental arithmetic remains a key skill. You cannot use a 
calculator to cancel fractions for example.
INTERVIEWER: No, er… that’s true… and what about the metric system, as we’re