Why Section 3 feels tricky

• Two or three speakers switch quickly and interrupt each other
• Opinions change after correction or advice from a tutor
• Many answers are paraphrases, not exact words
• Hedging language and qualifiers limit scope
• You must track who says what while reading options

Core skills to train

Speaker ID: pitch, pace, accent clues, filler words.
Ownership: who believes, decides, prefers. Tag S1, S2, T.
Hedge reading: mostly, tends to, might, usually.
Correction ladder: first idea, challenge, final decision.
Contrast markers: however, whereas, on the other hand.
Decision verbs: agree, recommend, choose, reject, plan to.

20 minute daily routine

1. Preview 4 min

• Read 6 to 8 questions. Underline task words mainly about, best reason.
• Paraphrase key nouns once each.
• Pre-label options with guesses: O ownership, H hedge, C correction.

1. Live tracking 9 min

• While listening, write only anchors: verbs, numbers, verdict words.
• Tag every line with speaker initials.
• When you hear a correction, slash the earlier idea.

1. Shadow review 5 min

• Read your notes aloud in phrases, not word by word.
• Rebuild one short exchange and mimic turn taking.
• Check keys and add pattern tags to any miss.

Fast note symbols

• S1, S2, T for speakers
• A agree, D disagree, Q question, R recommend
• H hedge, C correction, Ex example, Sum summary
• Box names, circle numbers, underline dates
• Use arrows: A → B result, A ↔ B contrast

Sentence bank: common moves

Practice saying the connected version and tagging ownership.

• S1: I thought the larger dataset would help, but it slowed us down.
  → Tag C correction, final view negative.
• S2: We could keep the survey short, maybe five items, since response rates drop.
  → Tag H hedge, number anchor 5.
• T: Rather than add more questions, clarify the aim and pilot it first.
  → Tag R recommend, sequence: clarify → pilot.
• S1: Good point. So we will reduce items and test with ten volunteers.
  → Tag decision will, number 10.

Multi speaker drills

A. Voice fingerprinting
Listen and jot three traits per speaker: pitch high or low, speed slow or quick, accent UK or AUS or US, fillers like sort of or you know. Write S1 high quick UK, S2 low slow AUS. This anchors identity before content.

B. Ownership map
Draw three columns S1, S2, T. As you listen, place each key idea under its speaker. Do not write full sentences. Use verbs only: S1 prefer video, S2 worry cost, T advise pilot.

C. Correction ladder
Write 1 first idea, 2 challenge, 3 decision. Choose answers from step 3 unless the question asks what was first suggested.

D. Agreement sweep
Mark A or D when a speaker reacts. Many questions test agreement, not facts.

E. Hedge detector
Underline softeners: mainly, roughly, at this stage, unlikely. If an option is absolute only, reject it when audio hedges.

Question type tactics

MCQ

• Track the verb and scope, not the nouns.
• If two options sound right, pick the one that matches the final decision.

Matching people to opinions

• Build a grid with names across the top and short keywords down the side.
• Fill with ticks as soon as a clear stance appears.

Table or note completion

• Expect paraphrase. The spoken word may be a synonym of the gap.
• Numbers and units carry marks. Write both, for example 15 weeks.

Multiple choice with two answers

• Listen for pair language: both, as well as, in addition.
• Answers often come in the same micro segment.

Cue list for turns and changes

• Enter turn: well, so, right, moving on, the next point
• Contrast: however, whereas, in contrast
• Correction: actually, instead, rather, in fact, turned out
• Summary: overall, basically, the key point is
• Decision: we chose, we will, we recommend, we decided

Paraphrase map for discussions

• benefit → advantage, upside, gain
• drawback → disadvantage, downside, concern
• improve → enhance, refine, make better
• cheap → affordable, low cost, budget friendly
• time consuming → takes a while, lengthy
• accurate → precise, reliable, valid

Mini examples with reasoning

1) What do the students decide to change
A sample size
B topic
C software
Audio idea: We considered switching software. The real issue is our sample is too small. Let us recruit ten more and keep the topic.
Answer: A. Why: final decision targets sample size, not software or topic.

2) What is the tutor’s view of the timeline
A extend by two weeks
B keep the current deadline
C finish earlier if possible
Audio idea: Finishing early would hurt quality. Keep the deadline, but set a mid point check.
Answer: B. Why: decision verb keep, contrast rejects C, no extension so A is wrong.

Section 3 survival checklist

• Tag every line with a speaker initial
• Capture verbs and decisions before details
• Mark hedges and corrections immediately
• Link each opinion to a name, not to the topic
• Verify time words this week, next term, by Friday

Common pitfalls for Bangla speakers

• Confusing v and w during fast turns. Train minimal pairs very vs wary.
• Hearing of as off. In speech of reduces to /əv/ or /ə/.
• Extra vowel after final stops cat becomes kata. In listening, this can hide links.
• Numbers 13 vs 30, 14 vs 40. Stress pattern is the key.
• th cluster three vs tree in names and terms.

Weekly plan and targets

Week 1

• Two clips per day, 6 to 8 questions each.
• Goal: 75 percent accuracy, correct speaker tagging on all notes.

Week 2

• Three clips per day with mixed accents.
• Goal: 85 percent accuracy, decision identification under 8 seconds.

Week 3

• Four clips per day, faster pace.
• Goal: 90 percent accuracy, zero ownership errors across matching sets.

Error log template

Write the fix line three times. Shadow the original turn once.

Self mark rubric

• I eliminated at least one option during the first mention
• I marked one cue word per answer
• I wrote the final decision and who owns it
• I justified the choice using verb, scope or time

Build your own trainer

1. Take a short transcript with three speakers.
2. Color code each voice and remove names.
3. Replace names with S1, S2, T and add two hedge phrases.
4. Write three MCQs and one matching set.
5. Solve, then swap with a partner and compare ownership maps.

Use this trainer daily. When your ear locks on verbs, cue words and ownership, Section 3 turns from chaos into a predictable pattern you can navigate with speed and accuracy.