Student Clubs And Societies & Student Loans — IELTS Reading Answers

Paragraph A

“This club was first started by a group of friends who enjoyed going to the cinema. When our trips became more frequent we realised that there must be others who also shared our love of movies. This club is for those people”

Heading iii fits Paragraph A, which explains the club began with friends who 'enjoyed going to the cinema' and grew from there.

Paragraph B

“The association has many opportunities to debate and we are a non-political unbiased international organisation which aims to promote international awareness on campus. We establish links and access to the organisation’s agencies and other internationalist organisations and their resources.”

Heading ix fits Paragraph B, a 'non-political unbiased international organisation' promoting international awareness, including a model UN.

Paragraph C

“Whether for fun or debating experience, we discuss everything from personal experience, future society or feminism. This year we plan an internal competition, weekly debates and beginners’ lessons as well as chances to compete nationally”

Heading viii fits Paragraph C, which offers debating for 'fun or debating experience' with competitions and beginners' lessons.

Paragraph D

“Then come and join the club where interesting theatre is created. We usually put on three productions each year. So if you like to write, paint, act, direct or do anything in the theatre, come and put your name down with us”

Heading iv fits Paragraph D, which invites anyone who likes to 'write, paint, act, direct' to join a club staging three productions yearly.

How do you let the CAS President know you are interested in joining a club?

“If you are interested in joining any of these clubs, you can leave a message for the President at the CAS Office in the Student Union Building”

You 'can leave a message for the President at the CAS Office in the Student Union Building', which is how interest is registered.

How often is the CAS Ball held?

“And don’t forget the CAS Ball is an annual event”

The notice calls the CAS Ball 'an annual event', so it is held once a year.

I’m taking a month’s cookery course at a local college. It’s a private catering college. I’m going a couple of evenings a week, after work. I get a diploma at the end of it. Can I get some help with a student loan?

“Fulltime courses last at least one academic year and include sandwich courses which combine time at college with time spent in a workplace Eligible courses are offered by colleges, universities, the Scottish grant-aided colleges and other publicly funded institutions providing Higher Education courses”

Courses must be full-time and last 'at least one academic year' at a publicly funded institution, so this part-time private cookery course fails.

I’m starting a foundation course in September. It’s full time and after a year I hope to get on to a degree course. The fees for the actual course are being paid for by my Local Authority. Am I eligible for a student loan?

“In general, eligible courses include first degree courses or their equivalents and any other courses for which your Local Authority will pay your tuition fees”

Eligible courses include 'any other courses for which your Local Authority will pay your tuition fees', which covers this foundation course.

I finish my first degree in July. I’ve got a place on a Postgraduate Certificate in Education course to start in September. Will the Local Authority pay the tuition fees for this course?

“In general, eligible courses include first degree courses or their equivalents and any other courses for which your Local Authority will pay your tuition fees”

The passage explains which courses attract a loan and mentions Local Authority fee payment, but never says whether PGCE fees are paid.

Now all her children are grown up my mother says she’d like to finish the studies she was forced to give up earlier in life. She’s 48 now and her course is full-time for a year. Is she too old to get a student loan?

“You are eligible for a student loan if you are a UK resident and are attending a full-time Higher Education course, below postgraduate level, or a Postgraduate Certificate in Education course, provided you start your course before your 50th birthday”

You must 'start your course before your 50th birthday', so at 48 she is still young enough, not too old.

I’ve already been given a small scholarship to cover some of my tuition fees. Can I still get a student loan?

“Students who want loans are not ‘means tested’ or ‘credit vetted’ - all those eligible will obtain a loan The amount of your maintenance grant or tuition fees does not matter”

The amount of your 'maintenance grant or tuition fees does not matter', so a scholarship does not block a loan.

I’m actually staying with my aunt while I’m at college. Will the Student Loans Company want to know how much she earns?

“The income of your parents, spouse, partner or other relatives is not taken into account”

The income of 'parents, spouse, partner or other relatives is not taken into account', so her aunt's earnings are irrelevant.

I owed the bank rather a lot of money a few years ago. It’s all paid back now but they won’t lend me any more. Will this disqualify me from getting a student loan?

“Your previous financial record is not a consideration”

Your 'previous financial record is not a consideration', so old bank debt does not disqualify you.

I took a course a couple of years ago, got a student loan, but had to withdraw half-way through. I’ve kept up all my payments on my loan. Am I eligible for a second loan?

“Any previous student loans are not taken into account”

Any 'previous student loans are not taken into account', so an earlier loan does not stop a second one.