Part 3: Debating Budget Allocation
Questions 21 and 22
Choose TWO letters, A–E.
Which TWO areas are considered the highest priority for funding?
A sports facilities
B student mental health
C library resources
D campus security
E research equipment
Questions 23 and 24
Choose TWO letters, A–E.
Why do Hannah and Marcus support increased funding for mental health services?
A Demand for services has grown.
B Staff salaries are too low.
C Waiting times are long.
D Government funding has been reduced.
E Other universities are investing heavily.
Questions 25–30
What reason do they give for supporting each proposal?
Choose SIX answers from the box and write the correct letter, A–H, next to Questions 25–30.
Topics
A safety concerns
B academic performance
C reputation
D student wellbeing
E cost efficiency
F accessibility
G long-term savings
H staff recruitment
Proposals
25 Library upgrades
26 Security cameras
27 Sports complex renovation
28 Counselling services
29 Research laboratories
30 Shuttle bus service
Transcripts
Part 3: You will hear a discussion between two university students about budget allocation priorities.
Hannah: We need to be ready for tomorrow’s student council meeting. The budget increase is limited, so we can’t support every proposal equally.
Marcus: Exactly. If we try to divide the money between everything, it won’t make a noticeable difference anywhere. The chair asked us to identify the two most urgent areas first, and then explain why the remaining proposals still deserve support.
Hannah: For me, one of those urgent areas has to be student mental health. The support service is under too much pressure, and students are starting to feel let down by it.
Marcus: I agree. The other one should be campus security. Since those incidents near the bus stop last term, people have been much less comfortable about moving around the campus in the evening.
Hannah: Yes. Safety has become a serious concern. The sports complex is popular, of course, but it doesn’t feel as immediate as student support and protection.
Marcus: I’d say the same about the laboratories. Better equipment would be useful, but for most students it isn’t something they notice from day to day.
Hannah: And the library matters too, but I still wouldn’t put it in the top two this year.
Marcus: So we’re agreed: the two main priorities are mental health support and campus security.
Hannah: Right. Now let’s make sure we justify those choices properly. For mental health, we need reasons that are accurate and not overstated.
Marcus: The strongest point is probably the rise in demand. More students are asking for appointments now than the service can cope with.
Hannah: And the delay is another problem. Some students are waiting several weeks before they can speak to anyone.
Marcus: We should be careful not to say the issue is low pay for staff, because that isn’t what the figures show.
Hannah: No, the real problem is that there just aren’t enough appointments available.
Marcus: And it’s not because public funding was reduced either. I checked that, and the funding level hasn’t been cut.
Hannah: Also, we shouldn’t make it sound like we’re reacting to what other universities are doing. Our case is based on the pressure here on our own campus.
Marcus: Good. That gives us two clear reasons: rising demand and long waiting times.
Hannah: Fine. Now that we’ve settled the priorities, let’s go through the other proposals one by one and give each of them a distinct supporting reason.
Marcus: Okay. First, the library upgrades.
Hannah: That’s mainly an academic issue. If students can’t get reliable access to essential course materials, their work suffers.
Marcus: Yes, limited access to textbooks and study resources can affect results.
Hannah: Next, the proposal for additional security cameras.
Marcus: That links directly to personal safety. The point is to reduce risk and help students feel more secure, especially after dark.
Hannah: Agreed. Now, what about renovating the sports complex?
Marcus: I think the best argument is financial in the long term. If repairs are postponed, minor problems like leaks and damaged flooring could turn into something much more expensive later.
Hannah: So the case is that acting now avoids a far bigger bill in the future.
Marcus: Exactly.
Hannah: Next is extra funding for counselling services.
Marcus: That one is really about supporting students’ wellbeing. It helps people deal with stress and prevents more serious burnout.
Hannah: Right. Now, the science laboratories.
Marcus: At first I thought we should argue that better facilities would improve the university’s image, but the science faculty actually stressed a different point.
Hannah: Which was?
Marcus: Recruitment. They said it’s becoming harder to attract specialist academic staff when the labs look outdated compared with those at other institutions.
Hannah: That makes sense. So for the laboratories, the strongest reason is staff recruitment.
Marcus: Yes.
Hannah: Finally, the shuttle bus service.
Marcus: Some people think that’s mainly about reducing parking pressure, but that isn’t really the key issue.
Hannah: No, it’s more about making the campus easier to reach for everyone.
Marcus: Exactly. A wider service would help students living off campus and those with mobility difficulties, particularly in bad weather.
Hannah: Good. I think that gives us a clear line for every item.
Marcus: Great. I’ll draft the statement tonight and send it to you so you can check it before the meeting.
