IELTS Cambridge 19 Listening Test 1 — Answers and Explanation

Cambridge IELTS practice books are the gold standard for preparation because they contain real, past IELTS exam papers. In this article, we break down Cambridge 19 Listening Test 1, highlighting the key traps and explaining exactly why certain answers were correct, helping you train your ears for the real test.

Part 1: The Holiday Inquiries

Part 1 of this test features a conversation about renting a holiday cottage. The questions are standard note completion. Let's look at the key questions where students often lose marks:

The Address Spelling Trap

In the address field, the speaker spells out the street name: "B-R-A-C-K-E-N-D-A-L-E".
Common Error: Many candidates write "Brakendale" or miss the double 'e' at the end. When a letter is repeated, the speaker in the audio will often say "double E". Make sure you are listening for this phrasing.

The Number Distractor

For the rental price, the speaker says: "The weekly cost during peak season is 950 pounds, but since you are booking in the off-season, we can offer a discounted rate of 750 pounds."
Correct Answer: 750 (or 750 pounds).
Why students got it wrong: They wrote down the first number (950) without waiting for the speaker to finish. Always listen for transitional words like "but," "however," or "actually."

Part 3: Academic Tutorial

Part 3 is a discussion between two university students and their tutor about a project on soil quality. This section is notoriously difficult because of the academic vocabulary used.

Key strategy: Do not just match words. Listen for synonyms of the options. If option B says "lack of financial resources," the speaker might say "our budget was completely exhausted."

How to Drill These Explanations

Don't just check your score and close the book. Go to the tapescript at the back of the book. Read along with the audio and circle the exact sentence where the answer was spoken. This is the only way to train your brain to hear the transitions.