Cambridge IELTS 21 Listening Test 4 answers are set out in full on this page, with the official answer key for all 40 questions, explanations for every item, audio for each part, and complete transcripts you can read alongside the recording.

The paper opens with a shopper survey in Broadbeach, moves to a podcast promoting a business exhibition, then a student discussion on houses of the future, and closes with a lecture on music therapy for surgical patients. Every explanation quotes the exact line that proves the answer and shows why each distractor fails.

Before you press play, prepare each part on its own terms: the Section 1 strategy shows how to predict the word class of every gap in the form, and the Section 4 strategy keeps you oriented through ten lecture questions without a speaker change. The multiple choice and matching tasks in the middle of the paper reward the same habit applied to options.

Section Walkthroughs

• Broadbeach Shopper Survey (Questions 1–10) — audio, answers and a full transcript for this section
• Business Exhibition Podcast (Questions 11–20) — audio, answers and a full transcript for this section
• Houses of the Future Discussion (Questions 21–30) — audio, answers and a full transcript for this section
• Music Therapy and Surgery Lecture (Questions 31–40) — audio, answers and a full transcript for this section

Section 1 — Broadbeach Shopper Survey

Questions 1–10

Complete the form below.

Write ONE WORD ONLY for each answer.

Finds the service in shops is excellent

Section 1 Answer Explanations

1. Leigh — the form already prints the first name Martyn, so the gap needs the family name, corrected letter by letter: “It’s L-E-I-G-H”. The interviewer’s guess “is your family name spelt L-double-E?” is the trap, and the key spells the surname with -eigh after the L.

2. motorbike — the form records today’s journey, and the man says “but I’m on my motorbike today because I’m going to work later”. “normally I catch the bus” describes his habit rather than today, so the one word that scores is motorbike.

3. hairdresser — the first purpose of the trip is where he has just been: “I’ve just been to the hairdresser”. The council interview lies days ahead, so it answers nothing here, and the spelling doubles the -er.

4. suit — the second purpose is today’s purchase: “now I’m on my way to buy a suit that I can wear to the interview”. Interview names the occasion and suit the item, and the gap takes the item.

5. laptop — the third purpose is a collection after repair: “I’ve got to go and pick up my laptop”. The spare part is the trap, because “They had to order a spare part” describes the repair, not the item collected.

6. Monday — Saturday is offered as the shopping day and rejected: “it’s more a question of when I’m free”. The preference follows: “If I’m free on a Monday, that’s when I choose to come into town”, so the answer is Monday.

7. coffee — the form reads too many places selling ……, and the man confirms “there are a lot of new coffee shops now” and “there are too many of them”. The gap takes the product, not the word shops: coffee.

8. books — he rules out fashion first with “I think we have enough clothing shops”, then wishes for choice: “there’s only one place that sells books at the moment”. More bookshops are wanted, so the answer is books.

9. plants — asked what he likes best at the new centre, he answers “my favourite thing is the plants they’ve put around the building”. “The glass roof is certainly impressive” praises a different feature, so plants scores.

10. cinema — the form records what he considers unnecessary, and he says “I can’t see any advantage in having it there because the one in town is actually bigger”. The item comes from the prompt “Like the new cinema?”, so the gap takes cinema.

Section 2 — Business Exhibition Podcast

Questions 11–12

Choose TWO letters, A-E.

11–12. In which TWO areas of the business exhibition did James Craig promote his company last year? the Digital Marketing Centre the TalkCon Zone the Breakout area the Business Village the Business Connections Zone

• A — the Digital Marketing Centre
• B — the TalkCon Zone
• C — the Breakout area
• D — the Business Village
• E — the Business Connections Zone

Questions 13–14

Choose TWO letters, A-E.

13–14. Which TWO facts are given about discounts on popular brands available to exhibitors? They are available to all members of exhibiting companies. They can be used for both food and clothing. They only apply if people spend at least £400. They can be used by family members. The percentage saved is always the same.

• A — They are available to all members of exhibiting companies.
• B — They can be used for both food and clothing.
• C — They only apply if people spend at least £400.
• D — They can be used by family members.
• E — The percentage saved is always the same.

Questions 15–20

Which topic will each of the following speakers focus on?

Choose SIX answers from the box and write the correct letter, A-G.

• A. Supporting job seekers
• B. Dealing with personal problems
• C. Effects of an unexpectedly rapid expansion
• D. A global range of business experiences
• E. Coping with financial set-backs
• F. Developing a company in response to changing markets
• G. Combining business success with contributions to charities

15. Jim Clowrie

16. David France

17. Oliver Stanton

18. Francesca Heptonstall

19. Salman Khan

20. Annie Craven

Section 2 Answer Explanations

11. C (the Breakout area) — the question asks where the company appeared last year, and the Breakout area qualifies twice: “We also used the Breakout area where people could sit down and relax”, then “due to popular request we used that again last year”. Questions 11 and 12 accept the letters C and E in either order.

12. E (the Business Connections Zone) — the second area is named directly: “Last year we also sponsored the innovative Business Connections Zone”. D fails because the Business Village belongs to “The first year we exhibited”, and A and B fail because they sit under “We’re hoping that in the coming exhibition”.

13. A (They are available to all members of exhibiting companies.) — eligibility is the first fact: “The scheme is available to every member of your organisation”. D fails because family members are never mentioned, and the closing “a benefit that really does have something for you all” returns to those same members.

14. B (They can be used for both food and clothing.) — the brands are “major high street fashion and jewellery outlets, as well as grocery chains”, clothing and food together. Questions 13 and 14 accept the letters A and B in either order. C fails because £400 is “the average saving made by each exhibitor”, not a minimum spend, and E fails because discounts “range from 3.5% up to an amazing 15%”.

15. C (Effects of an unexpectedly rapid expansion) — Jim Clowrie’s story is speed with surprise attached: “Rather to his surprise this became a bit of a sensation”, and “in a remarkably short time he had opened an amazing 76 restaurants worldwide”, which is unexpectedly rapid expansion.

16. G (Combining business success with contributions to charities) — David France runs a company that “has gone from strength to strength” yet “also makes regular donations to organisations helping those in need”, pairing business success with charitable giving.

17. D (A global range of business experiences) — Oliver Stanton moves through Malaysia, Japan and Hong Kong, and his talk covers what he learned “during his travels around the world about business practices in different cultures”, a global range of experience.

18. A (Supporting job seekers) — Francesca Heptonstall will concentrate on what she is “passionate about helping people gain employment and organises an annual jobs fair”, which is supporting job seekers.

19. F (Developing a company in response to changing markets) — Salman Khan “has turned around this business from a major publishing business to one of the UK’s largest digital marketing service providers” and speaks on “the need for flexibility to cope with new directions”, developing a company as markets change.

20. B (Dealing with personal problems) — Annie Craven’s session takes “an interactive look at different obstacles in people’s own lives, not just in business”. E fails because no financial set-backs appear in her profile; the obstacles are personal.

Section 3 — Houses of the Future Discussion

Questions 21–23

Choose the correct letter, A, B or C.

Presentation on houses of the future

21. Which aspect of their presentation are Mia and Leo both concerned about? meeting the deadline finding suitable examples including original ideas

• A — meeting the deadline
• B — finding suitable examples
• C — including original ideas

22. The students decide to focus their assignment on housing for family groups. old people. single people.

• A — family groups.
• B — old people.
• C — single people.

23. The students agree that demand for accommodation in urban areas should be met by repurposing offices and factories. constructing tall buildings. developing creative ideas for smaller homes.

• A — repurposing offices and factories.
• B — constructing tall buildings.
• C — developing creative ideas for smaller homes.

Questions 24–30

What opinion is given about each of the following developments?

Choose SEVEN answers from the box and write the correct letter, A-I.

• A. This could cause unnecessary anxiety.
• B. This would be especially beneficial for city residents.
• C. This would be challenging for young people.
• D. This would have environmental benefits.
• E. This could encourage creativity.
• F. This could lead to social problems.
• G. This could enable retired people to share a project.
• H. This would help some people but cause problems for others.
• I. This would suit both existing and new members of a household.

24. use of roof space for gardens

25. shared working spaces

26. moveable internal walls

27. smart mirrors in bathrooms

28. bike sheds with charging points

29. restriction of cars to certain areas

30. communal vegetable plots

Section 3 Answer Explanations

21. B (finding suitable examples) — Mia’s opening worry sounds like original ideas, but Leo reframes it: “It’s more a matter of reporting and evaluating possible developments”, with the shared concern “we’ve got to support our points by referring to specific cases”. A fails because the deadline is “In about 6 weeks, so that’s not too much of a rush”, and C fails because Leo answers “I don’t think so”.

22. A (family groups.) — Mia proposes “housing for different generations living together”, and Leo settles it: “your suggestion about intergenerational living might be more interesting – let’s go with that”. B fails because elderly housing is raised then passed over, and C fails because “I think someone else is doing that”.

23. B (constructing tall buildings.) — Mia floats adapting “existing commercial buildings” and Leo smaller homes, but the agreement is “I think the solution is to design multi-storey apartment blocks”, sealed by “Building up rather than out, yes”.

24. B (This would be especially beneficial for city residents.) — roof gardens earn the verdict “it would greatly improve how you feel if you live in an urban high-rise”. The remark “it doesn’t have to be high-rise, you can do it on a one-storey building in a suburb” widens where the idea works, but the opinion stated is the benefit for city residents.

25. E (This could encourage creativity.) — shared working spaces let people “still interact with others”, and “That’s often how new ideas get generated – by chatting to someone from a different profession”, which is creativity.

26. I (This would suit both existing and new members of a household.) — moveable walls serve grown-up children who “still continue to live with their parents for many years” and the arrival described as “an elderly relative moves in with the family”, since “they could still have their own space”.

27. A (This could cause unnecessary anxiety.) — both students doubt the mirrors, Leo with “not so sure they’re a good idea” and Mia with the reason: “People might worry about conditions which aren’t serious at all”.

28. D (This would have environmental benefits.) — bike sheds with charging points “would encourage more people to cycle”, and the verdict closes with “Much better for the planet”.

29. H (This would help some people but cause problems for others.) — the car-free zone is “Great for families with children”, but Mia counters with “what if you’re disabled or elderly, and can’t walk far?” and “It wouldn’t be so good for people like that”.

30. G (This could enable retired people to share a project.) — the plots are “where neighbours could decide what to grow together” and “a great way for older people to get to know one another, especially if they’re no longer going out to work”.

Section 4 — Music Therapy and Surgery Lecture

Questions 31–40

Complete the notes below.

Write ONE WORD ONLY for each answer.

– improved hospital patients’ sense of wellbeing.

– reduced the length of their stay.

• Music therapy for surgical patients
• Background
• Surgery impacts patients because they may experience discomfort or unwelcome changes to their 31 ………… .
• Current post-surgical strategies focus mainly on pain relief.
• Recent research
• A study reviewed data from about 100 32 ………… and found that listening to music – improved hospital patients’ sense of wellbeing. – reduced the length of their stay.
• The patients in the study all listened to music with a 33 ………… effect.
• The music was mostly played through music 34 ………… .
• Patients reported an absence or low levels of 35 ………… .
• Medical records confirmed that patients who were played music in hospital needed less 36 ………… than those who weren’t played music.
• The best results were achieved when patients were played music while they were 37 ………… .
• The study concluded that playing music was effective because it served as a 38 ………… .
• The researchers recommend playing either music or sounds from 39 ………… to all surgical patients.
• A future study will investigate the best 40 ………… for the music.

Section 4 Answer Explanations

31. routine — the notes pair discomfort with unwelcome changes, and the lecture gives “having their routine disturbed”. Mobilising and physiotherapy are nearby examples, not the missing noun.

32. trials — the study size is given as “They identified nearly a hundred trials”. The seven thousand counts people: “involving a total of seven thousand patients”, so the answer is trials.

33. calming — styles varied, since “a wide variety of music styles was evident”, but the shared feature was that “the chosen music had a calming quality”.

34. pillows — headphones came first: “Some of the patients listened to music with headphones”, but “More often though, the mode of delivery was by what are known as music pillows”.

35. anxiety — the notes print absence or low levels, and patients said “either they had no feelings of anxiety at any point, or those feelings were only slight”.

36. medication — the records comparison found that “those who were given music to listen to didn’t need as much medication to ease their pain”.

37. awake — music even worked “under general anaesthetic”, but “the positive effects were greater when patients were awake”.

38. distraction — the everyday motive is to listen “as a way to relax and forget their problems”, yet “the researchers came to the conclusion that it worked on patients by distraction”.

39. nature — the recommendation covers non-music sounds too: “recordings taken from nature can be just as good as music”.

40. volume — the next study targets “the most appropriate volume to play the music at”, so the final answer of the paper is volume.

Cambridge IELTS 21 Listening Test 4 Answers

Questions and Answers

Where two letters are shown for a single question, either order is accepted, exactly as in the official answer key.

Listening Transcripts

Section 1 Transcript

WOMAN: Good morning. I’m doing a survey of shoppers in Broadbeach. Would you have a few minutes to spare to answer some questions?

MAN: Oh…erm…yes, I guess that would be ok.

WOMAN: Thank you very much. Everybody seems so busy today.

MAN: Well actually I don’t have loads of time, so…

WOMAN: Oh yes, of course. It really won’t take long. Could I start by taking your name please?

MAN: Martyn Leigh. Martyn’s with a Y.

WOMAN: And is your family name spelt L-double-E?

MAN: It’s L-E-I-G-H.

WOMAN: Thank you. We don’t actually publish your name or details. It just makes it easier for me to identify people when I look at all the results at the end.

MAN: I see.

WOMAN: And can I ask, how did you get into town today?

MAN: Well, normally I catch the bus, but I’m on my motorbike today because I’m going to work later.

WOMAN: And could you tell me what you’re doing this morning, I mean, the reason for your trip into town?

MAN: I’ve just been to the hairdresser. You see, I have a job interview at the council in a few days.

WOMAN: Oh really! Well, good luck with that.

MAN: Thanks a lot. And now I’m on my way to buy a suit that I can wear to the interview. I don’t actually own one at the moment!

WOMAN: OK. Is that everything you’re planning to do in town?

MAN: Yeah. Well, I’ve got to go and pick up my laptop. It broke a couple of days ago so I took it to the shop to get it fixed. They had to order a spare part, but apparently it’s ready for collection now. I can’t wait to get it back.

WOMAN: I’m sure. I hate it when my technology breaks down. …One more thing, it’s Saturday today – is that when you like to do your shopping?

MAN: Well it’s more a question of when I’m free. If I’m free on a Monday, that’s when I choose to come into town. The shops are less busy then, which I always prefer.

WOMAN: So, I’d like to ask you a few more questions to get your views about shopping in Broadbeach, if that’s ok.

MAN: Sure. What would you like to know specifically?

WOMAN: What would you say you like best about the shops here?

MAN: I’d probably say it’s the service you get wherever you go.

WOMAN: OK. And what do you think about the range of shops in Broadbeach?

MAN: Oh you can get almost anything you want here.

WOMAN: And what about recent changes? What do you like and dislike about them? For example, there are a lot of new coffee shops now, are you enjoying them?

MAN: No, there are too many of them. It’s a shame as those places could be occupied by other kinds of shops.

WOMAN: What would you like to see instead?

MAN: Well, I think we have enough clothing shops. But there’s only one place that sells books at the moment. It’d be nice to have a choice, you know.

WOMAN: Right. And have you been to the new shopping centre outside Broadbeach yet, Martyn?

MAN: Yes, once or twice. It’s not that far from where I live.

WOMAN: It’s a very modern-looking building, isn’t it?

MAN: Yes, and it’s lovely. The glass roof is certainly impressive. But my favourite thing is the plants they’ve put around the building. They’re amazing, and so big already.

WOMAN: And what about the entertainment facilities? Have you used any of them yet? Like the new cinema?

MAN: Nah, not yet. I can’t see any advantage in having it there because the one in town is actually bigger.

WOMAN: OK, well thank you so much for…

Section 2 Transcript

Hello and welcome to this podcast telling you about our annual business exhibition. This year, as always, it will be full of the very best speakers, features and innovations.

Let me start by reading some feedback from James Craig, who’s exhibited with us for the past two years. James says, ‘I’m director of a company called TalkCon, which is an office phone system. The first year we exhibited, we had a stand in the Business Village, where we made a lot of useful contacts. We also used the Breakout area where people could sit down and relax, and try out our products, and due to popular request we used that again last year. Last year we also sponsored the innovative Business Connections Zone where people could leave their contact details on a board to contact other companies, and that also effectively raised our corporate profile. We’re hoping that in the coming exhibition we’ll also have a presence in the Digital Marketing centre, which is clearly a key area for our company. And also maybe have our own Talkcon Zone, at some stage.’

The exhibition’s open from 8am to 11 pm and there’s a range of special events for you to enjoy in the evening.

As well as a unique chance to publicise your company, businesses who exhibit with us can claim discounts on a number of popular brands, including major high street fashion and jewellery outlets, as well as grocery chains. Discounts available range from 3.5% up to an amazing 15%, so you can save a lot of money. In fact, the average saving made by each exhibitor came to over £400! The scheme is available to every member of your organisation so this is a benefit that really does have something for you all.

Now let me tell you about some of our keynote speakers for this year’s exhibition.

Jim Clowrie started off selling vegetables from a small plot, then opened a small café. Rather to his surprise this became a bit of a sensation, and in a remarkably short time he had opened an amazing 76 restaurants worldwide. He’ll be telling you how it all happened, and how it changed his life.

David France will be giving an inspirational talk about how as a business-minded teenager he managed to set up his own company, and even to be the first person under 18 to get a business bank account. David’s company has gone from strength to strength but he isn’t just interested in making money – he also makes regular donations to organisations helping those in need both in the UK and elsewhere in the world.

Oliver Stanton was born and educated in the UK, and then went to Malaysia where he set up a rubber-wood furniture business. He then built log houses in the mountains in Japan before moving to Hong Kong to set up a digital marketing business. After that he moved back to the UK with his wife Saiphin, and together they opened a Thai café. He’ll be telling you about what he discovered during his travels around the world about business practices in different cultures.

Francesca Heptonstall is a broadcaster and businesswoman who’s known for her down-to-earth attitude. After winning a top job in a TV contest, she launched a number of online deal sites. Her main business interest is in technology, but she’s also passionate about helping people gain employment and organises an annual jobs fair, so she’ll be concentrating on this in her talk.

Salman Khan is the Chief Executive of QBF Enterprises, and has turned around this business from a major publishing business to one of the UK’s largest digital marketing service providers. He’ll be talking about the need for flexibility to cope with new directions in today’s business world.

Finally, Annie Craven is a consultant and coach who works with people to create lasting changes in their business and life. Her session will offer an interactive look at different obstacles in people’s own lives, not just in business. She also looks at how you can overcome them, whether you’re starting out in business or at the top of your game.

Now let me …

Section 3 Transcript

MIA: You know that joint presentation we’ve got to do this semester, Leo?

LEO: On houses of the future?

MIA: That’s right. I’m a bit concerned – are we meant to come up with creative new suggestions for these houses?

LEO: I don’t think so. It’s more a matter of reporting and evaluating possible developments. But we mustn’t be too general, we’ve got to support our points by referring to specific cases. So that’ll need a lot of work.

MIA: I’m afraid so. When’s it got to be done by?

LEO: In about 6 weeks, so that’s not too much of a rush.

MIA: Good. We’d better decide now what type of housing we’re going to focus on. How about housing for different generations living together?

LEO: We could do. Or accommodation for one person?

MIA: I think someone else is doing that. I was wondering about housing for the elderly? That’s likely to become more important.

LEO: Yeah that’s true. But I think your suggestion about intergenerational living might be more interesting – let’s go with that.

MIA: OK. Now I think the future demand is mainly going to be for accommodation in urban areas. So one way of meeting that demand might be to use existing commercial buildings and adapt them to form accommodation…

LEO: … or come up with original ways of organising space so that people can live in smaller homes. But I think the solution is to design multi-storey apartment blocks.

MIA: Building up rather than out, yes.

LEO: Let’s think of some specific developments for houses of the future.

MIA: OK. How about increased use of roof space on high-rise buildings for gardens.

LEO: Yes. In fact it doesn’t have to be high-rise, you can do it on a one-storey building in a suburb, but it would greatly improve how you feel if you live in an urban high-rise.

MIA: Especially if you don’t have a balcony.

LEO: Yes. I think homes of the future will all need access to a shared working space, somewhere in the same building or group of houses, where people can go and work instead of just having a laptop on the kitchen table.

MIA: Yes, so they aren’t having to travel to an office but can still interact with others. That’s often how new ideas get generated – by chatting to someone from a different profession.

LEO: Yeah. I read about a type of design where the internal walls of an apartment are moveable, so the space can be adapted over time as people’s needs change. Like when children leave school and start working but still continue to live with their parents for many years? Or when an elderly relative moves in with the family… it would mean they could still have their own space, specially designed for their needs.

MIA: Yes. Have you heard about those smart bathroom mirrors which can monitor people’s health? They recognise signs of illness and contact a doctor automatically?

LEO: Hmm, not so sure they’re a good idea.

MIA: Nor am I. People might worry about conditions which aren’t serious at all.

LEO: What about transport? Wouldn’t it be good if there were bike sheds with charging points, so people could store their electric bikes securely and charge them up at the same time.

MIA: Yes. That would encourage more people to cycle, instead of using their car. Much better for the planet.

LEO: I read about one housing development where cars had to be left just outside it, so the centre was all a pedestrianised area. Great for families with children.

MIA: Maybe. But what if you’re disabled or elderly, and can’t walk far? It wouldn’t be so good for people like that.

LEO: No.

MIA: I saw a scheme for communal vegetable plots, where neighbours could decide what to grow together. That’d be a great way for older people to get to know one another, especially if they’re no longer going out to work.

LEO: Yes, doing something together’s always more enjoyable, isn’t it? Do you think…

Section 4 Transcript

Today’s lecture is about studies that look at how music therapy can be used to help patients who undergo surgery. Now, most people undergo a surgical procedure at some point in their lives. And more than fifty-one million operations are performed annually in the USA. But there’s no escaping the fact that most patients feel uncomfortable following surgery. They may have difficulty mobilising, and even sitting up in bed can feel too much. They may also be negatively affected by having their routine disturbed, you know, like if they can’t do the things they normally do, or have to devote a lot of time to appointments such as physiotherapy, to aid their recovery.

Currently, the main strategy for improving recovery is medication to control pain, and this can be administered to patients in the short, medium or longer term, depending on the extent of their surgery. But music is still not an everyday part of the post-surgical phase, despite a wealth of relevant studies supporting its potential in recovery.

Earlier this year, a research team set out to assess all the available evidence so that they could highlight the potential for music in surgical recovery. They identified nearly a hundred trials involving a total of seven thousand patients who were played recorded music as part of their post-operative care. The researchers then looked at what impact the music had on the patients. They discovered that patients who had been played music reported feeling happier and more satisfied in the post-operative phase, and the length of their stay was shorter than for patients who had not listened to any music.

The researchers also explored the patients’ choice of music, and their findings showed that a wide variety of music styles was evident. However, a common factor was that the chosen music had a calming quality. Some of the patients listened to music with headphones, but it was quiet enough not to prevent them from being able to communicate with nurses and other staff. More often though, the mode of delivery was by what are known as music pillows. These broadcast sound that is only audible to the person lying on them. The research involved testing music before, during or after operations or a combination. Some patients listened to the music just once a day, while others had several episodes a day.

When asked to report their experience of listening to music, surgical patients said that either they had no feelings of anxiety at any point, or those feelings were only slight. Patients who hadn’t listened to music, on the other hand, reported higher levels of dissatisfaction. This feedback from all of the patients was then cross-checked against their medical notes. And in every case, those who were given music to listen to didn’t need as much medication to ease their pain as those patients who weren’t played music. The type of music, patient choice and timing, before, during or after the surgery didn’t make much difference. And it even worked when patients were played music under general anaesthetic, although the positive effects were greater when patients were awake.

All the evidence suggests that music has a positive effect on post-operative patients, but it’s not entirely clear how or why this is the case. A lot of people listen to music in daily life as a way to relax and forget their problems, but the researchers came to the conclusion that it worked on patients by distraction. I suppose it was something familiar and gave them something they could control.

The researchers say there is now sufficient research to demonstrate that music should be available to all patients undergoing operations. They say patients should be able to choose what they’d like to listen to, and if they prefer, recordings taken from nature can be just as good as music. Surgical teams may prefer patients to listen to music before the procedure or as soon as they arrive back onto the ward. Clearly, there’s more to learn about this area, and the team now plan to focus their next research on the most appropriate volume to play the music at. And I look forward to reading the results of their study.

It will be interesting to see …

Listening Band Score Conversion

Your raw score out of 40 converts to an IELTS band score using the official listening conversion table below.

Key Vocabulary and Spelling

Study Tips

Parts 1 and 4 of this paper are pure completion tasks under ONE WORD ONLY, and both punish answers that break the limit. Part 1 needs the bare word in every gap, so a motorbike fails for Question 2 while motorbike scores, and Part 4 repeats the discipline across ten lecture gaps whose notes paraphrase the spoken lines: Question 35 prints absence or low levels of where the recording describes feelings that were slight or absent. Read the stems before the audio starts and fix the word class of each gap.

Part 2 loads its marks into tenses. Questions 11 and 12 ask what happened last year, so the Business Village stand from the first exhibition and the Digital Marketing centre and TalkCon Zone that exist only as hopes all fail, while Questions 13 and 14 turn on what the discount scheme actually promises rather than on the £400 average saving. Both pairs accept their two letters in either order, so spend your checking time on the evidence, not the order, following the Section 2 strategy.

Part 3 rewards tracking who accepts and who rejects. The three multiple choice answers all sit in Leo’s verdicts: he reframes Mia’s worry about creative suggestions into the need for examples, he picks intergenerational living over elderly or single-person housing, and his multi-storey blocks close the urban demand question. In the matching task that follows, the letter depends on the final evaluative comment each speaker makes, and the Section 3 strategy trains exactly that two-voice discipline.

Spelling settles marks in every part of this paper: Leigh with -eigh in Question 1, jewellery inside the Part 2 evidence, pedestrianised and multi-storey in Part 3, and anaesthetic, anxiety and medication across Part 4. Write each answer as the key prints it, because a right word spelled wrongly scores nothing, and the listening spelling rules guide lists the words that catch candidates out most often.

Practice More Listening Tests

Mark the paper honestly, then keep the momentum going with the free IELTS listening practice course from Simply IELTS, which drills every task type in this paper: form and note completion, multiple choice, Choose TWO and matching. When you are ready for another full paper under timed conditions, try this interactive listening test: labyrinths, and compare your raw score with the band table. Then work through the rest of Cambridge IELTS 21, starting on the Cambridge IELTS 21 Listening Test 1 answers page, because each test repeats a different mix of these traps and your score rises when corrected numbers, either-order letters and heavy paraphrase stop costing marks.