Edith phones Mr Thorndyke, a local builder, to ask him to do some repairs and painting in her flat. He takes her details, asks where to park his van and when to call her, and then notes down the jobs: a broken window in the kitchen door, some painting and a fence in the garden.
Questions 1-10 · 10 marks · 2 question blocks
Two blocks, both in order. Questions 1-6 are Edith's details and practical arrangements, all from the first half of the call. 'Now, what would you like me to do?' starts the table (7-10), which follows the jobs from the most urgent kitchen repair to the garden.
Type what you wrote and hit mark. Hide the key first if you haven't done the part yet. Every question number jumps to its explanation.
How to attack this block: Personal details with a few corrections: the address is not the friend's block, and the best time to call is the opposite of when she's out. One word only, so leave out 'the' and 'in'. Copy the surname carefully: listen for the double letter.
What is Edith's surname?
It's Edith Pargetter. … can you spell your surname, please? … Double T, right.
Question says → You hear
Why: Mr Thorndyke asks her to spell it and checks the double T. Write Pargetter with a capital P and two Ts.
The trap: Spelling only. 'Pargeter' with one T loses the mark, and 'double T' is the detail he confirms.
What is the first word of her block's name?
And do you live in West Park Flats as well? … No, actually it's East Park, Flat 4.
Question says → You hear
Why: 'No, actually' corrects his guess. She lives in Flat 4, East Park Flats.
The trap: West Park is where her friend May lives, and it's said twice before Edith corrects it.
What building is her flat behind?
Yes, it's at the back of the library.
Question says → You hear
Why: 'At the back of' is the note's 'behind'. The building is the library.
The trap: 'Over the road' is said just before, but that's where it is compared with West Park, not a building.
Also accepted: mornings
When is the best time to contact Edith?
875934 but I'm out a great deal in the afternoons and evenings. … So would the best time to ring … Yes.
Question says → You hear
Why: She's out in the afternoons and evenings, so he suggests ringing in the morning and she says yes. Morning or mornings are both accepted.
The trap: Afternoons and evenings are the only times Edith says, but they're when she's out.
Where should he park his van?
I always tell people in larger vehicles to park by the postbox
Question says → You hear
Why: 'Other side of the road from the entrance' is 'opposite entrance', and 'by' is 'next to'. One word: postbox.
The trap: Entrance and road are both said, but they're already used in the note. The gap is the landmark: postbox.
What should the quote show besides all the jobs?
Oh, yes, I'll list all the jobs separately with individual prices.
Question says → You hear
Why: The quote will list each job with its own price. Plural prices, to match 'all the jobs'.
The trap: Itemised is the word Edith uses, but it describes the quote. The note needs what it shows: prices.
How to attack this block: The jobs come in the same order as the table rows. Each gap is a short noun, and the table often rephrases Edith's words (cracked becomes replace, over becomes above), so listen for the thing, not the action.
What needs replacing in the kitchen door?
the glass in the door has cracked and I'd need that fixing … I presume you mean replacing?
Question says → You hear
Why: The glass is cracked, and Mr Thorndyke says it needs replacing, not fixing. The note matches that: replace the glass.
The trap: Door is already in the note. Weather damage caused it but isn't the thing to replace.
Which wall does she want painted?
All the kitchen walls? … Just the area over the cooker. It's very greasy
Question says → You hear
Why: 'Over' is 'above', and she only wants the area over the cooker painted because it's greasy.
The trap: Kitchen walls is his question, and she says 'Just' to narrow it down. The gap needs the cooker.
How long before painting must he strip and plaster?
strip the old paint and plaster it about a week before I paint it.
Question says → You hear
Why: 'About' is 'approximately' and 'before' is 'in advance'. The note has 'one', so the gap is week.
The trap: Tomorrow is said for the glass, not for the painting. Write week, not 7 days.
What in the garden needs replacing?
Well, I'd like you to replace a fence. … Just one? … Yes, at the far end.
Question says → You hear
Why: She wants one fence replaced at the far end of the garden. Singular fence after 'One'.
The trap: Not much to fall for here, but don't write fences: he checks 'Just one?' and she agrees.
Edith gives you afternoons and evenings first, as the times she's out. Mr Thorndyke then suggests the morning, and she agrees. The answer is the one time she didn't mention.
Her friend lives in West Park Flats, and Mr Thorndyke assumes Edith does too. 'No, actually it's East Park' corrects it.
The door is what's in the kitchen, but the note already says 'in the door'. The thing that cracked and needs replacing is the glass.
The full Cambridge 10 Test 4 listening paper with the real audio: all four parts, played once, marked the moment you finish. Already done it? Take it again and listen for the traps this page showed you.
Cambridge IELTS 10, Test 4, Listening Part 1. The recording, transcript and questions belong to Cambridge University Press and are not reproduced here. We quote short extracts of the transcript only as evidence for our own commentary, and the answers are published for self-marking. Get the book for the full material, or sit the test on Langujet.
