Advice on surfing holidays: listening answers and explanations
A woman planning a surfing holiday with her children asks her friend Jack, an experienced surfer, for advice. He recommends places in Ireland, then talks about the weather, temperatures and what the equipment costs to hire.
One ten-gap note block, in order. Jack gives nearly every answer, and the headings arrive in turn: his general advice, County Clare, County Mayo, the weather, then costs. Several answers are set up by the woman's questions ('Are there good hotels there?', 'How long was that for?').
Answer key and self-check
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.
Q
Your answer
Answer
Questions 1-10 · Note completion (ONE WORD AND/OR A NUMBER)
How to attack this block: Expect a spelled name, two numbers and a month. With numbers, more than one figure is usually said (19 and 25 degrees, 30 and 40 euros), so match the figure to the exact label in the note. Use the county names as signposts.
Question 1
Answer: familyJack's first reply, when he says he'd thoroughly recommend it
What kind of holidays does Jack recommend surfing for?
I think it's the kind of holiday all the family can enjoy together.
Question says → You hear
Recommends surfing for ... holidaysthe kind of holiday all the family can enjoy together
Why: A holiday all the family can enjoy is a family holiday. The gap sits before 'holidays', so the noun works like an adjective: family.
The trap: 'All ages and all abilities' comes next. It supports the point but doesn't fit the gap.
Question 2
Answer: fitWhen the woman says surfing is physically demanding
What do you need to be for surfing?
I've heard you need to be pretty fit. … Yes.
Question says → You hear
Need to be quiteyou need to be pretty fit
Why: The woman says it and Jack confirms it with 'Yes'. 'Pretty' matches 'quite', so the gap is fit.
The trap: The answer comes from the woman, not Jack, so it's easy to wait too long for him to say it.
Question 3
Answer: hotelsAfter Jack says the town is very lively
What does Lahinch have good ones of, besides surf schools?
Are there good hotels there? … Yes - some very nice ones and there are also a few basic hostels and campsites.
Question says → You hear
some good qualitysome very nice ones
Why: 'Very nice ones' refers back to the hotels. The note has 'good quality ... and surf schools', so it needs a plural noun: hotels.
The trap: Hostels and campsites are mentioned too, but Jack calls them basic, not good quality.
Question 4
Answer: CarrowniskeyWhen Jack moves on to County Mayo
Which beach has the good surf school in County Mayo?
There's a good surf school at Carrowniskey beach. … C-A-double R-O-W-N-I-S-K-E-Y
Question says → You hear
Good surf school at ... beachThere's a good surf school at Carrowniskey beach
Why: Jack names the beach and then spells it when asked. Write Carrowniskey with a capital C and double R.
The trap: Spelling is the whole test here. 'Double R' means two Rs together, and a missing letter loses the mark.
Question 5
Answer: weekWhen the woman asks 'How long was that for?'
How long does the surf camp last?
Three hours every day for a week.
Question says → You hear
lasts for onefor a week
Why: The camp runs for a week. The note says 'one', so the gap is week.
The trap: Three hours is how long each day is. And 10-16 is the age range, not a length.
Question 6
Answer: bayWhen Jack says what they did while the kids were surfing
What can you explore by kayak?
rent some kayaks to have a look around the bay which is nearby
Question says → You hear
explore the local ... by kayakhave a look around the bay which is nearby
Why: 'Nearby' is 'local' and 'have a look around' is 'explore', so the gap is bay.
The trap: Beach is mentioned earlier with the surf school, but kayaks go round the bay.
Question 7
Answer: SeptemberWhen the woman says it rained every day on her last trip
What is the best month to go?
it tends to rain more in August than in the spring or autumn. September's my favourite month because the water is warmer then.
Question says → You hear
Best month to goSeptember's my favourite month
Why: Jack's favourite month, because the water is warmer, is September. Start it with a capital S.
The trap: August is said first, but as the rainiest month. The woman's worry about school doesn't change Jack's answer.
Question 8
Answer: 19When Jack says Irish summers don't get too hot
Also accepted: nineteen
What is the average summer temperature?
The average temperature is about 19 degrees and it usually doesn't go above 25 degrees.
Question says → You hear
Average temperature ... approx.The average temperature is about 19 degrees
Why: 'About' matches 'approx.', and the average is 19. Write the digits.
The trap: 25 is the usual maximum, not the average.
Question 9
Answer: 30When the woman asks about costs
Also accepted: thirty
How much is a wetsuit and board per day?
You can expect to pay a daily rate of about 30 euros for the hire of a wetsuit and board
Question says → You hear
euros per daya daily rate of about 30 euros
Why: 'Daily rate' is the price per day: 30.
The trap: 40 euros comes straight after, but it's the saving if you hire by the week.
Question 10
Answer: bootsThe last tip, right after the advice about good wetsuits
What else should they hire to keep warm?
And make sure you also get boots. They keep your feet warm
Question says → You hear
Also advisable to hire ... for warmthmake sure you also get boots. They keep your feet warm
Why: 'Also' signals one more item, and boots keep your feet warm. Plural noun: boots.
The trap: Wetsuits are said just before, but they're already in the note with the surfboard.
Two euro figures: about 30 per day, and a saving of about 40 if you hire by the week. The note asks per day, so 30.
Words from this recording worth keeping
thoroughly recommend(Jack's advice)
recommend completely, without any doubt
physically demanding(Jack's advice)
needing a lot of strength and energy
challenging(County Clare)
difficult in a way that tests your ability
lively(County Clare)
full of activity and fun
tired out(County Mayo)
very tired
appeal(Weather)
the quality that makes something attractive
daily rate(Costs)
the price for one day
hire(Costs)
pay to use something for a short time
Sit this test on Langujet, then come back
The full Cambridge 17 Test 3 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 17, Test 3, 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.
The rest of Cambridge 17 Test 3 Listening
Part 1 · Questions 1-10 · You're hereAdvice on surfing holidays
