John, a teaching assistant at a primary school, phones Sally, a ranger at Hinchingbrooke Country Park, to plan a class visit. She describes the park and its habitats, the subjects children can study there, why outdoor learning helps them, and what a visit costs.
Questions 1-10 · 10 marks · 1 question block
One ten-gap note block, strictly in order. Sally gives almost every answer, but question 7 comes from John's side of the call. The four note headings (the park, subjects studied, benefits, practical issues) follow the conversation exactly, so use them as checkpoints.
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: The notes track the call in order, so read one gap ahead. Watch for two figures given together (acres and hectares) and for lists where the note already holds some of the items: the gap is the item the note hasn't printed yet. Several answers are plurals, so check the form before you move on.
Also accepted: sixty-nine
How big is the park in hectares?
Altogether the park covers 170 acres, that's 69 hectares.
Question says → You hear
Why: Sally converts the area for you. The note gives the unit, hectares, so you need the number that goes with it: 69.
The trap: 170 is said first, but it's in acres. Always match the number to the unit printed on the page.
Besides lakes and ponds, what water feature is in the wetland?
There are also several smaller ones, ponds and a stream that flows through the park.
Question says → You hear
Why: The note lists lakes and ponds and leaves the last item open. Sally ends her list with 'a stream', and the 'a' in the note tells you it's singular.
The trap: Gravel pits are mentioned just before, but they became the lakes. They are history, not a current feature.
What do children look at in the science activities?
They also collect and analyse data about the things they see.
Question says → You hear
Why: 'Collect and analyse data' becomes 'look at data' in the notes. 'About the things they see' matches 'about plants, etc.'
The trap: Plants, trees and insects are said first, but the note already contains plants. The gap is what children study about them.
Along with a compass, what do children learn to use in geography?
The park is a great environment to learn and practise reading a map and using a compass to navigate around the park.
Question says → You hear
Why: Map and compass come together, and the note has already printed compass. So the missing item is map.
The trap: Compass is the louder word here, but it's already on the page. Don't repeat a word the note gives you.
What does the leisure and tourism topic mainly focus on?
That focuses on your visitors, I would imagine. … Yes, mostly.
Question says → You hear
Why: John suggests visitors and Sally confirms with 'Yes, mostly'. 'Focuses on' becomes 'concentrates on', and 'mostly' appears in both. The key word is plural: visitors.
The trap: Requirements and problems come next, but those are things about the visitors, not the focus itself.
What do children make with natural materials in music?
here the children experiment with natural materials to create sounds and explore rhythm and tempo
Question says → You hear
Why: 'Create sounds' becomes 'make sounds' in the notes. The word is plural in the recording, and 'make ... with' needs a plural noun here.
The trap: Rhythm comes right after, but it's already in the note. 'Tempo' is paraphrased as 'speed', which shows you're past the gap.
What feeling might children not have in everyday life?
I would imagine they get a sense of freedom that might not be a normal part of their lives.
Question says → You hear
Why: 'A sense of' becomes 'a feeling of', and 'not a normal part of their lives' becomes 'may not have elsewhere'. John says it and Sally agrees.
The trap: Sally's words just before are creative, explore and discover. They describe the learning, not a feeling children lack.
What new things do children learn on the visits?
they develop new skills. This gives them greater self-confidence.
Question says → You hear
Why: 'Develop new skills' matches 'learn new', and self-confidence is printed in the note as well, so you know you're in the right place. The gap takes the plural, skills.
The trap: Writing 'skill' without the s doesn't fit 'learn new ...'. Check plurals in Part 1.
How much does each child cost?
If there are over 30, it costs £4.95 for each child who attends on the day.
Question says → You hear
Why: 'For each child' is 'per child'. The pound sign is printed, so write just 4.95.
The trap: 30 and 40 are numbers of children, not prices. 30 is also the threshold for this rate.
Which adults are named as free of charge?
There's no charge for leaders and other adults - as many as you want to bring.
Question says → You hear
Why: 'No charge' means free. The note asks for an example of the adults, and Sally names one: leaders.
The trap: 'Adults' is the general word and it's already printed. The example is the specific group, leaders. Teachers fits the meaning but isn't said.
Sally gives the size twice: 170 acres, then 69 hectares. The note says hectares, so it's 69. People who write the first number they hear lose the mark.
The answer comes from John, not the ranger: children get 'a sense of freedom'. Sally only agrees, so if you're waiting for her to say it, you miss it.
The note says 'Adults, such as ...'. Sally says 'leaders and other adults', so the example of an adult is leaders, the first word, not adults.
The full Cambridge 19 Test 1 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 19, Test 1, 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.
