Jenny Chan, a student from overseas, visits an agency that finds host families for students. The adviser fills in a form with her contact details, how long she'll stay, her English level, where she wants to live, her needs and her budget.
Questions 1-10 · 10 marks · 1 question block
One form in strict order, and Jenny gives every answer in reply to the adviser's questions. 'Anything about your actual room?' leads into the two requirement gaps (7 and 8), and the call ends with price and start date.
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 · Form completion (NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR NUMBERS) | ||
| 1 | 14 Hill Road | |
| 2 | between 9 and 9.30Also accepted: 9-9.30 / 9 to 9.30 / between 9 and 9:30 | |
| 3 | 1 yearAlso accepted: one year | |
| 4 | intermediate | |
| 5 | North-WestAlso accepted: northwest / north west | |
| 6 | vegetarian | |
| 7 | gardenAlso accepted: a garden / real garden / a real garden | |
| 8 | only guestAlso accepted: the only guest | |
| 9 | 100 | |
| 10 | 23rd MarchAlso accepted: Monday 23rd March / 23 March / March 23rd | |
How to attack this block: Jenny often gives two answers and then settles on one: a year or four months, advanced or intermediate, the centre or the north-west, £80 or £100. The form wants her intended or real preference, so wait for the end of each answer before writing.
What is her current street address?
Sea View Guest House. 14 Hill Road.
Question says → You hear
Why: The guest house is printed, so write the street part: 14 Hill Road, with capitals.
The trap: The phone number, 2237676, comes straight after. Don't let its digits creep into the address.
Also accepted: 9-9.30 / 9 to 9.30 / between 9 and 9:30
When is the best time to phone her?
I suppose between 9 and, let me see … before I leave for the college.
Question says → You hear
Why: She is in between 9 and half-past nine, before leaving for college. Write between 9 and 9.30 (9-9.30 is also fine).
The trap: 'After about 7 pm' comes first, but that's when she's usually there, not the best daytime slot. The adviser's 'So' shows he wants a better time.
Also accepted: one year
How long does she intend to stay?
I'm planning on staying a year but at the moment I'm definitely here for four months only
Question says → You hear
Why: 'Planning on' matches 'intended'. Write 1 year (or one year).
The trap: Four months is what her permit currently allows. She's applying for an extension, so the intended stay is still a year.
What level is her English?
I think Id like to say 'advanced' but my written work is below the level of my spoken, so I suppose it's intermediate.
Question says → You hear
Why: Her writing pulls her general level down, so she settles on intermediate.
The trap: Advanced is said twice, once by Jenny and once by the adviser, but both times about her spoken English only. The form asks for her general level.
Also accepted: northwest / north west
Which area does she want to live in?
I'm studying right in the centre but I'd really like to live in the north-west.
Question says → You hear
Why: She studies in the centre but wants to live in the north-west.
The trap: The centre is where she studies. 'But I'd really like' tells you the preference comes second.
What special diet should go on the form?
nearly a vegetarian … Shall I say you are? It's probably easier that way
Question says → You hear
Why: She's 'nearly a vegetarian', and they agree to put vegetarian on the form to keep things simple.
The trap: 'Not quite' makes some students leave it blank or write 'none'. They agree to record vegetarian.
Also accepted: a garden / real garden / a real garden
What does she want the house to have, besides her own facilities and TV?
I'd also like the house to have a real garden rather than just a yard
Question says → You hear
Why: She wants a real garden where she can sit quietly. Write garden (a real garden is also fine).
The trap: Yard is said in the same breath, but it's what she doesn't want ('rather than just a yard').
Also accepted: the only guest
What else does she want to be in the house?
I'd prefer to be the only guest if that's possible
Question says → You hear
Why: She wants to be the only guest so she gets more English practice. 'To be' is printed, so write only guest.
The trap: The adviser repeats it as 'No other guests', which doesn't fit after 'to be'.
What is the most she'll pay per week?
I was thinking in terms of about £60-£80 a week, but … if it was something special.
Question says → You hear
Why: She'd go up to a hundred pounds for something special, so her maximum is 100. The £ is printed.
The trap: £60 and £80 are her normal range. 'Maximum' points to the highest she'll go.
Also accepted: Monday 23rd March / 23 March / March 23rd
When does she want to start?
if we go for the Monday it's the 23rd March.
Question says → You hear
Why: She wants to move in about two weeks, and the adviser picks the Monday: 23rd March.
The trap: Today's date, the 10th, is said first. 'Two weeks' is a period, not a date.
She mentions being home after 7 pm, then says the best time is 'between 9 and half-past' in the morning. The answer is a range: between 9 and 9.30.
'Definitely here for four months' sounds very certain, so people write it. But she plans to stay a year, and the form asks for the intended length.
£60-£80 is her first figure, but the form asks for the maximum. She'd go up to a hundred, so write 100.
The full Cambridge 5 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 5, 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.
