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IELTS Practice Listening: Note/Summary Completion ID: #57362 Hard Driving license
Instructions ›

Complete the notes below.

Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer.

You will hear a talk about international driving licenses. Now listen carefully and answer the questions. I'm sure that you have all heard about international driving licenses. They have been around since 1949, when the United Nations gave approval for their use. This meant that travellers could drive freely in the 186 countries that recognised the international driving licence system, regardless of the language that the driver spoke. The only conditions were that the driver had to already hold a driving licence in their home country, and they had to be at least 18 years of age. International driver's licences are well recognised. After all, they've been in use for over 50 years, To break the language barrier, the licence is printed in 11 different languages, but the last page of the booklet is always in French. As I said, it is a booklet about the size of a passport, 10.8 by 15.25 centimetres to be exact. So it is easy to carry with your travel documents. It's not too thick or heavy either, only 17 pages. All of the pages are coloured white, but the cover of the licence is grey. It is a useful form of identification when you travel because it includes a passport-sized photograph and the driver's signature. The International Driver's Licence can only be purchased from authorised travel associations in different countries, but it can also be ordered on the internet. The cost, of course, varies from country to country and for the term or the duration of the licence. For example, a one-year licence might cost approximately $40, whereas a three-year licence costs double that. A five-year licence will set you back about $100. Now you will hear the rest of the talk. Before I outline the four most important points to consider before rushing off to get your international driver's licence, I should probably mention that, yes, the international driver's licence covers all types of vehicles from motorbikes to trucks. But, just as in your own country, you have to be qualified to drive such vehicles. You might like the idea of driving around the Australian outback on a motorbike, or checking out the English countryside in a bus with all your mates, but you'll have to take the appropriate test before you set off. Okay, now the four main points. Firstly, you cannot use an international licence in the country in which it is issued. It is for international travel only. Some international students avoid this rule by ordering their licences on the internet which will ask them to nominate a country of your choice for that very purpose. Secondly, some countries won't allow you to use an international licence indefinitely. In Australia, for example, you can only use the international licence for a year. After that, you must get an Australian driving licence. Other countries aren't as strict as that. Thirdly, drivers on international licences must abide by the road rules in the country that they are visiting. If you are caught breaking those road rules, you will have to pay the penalty, usually a fine. And if you are the cause of an accident, expect to pay for any damages that you are responsible for. Holding an international driver's licence does not give you the right to be reckless. And yes, If you have been suspended or banned from driving in your own country, the same rules apply with an international driver's licence. You must have an existing driver's licence to apply for an international driver's licence. Some police will in fact... want to see both your international licence and your own driver's licence. So carry both licences with you to save wasting valuable time. Finally, you don't have to take another driving test to get an international driver's licence. Your own driver's licence is proof that you know how to drive. However, it is your responsibility to learn the road rules of the country that you are visiting and to understand what the different road signs mean. Police are not always understanding to foreign drivers. If you break road rules either deliberately or out of ignorance, expect to pay the price. Police are ultimately the same everywhere.
10 blanks 3 words max

INTERNATIONAL DRIVING LICENSE

FACTS:

- have been used 

- drivers do not have to speak the native tongue of the country they are visiting

- drivers must be at least 18 years of age

- drivers must hold a driving license in their home country

SPECIFICATIONS OF BOOKLET:

Size of license: 10.8 x cm

Number of pages: 17

Cotour of inside pages: 

Has a photograph of the driver and their 

Available from authorized travel agencies and the 

Cost of 3 year license: 

Summary:

International Driving Licenses cannot be used in the . They may only be used in some countries for . Drivers using International Driving Licenses must obey the  of the country that they are driving in. The driver must be responsible for learning the rules of the host country, because if they break the rules, they may be .

AI explanationShows the answer. Tap to open.

Question Focus: Time reference - when international driving licenses started being used

Correct Answer: since 1949

Why this is correct: The speaker clearly gives the starting point in time. You hear since 1949, which matches the note saying they "have been used".

Passage Reference: They have been around since 1949, when the United Nations gave approval for their use.

Common Mistake: Students sometimes write for over 50 years, which is also mentioned later, but that is a paraphrase trap because the notes ask for when they started, not how long in general.

Paraphrasing: Transcript: 'have been around since 1949' = Notes: 'have been used [GAP]'

Tips: Listen carefully for dates when you hear phrases like 'have been around'.

Key Vocabulary:

  • around = existing
  • since = from a time

Question Focus: Specific measurement from the booklet description

Correct Answer: 15.25

Passage Reference: As I said, it is a booklet about the size of a passport, 10.8 by 15.25 centimetres to be exact.

Why this is correct: The speaker gives the exact size and says 10.8 by 15.25 centimetres. The gap already shows 10.8 x, so you only need the second number.

Common Mistake: Some students write 15 or 15.2, which is a number trap. IELTS needs the exact number you hear.

Paraphrasing: Transcript: '10.8 by 15.25 centimetres' = Notes: '10.8 x [GAP] cm'

Tips: When you hear numbers, stop predicting and write exactly what you hear.

Key Vocabulary:

  • exact = precise
  • size = dimensions

Question Focus: Colour of the inside pages

Correct Answer: white

Passage Reference: All of the pages are coloured white, but the cover of the licence is grey.

Why this is correct: The speaker contrasts the pages and the cover. You hear pages are coloured white, which matches the gap about inside pages.

Common Mistake: Some students write grey, but that refers to the cover, not the pages. This is a context shift trap.

Paraphrasing: Transcript: 'pages are coloured white' = Notes: 'Colour of inside pages: [GAP]'

Tips: When you hear contrasts like 'but', check which detail belongs to which item.

Key Vocabulary:

  • coloured = having a colour
  • inside = internal

Question Focus: Identification features included in the licence

Correct Answer: signature

Passage Reference: because it includes a passport-sized photograph and the driver's signature.

Why this is correct: The speaker lists two things for identification: a photograph and the driver's signature. The gap already mentions the photograph, so signature completes it.

Common Mistake: Students may write photo, but that is already given. This is a partial truth trap.

Paraphrasing: Transcript: 'includes a passport-sized photograph and the driver's signature' = Notes: 'Has a photograph of the driver and their [GAP]'

Tips: Do not repeat information that is already written in the notes.

Key Vocabulary:

  • includes = has
  • signature = signed name

Question Focus: Where the licence can be obtained

Correct Answer: Internet

Passage Reference: but it can also be ordered on the internet.

Why this is correct: The speaker says it can be bought from travel associations and also ordered on the internet.

Common Mistake: Some students write travel agencies, which is already mentioned. This is a distractor trap.

Paraphrasing: Transcript: 'ordered on the internet' = Notes: 'authorized travel agencies and the [GAP]'

Tips: When two sources are listed, make sure you write the second one.

Key Vocabulary:

  • ordered = bought
  • internet = online

Question Focus: Cost calculation for a three-year licence

Correct Answer: $80

Passage Reference: whereas a three-year licence costs double that.

Why this is correct: The speaker says a one-year licence is about $40 and a three-year licence costs double that, which equals $80.

Common Mistake: Students sometimes write $40 because they miss the comparison. This is a sequence trap.

Paraphrasing: Transcript: 'three-year licence costs double that' = Notes: 'Cost of 3 year license: [GAP]'

Tips: Listen for comparison words like 'double' and calculate quickly.

Key Vocabulary:

  • double = twice
  • cost = price

Question Focus: Where the licence cannot be used

Correct Answer: home country

Passage Reference: Firstly, you cannot use an international licence in the country in which it is issued. It is for international travel only.

Why this is correct: The speaker clearly says you cannot use it in the country where it is issued, meaning your home country.

Common Mistake: Some students write international travel, which describes purpose, not location. This is a paraphrase trap.

Paraphrasing: Transcript: 'country in which it is issued' = Summary: 'home country'

Tips: Pay attention to negatives like 'cannot use'.

Key Vocabulary:

  • issued = given officially
  • home country = country of issue

Question Focus: Time restriction in some countries

Correct Answer: a year

Passage Reference: In Australia, for example, you can only use the international licence for a year.

Why this is correct: The speaker gives Australia as an example and says for a year. This fits the summary about limited use.

Common Mistake: Students sometimes write indefinitely, but the speaker says some countries do NOT allow that. This is a negation trap.

Paraphrasing: Transcript: 'for a year' = Summary: 'for [GAP]'

Tips: Examples often provide the exact words you need.

Key Vocabulary:

  • limited = restricted
  • period = length of time

Question Focus: Legal obligations while driving

Correct Answer: road rules

Passage Reference: drivers on international licences must abide by the road rules in the country that they are visiting.

Why this is correct: The speaker uses the exact phrase road rules, which matches the gap perfectly.

Common Mistake: Some students write laws or regulations, but you must copy the exact words. This is a synonym trap.

Paraphrasing: Transcript: 'abide by the road rules' = Summary: 'must obey the [GAP]'

Tips: Always prefer exact words you hear over your own synonyms.

Key Vocabulary:

  • abide by = obey
  • rules = laws

Question Focus: Consequences of breaking rules

Correct Answer: fined

Passage Reference: you will have to pay the penalty, usually a fine.

Why this is correct: The speaker explains that if you break the rules, you must pay a penalty, usually a fine, so fined fits grammatically.

Common Mistake: Students sometimes write punished, which changes the wording. This is a synonym trap.

Paraphrasing: Transcript: 'pay the penalty, usually a fine' = Summary: 'may be fined'

Tips: Check verb form carefully when you see 'may be' before a gap.

Key Vocabulary:

  • penalty = punishment
  • fine = money penalty

General Tips:

  • FIB answers follow recording order. Use the previous answer to know where to listen next.
  • Always check grammar clues around the gap to decide if you need a noun, verb, or number.
  • Copy the exact words you hear from the speaker. Do not use your own synonyms.
  • Listen carefully for negatives like 'cannot' or 'only'. Missing them changes the meaning.
  • Be extra careful with numbers, dates, and prices. One small mistake makes the answer wrong.

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