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IELTS Practice Listening: Note/Summary Completion ID: #62689 Medium Caroline
Instructions ›
Answer the questions below.

Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS ORA NUMBER.

Transcript:

Section 1 You are going to listen to a conversation between two friends who are discussing the organisation of a party. As you listen, answer the questions. Write no more than three words for each answer. First, you have some time to look at questions 1 to 5. Now the test will begin. You should answer the questions as you listen, because you will not hear the recording a second time. Listen carefully and answer questions one to five. Hi Matt, right on time. Have you been waiting long? Five minutes. The buses were held up on the high street. Otherwise I would have been early. Yeah, there's something wrong with them today. Yes, I think so. OK, what shall we do? Shall we go and have a coffee? Yeah, that would be nice. There's that place on the corner over there. It does really nice coffee and cakes and things and at this time it's usually very quiet so we'll be able to talk. OK, let's go there then. So, when's the party going to be? Well, it has to be at the end of September, before we all leave for university. We've plenty of time then. We don't go for another five weeks, do we? Well, we haven't really got that much time, if you think about it. There are only a couple of weeks at the beginning of September when all of us are around. Oh yes, I forgot. Nasrin, Phil and Nikki and all that lot have gone off on holiday. And I'm away for two weeks from tomorrow. So what does that leave us then? As far as I know, we're all here between the 19th and the 30th of September. Will Sandra be around then? I know that she has a whole string of family birthdays at that time, and she might not be available. Well, let's make a note of that and we can contact her about it. OK. Shall we settle for the 21st of September then? What day is the 21st? It's a Saturday. Is that OK? That's fine. Before the conversation continues, look at questions 6 to 10. As you listen to the second part of the conversation, answer questions 6 to 10. For these questions, there are three alternatives: A, B and C. Decide which alternative is the most suitable answer and circle the correct letter. And now for the tricky bit. Where are we going to hold it? Well, I spoke to Nikki last week and she volunteered her place, as they have a huge house and garden. Oh, fantastic. Will her parents be around? Yeah, I think so, but she said they won't mind. Oh, right. Well, my parents wouldn't like it at all. Nor mine. But is it definite? Yes. When I spoke to her, she said it was definitely on. I'll just have to confirm the dates with her. We thought it would be one weekend in September, so I'll just have to make sure that that one is OK. One thing Nikki suggested we could have a daytime party, as we could be outside if the weather is fine. Oh, wow. How far out does she live? It's not that far. Do you know where West Road crosses the bridge? Yeah. It's the first house on the right, with that huge drive up to the front door. Oh right. I know exactly where it is. The road is off the A33 and runs north, then over the bridge and first on the right. I know it. Ah, the place is amazing. You know it has a big swimming pool. Does everyone know where she lives? Most of her friends do, but not all. But it doesn't matter, as we can put this map Nikki sent me in with the invitation. How shall we do the invitation? We can do it on the computer. I can scan the map and we'll put it all onto an A4 page. Is this the address? Can I just write the address down? It's 93 West Road and I'll take the phone number. It's 477130. Right. There's one other thing. Yes. We're all giving 10 pounds towards refreshments and food. There'll probably be a barbecue. Do you think that's enough? Oh, right. Yeah, that's fine. And everyone will have to help tidy up afterwards, including the boys. That's the end of section one. You now have half a minute to check your answers.
5 blanks 3 words max

How long has Caroline been waiting? Five minutes

What does Matt suggest they do? 

In which month is the party going to take place? 

Where is Niki? 

How long is Matt going to be away for? 

What day of the week is the party going to be held? 

AI explanationShows the answer. Tap to open.

Question Focus: Suggestion - listen for 'Shall we ...?', which is how people suggest an activity.

Correct Answer: have a coffee

Why this is correct: The friends ask what to do. Then you hear Shall we go and have a coffee? 'Shall we' is a way to suggest something. So the suggestion is to have a coffee.

Passage Reference: OK, what shall we do? Shall we go and have a coffee? Yeah, that would be nice.

Common Mistake: Some students write go to the corner, because the speaker talks about a place on the corner next. But that is where they will go, not what they will do. This is a Context shift trap.

Paraphrasing: Transcript: 'Shall we go and have a coffee?' = Question: 'What does Matt suggest they do?'

Tips: Read the question before you listen and note the name 'Matt'. Write the words you hear, and check you use no more than three words.

Key Vocabulary:

  • suggest = give an idea for what to do
  • shall we = a polite way to make a suggestion
  • quiet = with little noise

Question Focus: Date - the speaker gives the month when the party must happen.

Correct Answer: September

Passage Reference: Well, it has to be at the end of September, before we all leave for university. We've plenty of time then.

Why this is correct: The friend asks when the party will be. The speaker says it has to be at the end of September, before they leave for university. So the month is September.

Common Mistake: Some students write the end, because 'at the end of' comes first. But the question asks for the month, not the part of the month. Others write a date, such as the 21st. This is a Partial truth trap.

Paraphrasing: Transcript: 'it has to be at the end of September' = Question: 'In which month is the party going to take place?'

Tips: Check what kind of answer the question wants. A month, a day and a date are different answers.

Key Vocabulary:

  • take place = happen
  • leave for = go away to
  • plenty of = a lot of

Question Focus: Location of a person - listen for Nikki's name and then for where she has gone.

Correct Answer: on holiday

Passage Reference: Nasrin, Phil and Nikki and all that lot have gone off on holiday.

Why this is correct: You hear a list of friends: Nasrin, Phil and Nikki. The speaker says they have gone off on holiday. So Nikki is on holiday.

Common Mistake: Some students write at her house, because Nikki's big house comes later in the talk. But that part is about where the party will be, not where Nikki is now. This is a Context shift trap.

Paraphrasing: Transcript: 'Nikki and all that lot have gone off on holiday' = Question: 'Where is Niki?'

Tips: Before you listen, read the question and decide what kind of answer it needs. Then check that your answer fits the word limit.

Key Vocabulary:

  • gone off = left, gone away
  • that lot = that group of people
  • on holiday = away from home for a rest or a trip

Question Focus: Length of time - 'How long' asks for a period, and the speaker says how long they will be away.

Correct Answer: two weeks

Passage Reference: And I'm away for two weeks from tomorrow.

Why this is correct: The speaker says I'm away for two weeks from tomorrow. 'How long' asks for a length of time. So the answer is two weeks.

Common Mistake: Some students write five weeks, because the speakers say earlier that they do not leave for university for five weeks. But that is the time until university, not the time away. This is a Context shift trap.

Paraphrasing: Transcript: 'I'm away for two weeks from tomorrow' = Question: 'How long is Matt going to be away for?'

Tips: When you hear more than one length of time, check who it belongs to and what it is about.

Key Vocabulary:

  • away = not at home
  • from tomorrow = starting tomorrow
  • a couple of = two

Question Focus: Day of the week - the friends choose a date, then one asks what day that is.

Correct Answer: Saturday

Passage Reference: What day is the 21st? It's a Saturday. Is that OK? That's fine.

Why this is correct: The friends choose the 21st of September. One friend asks what day that is. The answer is It's a Saturday. So the party will be on Saturday.

Common Mistake: Some students write the 21st, because the date is said just before. But the question asks for the day of the week, not the date. This is a Number/spelling trap.

Paraphrasing: Transcript: 'What day is the 21st? It's a Saturday.' = Question: 'What day of the week is the party going to be held?'

Tips: Dates and days often come close together. Make sure you write the one the question asks for.

Key Vocabulary:

  • settle for = agree on, choose
  • held = organised, made to happen
  • available = free to come

General Tips:

  • Read the questions before the recording starts. Note what kind of answer each one needs.
  • The answers come in the same order as the questions.
  • Check the word limit. NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS means four words are marked wrong.
  • Speakers often give more than one time or date. Listen for the one the question asks about.
  • Check your spelling, and use capital letters for months and days.

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