Cambridge IELTS 13 · Listening · Test 4 · Part 1

Listening Test 4, Part 1: answers explained

The recording and its 10 questions (1–10). Every answer is explained with the words that give it away.

Take the whole test, timed Show the answers

Part 1 recording

Play it once, as in the exam, and answer the questions below as you listen.

Questions 1–10

Note completion
1 At first, Alex did his training in the ______ department.
2 Alex didn’t have a qualification from school in ______
3 Alex thinks he should have done the diploma in ______ skills.
4 Age of other trainees: the youngest was ______
5 Trainees receive the same amount of ______ as permanent staff.
6 Trainees go to ______ one day per month.
7 The company is in a convenient ______
8 Don’t wear ______
9 Don’t be ______
10 Make sure you ______

Answers explained

Answer the questions first: finding the evidence yourself teaches more than reading it. The answers stay folded until you ask.

Question 1

Finance

What you hear

I did my initial training in Finance

Why

Alex now works in customer services, but he says his initial training was in Finance, where he stayed for the first two years. The note says "At first", so the earlier department is the answer, not the one he moved to. Martha then says Finance is the department she is applying for.
Question 2

Maths / Math / Mathematics

What you hear

I failed Maths

Why

Alex was nervous because he did badly in his school exams and failed Maths. Write Maths, Math or Mathematics. He adds that it didn't matter, since he took lots of courses on the job, so "courses" is not what the gap wants.
Question 3

business

What you hear

the one in business skills

Why

Martha hopes to do the diploma in business skills, and Alex answers that sounds good and that he wishes he had chosen that one instead of the IT skills diploma he took. The tempting wrong word is IT, which he actually studied; the one he regrets not taking is business.
Question 4

17 / seventeen

What you hear

how was 17

Why

About twenty trainees began together, nearly all between 18 and 20. Alex was 18 and only one person was younger than him, aged 17. So the youngest was 17. The figures 18, 20 and the group size of 20 are all spoken close by, so attach the number to "younger than me".
Question 5

holiday(s) / vacation(s)

What you hear

you get the same number of days’ holiday as everyone else

Why

Trainees get a lower minimum wage, which Alex admits isn't great, but he says they receive the same number of days' holiday as everyone else. Holiday (or vacation) is the word. Pay is the topic around it, and it is exactly what differs, so it can't fill the gap.
Question 6

college

What you hear

spend any time in college

Why

Martha asks whether there is time spent in college, and Alex says yes, one day each month. The word college comes from her question, so it has to be caught there, with his answer confirming the frequency. The tutor he mentions afterwards is a person, not a place.
Question 7

location

What you hear

it’s very close to the train station so the location’s a real advantage

Why

The company is very close to the train station, so Alex calls the location a real advantage. That gives location for "a convenient ______". The word station may tempt you, but the speaker is describing where the firm is, which is its location.
Question 8

jeans

What you hear

Nothing too casual - like jeans, for example

Why

Asked what to wear for the interview, Alex says nothing too casual, such as jeans, and suggests a nice jacket with a skirt or trousers. The negative note "Don't wear" therefore takes jeans. The jacket, skirt and trousers are what he recommends, so they are traps.
Question 9

late

What you hear

They hate people who are late

Why

Alex's obvious tip is to arrive in plenty of time, because they hate people who are late. The note says "Don't be ______", so the adjective late is needed, not the instruction itself. He also says to know where to go, but that doesn't fit the grammar here.
Question 10

smile

What you hear

is to smile

Why

The last piece of advice, passed on by Alex's manager, is to smile, even if you feel terrified, because it makes people respond better. Smile completes "Make sure you ______". Martha's remark about practising in a mirror is a joke that repeats the idea, not a new answer.

Part 1 audioscript

Part 1 · audioscript

MARTHA

Hi Alex. It’s Martha Clines here. James White gave me your number. I hope you don’t mind me calling you.

ALEX

Of course not. How are you, Martha?

MARTHA

Good thanks. I’m ringing because I need a bit of advice.

ALEX

Oh yeah. What about?

MARTHA

The training you did at JPNW a few years ago. I’m applying for the same thing.

ALEX

Oh right. Yes, I did mine in 2014. Best thing I ever did. I’m still working there.

MARTHA

Really? What are you doing?

ALEX

Well, now I work in the customer services department but I did my initial training in Finance. I stayed there for the first two years and then moved to where I am now.

MARTHA

That’s the same department I’m applying for. Did you enjoy it?

ALEX

I was pretty nervous to begin with. I didn’t do well in my exams at school and I was really worried because I failed Maths. But it didn’t actually matter because I did lots of courses on the job.

MARTHA

Did you get a diploma at the end of your trainee period? I’m hoping to do the one in business skills.

ALEX

Yes. That sounds good. I took the one on IT skills but I wish I’d done that one instead.

MARTHA

OK, that’s good to know. What about the other trainees? How did you get on with them?

ALEX

There were about 20 of us who started at the same time and we were all around the same age - I was 18 and there was only one person younger than me, how was 17. The rest were between 18 and 20. I made some good friends.

MARTHA

I’ve heard lots of good things about the training at JPNW. It seems like there are a lot of opportunities there.

ALEX

Yeah, definitely. Because of its size you can work in loads of different areas within the organisation.

MARTHA

What about pay? I know you get a lower minimum wage than regular employees.

ALEX

That’s right - which isn’t great. Buy you get the same number of days’ holiday as everyone else. And the pay goes up massively if they offer you a job at the end of the training period.

MARTHA

Yeah, but I’m not doing it for the money - it’s the experience I think will be really useful. Everyone says by the end of the year you gain so much confidence.

ALEX

You’re right. That’s the most useful part about it. There’s a lot of variety too. You’re given lots of different things to do. I enjoyed it all - I didn’t even mind the studying.

MARTHA

Do you have to spend any time in college?

ALEX

Yes, one day each month. So you get lots of support from both your tutor and your manager.

MARTHA

That’s good. And the company is easy to get to, isn’t it?

ALEX

Yes, it’s very close to the train station so the location’s a real advantage.

ALEX

Have you got a date for your interview yet?

MARTHA

Yes, it’s on the 23rd of this month.

ALEX

So long as you’re well prepared there’s nothing to worry about. Everyone’s very friendly.

MARTHA

I am not sure what I should wear. What do you think?

ALEX

Nothing too casual - like jeans, for example. If you’ve got a nice jacket, wear that with a skirt or trousers.

MARTHA

OK. Thanks. Any other tips?

ALEX

Erm, well I know it’s really obvious but arrive in plenty of time. They hate people who are late. So make sure you know exactly where you have to get to. And one other useful piece of advice my manager told me before I had the interview for this job - is to smile. Even if you feel terrified. It makes people respond better to you.

MARTHA

I’ll have to practise doing that in the mirror!

ALEX

Yeah - well, good luck. Let me know if you need any more information.

MARTHA

Thanks very much.

Part 1 recording

Questions 1–10

Answers explained

Question 1

Question 2

Question 3

Question 4

Question 5

Question 6

Question 7

Question 8

Question 9

Question 10

Part 1 audioscript