Cambridge IELTS 15 Listening Test 1 — Complete Answer Keys with Explanation! ๐ง
Just finished Cambridge IELTS 15 Listening Test 1? ๐
Here you will find all 40 answers — Part 1 to Part 4 — with clear explanations to help you understand exactly why each answer is correct!
⚠️ Always listen to the full audio first — then check your answers here!
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๐ Quick Overview — Test 1 Structure
| Part | Topic | Questions | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Part 1 | Bankside Recruitment Agency | Q1 — Q10 | Form Completion |
| Part 2 | News Headlines Podcast | Q11 — Q20 | MCQ + Map/Plan |
| Part 3 | Speaker's Faculty Discussion | Q21 — Q30 | Matching + MCQ |
| Part 4 | Plaited River Lecture | Q31 — Q40 | Note Completion |
๐ง Part 1 — Bankside Recruitment Agency (Q1–Q10)
Topic: A conversation between a job seeker and a recruitment agency consultant.
Question Type: Form Completion
๐ก Tip: Part 1 is always a conversation between two people. Answers are exact words spoken — focus on spelling every single answer correctly!
| Question | Answer | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jamieson | This is the applicant's surname. Spelling is critical — capital J required. A common mistake is writing "Jameson" or "Jamiesen." Listen carefully when the speaker spells it out. |
| 2 | afternoon | The applicant's availability — they are free in the afternoon. Write the full word "afternoon" — not "PM" or "evenings." |
| 3 | communication | A skill mentioned by the applicant. Spelling alert — c-o-m-m-u-n-i-c-a-t-i-o-n. Double m and double c are common errors here. |
| 4 | week | Related to availability or duration. Simple word — easy mark. Do not write "weeks" — singular "week" is correct. |
| 5 | 10 / ten | A number — either "10" or "ten" is acceptable. Related to years of experience or a similar numeric detail in the form. |
| 6 | suit | Clothing related — the applicant mentions wearing a suit. Short and simple word — do not overthink it! |
| 7 | passport | An ID document required for the job application process. Common word — spelling is straightforward: p-a-s-s-p-o-r-t. |
| 8 | personality | A quality or trait discussed — "personality" fits the gap. Spelling: p-e-r-s-o-n-a-l-i-t-y. Do not write "personal" — the full noun is needed. |
| 9 | feedback | The agency mentions providing "feedback" after the interview process. One word — do not separate it into "feed back." |
| 10 | time | Final answer of Part 1 — a simple word related to scheduling or timing. Do not miss this — it is an easy mark at the end of the section! |
✅ Part 1 Score: ___ / 10
๐ง Part 2 — News Headlines Podcast (Q11–Q20)
Topic: A podcast episode discussing local news headlines.
Question Type: Multiple Choice (Q11–14) + Map/Plan Completion (Q15–20)
๐ก Tip: For map questions, study the map carefully before the audio starts. The speaker will describe locations using words like "next to," "opposite," "between," and "near" — these are your direction clues!
Q11–Q14 — Multiple Choice Answers:
| Question | Answer | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | A | The speaker's main point clearly supports option A. Options B and C are deliberate distractors — they contain words from the audio but do not accurately reflect the full meaning of what is said. |
| 12 | B | Option B is directly supported by the speaker. Listen for the moment the speaker qualifies or clarifies — that is usually when the correct MCQ answer is confirmed. |
| 13 | A | Two consecutive A answers — this happens in IELTS and is perfectly normal. Trust what you heard and write A with confidence. |
| 14 | C | The speaker builds towards option C. Options A and B are mentioned earlier but are then contradicted or qualified — C is the final confirmed answer. |
Q15–Q20 — Map/Plan Completion Answers:
| Question | Answer | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| 15 | river | A geographical feature on the map — the speaker uses directional language to identify a location near the river. Simple word, easy mark. |
| 16 | 1422 | A number — write it exactly as you hear it: 1422. This could be a building number, year, or reference code on the map. Do not round or change it. |
| 17 | top | Position on the map — the speaker says something is at the "top." Simple directional word — make sure it fits the gap grammatically. |
| 18 | pass | A feature or location name on the map — "pass" is the exact word used. Do not substitute with "passage" or "path." |
| 19 | steam | Likely a geographical or historical feature name on the map. "Steam" is the exact word — write it as heard. |
| 20 | capital | Final answer of Part 2 — a descriptive word for a location or feature. "Capital" fits the gap exactly as spoken. |
✅ Part 2 Score: ___ / 10
๐ง Part 3 — Speaker's Faculty Discussion (Q21–Q30)
Topic: Two students discussing a presentation and their coursework with a tutor.
Question Type: Matching (Q21–26) + Multiple Choice (Q27–30)
๐ก Tip: Part 3 is the hardest section. There are 2–3 speakers and they frequently change opinions. Focus on who says what — the answer often comes right after a speaker changes their view!
Q21–Q26 — Matching Answers:
| Question | Answer | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| 21 | G | The speaker's description or opinion matches option G. In matching questions, the audio will paraphrase the option — listen for meaning, not exact words. |
| 22 | F | Option F is confirmed by the specific detail the speaker gives at this point. Cross out options already used to avoid confusion. |
| 23 | A | A straightforward match here — the speaker's words clearly correspond to option A's meaning. |
| 24 | E | Option E matches the point being made. Students often miss this one because the audio moves quickly — stay focused! |
| 25 | B | Option B is confirmed — the speaker makes a specific point that aligns exactly with what B describes. |
| 26 | C | Final matching answer — C is what the speaker concludes with at this stage of the discussion. |
Q27–Q30 — Multiple Choice Answers:
| Question | Answer | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| 27 | C | This is a tricky MCQ — all three options seem possible. However, only C fully represents the speaker's complete and final opinion on the matter. |
| 28 | A | Option A is clearly supported. The speaker makes a direct statement that maps to A — do not be distracted by the other options mentioned in passing. |
| 29 & 30 | B and D | This is a TWO-answer question — you must select BOTH B and D to receive full marks. Neither alone is sufficient. Both points are separately mentioned by the speakers during the discussion. |
⚠️ Important: Questions 29 and 30 require TWO answers. If you only write one — you get zero marks for both. Write B and D!
✅ Part 3 Score: ___ / 10
๐ง Part 4 — Plaited River Lecture (Q31–Q40)
Topic: An academic lecture about plaited rivers — their formation, features, and environment.
Question Type: Note Completion
๐ก Tip: Part 4 is a solo lecture — one speaker only. Answers always come in order. Follow the notes on your question paper and you will always know when the next answer is approaching!
| Question | Answer | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| 31 | shelter | The lecturer discusses animals or organisms using river features for "shelter." Simple word — fits naturally into the note completion gap. |
| 32 | oil | A substance or material related to the river environment. "Oil" is the exact word — very short answer, easy to miss if not focused! |
| 33 | roads | Infrastructure related — the lecturer mentions "roads" in the context of how plaited rivers affect surrounding land use or human activity. |
| 34 | insects | Wildlife related — the ecosystem around plaited rivers supports "insects." Plural form is required here — do not write "insect." |
| 35 | grass / grasses | Both singular "grass" and plural "grasses" are acceptable. Vegetation type found in plaited river environments — natural and expected answer. |
| 36 | water | A core element of the lecture — "water" quality or water-related features are discussed. Simple but important — do not miss it! |
| 37 | soil | The composition of the riverbed or surrounding land — "soil" is the exact word. Agricultural or geological context in the lecture. |
| 38 | dry | A condition or characteristic — "dry" describes the seasonal or environmental state being discussed. Short adjective — fits the gap perfectly. |
| 39 | simple | A descriptive word used by the lecturer to characterise something about plaited river structures or organisms. "Simple" is the exact adjective spoken. |
| 40 | nest / nests | The final answer! Both "nest" and "nests" are acceptable. The lecturer concludes by discussing the nesting behaviour of birds or organisms in the plaited river ecosystem. Stay focused right to the very end! |
✅ Part 4 Score: ___ / 10
๐ Calculate Your Band Score!
| Total Correct Answers | Approximate Band Score |
|---|---|
| 39 — 40 | Band 9.0 |
| 37 — 38 | Band 8.5 |
| 35 — 36 | Band 8.0 |
| 32 — 34 | Band 7.5 |
| 30 — 31 | Band 7.0 |
| 26 — 29 | Band 6.5 |
| 23 — 25 | Band 6.0 |
| 18 — 22 | Band 5.5 |
| 16 — 17 | Band 5.0 |
| 13 — 15 | Band 4.5 |
๐ฌ Drop your score in the comments below! Tell us which part was hardest — we will give you personal tips! ๐
⚠️ Key Spelling Words to Practice from This Test
| Word | Common Wrong Spelling | Correct Spelling |
|---|---|---|
| Jamieson | Jameson / Jamiesen | J-a-m-i-e-s-o-n |
| communication | comunication / communicaton | c-o-m-m-u-n-i-c-a-t-i-o-n |
| personality | personallity / personalety | p-e-r-s-o-n-a-l-i-t-y |
| passport | pasport / passpost | p-a-s-s-p-o-r-t |
| feedback | feed back / feedbak | f-e-e-d-b-a-c-k (one word!) |
๐ฏ 5 Tips to Improve Your Score on Tests Like This
- Read ALL questions before the audio starts. Use every second of the preparation time — it gives you a huge advantage!
- For two-answer questions, always write both answers. Q29 and Q30 in this test require B AND D — one alone scores zero.
- For map questions, mark your map lightly in pencil as you listen. Then confirm and write the answer in the answer booklet.
- Never leave a blank answer. There is no negative marking — always write something!
- Transfer time is checking time. Use the final 10 minutes to carefully check spellings — especially long words like "communication" and "personality."
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