Cambridge IELTS 20 Listening Test 2 — Complete Answer Keys with Explanation! ๐ง
Just finished Cambridge IELTS 20 Listening Test 2? ๐
Here you will find all 40 answers — Part 1 to Part 4 — with clear explanations for each answer!
⚠️ Listen to the audio first — then check your answers here!
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๐ Quick Overview — Test 2 Structure
| Part | Topic | Questions | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Part 1 | Help for Carers | Q1 — Q10 | Form Completion |
| Part 2 | Information Talk | Q11 — Q20 | Matching + MCQ |
| Part 3 | Academic Discussion | Q21 — Q30 | Matching + MCQ |
| Part 4 | Developing Food Trends | Q31 — Q40 | Note Completion |
๐ง Part 1 — Help for Carers (Q1–Q10)
Topic: A conversation about a support service for people who care for others at home.
Question Type: Form Completion
๐ก Tip: In Part 1, answers are always exact words spoken by the speakers. Focus on spelling — one wrong letter means zero marks!
| Question | Answer | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | break | The speaker talks about carers needing a "break" from their responsibilities. This is the keyword — do not write "rest" or "holiday." |
| 2 | time | The context is about having free "time" for yourself. Only the word "time" fits the gap — not "free time" as a whole phrase. |
| 3 | shower | A daily activity mentioned in the form — simple and straightforward. Easy mark — do not overthink! |
| 4 | money | Financial support is discussed. The exact word "money" is used — not "finance" or "funds." |
| 5 | memory | Related to memory care support. Watch spelling — a common mistake is writing "memorry" with double r. Correct: m-e-m-o-r-y. |
| 6 | lifting | Physical assistance is discussed. The exact word is "lifting" — not "carrying" or "moving." In IELTS, exact wording matters! |
| 7 | fall | Safety concern mentioned — write "fall" not "falling." Singular verb form is required to complete the sentence correctly. |
| 8 | taxi | Transport option mentioned. Simple, easy word — this is a free mark. Do not miss it! |
| 9 | insurance | Spelling alert! This is a commonly misspelled word. Practice: i-n-s-u-r-a-n-c-e. Write it correctly or you lose the mark. |
| 10 | stress | Mental health and emotional wellbeing topic. "Stress" is the keyword spoken clearly near the end of Part 1. |
✅ Part 1 Score: ___ / 10
๐ง Part 2 — Information Talk (Q11–Q20)
Topic: A talk giving information about a local service or facility.
Question Type: Matching (Q11–16) + Multiple Choice (Q17–20)
๐ก Tip: For matching questions, read ALL the options before the audio starts for that section. The speaker will use synonyms — not the exact words from the options!
Q11–Q16 — Matching Answers:
| Question | Answer | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | D | The speaker describes a feature that matches option D. The audio will use a synonym or related phrase — not the exact words of option D. |
| 12 | I | There are options A to I — eliminate the ones you are sure are wrong first. This helps you narrow down to I quickly. |
| 13 | H | Paraphrasing is used here. Train yourself to recognise the meaning behind the words rather than listening for exact matches. |
| 14 | E | Middle answers in matching are most commonly missed because students lose focus. Stay sharp throughout! |
| 15 | A | Option A is straightforward here. Do not second-guess yourself — once you are confident, move on. |
| 16 | B | By the last matching question the pattern should be clear. Write B confidently and prepare for the MCQ section. |
Q17–Q20 — Multiple Choice Answers:
| Question | Answer | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| 17 | B | Options A and C are deliberate distractors — the speaker initially seems to suggest them but then corrects or qualifies. B is the final clear answer. |
| 18 | A | The audio clearly supports option A. Listen for the moment the speaker confirms the main point — that is your answer. |
| 19 | B | Distractor words are used here. Focus on the overall meaning of what the speaker says — not individual words that seem to match other options. |
| 20 | A | The last MCQ in Part 2. By this point you should be in a good listening rhythm — A is clearly supported by the audio. |
✅ Part 2 Score: ___ / 10
๐ง Part 3 — Academic Discussion (Q21–Q30)
Topic: Two students discussing an academic assignment with input from a tutor.
Question Type: Matching (Q21–25) + Multiple Choice (Q26–30)
๐ก Tip: Part 3 is the most challenging section. There are 2 or 3 speakers. Identify WHO is speaking and what their opinion is — this determines which option is correct!
Q21–Q25 — Matching Answers:
| Question | Answer | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| 21 | D | Academic discussions use formal vocabulary. Expect words like "suggests," "indicates," "demonstrates" — these are clues that the answer is coming. |
| 22 | G | With options A–G available, use elimination. Cross out options you have already used and options that clearly do not match the context. |
| 23 | B | The students express agreement or disagreement here — pay close attention to when opinions shift, as answers often come right at that point. |
| 24 | A | Option A here — simple but the surrounding context is important. Do not assume A is wrong just because it seems too straightforward. |
| 25 | E | The last matching answer in Part 3. Do not rush — take a brief moment to confirm E makes logical sense with the question stem. |
Q26–Q30 — Multiple Choice Answers:
| Question | Answer | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| 26 | C | This is the trickiest MCQ in the test — all three options sound plausible. However, only C fully and accurately reflects what the speaker finally concludes. |
| 27 | A | Academic context here — formal language is used. Option A aligns with the overall argument the speaker is making at this point. |
| 28 | A | Two consecutive A answers — do not panic! This does happen in IELTS. Trust what you heard and write A confidently. |
| 29 | B | The distractor in this question is deliberately strong. However, carefully listening to the full sentence reveals that B is the correct and complete answer. |
| 30 | C | The final question of Part 3. C is clearly supported. Take a breath and write C — you have made it through the hardest section! |
✅ Part 3 Score: ___ / 10
๐ง Part 4 — Developing Food Trends (Q31–Q40)
Topic: An academic lecture about how food trends have developed over time.
Question Type: Note Completion
๐ก Tip: Part 4 has only ONE speaker — a lecturer. Answers always come in order. Follow the notes on your question paper carefully and you will hear each answer coming before it arrives!
| Question | Answer | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| 31 | photos / photographs / pictures | Three different words are all acceptable here. Any one of these three will receive full marks. The lecturer refers to visual documentation of food. |
| 32 | vegan | An important food trend keyword. Write "vegan" — not "vegetarian." These are different concepts and only "vegan" is correct here. |
| 33 | chefs / cooks | Both words are acceptable. The lecturer mentions the role of professional kitchen workers in driving food trends. |
| 34 | journalists / reporters | Both words are acceptable. Media professionals are mentioned as key influencers in spreading food trends to the public. |
| 35 | health | A very common and simple word — but easy to miss if you are not following the notes carefully. The connection between food trends and health is the main point here. |
| 36 | coffee | A specific food or drink item mentioned by the lecturer as an example of a growing trend. Simple spelling — easy mark! |
| 37 | environment | Spelling alert! This word is very commonly misspelled. Practice: e-n-v-i-r-o-n-m-e-n-t. Missing the "n" in the middle is the most common mistake. |
| 38 | reputation | Business and branding context. The lecturer discusses how a brand's "reputation" is shaped by the food trends it follows or ignores. |
| 39 | price / cost | Both words are acceptable. Consumer decision-making related to affordability is the topic here — either word correctly completes the note. |
| 40 | soil | The final answer! Agricultural and environmental context. "Soil" is a simple word but unexpected in this context — which makes it easy to miss. Stay focused until 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 most difficult for you — we will give you personalised tips! ๐
⚠️ Top Spelling Mistakes to Avoid in This Test
| Word | Common Wrong Spelling | Correct Spelling |
|---|---|---|
| insurance | insurence / insurace | i-n-s-u-r-a-n-c-e |
| environment | enviroment / enviornment | e-n-v-i-r-o-n-m-e-n-t |
| memory | memorry / memorey | m-e-m-o-r-y |
| photographs | photografs / photograghs | p-h-o-t-o-g-r-a-p-h-s |
| reputation | reputaion / reputetion | r-e-p-u-t-a-t-i-o-n |
๐ฏ 5 Quick Tips to Score Higher in IELTS Listening
- Always read the questions before the audio starts. You get 30–45 seconds before each section — use every second of it!
- Write what you hear — not what you think sounds right. IELTS rewards accuracy over assumptions.
- Check spelling on every answer. A correct answer with a wrong spelling gets zero marks.
- Never leave a blank. There is no negative marking in IELTS — always write something even if you are not sure.
- Use the transfer time wisely. You get 10 minutes to transfer answers to the answer sheet — double-check spelling during this time!
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