Cambridge IELTS 16 Listening Test 2 Answers (2026) | Detailed Explanations & Vocabulary
If you are practising Cambridge IELTS 16 Listening Test 2, this page will help you check your answers and understand why each answer is correct. This is not just an answer key. It is a complete IELTS Listening review guide with explanations, vocabulary, common traps, and practical tips from English Guru Campus.
English Guru Campus Trainer Note: Do not simply count your marks and move to the next test. IELTS Listening improves when you understand the distractors, paraphrases, spelling patterns, and grammar behind each answer.
Cambridge IELTS 16 Listening Test 2 Overview
| Book | Cambridge IELTS 16 Academic |
|---|---|
| Test | Listening Test 2 |
| Total Questions | 40 |
| Sections | 4 |
| Difficulty Level | Moderate |
Cambridge IELTS 16 Listening Test 2 Answer Key
Part 1: Copying Photos to Digital Format
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| 1 | frame |
| 2 | 195 |
| 3 | payment |
| 4 | Grandparents |
| 5 | colour / color |
| 6 | hand |
| 7 | background |
| 8 | focus |
| 9 | ten days / 10 days |
| 10 | plastic |
Part 2
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| 11 | C |
| 12 | B |
| 13 | A |
| 14 | A |
| 15 | C |
| 16 | D |
| 17 | A |
| 18 | B |
| 19 | B / C |
| 20 | B / C |
Note: Questions 19 and 20 can be written in either order.
Part 3: Assignment on Sleep and Dreams
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| 21 | B |
| 22 | A |
| 23 | C |
| 24 | C |
| 25 | history |
| 26 | paper |
| 27 | humans / people |
| 28 | stress |
| 29 | graph |
| 30 | evaluate |
Part 4: Health Benefits of Dance
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| 31 | creativity |
| 32 | therapy |
| 33 | fitness |
| 34 | balance |
| 35 | brain |
| 36 | motivation |
| 37 | isolation |
| 38 | calories |
| 39 | obesity |
| 40 | habit |
Detailed Answer Explanations
Questions 1–10: Copying Photos to Digital Format
1. frame — The photos must not be inside a frame or album. This is a simple noun answer, but many students lose marks by writing an unnecessary extra word. The answer required is only frame.
2. 195 — The cost for copying 360 photos is £195. In IELTS Listening, numbers are common in Part 1. Always listen carefully for prices, dates, phone numbers, and measurements.
3. payment — Before the full order is sent, payment is required. This is a noun answer. Do not write “pay” because the sentence needs a noun, not a verb.
4. Grandparents — The photos can be placed in folders with names such as Grandparents. Capital letters are not essential in IELTS Listening, but spelling must be correct.
5. colour / color — The colour and contrast of the photos can be improved. Both British spelling colour and American spelling color are accepted.
6. hand — Very fragile photos are scanned by hand. The phrase “by hand” means manually. This is a common IELTS phrase.
7. background — The special restore service may change the background of a photo. The answer is a noun and fits naturally after “change the”.
8. focus — A photo that is not correctly in focus cannot be fixed. Do not write “focused”. The correct phrase is “in focus”.
9. ten days / 10 days — Orders are completed within ten days. Both word form and number form are accepted.
10. plastic — The photos should not be sent in plastic. This is a warning/instruction type answer, so listen carefully for negative phrases such as “do not”, “must not”, and “should not”.
Trainer’s Note: Part 1 is easy only if you stay calm. The common mistakes here are spelling, word form, and writing too many words. Your target in Part 1 should always be 10 out of 10.
Questions 11–20: Part 2
11. C — Option C is correct because it matches the main information given by the speaker. In Part 2 multiple-choice questions, IELTS often mentions ideas from other options, but only one option fully answers the question.
12. B — Option B is correct because it reflects the specific point made in the recording. Do not select an option only because you hear a similar word. Choose the option that matches the whole meaning.
13. A — Option A is the correct answer. The speaker’s explanation supports this option more clearly than the others. IELTS frequently paraphrases the correct option instead of repeating the same words.
14. A — Option A is correct because it matches the advice or information given by the speaker. In this type of question, the final instruction is often more important than earlier background information.
15. C — Option C is correct. The answer is based on the function or purpose described in the recording. For matching questions, listen for meaning, not only exact keywords.
16. D — Option D matches the description given in the audio. Matching tasks become easier when you eliminate options that have already been used.
17. A — Option A is correct because the clue in the recording corresponds to this label. Remember that IELTS matching questions usually use paraphrases.
18. B — Option B is the correct match. The important skill here is following the speaker’s route or sequence of information without jumping ahead.
19 and 20. B / C — These two answers can be written in either order. For “choose two” questions, both options must be clearly supported by the recording. Do not choose an option just because it sounds familiar.
Questions 21–30: Assignment on Sleep and Dreams
21. B — Option B is correct because it matches the speakers’ discussion about dreams and memory. Part 3 usually tests opinions and academic discussion, so you must follow both speakers carefully.
22. A — Option A is correct because the speakers treat the idea as coincidence rather than a reliable prediction. IELTS often tests whether you can identify the speaker’s attitude.
23. C — Option C is correct because the experiment did not produce a clear result. The answer is not simply about the topic, but about the conclusion reached by the speakers.
24. C — Option C is correct because both speakers mention difficulty with this aspect. In Part 3, answers often depend on agreement between two people.
25. history — The students decide to use history students for the study. Other subjects may be mentioned, but they are not the final answer.
26. paper — They choose paper because it is practical for participants to use immediately after waking up. The answer must be one word.
27. humans / people — Ethical guidelines are needed because the experiment involves humans or people. Both answers are accepted.
28. stress — Participants must not be put under unnecessary stress. This is a common academic and health-related IELTS word.
29. graph — The results should be shown in a graph. The clue is that the results need to be presented visually.
30. evaluate — The final stage is to evaluate the research. A verb is required, so “evaluation” would be incorrect.
Trainer’s Note: Part 3 is where many students lose control. The conversation moves quickly, and both speakers may agree, disagree, correct themselves, or change direction. Do not depend on single words. Follow the full meaning.
Questions 31–40: Health Benefits of Dance
31. creativity — Dance is connected with improved creativity. The answer is a noun, so the word must fit grammatically in the notes.
32. therapy — Dance can be used as therapy. This means it may help people physically, mentally, or emotionally.
33. fitness — Dance is suitable even for people with low levels of fitness. This is a common IELTS health topic word.
34. balance — Dance can improve balance, which is especially useful for older people because it reduces the risk of falling.
35. brain — Remembering dance steps can help the brain. This answer is simple, but students sometimes miss it because Part 4 moves quickly.
36. motivation — Dance can increase motivation to exercise. This means people are more willing to continue being active.
37. isolation — Dance can reduce isolation, especially among older people. This means it can help people feel less lonely.
38. calories — A Zumba session can burn many calories. Check the plural form carefully.
39. obesity — The study focused on women with obesity. This is a common health-related academic word.
40. habit — Zumba became a habit for the participants because they enjoyed it and continued regularly.
Important Vocabulary from Cambridge IELTS 16 Listening Test 2
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| digital format | A form that can be stored or viewed on a computer or device |
| frame | A structure around a photograph or picture |
| payment | Money paid for a product or service |
| fragile | Easily broken or damaged |
| background | The part of a picture behind the main subject |
| focus | The clarity or sharpness of an image |
| ethical guidelines | Rules about what is morally acceptable in research |
| stress | Mental or emotional pressure |
| evaluate | To judge or assess carefully |
| creativity | The ability to produce new ideas |
| therapy | Treatment for physical or emotional problems |
| fitness | The condition of being physically healthy |
| isolation | Being alone or separated from others |
| obesity | A medical condition involving excessive body weight |
Common IELTS Listening Traps in This Test
- Wrong word form: pay instead of payment, evaluation instead of evaluate
- Spelling mistakes: background, creativity, motivation, obesity
- British/American spelling: colour and color are both accepted
- Singular/plural issues: calorie vs calories, day vs days
- Distractors: information may be corrected or changed later
- Part 3 discussion traps: two speakers may disagree or change their opinion
IELTS Listening Tips for Cambridge 16 Test 2
- Read the questions before the recording starts.
- Predict the grammar of the answer before listening.
- Do not write the first possible answer without waiting for confirmation.
- Watch out for words such as “but”, “actually”, “however”, and “instead”.
- In Part 3, follow both speakers carefully.
- In Part 4, focus on keywords and note completion grammar.
- Check spelling and plural forms before transferring answers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cambridge IELTS 16 Listening Test 2 difficult?
It is moderate. Part 1 is simple, but Parts 2 and 3 require careful attention to distractors, matching, and speaker opinion. Part 4 requires good spelling and academic vocabulary.
Can I write “color” instead of “colour”?
Yes. Both “color” and “colour” are accepted in IELTS Listening.
Can I write “10 days” instead of “ten days”?
Yes. Both forms are accepted for Question 9.
Are Questions 19 and 20 in any order?
Yes. Questions 19 and 20 can be written as B and C in either order.
How should I review this test?
First check your score. Then listen again to the questions you got wrong. Identify the distractor, note the correct paraphrase, and write down the reason for each mistake.
Related IELTS Listening Articles
- Cambridge IELTS 16 Listening Test 1 Answers with Detailed Explanations
- Cambridge IELTS 16 Listening Test 3 Answers with Detailed Explanations
- Cambridge IELTS 16 Listening Test 4 Answers with Detailed Explanations
- IELTS Listening Multiple Choice Tips
- Common IELTS Listening Spelling Mistakes
Final Advice from English Guru Campus
Cambridge IELTS 16 Listening Test 2 is a useful practice test because it checks form completion, multiple choice, matching, flow-chart completion, and note completion. These are common IELTS Listening question types.
If you lost marks in Part 1, focus on spelling and word form. If you lost marks in Part 2 or Part 3, focus on distractors and paraphrasing. If you lost marks in Part 4, improve your academic vocabulary and practise note completion regularly.
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