All answers on this page include the question number, correct answer and a brief explanation of where to find it in the passage or audio. Use these alongside the original Cambridge IELTS books for the best practice experience.
Test 1 Listening Answers with Clear Explanations
Find all 40 Cambridge IELTS 21 Test 1 Listening answers with transcript-based explanations. This answer key applies to both Academic and General Training candidates.
Cambridge IELTS 21 Test 1 Listening Answer Key
Use this answer key for quick marking. Official alternatives are shown with a slash. Open the part sections for transcript-based explanations.
Part 1: Oyster Bay Sailing Club Courses
Questions 1 to 10Part 2: Working as a Makeup Trainee
Questions 11 to 20Part 3: Ocean Biodiversity Research
Questions 21 to 30Part 4: Sources of Rubber
Questions 31 to 40Part 1: Oyster Bay Sailing Club Courses
A caller compares beginner sailing courses. The conversation covers group sizes, course content, prices, equipment and club facilities.
1Taster day - Other information: small groups (maximum ____ people)
Answer: 10 / ten
The adviser says groups usually contain 8 people, but the maximum is 10. The word maximum makes 10 the answer. The official key also accepts ten.
2Level 1 - Basic theory, e.g. understanding the ____ and tides
Answer: weather
The Level 1 theory covers the weather and the tides. Weather fits the grammar because the gap needs a noun before and tides.
3Level 1 - Basic sailing skills including ____ information
Answer: safety
The instructor makes sure learners understand safety information. Basic sailing skills include this information before anyone goes onto the water.
4Level 1 - Cost: £200, a ____ is available for club members
Answer: discount
The standard price is £200. Club members pay less because a discount is available to them.
5Level 1 - The course is all inclusive and includes a useful ____
Answer: dictionary
The course includes a dictionary of sailing terms. The speaker calls it useful because it contains helpful pictures.
6Level 1 - Other information: a ____ is provided at the end of the course for all participants
Answer: certificate
Every participant receives a certificate after completing the course. The phrase at the end of the course points to this result.
7Bring suitable clothing, a ____ and toiletries (e.g. shampoo).
Answer: towel
The club provides wetsuits and life jackets. Learners must bring their own towel, clothing and toiletries.
8There is a ____ at the club.
Answer: cafe / café
The man asks whether the club has somewhere to buy food. The adviser confirms that there is a cafe selling sandwiches, cakes and snacks. The official key also accepts café.
9Online training ____ are recommended.
Answer: videos
The adviser recommends online training videos. They help beginners understand what to expect before the course.
10____ are available for course participants.
Answer: lockers
The man needs somewhere secure for valuables. The adviser confirms that lockers are available in the changing rooms.
Part 2: Working as a Makeup Trainee
A film-industry makeup artist explains how trainees begin their careers. She covers working conditions, professional behaviour, equipment and common duties.
11What should trainees always expect to get when working on low-budget short films?
Answer: A - travel expenses
Low-budget trainees may work without pay or catering. However, the speaker says their transport costs should be covered. This means travel expenses is correct.
12According to the speaker, on big-budget films trainees may get experience of
Answer: B - working with different ethnicities.
A large production may involve people from different age groups and ethnicities. Hair styling is separate, and trainees should not expect special-effects work.
13The speaker says a problem for makeup artists is
Answer: A - dealing with difficult directors.
The department can be stressful when directors are impatient or unhappy. The speaker does not describe supervisors shouting or long periods with nothing to do.
14How did the speaker feel when she met famous actors for the first time?
Answer: A - very shy
The speaker felt overwhelmed and could hardly speak around famous actors. This reaction is closest to feeling very shy.
15What advice does the speaker give about makeup kits?
Answer: A - Always carry a basic kit with you.
Trainees must keep a makeup kit with them at all times. Only the essential products are needed, so a basic kit is enough.
16What advice does the speaker give about creating a portfolio?
Answer: C - Get permission to use photos.
Trainees should photograph their work, but they need approval from the makeup designer. Approval means permission to use the photographs.
17Prepping an actor
Answer: C - working quickly
An actor must be prepared without wasting time. Otherwise, the makeup artist falls behind schedule. This duty therefore requires working quickly.
18Continuity
Answer: A - being well-organised
Continuity records include photographs, digital logs and printed copies. They must remain in good order for later reshoots, so organisation is essential.
19General
Answer: B - being flexible
General duties can change from making drinks to doing laundry. A trainee must accept different requests, which requires flexibility.
20Applying makeup
Answer: C - working quickly
A trainee may apply makeup to dozens of extras. The speaker says they must keep a swift pace, so working quickly is required.
Part 3: Ocean Biodiversity Research
Two students discuss an ocean biodiversity lecture and research project. They then evaluate articles, podcasts, a documentary and a book.
21Which TWO features of the lecture on ocean biodiversity had the greatest impact on the students?
Answer: B or D
The students praise examples given at a global level. Those examples show how wide-ranging the threats are, which supports the broad focus of the examples.
22Which TWO features of the lecture on ocean biodiversity had the greatest impact on the students?
Answer: D or B
They were impressed by long-term issues that receive little attention now. This refers to the type of issues discussed. B and D may be entered in either order for Questions 21 and 22.
23Which TWO details about the research project particularly impressed the students?
Answer: C or E
The students mention improved tracking systems and robots used in research. These are examples of new technology.
24Which TWO details about the research project particularly impressed the students?
Answer: E or C
They are impressed that many experts from different backgrounds worked together. This supports the large range of specialists involved. C and E may be entered in either order for Questions 23 and 24.
25Article on invasive lionfish
Answer: G - This gives insufficient evidence for its claims.
The lionfish article makes serious claims but gives little information to support them. The students therefore think it provides insufficient evidence.
26Documentary on microplastics
Answer: B - This is now rather outdated.
The microplastics documentary was made 10 years earlier. The students say it was showing its age, so they consider it outdated.
27Podcast on ocean pollution
Answer: F - This is too predictable to be useful.
The podcast repeats familiar points about plastic and pesticides. The students say it states the obvious, which makes it too predictable to be useful.
28Book on coastal ecosystems
Answer: H - This gives a clear explanation of the problems.
The coastal ecosystems book is detailed but improves their understanding. Its summary and diagrams explain the problems clearly.
29Article on metal toxicity
Answer: A - This is aimed at a very specialist audience.
The metal toxicity article uses difficult specialist material. Both students struggle to follow it, showing that it targets a specialist audience.
30Podcast on floating marine cities
Answer: E - This does not give a balanced account.
The floating cities podcast describes benefits but ignores environmental harm. That creates a one-sided account.
Part 4: Sources of Rubber
A lecture explains why industry depends on rubber. It covers supply problems, disease, synthetic rubber and alternative natural sources.
31Three resources essential for industrial civilisation: ____, fossil fuels and rubber.
Answer: metal / metals
The lecture names 3 essential industrial resources. It lists metal first, followed by fossil fuels and rubber. The official key also accepts metals.
32Natural rubber: the growth of the Pará rubber tree is ____.
Answer: slow
A rubber tree needs 8 to 10 years before producing rubber. This long growing period makes the process slow.
33Production cannot easily be adjusted because of increasing or decreasing ____.
Answer: demand
Farmers cannot respond quickly when demand rises or falls. Rubber trees must be planted many years before production begins.
34The tree only grows near the ____.
Answer: equator
Rubber trees need a narrow range of temperature, rainfall and altitude. As a result, they grow only around the equator.
35It is very difficult to ____ rubber after production.
Answer: recycle
Used rubber can technically be processed again, but the lecture says this is very difficult. The missing verb is recycle.
36Lack of genetic diversity creates a danger of disease caused by a ____.
Answer: fungus
Low genetic diversity makes rubber trees vulnerable to disease. The most dangerous disease threat described is a fungus.
37New threats include extreme ____ events.
Answer: weather
South-East Asia has faced repeated extreme weather. Weather correctly completes the phrase extreme weather events.
38Synthetic rubber is less ____ than natural rubber.
Answer: strong
Synthetic rubber works for some products, but it is not as strong as natural rubber. That weakness prevents it from replacing natural rubber everywhere.
39A wild flower (a type of dandelion) has rubber in its ____.
Answer: roots
The dandelion-like plant contains rubber inside its roots. The plural form matches the script and the official answer key.
40It can be grown in many locations and does not require good ____.
Answer: soil
Dandelions can grow in many places and do not need rich soil. The question paraphrases rich as good.
Academic and General Training Listening Answers
Are the Cambridge IELTS 21 Academic and GT Test 1 Listening Answers the Same?
Yes. Academic and General Training candidates use the same Cambridge IELTS 21 Test 1 Listening recording, questions and answer key. The Reading and Writing tests are different.
Can I Use This Page for Cambridge IELTS 21 General Training Test 1?
Yes. Every answer and explanation on this page applies to the General Training Listening test.
Are Alternative Answers Included?
Yes. We show alternatives only when they are accepted for this test. Examples include 10 or ten, cafe or café, and metal or metals.
What to Do After Marking
Label each error as a listening error, spelling error, distractor error, or instruction error. Replay only the difficult part after completing one full timed attempt.