Cambridge IELTS 21 Test 2 Listening Answers and Explanations

14 min read Academic & General Training

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.

Cambridge IELTS 21 | Academic and GT Listening

Test 2 Listening Answers with Clear Explanations

Find all 40 Cambridge IELTS 21 Test 2 Listening answers with clear explanations. This answer key applies to both Academic and General Training candidates.

40Answers Explained
4Listening Parts
1 markFor Each Answer
AC + GTSame Listening Test
Complete the test before checking. Try the full recording once. Then use these explanations to understand every mistake.
Answers and scripts verified. IELTSBeacon checked the live Academic and GT tests, accepted answers, and Cambridge IELTS 21 audioscripts.

Cambridge IELTS 21 Test 2 Listening Answer Key

Use this answer key for quick marking. Accepted alternatives are shown with a slash. Read each part below for a clear explanation.

Part 1: One-day Classes at Steynford College

Questions 1 to 10
113 January / 13th January / 13 of January / 13th of January / the 13 January / the 13th January / the 13 of January / the 13th of January / 13.01 / 13.1
248 / forty-eight
3pizza
4India
5mirror
66 April / 6th April / 6 of April / 6th of April / the 6 April / the 6th April / the 6 of April / the 6th of April / 06.04 / 6.4
7natural
867.50 / sixty-seven fifty
9shirt
10hammer

Part 2: Local Walks and Melby Coal Mine

Questions 11 to 20
11B or E
12E or B
13C or D
14D or C
15F
16B
17D
18A
19H
20E

Part 3: Food Safety Course and Student Project

Questions 21 to 30
21B or E
22E or B
23C or D
24D or C
25A or C
26C or A
27C
28D
29F
30A

Part 4: Challenges Facing the Cruise Ship Industry

Questions 31 to 40
31pollution
32tax
33chocolate
34timing
35cost
36rules
37diving
38vegan
39wifi / Wi-Fi / Wi Fi
40videos

Part 1: One-day Classes at Steynford College

A caller asks about short college classes. The details cover dates, costs, course activities and items students must bring.

Completion StrategyPredict the missing word type. Follow the recording order and keep to the answer limit.

1Vietnamese food - Date: ____

Answer: 13 January / 13th January / 13 of January / 13th of January / the 13 January / the 13th January / the 13 of January / the 13th of January / 13.01 / 13.1

The recording gives 13 January as the date for Vietnamese food. The accepted forms include 13 January or 13th January or 13 of January or 13th of January or the 13 January or the 13th January or the 13 of January or the 13th of January or 13.01 or 13.1.

2Bread making - Cost: £____

Answer: 48 / forty-eight

The recording gives £48 as the cost of Bread making. The accepted forms include 48 or forty-eight.

3Bread making - Participants make white bread, sourdough and ____.

Answer: pizza

For Bread making, the recording gives this detail: Participants make white bread, sourdough and pizza. This confirms pizza as the missing answer.

4Face massage - The teacher trained in ____.

Answer: India

For Face massage, the recording gives this detail: The teacher trained in India. This confirms India as the missing answer.

5Face massage - Bring a ____.

Answer: mirror

The speaker says participants must bring mirror for Face massage. This confirms mirror as the missing answer.

6Candle making - Date: ____

Answer: 6 April / 6th April / 6 of April / 6th of April / the 6 April / the 6th April / the 6 of April / the 6th of April / 06.04 / 6.4

The recording gives 6 April as the date for Candle making. The accepted forms include 6 April or 6th April or 6 of April or 6th of April or the 6 April or the 6th April or the 6 of April or the 6th of April or 06.04 or 6.4.

7Candle making - Only ____ ingredients are used.

Answer: natural

For Candle making, the recording gives this detail: Only natural ingredients are used. This confirms natural as the missing answer.

8Silk painting - Cost: £____

Answer: 67.50 / sixty-seven fifty

The recording gives £67.50 as the cost of Silk painting. The accepted forms include 67.50 or sixty-seven fifty.

9Silk painting - Bring an apron or old ____.

Answer: shirt

For Silk painting, the recording gives this detail: Bring an apron or old shirt. This confirms shirt as the missing answer.

10DIY for beginners - Learn how to use a drill, saw and ____.

Answer: hammer

For DIY for beginners, the recording gives this detail: Learn how to use a drill, saw and hammer. This confirms hammer as the missing answer.

Part 2: Local Walks and Melby Coal Mine

A guide introduces walking routes and a former coal mine. The talk covers route features, visitor advice and places on the site map.

Choice and Matching StrategyListen for the speaker's final meaning. Do not choose an option because you hear one matching word.

11Which TWO pieces of advice are given about the Marsden Coastal Walk?

Answer: B or E

The recording links this point with Don't miss the ruins of a certain building. or Don't worry about getting lost.. The accepted choices may appear in either order.

12Which TWO pieces of advice are given about the Marsden Coastal Walk?

Answer: E or B

The recording links this point with Don't worry about getting lost. or Don't miss the ruins of a certain building.. The accepted choices may appear in either order.

13Which TWO things are said about the Melby Heritage Walk?

Answer: C or D

The recording links this point with This is a circular walk. or A tower stands on the site of an older structure.. The accepted choices may appear in either order.

14Which TWO things are said about the Melby Heritage Walk?

Answer: D or C

The recording links this point with A tower stands on the site of an older structure. or This is a circular walk.. The accepted choices may appear in either order.

15Exhibition

Answer: F

The relevant detail supports choice F. This matches the accepted answer for the question.

16Baths

Answer: B

The relevant detail supports choice B. This matches the accepted answer for the question.

17Tools

Answer: D

The relevant detail supports choice D. This matches the accepted answer for the question.

18Vehicles

Answer: A

The relevant detail supports choice A. This matches the accepted answer for the question.

19Ponies

Answer: H

The relevant detail supports choice H. This matches the accepted answer for the question.

20Education centre

Answer: E

The relevant detail supports choice E. This matches the accepted answer for the question.

Part 3: Food Safety Course and Student Project

Two students discuss a food safety course and their research project. They compare course content, practical work and project decisions.

Choice and Matching StrategyListen for the speaker's final meaning. Do not choose an option because you hear one matching word.

21Which TWO facts in the sessions on food safety were new information for Nadia and Fergus?

Answer: B or E

The recording links this point with the number of diseases caused by contaminated food or the result of treating animals with antibiotics. The accepted choices may appear in either order.

22Which TWO facts in the sessions on food safety were new information for Nadia and Fergus?

Answer: E or B

The recording links this point with the result of treating animals with antibiotics or the number of diseases caused by contaminated food. The accepted choices may appear in either order.

23Which TWO features of a project aiming to prevent food fraud impressed Fergus?

Answer: C or D

The recording links this point with the use of multiple tests on food items or the variety of dietary requirements included. The accepted choices may appear in either order.

24Which TWO features of a project aiming to prevent food fraud impressed Fergus?

Answer: D or C

The recording links this point with the variety of dietary requirements included or the use of multiple tests on food items. The accepted choices may appear in either order.

25Which TWO topics do both students recommend should be included in the course?

Answer: A or C

The recording links this point with sustainable fishing or global differences in consumption. The accepted choices may appear in either order.

26Which TWO topics do both students recommend should be included in the course?

Answer: C or A

The recording links this point with global differences in consumption or sustainable fishing. The accepted choices may appear in either order.

27Initial aim

Answer: C - This was easy to decide on.

The recording links this point with This was easy to decide on.. This makes C the correct choice.

28Literature review

Answer: D - This was helped by the guidelines provided.

The recording links this point with This was helped by the guidelines provided.. This makes D the correct choice.

29Product development

Answer: F - This involved selecting a new ingredient.

The recording links this point with This involved selecting a new ingredient.. This makes F the correct choice.

30Product production

Answer: A - This was challenging but enjoyable.

The recording links this point with This was challenging but enjoyable.. This makes A the correct choice.

Part 4: Challenges Facing the Cruise Ship Industry

A lecture examines modern cruise tourism. It explains environmental pressure, port problems, passenger expectations and possible industry changes.

Completion StrategyPredict the missing word type. Follow the recording order and keep to the answer limit.

31Problems with overtourism: ____ is one of the worst problems.

Answer: pollution

The recording states that problems with overtourism: pollution is one of the worst problems. This confirms pollution as the missing answer.

32A tourist ____ is being introduced in some cities to reduce numbers, e.g. Barcelona.

Answer: tax

The recording states that a tourist tax is being introduced in some cities to reduce numbers, e.g. Barcelona. This confirms tax as the missing answer.

33Bruges: action was taken to limit day trips from the nearby port because many shops were only stocking ____ and souvenirs.

Answer: chocolate

The recording states that bruges: action was taken to limit day trips from the nearby port because many shops were only stocking chocolate and souvenirs. This confirms chocolate as the missing answer.

34Dubrovnik limits the number of tourists by managing the ____ of cruise ship arrivals.

Answer: timing

The recording states that dubrovnik limits the number of tourists by managing the timing of cruise ship arrivals. This confirms timing as the missing answer.

35Problems of perception: there is an assumption about the ____ of cruises.

Answer: cost

The recording states that problems of perception: there is an assumption about the cost of cruises. This confirms cost as the missing answer.

36People think there may be too many ____.

Answer: rules

The recording states that people think there may be too many rules. This confirms rules as the missing answer.

37Cruise lines are attracting younger customers by offering activities such as boxing, ____ and well-being programmes.

Answer: diving

The recording states that cruise lines are attracting younger customers by offering activities such as boxing, diving and well-being programmes. This confirms diving as the missing answer.

38Cruise lines offer a diverse selection of food including ____ options.

Answer: vegan

The recording states that cruise lines offer a diverse selection of food including vegan options. This confirms vegan as the missing answer.

39Cruise lines provide reliable ____.

Answer: wifi / Wi-Fi / Wi Fi

The recording states that cruise lines provide reliable wifi. The accepted forms include wifi or Wi-Fi or Wi Fi.

40Cruise lines improve marketing on social media with high-quality ____.

Answer: videos

The recording states that cruise lines improve marketing on social media with high-quality videos. This confirms videos as the missing answer.

Academic and General Training Listening Answers

Are the Cambridge IELTS 21 Academic and GT Test 2 Listening Answers the Same?

Yes. Academic and General Training candidates use the same Cambridge IELTS 21 Test 2 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 2?

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 13 January or 13th January, and 48 or forty-eight.

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.

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