Cambridge IELTS 18 Academic Listening Test 1 Answers & Explanations
Cambridge IELTS 18 Academic Listening Test 1 Answers & Explanations
This guide provides the complete answers and clear explanations for Cambridge IELTS 18 Academic Listening Test 1.
Each answer includes:
- Strategy
- Keywords
- Exact transcript location
- Explanation
- Correct answer
How This Guide Is Structured
Strategy
The strategy explains the most effective way to approach each IELTS Listening question type.
Keywords
Keywords help you predict what information you need to listen for and recognise important paraphrases in the recording.
Exact Transcript Location
Each answer identifies the relevant part of the listening transcript and the key sentence or idea where the answer appears.
Explanation
The explanation shows how the information in the recording leads to the correct answer and, where necessary, why the distractors are incorrect.
Correct Answer
The final answer appears at the end of every question.
Listening Part 1
Transport Survey
Part 1 is a conversation about a transport survey. Sadie Jones answers questions about travelling by bus, car and bicycle.
Questions 1–10: Note Completion
Strategy
For note-completion questions:
- Read the notes before the recording starts.
- Predict the type of answer required: name, date, place, noun, adjective or number.
- Listen carefully for corrections and changes of mind.
- Write exactly what you hear.
- Follow the word limit: ONE WORD AND/OR A NUMBER.
- Check spelling carefully, especially names and postcodes.
Question 1
Postcode: ______
Keywords
postcode, Sadie Jones, address
Exact Transcript Location
Listening Part 1 — beginning of the transport survey
The interviewer asks Sadie for her postcode.
Explanation
This is a straightforward form-completion question.
The main challenge is accurately identifying the combination of letters and numbers.
Because postcodes contain several characters, listen carefully to every letter and number.
So, the answer is: DW30 7YZ
Also accepted: DW307YZ
Question 2
Date of bus journey: ______
Keywords
date, today, April, 24th, 25th
Exact Transcript Location
Listening Part 1 — discussion about today's bus journey
The interviewer suggests that it is the 24th of April.
Sadie initially questions this and mentions the 25th, but then corrects herself and agrees that the interviewer is right.
Explanation
This question contains a classic IELTS Listening distractor.
You hear both:
- 24th
- 25th
However, Sadie corrects herself and confirms that the correct date is the 24th of April.
Always listen carefully for correction signals such as:
- actually
- no
- you're right
- sorry
- I mean
So, the answer is: 24 April
Accepted forms include:
- 24 April
- 24th April
- April 24th
- 24/04
- 04/24
Question 3
Reason for trip: shopping and visit to the ______
Keywords
reason for trip, shopping, main reason, visit
Exact Transcript Location
Listening Part 1 — reason for travelling into the city
Sadie explains that she did some shopping, but the main reason she came was to go to the dentist.
Explanation
The recording mentions shopping first, but shopping has already been provided in the notes.
The missing information is the other reason for the trip.
So, the answer is: dentist
Question 4
Travelled by bus because cost of ______ too high
Keywords
bus, driving, cost, expensive, difficult to find
Exact Transcript Location
Listening Part 1 — why Sadie stopped driving into the city
Sadie explains that she stopped driving because parking was difficult to find and it cost too much.
Explanation
The question focuses specifically on cost.
The thing that costs too much is not the bus or petrol.
It is parking.
So, the answer is: parking
Question 5
Got on bus at ______ Street
Keywords
bus stop, Street, start journey, spelling
Exact Transcript Location
Listening Part 1 — starting point of the journey
Sadie says that she started at the bus stop on Claxby Street.
The interviewer then checks the spelling.
Explanation
When IELTS speakers spell a word immediately after saying it, that is a strong signal that the word may be an answer.
Be especially careful with place names because incorrect spelling can lose the mark.
So, the answer is: Claxby
Question 6
Bus today was ______
Keywords
complaint, bus today, on time, morning
Exact Transcript Location
Listening Part 1 — complaints about the bus service
Sadie says the bus is convenient and quick when it is on time, but that morning it was late.
Explanation
The words convenient and quick describe the service positively.
However, the question asks specifically about today's bus and appears under the section about complaints.
The relevant problem is that it was late.
So, the answer is: late
Question 7
Frequency of buses in the ______
Keywords
frequency, timetable, during the day, dinner, cinema
Exact Transcript Location
Listening Part 1 — comments about the timetable
Sadie says she mainly travels during the day, but when she is in town in the evening, she has to wait a long time because there are fewer buses.
Explanation
“During the day” is a distractor.
The complaint about frequency relates specifically to buses in the evening.
So, the answer is: evening
Question 8
Goes to the ______ by car
Keywords
car use, mainly, goes to, shopping
Exact Transcript Location
Listening Part 1 — travelling by car
Sadie says she has a car but does not use it very often.
She mainly uses it to go to the supermarket.
Explanation
The recording also mentions that her husband drives to the golf club.
However, the question asks where Sadie goes by car.
So, the answer is: supermarket
Question 9
Dislikes travelling by bike in the city centre because of the ______
Keywords
bike, city centre, dislikes, cycling
Exact Transcript Location
Listening Part 1 — travelling by bicycle
Sadie explains that she is not keen on cycling in the city because of all the pollution.
Explanation
The question asks for the reason she dislikes cycling there.
The direct reason given is pollution.
So, the answer is: pollution
Question 10
Doesn't own a bike because of a lack of ______
Keywords
doesn't own, bike, flat, second floor, hall
Exact Transcript Location
Listening Part 1 — why Sadie does not currently have a bicycle
Sadie says she lives in a second-floor flat that does not have any storage.
Explanation
She would like a bicycle, but she has nowhere suitable to keep it.
The required noun after “lack of” is storage.
So, the answer is: storage
Listening Part 2
Becoming a Volunteer for ACE
Part 2 is a talk to people considering becoming volunteers for the ACE voluntary organisation.
The speaker discusses volunteer requirements, training and different areas of voluntary work.
Questions 11–13: Multiple Choice
Strategy
For multiple-choice questions:
- Read all options before listening.
- Underline the difference between A, B and C.
- Expect several options to be mentioned in the recording.
- Do not choose an option simply because you hear the same vocabulary.
- Listen for the speaker's final meaning.
Question 11
Why does the speaker apologise about the seats?
A. They are too small.
B. There are not enough of them.
C. Some of them are very close together.
Keywords
seats, apologise, extra seats, back of room, squashed
Exact Transcript Location
Listening Part 2 — opening of the talk
The speaker explains that extra seats have been brought in so nobody needs to stand, but people at the back may be a bit squashed.
Explanation
There are enough seats, so B is incorrect.
Nothing indicates that the seats themselves are too small, so A is incorrect.
The problem is that the extra seats have made the seating arrangement crowded.
So, the answer is: C
Question 12
What does the speaker say about the age of volunteers?
A. The age of volunteers is less important than other factors.
B. Young volunteers are less reliable than older ones.
C. Most volunteers are about 60 years old.
Keywords
age, 16, 60, reliability, other considerations
Exact Transcript Location
Listening Part 2 — volunteer age requirements
The speaker says volunteers can be as young as 16 or 60 and over.
The type of work matters, while considerations such as reliability are crucial.
Explanation
The speaker does not say that younger volunteers are less reliable.
The speaker also does not say that most volunteers are around 60.
Instead, age is presented as less important than qualities such as reliability.
So, the answer is: A
Question 13
What does the speaker say about training?
A. It is continuous.
B. It is conducted by a manager.
C. It takes place online.
Keywords
training, before, during, after, experienced volunteers
Exact Transcript Location
Listening Part 2 — explanation of volunteer training
The speaker says training occurs before, during and after periods of voluntary work.
Explanation
Training does not stop once the volunteer begins working.
It is also face-to-face rather than online, and experienced volunteers often conduct it instead of managers.
Therefore, the important idea is that training is ongoing or continuous.
So, the answer is: A
Questions 14–15: Choose TWO Letters
Strategy
For Choose TWO questions:
- Treat the five options as five separate statements.
- Do not stop after hearing one possible answer.
- Watch for negative statements that eliminate options.
- Remember that the two correct letters may be written in either order.
Questions 14–15
Which TWO issues does the speaker ask the audience to consider before applying to be volunteers?
A. their financial situation
B. their level of commitment
C. their work experience
D. their ambition
E. their availability
Keywords
before applying, dedication, enough hours, income, work experience
Exact Transcript Location
Listening Part 2 — advice before applying
The speaker says applicants need enough hours in the day for their chosen role and that ACE values dedication.
The speaker specifically says income is not something the organisation asks about.
Explanation
Commitment matches the idea of dedication.
Availability matches having enough time to perform the role.
Financial situation and work experience are discussed, but they are not the two key issues applicants are asked to consider.
So, the answers are: B and E
Questions 16–20: Matching
Strategy
For matching questions:
- Read the list of possible answers first.
- Identify the central meaning of each option.
- Listen for paraphrases rather than identical vocabulary.
- Cross out answers once they have clearly been used.
- Pay attention to skills, qualities and experience associated with each activity.
Question 16
Fundraising
Keywords
fundraising, imaginative, novel, creativity
Exact Transcript Location
Listening Part 2 — fundraising
The speaker says ACE would be delighted to have someone who can come up with an imaginative or novel way of fundraising.
Explanation
“Imaginative or novel” is a direct paraphrase of original, new ideas.
So, the answer is: B — original, new ideas
Question 17
Litter collection
Keywords
outdoor, walk, long periods, uphill, active
Exact Transcript Location
Listening Part 2 — litter collection
The speaker explains that volunteers may need to walk for long periods and sometimes uphill.
Explanation
Walking for extended periods and uphill requires physical fitness.
So, the answer is: G — a good level of fitness
Question 18
‘Playmates’
Keywords
children, staying healthy, nutrition, instructions
Exact Transcript Location
Listening Part 2 — Playmates volunteering
The speaker says volunteers help children learn how to stay healthy and that knowledge of nutrition is useful.
Explanation
Nutrition relates directly to understanding food and diet.
Having children yourself is specifically described as unnecessary, so parenting skills are a distractor.
So, the answer is: D — an understanding of food and diet
Question 19
Story club
Keywords
disabled children, acting, performances, theatrical
Exact Transcript Location
Listening Part 2 — story club
The speaker says this role may suit people who have done some acting because the group puts on performances.
Explanation
Acting experience corresponds directly with experience on stage.
So, the answer is: A — experience on stage
Question 20
First aid
Keywords
information, steps, details, remember
Exact Transcript Location
Listening Part 2 — first-aid volunteering
The speaker says volunteers initially need to absorb a large amount of information without forgetting important steps or details.
Explanation
The essential quality is therefore the ability to remember information accurately.
So, the answer is: F — a good memory
Listening Part 3
Talk on Jobs in Fashion Design
Part 3 is a conversation between Hugo and Chantal after attending a talk about careers in fashion.
They discuss the job market, careers advice, unpaid work and lessons from the speaker's early career.
Questions 21–26: Multiple Choice
Strategy
Part 3 multiple-choice questions often contain several distractors because two speakers discuss the same topic.
To answer them:
- Identify whose opinion the question asks about.
- Listen for agreement and disagreement.
- Notice corrections or rejected suggestions.
- Match meaning rather than isolated words.
- Pay attention to phrases such as:
- I agree
- actually
- but
- however
- I think
- we'll have to differ
Question 21
What problem did Chantal have at the start of the talk?
A. Her view of the speaker was blocked.
B. She was unable to find an empty seat.
C. The students next to her were talking.
Keywords
moved seats, tall, in front, couldn't see
Exact Transcript Location
Listening Part 3 — opening conversation
Chantal explains that she arrived early and got a seat, but a very tall man sat directly in front of her.
Explanation
She successfully found a seat, so B is incorrect.
Hugo suggests that people beside her may have been talking, but Chantal rejects this.
The real problem was that the tall person blocked her view.
So, the answer is: A
Question 22
What were Hugo and Chantal surprised to hear about the job market?
A. It has become more competitive than it used to be.
B. There is more variety in it than they had realised.
C. Some areas of it are more exciting than others.
Keywords
job market, whole range, hadn't thought of, career options
Exact Transcript Location
Listening Part 3 — discussion of the fashion job market
Hugo says there is a whole range of areas they had never thought of, such as fashion journalism.
Chantal agrees that she did not expect so many career options.
Explanation
They already knew the field was competitive.
What surprised them was the number and variety of possible careers.
So, the answer is: B
Question 23
Hugo and Chantal agree that the speaker's message was
A. unfair to them at times.
B. hard for them to follow.
C. critical of the industry.
Keywords
strong message, harsh, first years, lot to learn
Exact Transcript Location
Listening Part 3 — reaction to the speaker's message
Chantal says the speaker's message was a bit harsh, and Hugo points out that they are only first-year students and still have much to learn.
Explanation
Their comments suggest that they felt some of the speaker's criticism of students was excessive or unfair.
There is no suggestion that the talk was difficult to understand.
So, the answer is: A
Question 24
What do Hugo and Chantal criticise about their school careers advice?
A. when they received the advice
B. how much advice was given
C. who gave the advice
Keywords
career talks, inspiring, experts, people like today's speaker
Exact Transcript Location
Listening Part 3 — school careers advice
Hugo says they had numerous talks, so quantity was not the problem.
Chantal also says they received them at the right time.
Their criticism is that the talks were not given by experts who really understood the careers.
Explanation
Timing was satisfactory, eliminating A.
They received many talks, eliminating B.
The weakness concerned the people delivering the advice.
So, the answer is: C
Question 25
When discussing their future, Hugo and Chantal disagree on
A. which is the best career in fashion.
B. when to choose a career in fashion.
C. why they would like a career in fashion.
Keywords
keep an open mind, till the end, pick an area now
Exact Transcript Location
Listening Part 3 — future career plans
Chantal wants to complete the course while keeping an open mind.
Hugo believes it is better to select an area of the fashion industry now and develop expertise in it.
Explanation
They disagree about timing.
Chantal wants to decide later; Hugo wants to decide now.
So, the answer is: B
Question 26
How does Hugo feel about being an unpaid assistant?
A. He is realistic about the practice.
B. He feels the practice is dishonest.
C. He thinks others want to change the practice.
Keywords
unpaid assistants, long time, prepared
Exact Transcript Location
Listening Part 3 — unpaid work
Hugo accepts that they are likely to work as unpaid assistants for some time and says that he is prepared for it.
Explanation
He may not particularly like the situation, but he accepts it as a reality of the industry.
This makes his attitude realistic rather than angry or idealistic.
So, the answer is: A
Questions 27–28: Choose TWO Letters
Strategy
Listen for the mistakes the speaker herself admits, rather than things Hugo and Chantal merely discuss.
Questions 27–28
Which TWO mistakes did the speaker admit she made in her first job?
A. being dishonest to her employer
B. paying too much attention to how she looked
C. expecting to become well known
D. trying to earn a lot of money
E. openly disliking her client
Keywords
personal dresser, own appearance, client, negative feelings
Exact Transcript Location
Listening Part 3 — speaker's first fashion job
Hugo and Chantal discuss how the speaker focused too much on her own appearance instead of her client's.
They also explain that she failed to hide her negative feelings towards the client.
Explanation
The two admitted mistakes were:
- concentrating excessively on her own appearance;
- openly showing that she disliked her client.
The recording specifically says she was looking for experience rather than financial reward, eliminating D.
So, the answers are: B and E
Questions 29–30: Choose TWO Letters
Strategy
For these questions, focus on the pieces of retail information that both Hugo and Chantal agree would help a fashion designer.
Questions 29–30
Which TWO pieces of retail information do Hugo and Chantal agree would be useful?
A. the reasons people return fashion items
B. how much time people have to shop for clothes
C. fashion designs people want but can't find
D. the best time of year for fashion buying
E. the most popular fashion sizes
Keywords
gap in market, consumers looking for, returns, garments
Exact Transcript Location
Listening Part 3 — benefits of working in retail
Hugo says it would be useful to identify a gap in the market: something customers want but shops do not stock.
They also agree that learning why customers return clothes would be useful.
Explanation
A gap in the market corresponds to fashion designs people want but cannot find.
Learning why garments are returned corresponds to the reasons people return fashion items.
So, the answers are: A and C
Listening Part 4
Elephant Translocation
Part 4 is an academic-style presentation about relocating elephants in Malawi from Majete National Park to Nkhotakota Wildlife Park.
Questions 31–40: Note Completion
Strategy
The instruction says:
Write ONE WORD ONLY for each answer.
For Part 4 note completion:
- Read the complete notes before listening.
- Predict the grammar of each blank.
- Follow the order of the lecture.
- Listen for synonyms and paraphrases.
- Write only one word.
- Check singular and plural forms carefully.
Question 31
Damage to ______ in the park
Keywords
overpopulation, damage, park, repair, elephants
Exact Transcript Location
Listening Part 4 — problems caused by elephant overpopulation
The speaker explains that elephants regularly knocked down structures surrounding the park, which then had to be repaired.
Explanation
The missing plural noun is what the elephants were knocking down.
So, the answer is: fences
Question 32
A suitable group of elephants from the same ______ was selected
Keywords
group, eight to twenty, relationships, same
Exact Transcript Location
Listening Part 4 — selecting elephants for relocation
The elephants were moved in groups of eight to twenty, with all elephants in each group belonging to one family.
Explanation
Elephant relationships are important, so related animals were moved together.
So, the answer is: family
Question 33
Vets and park staff made use of ______ to help guide the elephants into an open plain
Keywords
vets, park rangers, flew over, guide, open plain
Exact Transcript Location
Listening Part 4 — rounding up the elephants
The team flew over the park and directed the selected elephant group towards a designated open plain.
Explanation
The method of transport used above the park provides the required answer.
So, the answer is: helicopters
Question 34
The process had to be completed quickly to reduce ______
Keywords
quickly, tranquilliser, minimise
Exact Transcript Location
Listening Part 4 — immobilising the elephants
The vets had to tranquilise the elephants quickly to minimise the stress caused by the operation.
Explanation
The question uses reduce, while the recording uses the equivalent idea minimise.
So, the answer is: stress
Question 35
Elephants had to be turned on their ______ to avoid damage to their lungs
Keywords
lungs, suffocation, chest, position, turned
Exact Transcript Location
Listening Part 4 — caring for tranquilised elephants
The speaker explains that elephants should not remain on their chests because their lungs could be crushed.
They therefore had to be placed on their sides.
Explanation
The blank follows their, and the recording explicitly states the correct body position.
So, the answer is: sides
Question 36
Elephants' ______ had to be monitored constantly
Keywords
monitored, breaths per minute, medical attention
Exact Transcript Location
Listening Part 4 — veterinary monitoring
One person stayed with each elephant, and the team carefully monitored the number of breaths the animal took.
Explanation
“Breaths per minute” tells us that what was being monitored was the elephant's breathing.
So, the answer is: breathing
Question 37
Data including the size of their tusks and ______ was taken
Keywords
measurements, tusks, measurements taken
Exact Transcript Location
Listening Part 4 — recording elephant measurements
The team measured each elephant's tusks and also measured its feet.
Explanation
The note already includes tusks, so the second item is required.
So, the answer is: feet
Question 38
______ opportunities
Keywords
Nkhotakota, community, living standards, prospects
Exact Transcript Location
Listening Part 4 — advantages of the relocation project
After the elephants were relocated, employment prospects improved significantly for the local community.
Explanation
The phrase in the notes is “______ opportunities”.
The noun employment naturally forms the phrase employment opportunities and matches the speaker's reference to improved employment prospects.
So, the answer is: employment
Question 39
A reduction in the number of poachers and ______
Keywords
poachers, income, volunteered, give up
Exact Transcript Location
Listening Part 4 — reduction in poaching
Former poachers gained more reliable sources of income and many voluntarily surrendered the items they had previously used for poaching.
Explanation
Those items were their weapons.
So, the answer is: weapons
Question 40
An increase in ______ as a contributor to GDP
Keywords
GDP, draw, visitors, elephants, economy
Exact Transcript Location
Listening Part 4 — economic benefits of the elephant project
The speaker says the elephants have been a major draw for tourism and explains that this sector makes a significant contribution to GDP.
Explanation
The blank needs the economic activity that increased because of interest in the elephants.
So, the answer is: tourism
Cambridge IELTS 18 Academic Listening Test 1 Answer Key
Listening Part 1
- DW30 7YZ / DW307YZ
- 24 April
- dentist
- parking
- Claxby
- late
- evening
- supermarket
- pollution
- storage
Listening Part 2
- C
- A
- A
- B / E
- B / E
- B
- G
- D
- A
- F
Listening Part 3
- A
- B
- A
- C
- B
- A
- B / E
- B / E
- A / C
- A / C
Listening Part 4
- fences
- family
- helicopters
- stress
- sides
- breathing
- feet
- employment
- weapons
- tourism
Bonus IELTS Listening Tips
1. Watch Out for Corrections
IELTS speakers often give one answer and then correct it.
Question 2 is a perfect example.
The conversation mentions both the 25th and the 24th, but the final confirmed date is 24 April.
Do not write an answer immediately after hearing the first number.
Wait for the speaker to finish the idea.
2. Expect Paraphrases
The exact words in the question are often different from the recording.
| Question wording | Listening clue |
|---|---|
| original, new ideas | imaginative or novel |
| good level of fitness | walk for long periods, sometimes uphill |
| understanding of food and diet | know something about nutrition |
| good memory | not forget important steps |
| more variety | whole range of areas |
| blocked view | tall person sitting directly in front |
| reduce stress | minimise stress |
| employment opportunities | employment prospects |
| designs people cannot find | gap in the market |
Do not wait only for words that exactly match the question.
Listen for matching meaning.
3. Identify Distractors
IELTS regularly mentions incorrect options before revealing the correct answer.
For example, Question 8 mentions:
- the supermarket
- the golf club
But Sadie goes to the supermarket.
The golf club is where her husband goes.
Always check who or what the question refers to.
4. Pay Attention to Negative Language
Words such as:
- not
- don't
- doesn't
- isn't
- rather than
- instead
- but
- however
can completely change the answer.
In Question 18, for example, volunteers do not need to have children themselves.
That helps eliminate parenting skills as the answer.
5. Follow the Word Limit
Part 4 says:
ONE WORD ONLY
That means:
- Correct: helicopters
- Incorrect: the helicopters
Even when the meaning is correct, exceeding the word limit can make the answer wrong.
6. Predict the Grammar
Before the recording begins, examine the words around each blank.
For example:
a lack of ______
The blank will probably require a noun.
bus today was ______
The blank will probably require an adjective.
______ opportunities
The blank probably requires a noun that can naturally modify “opportunities”.
Predicting grammar helps you recognise the answer faster.
7. Listen for Spelling
Names, addresses and unusual place names are frequently spelled in Part 1.
In Question 5, Claxby is repeated and spelled out.
When you hear spelling, concentrate carefully because IELTS often tests exactly that information.
8. Do Not Choose an MCQ Answer Too Early
In multiple-choice questions, all options may be mentioned.
For Question 21, Hugo suggests that Chantal may have been disturbed by people talking.
But Chantal immediately rejects that suggestion.
The actual problem was that her view was blocked.
Wait until the complete discussion finishes before selecting your answer.
9. Listen for Agreement and Disagreement
This is especially important in Part 3.
For Question 25:
- Chantal wants to keep an open mind until later.
- Hugo wants to choose a specialist area now.
They therefore disagree about when to choose a career area.
Whenever two speakers are involved, identify exactly where they agree and where they disagree.
10. Follow the Order of the Questions
IELTS Listening questions normally follow the order of the recording.
For Part 4, the answers progress through the elephant translocation story:
fences → family → helicopters → stress → sides → breathing → feet → employment → weapons → tourism
If you miss one answer, do not stop listening.
Move immediately to the next question so you do not lose several answers.
Final Review
Cambridge IELTS 18 Academic Listening Test 1 includes several important IELTS Listening question types:
- Note Completion
- Multiple Choice
- Choose TWO Letters
- Matching
- Academic Note Completion
The most important lesson is not simply to memorise the 40 answers.
Review:
- what clue introduced each answer
- which distractors appeared before the correct answer
- how the question paraphrased the recording
- where speakers corrected themselves
- where two speakers agreed or disagreed
- how the word limit affected the required answer
Understanding these patterns will make it much easier to handle similar questions in your next IELTS Listening practice.
