Listening practice - mistake log IELTS Practice Set 20 listening test 2
37/40
1 Recording 1
2 Recording 2
2.0.1 Q18. What is the most important requirement for volunteers at the festivals?
Transcript extract:
“We try to use volunteers who are flexible, though, because some festival events are held outdoors and the weather may affect the size of the audience and even whether the event can take place. So there can be changes at short notice. What’s essential, though, is being able to get on well with other people and also to deal with someone who’s behaving badly, as occasionally happens.
Your answer: C (Flexibility)
Correct answer: A (Interpersonal skills)
✅ Why?
The speaker first mentions flexibility (and IELTS often puts distractors before the correct answer). But then comes the keyword “What’s essential, though…” which signals the true answer.
So, the test checks if you notice the contrast between “try to use” vs. “What’s essential”.
⚠️ Your mistake: You stopped at “flexibility” and treated it as the final answer. But IELTS often hides the real answer in the second half of the sentence with phrases like “but, however, what’s essential, in fact”.
2.0.2 Q19. New volunteers will start working in the week beginning …
Transcript extract:
“Our plan is to get your work in September after a week’s training starting on the 2nd_. So, we’ll be timetabling you for duties_ the following week from the 9th onward.
Your answer: A (2 September)
Correct answer: B (9 September)
✅ Why?
The speaker mentions training starts on the 2nd (distractor), but the actual start of work is the following week from the 9th onward.
The key is the words “after a week’s training” → you don’t start on the 2nd, that’s only training.
⚠️ Your mistake: You focused on the first date you heard (Sept 2) instead of waiting for the sentence to finish. IELTS loves this “first date is training, second date is real start” trap. # Recording 3
3 Recording 4
3.1 What happened on Q33
Question: “Famous (33) ______ are influential.”
Transcript cue: “…what well-known chefs are putting on their menus.”
Your answer: chiefs
Correct: chefs (also accepted: cooks)
3.1.1 Why “chiefs” is wrong
Meaning: Chief = leader/boss (police chief, tribal chief) → doesn’t fit “putting things on menus.”
Context collocations: famous/well-known/celebrity chefs + menus is a strong culinary collocation.
Pronunciation trap:
chef /ʃef/ (starts with sh sound)
chief /tʃiːf/ (starts with ch sound, long ee)
In fast speech, the vowel + consonant can blur, so you rely on context (“menus”) + topic (food marketing).
3.1.2 Quick discrimination drill (say them aloud)
chef = /ʃ/ as in she, short e: sh-ef
chief = /tʃ/ as in cheese, long ee: cheef
Try: celebrity chefs, head chef, Michelin-starred chef vs. police chief, tribal chief, chief executive.
3.1.3 Exam tactics for this item type
Pre-read the gap: “Famous ___ are influential.”
Predict likely nouns: chefs, influencers, brands, retailers. With “menus” later, chefs becomes obvious.
Use domain cues: This section is about food trends → expect chefs, restaurants, menus, supermarkets.
Grammar check (fast): “Famous chef are …” (ungrammatical) → needs plural chefs.
Write what you hear, but sanity-check with context. If you wrote chiefs, ask, “Do chiefs have menus?” → no → revise to chefs.
3.1.4 Re-usable collocations from this passage
celebrity / well-known / Michelin-starred chefs
put (a dish/ingredient) on the menu
influence food trends
supermarkets track what’s trending
brand ambassadors / social media influencers