Think about these questions, or answer them aloud.
In IELTS Listening Part 1 you often hear someone book something or ask for information, for example a room, a course or a tour. You complete a form or notes while you listen.
The form helps you a lot:
In a booking call, the person taking the booking usually asks questions in the same order as the form. Each new question tells you to move to the next gap.
The heading on the form and the words you hear are often different. You need to recognise the same idea in new words. Don't wait for the exact heading. Listen for the question that matches it.
| Instruction | Correct | Wrong |
|---|---|---|
| ONE WORD ONLY | lake | the lake (two words) |
| ONE WORD AND/OR A NUMBER | 12 August | the twelfth of August (too many words) |
| NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS | water bottle | a water bottle (three words) |
| NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER | 8 weeks | for 8 weeks in total (four words and a number) |
Read the instruction, the form and what the speaker says. Choose the answer you should write.
| Form | Answer | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Name: Nadia ______ | Brennan | Spelled letter by letter: “double N” = NN |
| Bikes: 3 adult and 1 ______ | child's | Tom repeats it: “one child's bike” |
| Hire period: ______ day | half | “a full day or a half day?” Nadia chooses half |
| Start time: ______ | 9.00 | “We'd like to start at nine” |
| Price per adult bike: £______ | 18 | £10 is for the child's bike |
| Bring: a ______ | water bottle | Helmets are mentioned, but they are included |
| Collect from: shop next to the ______ | harbour | “not the one in town” |
Before the call, a strong listener reads the form and thinks: a surname, a type of bike, a time, a price, an object, a place.
During the call, Tom's questions move the listener down the form. “How many bikes?” → the bikes line. “A full day or a half day?” → hire period. Notice that the form says Hire period, but Tom never says these words.
There are three traps. The price for the child's bike (£10) is close to the adult price. Helmets are mentioned in the “Bring” part, but Nadia doesn't need to bring them. And there are two shops, but “not the one in town” tells you the answer is the harbour.
Listen to six questions from booking calls. Match each question with the form heading it is asking about. There are two extra headings.
Listen and complete the form. Write ONE WORD AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer.
Listen and complete the notes. Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer.
Listen to the conversation. Choose the best answer to each question. (In the real TOEIC test there are three questions for each conversation.)
Save words to review them later with flashcards.
“I'm calling with an enquiry about your evening courses.”
“We hired bikes for the afternoon.”
“Breakfast is included in the room price.”
“This class is for complete beginners.”
“Is there still space on the Saturday course?”
“Dogs must be kept on a lead near the lake.”
“Our tent was near the shower block.”
“Please tell us about any special requirements, such as allergies.”
“What's your preferred payment method?”
“Please give your registration number at reception.”
