IELTS Listening Test 15 (2026) with Answers

Teacher section. Do not give this to learners before they take the test.

Original IELTS-style practice material. Not produced or endorsed by IELTS, the British Council, IDP or Cambridge University Press & Assessment.

Note: A script alone does not reproduce a timed audio test. In the real test, candidates hear each recording once, at natural speed, with fixed pauses. If you read these scripts aloud, keep to the pause lengths shown and do not repeat anything.

Pause markers: [PAUSE 30s] means 30 seconds of silence. In the actual recording, each pause is silence only.

Answer locations: In this teacher copy, the words that give each answer are marked like this: ⟦Q1⟧. Remove these markers before recording.

PART 1

Speakers: NARRATOR; PRIYA (female, coordinator at a house-sitting agency in Vancouver, friendly and efficient, Canadian accent); GRANT (male, a retired teacher from Australia who is spending a year in Canada, relaxed and chatty, Australian accent)

NARRATOR: Part 1. You will hear a man phoning an agency that finds people to look after homes while the owners are away. First, you have some time to look at questions 1 to 6.

[PAUSE 30s]

NARRATOR: Now listen carefully and answer questions 1 to 6.

PRIYA: Good morning, Maple Home Sitters, Priya speaking.

GRANT: Oh, hi. My name's Grant. I found your website last night, and I'm interested in becoming a house-sitter. I'm over from Australia for a year, travelling around, and a friend told me it's a great way to see the country.

PRIYA: It certainly is. Have you done any house-sitting before, Grant?

GRANT: A bit, back home. Mostly for friends, though, never through an agency. So how does it work with you?

PRIYA: Well, first you register with us, and then you can apply for any sits that are listed on the site. There's a registration fee, which you pay once a year, and ⟦Q1⟧ that's ninety-five dollars. We also have a premium membership at a hundred and fifty, but honestly, most sitters don't need it.

GRANT: Ninety-five's fine. And what do you need from me?

PRIYA: Owners are trusting you with their homes, so we're quite careful. We'll ask you for a police certificate. Since you're from Australia, you can get that online, and it only takes a few days. And then ⟦Q2⟧ we need two references. They can't be from family members, but they can be from people you've house-sat for before, or from an employer.

GRANT: That's easy enough. The school I worked at will happily write one.

PRIYA: Great. Now, some things you should know before you apply. Most of our owners are going away on holiday, so the sits are typically between ten days and a month. ⟦Q3⟧ Our rule is that sitters arrive the evening before. Owners sometimes ask whether sitters can come on the morning they're leaving, but it's always a rush. This way, the owners can show you around properly, and you can ask questions.

GRANT: Makes sense. Can I go out during the day, or do I need to stay in the house?

PRIYA: Oh, you can go out, of course. You're not a prisoner! ⟦Q4⟧ We ask that the house is never left empty for more than eight hours, and never overnight. I know some agencies allow twelve, but owners with pets usually want even less than eight.

GRANT: Fair enough. And should I keep in touch with the owners while they're away?

PRIYA: Yes, but people on holiday don't want long phone calls or reports. What we suggest is that ⟦Q5⟧ every two days you send them a quick message with a photo, of the dog, or the garden, whatever. Owners love that.

GRANT: Sure. What happens if something goes wrong? A burst pipe or something?

PRIYA: We have a twenty-four-hour helpline, but in an emergency, it's quicker to get help from someone nearby. So ⟦Q6⟧ the first person to call is the owner's neighbour. Every owner gives us a neighbour's number before the sit begins. And then call us.

NARRATOR: Before you hear the rest of the conversation, you have some time to look at questions 7 to 10.

[PAUSE 30s]

NARRATOR: Now listen and answer questions 7 to 10.

GRANT: I had a look at the sits on your website. There were three in July that looked good.

PRIYA: Let me see. July... Yes, I think I know which ones you mean. The first is the house in Kitsilano, near the beach.

GRANT: That's the one with the cat, isn't it?

PRIYA: That's right. She's quite old, and she eats a special food, but she doesn't need any medication or anything. The owners are keen gardeners, though, and ⟦Q7⟧ they have a lot of vegetables in raised beds, so you'd have to water those every day. July can be very dry here. They did say that they don't want sitters to have friends or family staying with them, by the way.

GRANT: Not a problem. I'm travelling alone. What about the apartment in North Vancouver?

PRIYA: That one has a dog, a lovely old Labrador called Biscuit. He has a heart condition, so ⟦Q8⟧ you'd have to give him a tablet twice a day, with his food. The owner will show you how. There's no garden, just a balcony with a few pots, and a friend of the owner's is coming in to water those. Oh, and ⟦Q9⟧ she's happy for the sitter to have one guest to stay, as long as they don't bring another pet.

GRANT: That's nice. And there's parking there as well, isn't there?

PRIYA: There's a parking space in the building, yes, but the owner's driving to California, so she's taking her car with her. You'd need to use the bus or the SeaBus.

GRANT: OK. And the last one was the cabin on Bowen Island.

PRIYA: Ah yes, that's a beautiful spot. There are no animals there at all. It's surrounded by forest, so there's no garden to look after either. The only thing is, it's quite a long way from the shops and the ferry. But ⟦Q10⟧ the owners are leaving their truck, and you're welcome to drive it while you're there.

GRANT: That would make life easier. Hmm. I think I'd like to apply for the cabin, actually.

PRIYA: Good choice. Let me just take a few details, and I'll send you a link to register.

NARRATOR: That is the end of Part 1. You now have half a minute to check your answers.

[PAUSE 30s]

PART 2

Speakers: NARRATOR; PILOT (male, a hot-air balloon pilot working in Türkiye, confident and good-humoured, southern English accent)

NARRATOR: Part 2. You will hear a balloon pilot talking to a group of tourists the evening before a hot-air balloon flight in Cappadocia, in Türkiye. First, you have some time to look at questions 11 to 15.

[PAUSE 30s]

NARRATOR: Now listen carefully and answer questions 11 to 15.

PILOT: Good evening, everyone. My name's Martin, and I'll be one of your pilots tomorrow morning. I've been flying balloons here in Cappadocia for eleven years, and I still think it's the most beautiful place in the world to fly. So, I just want to take you through what's going to happen tomorrow, and then answer a few of the questions people usually ask.

First of all, I'm afraid it's an early start. Balloons fly at sunrise, because that's when the air is calmest. At this time of year, our minibus will ⟦Q11⟧ collect you from your hotel at four forty-five. In the middle of summer, it's even earlier, about a quarter past four, so you're lucky! Please be waiting in the hotel reception, because the driver can't wait more than a couple of minutes.

From your hotel, it's a short drive to the launch field, where you'll be given a light breakfast: tea, coffee, some pastries. While you're eating, our ground crew will check you in. You've already got your booking confirmation, so you won't need a ticket, but ⟦Q12⟧ each of you will be given a wristband, with the number of your basket on it. That's important, because there'll be several of our balloons on the field, and you need to find the right one.

Now, before anyone climbs into a basket, there's one more check. The temperature and the cloud aren't usually a problem at this time of year, but the wind can change very quickly. So, ⟦Q13⟧ just before take-off, the pilots check the wind once more, to make sure nothing has changed.

After that, you'll see the balloon being prepared, which is quite a sight. It's laid out flat on the ground, and ⟦Q14⟧ we start by filling it with cold air, using a large fan. It takes about ten minutes. Then we use the burners to heat the air, and the balloon slowly stands up.

Then it's time to climb into the basket. Before we take off, I'll ask you to ⟦Q15⟧ practise the position you'll use for landing: knees slightly bent, back against the side of the basket, and holding on to the rope handles. Most landings are very gentle, but it's important that everyone knows what to do.

NARRATOR: Before you hear the rest of the talk, you have some time to look at questions 16 to 20.

[PAUSE 30s]

NARRATOR: Now listen and answer questions 16 to 20.

PILOT: Right, now let me answer some of the questions I get asked most often.

The first one is always: will we definitely fly? And the honest answer is, not always. People tend to assume that it's the pilot or the company who decides, and that we might cancel just because a flight isn't full. That never happens. ⟦Q16⟧ The decision is made each morning by the civil aviation office, using wind readings from all over the region. If they say no, nobody flies, and you'll get a full refund or another date.

Second, what to wear. A lot of people ask if they need a hat, because of the heat from the burner. Actually, the heat goes straight up into the balloon, so you won't feel much of it. And you won't need waterproofs, because we never fly in the rain. ⟦Q17⟧ What you do need is several thin layers. It can be close to freezing on the ground at dawn, but once the sun is up, it warms up very quickly, so you'll want to take things off.

Third, photographs. You're welcome to take as many as you like, and there's no need to put your phone away during take-off, but please hold on to it tightly, especially during landing. However, ⟦Q18⟧ selfie sticks aren't allowed in the basket. They can easily touch the burner or the balloon, which can be dangerous. And drones are completely banned, I'm afraid.

People also ask me where we're going to land. Many people imagine that we have a special landing field that we always use. We don't. A balloon can't be steered left or right, only up and down, so ⟦Q19⟧ where we come down depends entirely on which way the wind takes us on the day. Our ground crew follow us in a truck, and they're usually waiting for us when we land.

Finally, what happens afterwards? Once the balloon has been packed away, we have a small celebration. ⟦Q20⟧ Everyone receives a certificate with the date and the height we reached, and we drink a toast. There's an old tradition of champagne after a flight, but we serve fruit juice. We'll have you back at your hotel by about nine, which means you'll be in time for a proper breakfast.

NARRATOR: That is the end of Part 2. You now have half a minute to check your answers.

[PAUSE 30s]

PART 3

Speakers: NARRATOR; DR HARTLEY (male, a university tutor in education, encouraging but direct, standard British accent); NOOR (female, a student, thoughtful and well organised, London accent); FELIX (male, a student, enthusiastic and quick to speak, Northern Irish accent)

NARRATOR: Part 3. You will hear two education students, Noor and Felix, talking to their tutor about the first draft of a report on how visitors behave at a science centre. First, you have some time to look at questions 21 to 26.

[PAUSE 30s]

NARRATOR: Now listen carefully and answer questions 21 to 26.

DR HARTLEY: Come in, both of you. So, I've read the draft of your report on the visitor study at the city science centre, and on the whole, I think it's very promising. But I've got some comments on each section, so let's go through them in order.

NOOR: Great, thanks.

DR HARTLEY: Let's start with the introduction.

FELIX: We were worried it was too long.

DR HARTLEY: No, the length is about right. And you've explained the purpose of the study clearly. My concern is more the way it's written. ⟦Q21⟧ Starting with "Have you ever wandered around a science centre and wondered..." is fine for a blog, but it's too chatty for an academic report. You need a more formal opening.

NOOR: That was my idea. OK, we'll rewrite it.

DR HARTLEY: Then the literature review. You've clearly read widely, which is good, and the sources are all relevant. But ⟦Q22⟧ you've written nearly two thousand words, and the whole report is meant to be six thousand. Try to cut it in half. Focus on the three or four studies that are closest to yours.

FELIX: That's going to hurt. We spent ages on that.

DR HARTLEY: I know, but it'll be a better report. Now, the method section. You describe how you followed visitors through the Space gallery and timed how long they stopped at each exhibit. That's all clear, and you don't need to add any more detail. But ⟦Q23⟧ it would really help the reader to see a floor plan of the gallery, with the exhibits numbered. At the moment, it's hard to picture where everything is.

NOOR: We do have a plan. We drew one while we were there. We could scan it in.

DR HARTLEY: Do that. Next, the results. Your findings are interesting, and the table is very clear. The problem is that ⟦Q24⟧ in the text underneath, you go through the table line by line and give all the same figures again. Just pick out the main points.

FELIX: Fair enough.

DR HARTLEY: Then the discussion. I think the ideas here are good, particularly the point about labels. But you make some quite general claims, like "visitors prefer interactive exhibits", and ⟦Q25⟧ you need to support them with specific cases from your observations: which exhibit, how long people stayed, and so on.

NOOR: We've got lots of those in our notes.

DR HARTLEY: Good. And finally, your recommendations. Some of them are excellent, but there's a section at the end about ticket prices and opening hours. You didn't collect any data on those, so ⟦Q26⟧ I'd take that section out completely. It doesn't belong in this report.

NARRATOR: Before you hear the rest of the conversation, you have some time to look at questions 27 to 30.

[PAUSE 30s]

NARRATOR: Now listen and answer questions 27 to 30.

DR HARTLEY: So, tell me, what surprised you most when you were collecting the data?

FELIX: Well, at first I was struck by how fast people were. We knew from our reading that visitors don't stay long at each exhibit, but we thought it would be at least a minute.

NOOR: And the average was twenty-eight seconds. But actually, I'd expected that. What I really didn't expect was that ⟦Q27⟧ families with young children stayed longer at each exhibit than adults on their own. I'd assumed children would get bored and drag their parents on.

FELIX: Yes, that surprised me even more, actually. It was the big surprise for both of us. The children kept asking questions, so the parents had to stop and read the labels.

DR HARTLEY: Interesting. And remind me why you decided to observe visitors, rather than interview them?

NOOR: Well, we did think about interviews. But the studies we read showed that ⟦Q28⟧ what people say they do at places like this is often very different from what they actually do. People say they read every label, and then you watch them, and they don't.

FELIX: And interviews would have taken too long, too. But that wasn't the main reason.

DR HARTLEY: Did you have any problems with the observation?

FELIX: A few. The gallery was really crowded on Saturdays, so it was hard to keep track of one person. But we'd planned for that, so we only counted visitors we could see the whole time.

NOOR: The real problem was that ⟦Q29⟧ some visitors noticed we were following them, and they started behaving differently. One man spent ages at every exhibit, I think to impress us! We had to take those people out of the data.

DR HARTLEY: That's a well-known problem. You should mention it in the report. So, what are your plans now?

FELIX: Well, I was thinking we could go back and observe another gallery, to compare.

DR HARTLEY: There isn't really time for that before the deadline.

NOOR: No. I think ⟦Q30⟧ the most useful thing would be to show our findings to the science centre's education team, and get their reaction. We could include that in the discussion.

DR HARTLEY: I agree. They'd be very interested. I'll send you the name of someone to contact.

NARRATOR: That is the end of Part 3. You now have half a minute to check your answers.

[PAUSE 30s]

PART 4

Speakers: NARRATOR; LECTURER (female, university lecturer in urban planning, clear and engaging, New Zealand accent)

NARRATOR: Part 4. You will hear a lecturer giving a talk about a new approach to managing rainwater in cities. First, you have some time to look at questions 31 to 40.

[PAUSE 45s]

NARRATOR: Now listen carefully and answer questions 31 to 40.

LECTURER: Good morning, everyone. Today I want to look at how cities deal with rain, and in particular at an idea that has become known as the "sponge city".

For most of the last century, city engineers had one main aim when it came to rain: to get rid of it as quickly as possible. Rain falls on roofs, roads and car parks, which are all hard surfaces, and it's collected in drains and sent through underground pipes to the nearest river or the sea. And in normal weather, that system works well. The trouble is that ⟦Q31⟧ it was designed for the rainfall of the past. As storms become heavier, the pipes simply can't carry all the water, and streets flood.

There are other problems, too. When rain runs across roads, it picks up oil, rubbish and particles from car tyres, and ⟦Q32⟧ all of that pollution ends up in rivers and along the coast. And, perhaps less obviously, because so little rain soaks into the ground in a city, the level of groundwater gradually falls. In some cities, ⟦Q33⟧ that has caused the ground itself to sink.

The sponge city approach turns the old thinking upside down. Instead of seeing rain as waste, it treats rain as a resource, ⟦Q34⟧ something to be held, cleaned and used. The idea is that a city should work like a sponge: it absorbs water when it rains, and releases it slowly afterwards.

The best-known programme is in China. ⟦Q35⟧ It started in 2015 with sixteen pilot cities, and more were added the following year. The aim is that, by 2030, most urban areas should be able to absorb and reuse the majority of their rainfall. The programme has had real successes, but it's also had difficulties. Building the features is one thing, but they need regular maintenance, and ⟦Q36⟧ in some places, the money for that simply hasn't been there. A rain garden that's blocked with mud and rubbish doesn't absorb much water.

So, what does a sponge city actually contain? There are large features, such as parks that are designed to flood, and wetlands. But there are also many small ones, and I want to look at one of these in detail: the rain garden.

A rain garden is a shallow hollow in the ground, usually next to a road or a car park, that collects rain running off hard surfaces. If you look at a rain garden from the side, you'll see that it's made of several layers. On the surface, there are plants. These are usually local species with deep roots, which can survive both flooding and dry periods.

Around the plants, the surface is covered with a layer of ⟦Q37⟧ mulch, usually made from chopped wood or bark. This stops weeds from growing, and it also keeps the soil underneath from drying out in summer.

Underneath that is the main layer, which is usually about half a metre deep. It isn't ordinary soil, which would hold too much water. Instead, it's a special mixture of compost and ⟦Q38⟧ sand, which allows water to pass through quickly, while still filtering out pollution.

Below that, there's a layer of ⟦Q39⟧ gravel, which stores the water for a while, so that it can soak slowly into the ground around it.

And finally, in many rain gardens, especially where the ground is mostly clay, there's a ⟦Q40⟧ pipe at the very bottom, with small holes along it. This collects any water that can't soak away and carries it to the drains. So, in a really big storm, the rain garden doesn't overflow.

Now, you might think that one small garden can't make much difference. But when a city builds thousands of them, the effect adds up, and that's what we'll look at next week.

NARRATOR: That is the end of Part 4. You now have one minute to check your answers.

[PAUSE 60s]

NARRATOR: That is the end of the Listening test. In the IELTS test, you would now have ten minutes to transfer your answers to the answer sheet.