Phone Interview - IELTS Listening Answers & Explanations
From IELTS Recent Actual Test 2 Academic Listening Test 2 · Part 1 · Questions 1–10
Audio
Questions
Questions 1–10 Form Completion
Complete the form below.
Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer.
Phone Interview
Name: John Murphy
Example
Position applying for: lifeguard
Street Address: 45 1 Court
Contact phone number: 2
Current part-time job: 3
Previous job at Ridgemont High School: 4
Additional relevant work experience: 5
Relevant skills/qualifications: CPR certification & 6
CPR certification expiration date: 7
Preferred weekly shift: 8
Time available to start work: 9
Advertisement source: 10
Answers & Explanations Summary
| # | Answer | Evidence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 | Elsinore | APPLICANT: Sure - it's Elsinore. E-L-S-I-N-O-R-E | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows the applicant confirming the name of the court in his address and spelling it out for the employer. Answer Explanation: The answer is the name of the street where the applicant lives. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is Elsinore because John Murphy clearly identifies his street name during the interview. To make sure the employer writes it down correctly, he even spells it out letter by letter: E-L-S-I-N-O-R-E. |
| Q2 | 077896245 | No, this is my home phone, but let me give you my mobile phone number instead: 077896245. Call me on that one | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows that John clarifies his preference by giving a new number and specifically asking to be contacted on that mobile number. Answer Explanation: The answer is the mobile phone number where John Murphy wants the employer to call him. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 077896245 because, during the interview, the employer asks if they should use a different number (099885767). The applicant says no and explains that the first number is his home phone. He then provides his mobile phone number and tells the employer to call him on that instead. Keywords or synonyms like 'mobile phone' and 'instead' help identify the right number. |
| Q3 | waiter | I would prefer not to be scheduled on weeknights because I work part-time as a waiter | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows John explaining his current schedule and mentioning his part-time work as a waiter. Answer Explanation: The answer is the job John does currently during the evenings, which is serving food and drinks in a restaurant. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'waiter' because John explicitly mentions that he has a part-time job in this role during weeknights. This explains why he doesn't want to work at the resort in the evenings. |
| Q4 | baseball coach | I was the baseball coach at Ridgemont High School last season | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows John explaining that his previous job at that school was being the baseball coach. Answer Explanation: The answer is the name of a job where someone helps or trains a sports team that plays baseball. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'baseball coach' because when the employer asks about other work experience, John mentions his past job at Ridgemont High School. He says he held this position there during the last season. |
| Q5 | rescue diver | Yes. Last year I worked at the beach as a rescue diver | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows that John had a job last year at the beach where he saved people, which counts as additional work experience for his application. Answer Explanation: The answer 'rescue diver' refers to a job where a person is trained to save people from dangerous situations in the water. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'rescue diver' because John specifically mentions this as another job he had in the past when the employer asks about his employment history. He explains that his work at the beach was very similar to the lifeguard position he is applying for now. |
| Q6 | diving experience | I am CPR certified and have 2 years of diving experience | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows the applicant directly naming his two main skills: being certified in CPR and having experience in diving. Answer Explanation: The answer "diving experience" means that the person has spent time practicing and working at diving underwater. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is found when the employer asks the man about the skills he has for the job. The man lists two things: he knows how to do CPR and he has two years of diving experience. Since the form already lists CPR certification, the missing skill to add is diving experience. |
| Q7 | October | Hm. I think in November, but let me quickly check my CPR card actually, it expires in October |
Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows John looking at his document to find the right date; he notes that although he thought it was November, the document says the date is actually in October. Answer Explanation: The answer is the specific month in which John's CPR (first aid) certificate becomes invalid or ends. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is October because while the applicant first mentions November as a possibility, he corrects himself after checking his official CPR card to reveal that it really finishes in October. This shows that October is the final and accurate month for the expiration date. |
| Q8 | Saturday mornings | Since I work in the restaurant on weeknights, I like weekends best - specifically Saturday mornings | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows the applicant explaining that because he has a different job on weeknights, he prefers working on the weekend, especially during the morning on Saturday. Answer Explanation: The answer is Saturday mornings because this is the specific time of the week that the applicant wants to work the most. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is Saturday mornings because when the employer asks about his ideal time to work, the applicant explains that he likes weekends best and points out Saturday mornings as his specific preference. Keywords like 'ideal time' and 'specifically' help identify this answer. |
| Q9 | 6 o'clock / 6 / six o'clock / six | I can get there by 6.00 if need be | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows the job applicant telling the employer that he is capable of arriving at the workplace by 6:00 if he is required to do so. Answer Explanation: The answer means that John is able to start his work shift as early as six in the morning. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 6 (o'clock) because when the employer asks how early John could work on a Saturday morning, John clearly states he can arrive by 6:00 if necessary. This shows his earliest available time to begin his duties. |
| Q10 | radio | APPLICANT: I heard your ad on the radio while I was driving this morning | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows that the applicant learned about the lifeguard position by listening to a commercial or advertisement on the radio. Answer Explanation: The answer is radio, which is the machine people listen to for music, news, and advertisements while driving or at home. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is radio because when the employer asks where the applicant heard about the job, the applicant explains that he heard an advertisement on his radio while he was driving. This was his source for the job information. |
Transcript
EMPLOYER: Hello, is this John Murphy?
APPLICANT: Hi, yes it is.
EMPLOYER: Hi John, this is Ed Heisenburg from the Wild Dunes Spa and Resort calling about your application for our lifeguard position. Do you have a few minutes to talk?
APPLICANT: Yes, absolutely.
EMPLOYER: Great. Could you give me your address?
APPLICANT: Sure. My address is 45 Elsinore Court.
EMPLOYER: I'm sorry, was that Eleanor? Could you spell that for me?
APPLICANT: Sure - it's Elsinore. E-L-S-I-N-O-R-E.
EMPLOYER: Okay, thanks. And is this the number we should reach you at in the future? 099885767?
APPLICANT: No, this is my home phone, but let me give you my mobile phone number instead: 077896245. Call me on that one.
EMPLOYER: Okay - I'll make a note of that. Could you tell me your availability?
APPLICANT: Sure. I am usually available during afternoons or weekends. I would prefer not to be scheduled on weeknights because I work part-time as a waiter.
EMPLOYER: That shouldn't be a problem, since we don't stay open very late anyway. And do you have any other employment experience?
APPLICANT: Yes, I have worked at a few other places. I was the baseball coach at Ridgemont High School last season.
EMPLOYER: I see. And do you have any other experience that you would like us to note on your application?
APPLICANT: Yes. Last year I worked at the beach as a rescue diver.
EMPLOYER: Rescue diver? That sounds intense!
APPLICANT: Well, it's really just like being a lifeguard, except in the ocean instead of a pool. So kind of like being a lifeguard at the world's largest pool.
EMPLOYER: Haha. I see.
EMPLOYER: So could you tell me about the relevant skills you have? I'm guessing a lot, given your experience.
APPLICANT: I am CPR certified and have 2 years of diving experience.
EMPLOYER: Great! It sounds like you are well qualified for this position. When does your CPR certification expire?
APPLICANT: Hm. I think in November, but let me quickly check my CPR card...actually, it expires in October.
EMPLOYER: Okay, so regardless you have it through the end of the summer. When is your ideal time to work?
APPLICANT: Since I work in the restaurant on weeknights, I like weekends best - specifically Saturday mornings.
EMPLOYER: I see. We do already have a lot of staff available on Saturdays, but I do need an early morning shift lifeguard. How early could you work Saturday morning?
APPLICANT: I can get there by 6.00 if need be.
EMPLOYER: You'll be happy to know we open a little later than that, but I'll put you down for Saturday mornings here.
APPLICANT: Oh awesome! I can't wait to get started.
EMPLOYER: How about you come in next Saturday, the 12th?
APPLICANT: That sounds good.
EMPLOYER: Great – we can figure out other shifts for you to work when you come in then. One last thing - just out of curiosity, where did you hear about us?
APPLICANT: I heard your ad on the radio while I was driving this morning.
EMPLOYER: You know, I think you're the first person who has responded to our radio ads. It's almost always people who have seen us in the newspaper.
APPLICANT: Yeah, I don't have time to read through the newspaper every morning. I have plenty of time in the car to listen to radio ads.
EMPLOYER: That makes sense. Well, thanks for your time, and we'll look forward to seeing you on the 12th.