Short Story Competition - IELTS Listening Answers & Explanations
From Official Cambridge Guide to IELTS Academic Listening Test 2 · Part 1 · Questions 1–10
Audio
Questions
Questions 1–6 Note Completion
Complete the notes below.
Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer.
Short Story Competition
Entry Details
Example
Cost of entry: £5
Length of story: approximately 1
Story must include: a 2
Minimum age: 3
Last entry date: 1st 4
Web address: www. 5 .com
Don't: 6 the story to the organisers
Questions 7–10 Sentence Completion
Complete the sentences below.
Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS for each answer.
- The competition is judged by 7 .
- The top five stories will be available 8 .
- The top story will be chosen by the 9 .
- The first prize is a place at a writers' workshop in 10 .
Answers & Explanations Summary
| # | Answer | Evidence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 | 3000 words / 3,000 words | Well – we want to give people a reasonable amount of freedom but the guidelines are around 3,000 words | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript confirms that while writers have some freedom, the official target for the length of the story is about 3,000 words. Answer Explanation: The answer indicates that the short story should be roughly 3,000 words long. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 3,000 words because the competition organizer explicitly states that the current guidelines recommend a length of 'around 3,000 words'. In the notes, the word 'approximately' is used, which has the same meaning as 'around' in the conversation. The organizer also mentions that they recently reduced the length from a previous limit of 5,000 words. |
| Q2 | surprise ending / surprising ending | No – you can write about any topic you like. But the main point of the competition is that it has to have a surprise ending | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that while writers can choose any topic, the story is required to have a special kind of finish where something unexpected happens. Answer Explanation: The answer means that the story written for the contest must have a finish that the reader does not expect. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "surprise ending" because the person running the competition says it is a requirement. In the conversation, the organizer explains that while writers can choose any topic, the most important part is that the story "has to have" (must include) a surprise ending. The word "ending" fits after the word "a" in the notes to describe how the story should close. |
| Q3 | 16 / sixteen | Yes – you need to be sixteen or over, so if you're eighteen that's fine | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Dave telling the caller that any person who is sixteen or older is allowed to enter the contest. Answer Explanation: The answer means that the lowest age a person can be to join the competition is sixteen. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "16" or "sixteen" because the competition organizer clearly states the age requirement. When the caller mentions being eighteen and asks about age limits, the organizer explains that the rule specifically requires participants to be sixteen years old or older. |
| Q4 | August | You need to submit your entry by the 1st of August | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript says that you must give your story to the competition by the first day of August. Answer Explanation: The answer is August, which is the eighth month of the year. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is August because the competition organizer says that people must send in their stories by the 1st of August. In the transcript, the speaker uses the phrase 'submit your entry' to mean finishing the application process, and specifies that sending it after this date will be 'too late.' This matches the requirement for the 'last entry date' mentioned in the notes. |
| Q5 | COMP4SS | OK – it's www dot C – O – M – P – 4 – S – S dot com. And that's the number four not the word four | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Dave spelling out the web address 'COMP4SS' letter by letter and clarify that the middle part is a number. Answer Explanation: The answer is the specific name used for the competition's website address. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'COMP4SS' because the competition organizer explicitly spells out the web address for the caller. He spells out each letter and specifically mentions that the number four is used instead of the word 'four'. |
| Q6 | post | Well you may want to print the story out so you can review it but don't post it to us | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows the organizer telling the caller that they should not send the story by mail (post). It is okay to print it for themselves, but not for sending it to the office. Answer Explanation: The answer "post" means you should not send your story as physical mail through a post office. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "post" because the competition organizer explicitly tells the caller not to mail the story to them. The caller asks if they should print it and send it, but the organizer clarifies that while printing is okay for personal review, it should not be mailed. Instead, the story must be sent through email. The keyword is "don't," which matches the "Don't:" instruction in the notes. |
| Q7 | famous authors | Our competition is quite popular so we are lucky to be able to use famous authors who are very interested in the competition | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript tells us that well-known writers, called famous authors, are the people who look at the stories and choose the winners. Answer Explanation: The answer means people who write books and are known by many people will read the stories and decide who wins. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "famous authors" because the organizer mentions that they are lucky to have well-known writers look at the stories for the competition. He uses the term "famous authors" to describe the group of people responsible for judging the entries and selecting the best ones. These are the people who will evaluate the work of the participants. |
| Q8 | online | Well, they will be published online so everyone can read them | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript states that the top stories will be put on a website (published online) so that all people have the chance to read them. Answer Explanation: The answer "online" means that the five best stories will be put on a website on the internet for people to read. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "online" because the competition organizer explains the next step after the judges pick the five best stories. He says they are put on the internet so that anyone can look at them. The word "available" in the task matches the idea of being "published" so that "everyone can read them." |
| Q9 | public | Well once the top five stories are available, it will be the public who will vote for their favourite story | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript says that once people can see the top five stories, normal people (the public) will pick the one they like most by voting. Answer Explanation: The answer "public" refers to ordinary people around the world, rather than specialized judges. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "public" because the transcript describes a two-step process. First, famous authors (the judges) pick the five best stories. Second, these stories are shared with everyone so they can vote for a winner. In this context, "the public" means anyone who visits the website and votes for their favorite story. |
| Q10 | Spain | A: Well, the runner-up gets a prize of £300, but the winner gets a trip to Spain to attend a workshop for writers | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that the person who comes in second place (the runner-up) gets money, but the person who wins first place (the winner) gets a trip to Spain to join a writers' workshop. Answer Explanation: The answer is the name of the country where the winner of the competition will go to take a writing class. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is Spain because the speaker mentions that the person who wins the story competition receives a trip to this country. In Spain, the winner will go to a workshop, which is a special meeting or class for people who write. The word 'winner' matches 'first prize' in the task. |
Transcript
A: Good morning. Dave speaking.
B: Oh hi. I'm phoning about a short story competition. Um, I saw an advert in a magazine and I was just calling to get some details.
A: Yes – certainly. I'm the competition organiser so I should be able to help. What kind of details are you looking for?
B: Well – erm – does it cost anything to enter?
A: Yes – there's an entry fee of five pounds.
B: OK – that should be fine.
[pause]
B: It's a short story competition – so how many words is that?
A: Well – we want to give people a reasonable amount of freedom but the guidelines are around 3,000 words.
B: Oh – that sounds quite a lot.
A: Well – it's not as much as it used to be. We did have a limit of 5,000 words but some people thought that was too many so this year we've reduced it.
B: Right – and does the story need to be about anything in particular?
A: No – you can write about any topic you like. But the main point of the competition is that it has to have a surprise ending.
B: Oh – I see. That sounds interesting. I don't think I've ever written a story like that before.
A: Yes – it's something we've introduced for this year's competition.
B: Right. Um – I'm eighteen. Is there any age limit?
A: Yes – you need to be sixteen or over, so if you're eighteen that's fine.
B: Great. So you have the competition once a year. Is that right?
A: Yes – we start advertising in January and the competition takes up a lot of the year. We give people a few months to write their story and then it takes quite a long time to judge all the entries and to announce the winners.
B: I see. So when is the closing date for the competition? It's already April – I hope I'm not too late.
A: No you've still got plenty of time. You need to submit your entry by the 1st of August. After then it will be too late, although you can always enter next year's competition!
B: OK good. So how do I enter?
A: Well we have a website and the best way to enter is to complete the entry form online. We also have more details of the competition on the site. Shall I give you the web address?
B: Yes please.
A: OK – it's www dot C – O – M – P – 4 – S –S dot com. And that's the number four not the word four.
B: OK – thanks. I've got that. So – I can complete the entry form online but how do I send the story? Do I print it out and send it to you?
A: Well you may want to print the story out so you can review it but don't post it to us. When you've finished your story you will need to email it to us. The email address is on the website I gave you.
B: OK – that's fine. [pause] Um can you tell me a bit about how the competition is judged and what the prizes are?
A: Yes of course. Well, once we have all the entries I send them to all the judges. Our competition is quite popular so we are lucky to be able to use famous authors who are very interested in the competition.
B: That's fantastic. It's great to know that someone famous will be reading my story!
A: Yes that's right. It takes them quite a while to read through the entries but eventually they decide on the top five stories.
B: I see – and what happens then?
A: Well, they will be published online so everyone can read them. They will not be in any order at this point. They will just be the five stories that the judges think are the best.
B: And do all the top five stories get prizes?
A: No – it's just the top story and the runner-up.
B: So how is the top story decided?
A: Well once the top five stories are available, it will be the public who will vote for their favourite story.
B: Right – I see. So I need to get all my friends to vote for me then!
A: Er, yes – that's a good idea.
B: And what is the prize?
A: Well, the runner-up gets a prize of £300, but the winner gets a trip to Spain to attend a workshop for writers.
B: Wow – that's brilliant! I'd better get writing straight away.
A: Yes – good luck!
B: Thanks.