Hello again — I’m Emily Carter, IELTS Listening instructor at IELTS Zone.
In Section 1 of the IELTS Listening test, you’ll often find short, everyday conversations between two people — for example, a customer and a receptionist, or a parent and a school staff member.
When the task is Sentence Completion (Two Speakers), your job is to listen for specific words or phrases that accurately complete sentences.
This task looks simple but demands sharp attention to word limits, grammar fit, and changes in conversation.
In this guide, I’ll show you how to recognise sentence patterns, avoid common traps, and record answers correctly.
If you haven’t yet read Table Completion (Social Context), start there to understand how information is organised in Section 1.
This task assesses your ability to identify key facts in short spoken exchanges.
You’ll see sentences with missing words and hear the information needed to complete them accurately.
Example:
The event will take place at _________.
Here, you must write a noun or phrase — for example, City Hall.
Every correct answer earns one mark.
Key points:
Answers must fit grammatically and follow the word limit.
The first line of the task tells you exactly how many words you can write:
Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer.
Violating this rule costs a mark even if your meaning is correct.
In my class, I always say: “Don’t lose a mark for a word you didn’t need.”
Underline the word limit before the audio begins and stick to it.
Before the recording starts, use your preview time (30 seconds) to predict the type of information needed.
Question Example | Likely Answer Type |
“The meeting will start at _________.” | Time |
“The customer requested _________ service.” | Adjective + noun |
“They will travel by _________.” | Noun (mode of transport) |
Knowing what to expect keeps your brain alert for specific details instead of listening blindly.
In Sentence Completion (Two Speakers) questions, the exact words from the question rarely appear in the recording. IELTS loves to paraphrase.
Question Says | Recording May Say |
“free tickets” | “no charge for entry” |
“arrive on time” | “get there punctually” |
“job interview” | “meeting for the position” |
Train your ear to recognise meaning, not just identical words. This comes with exposure — listen to authentic IELTS practice recordings and note how ideas are rephrased.
Section 1 is set in a social situation — a phone call, enquiry, or booking.
That means the topics are easy, but details change quickly.
For example:
A: “So you’d like to book for Friday?”
B: “Actually, make that Saturday please.”
If the question asks “The booking is for _________,” the answer is Saturday — not Friday.
These small corrections appear in almost every Section 1 dialogue. Be ready to update your answer immediately
Even though you’re listening for meaning, marks depend on correct spelling and grammar.
If the sentence says: “The course is _________ weeks long,” your answer should be four — not 4 weeks, because the word “weeks” is already there.
Quick tips:
Avoid adding articles (“a”, “the”) unless required for grammar.
IELTS often includes false starts and self-corrections to test attention.
A: “Right, so the address is 10 High Street … oh sorry — 12 High Street.”
Always write after you’re sure the speaker has finished the detail.
If you catch the correction, you’ve outsmarted a classic Cambridge trap.
During the test:
If you struggle with timing, review our IELTS Listening Answer Sheet & Transfer Time Guide for strategies.
Here’s a five-day routine I recommend to my students:
Day | Focus |
Mon | Practise one Cambridge Section 1 sentence completion set. |
Tue | Listen to real customer service calls (BBC Learning English). |
Wed | Identify synonyms and corrections from practice audio. |
Thu | Shadow short dialogues to improve accent recognition. |
Fri | Take a mock test under exam conditions (40 mins). |
Regular practice makes your listening reflex automatic — you’ll hear answers coming before they’re spoken.
To sum up, Sentence Completion (Two Speakers) in IELTS Listening teaches you to:
Once you master this final Section 1 task type, you’re ready to progress to Section 2, which focuses on monologues and public talks.
Next, explore Map & Plan Labelling Questions to discover how to follow spoken directions and landmarks — a key skill for the next stage of IELTS Listening.
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