A Conversation Between Two Students About Buying a Used Car - IELTS Listening Sample Answer

The IELTS Listening section comprises two monologues and conversations. Candidates need to answer 40 IELTS listening questions. This topic -A conversation between two students about buying a used car is IELTS listening part One. Candidates need to answer the following IELTS Listening question types:

• Complete the form
• Choose the correct answer

Check:​ Get 10 Free Sample Papers

Check:​ Register for IELTS Coaching - Join for Free Trial Class Now

Audio Transcript

A conversation between two students about buying a used car

E: Hello.

J: Hello. Can I speak to Elena please?

E: This is Elena speaking.

J: Hi. My name is Jan. I’m calling about the car that was advertised on the notice-board in the student union building. Is it still for sale?

E: Yes, it is.

J: Your ad says it’s a 1985 Celica, in good condition.

E: It’s old but it has been well looked after. My family has had the car for ten years. I’m just the third owner and my mother had it before me, so we know its history. We’ve got all the receipts and records. It’s had regular maintenance and the brakes were done last year. It runs really well, but it looks its age.

J: Why are you selling it, by the way?

E: Well, I’m going overseas, next month to study. I’ll be away for at least 2 years so I have to sell it, unfortunately. It’s been a good car.

J: You want $1,500? Is that right?

E: I was asking $2,000 but since I need to sell it quickly, I’ve reduced the price. Would you like to come and take it for a drive? I don’t live far from the university.

J: Yes, I’d like to have a look. What time would suit you?

E: Any time this evening is fine.

J: Well, I finish classes at 6 o’clock. How about straight after that? Say 6:30?

E: Great! I’ll give you directions, when you leave (he main gate of the university, turn left on South Road and keep going until you get to the Grand Cinema. Take the first right. That’s Princess St... I’m at number 88, on the right.

J: So, it’s 80 Princess St.?

E: No, it’s 88 Princess St. and the suburb is Parkwood.

You’ll see the car parked in front. It’s the red one with the 'for sale’ sign on it.

J: OK. Thanks, Elena. I’ll see you later.

E: Bye.

(Pause)

Later that day, at the university, Jan meets up with her friend, Sam and tells him about the car.

J: Hi Sam!

S: Hi Jan! What’s happening?

J: I’m glad I ran into you. I’ve decided I have to get a car.

S: You’re going to buy a car? Do you really need one? I’d probably still be driving except that my car broke down last year. Instead of getting another one, I just moved closer to the university and went back to riding a bike - better for the environment, better for my health and I save a lot of money.

J: Did it really cost that much?

S: Well, when you think of registration, insurance, rising petrol costs, parking, plus maintenance and repairs, it adds up.

J: I know it’s going to be expensive but I really need my own transportation. It takes half an hour by bus each way to university as it is. But now I’m working at night in the city. There’s no way I want to hang around waiting for a bus late at night then walk 3 blocks home alone.

S: Hey, I think you’ve got a point there. So what kind of car are you looking at?

J: It’s an 85 Celica, same kind as I used to have. The owner’s asking $1,500.

S: That’s pretty old. How many kilometres has it done?

J: You know, I forgot to ask. I’ll have to check tonight when I go to see it. Would you be able to come with me to have a look? At about 6:30?

S: Sure, I’ll come, but I don’t know a lot about cars. I do know one thing, though. I wouldn’t buy an old car without having a mechanic look at it first.

J: That’s a good idea but won’t it cost a lot?

S: Not really. You can get a check done through the Automobile Association for $80 and it comes with a report on the condition of the car. It can save you a lot of money in the long run.

J: I’ll keep that in mind. So, we have to get to Parkwood at 6:30, Do you want to take the bus? It goes straight down South Road every fifteen minutes. Or maybe we could walk. I don’t think it’s that far.

S: Actually, I could borrow my roommate’s motorbike for an hour or so. He’s working all evening in the library.

J: Do you think he’d mind?

S:No way. He owes me a favour or two.

J: OK. Great! See you at six, outside the Student Centre.

Check:​ Get 10 Free Sample Papers

Check:​ Register for IELTS Coaching - Join for Free Trial Class Now

Questions 1-6

Complete the form using NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS for each answer.

Question 1.

Answer: 3

Explanation: Elena said ‘I am just the third owner’ this means that the car has 3 previous owners. So the answer must be 3 or three.

Read More IELTS Listening Related Articles

Question 2.

Answer: brakes

Explanation: As mentioned by Elena that ‘It’s had regular maintenance and the brakes were done last year’. Therefore the answer should be brakes.

Question 3.

Answer: (owner) going overseas

Explanation: Elena said she is going overseas next month to study. This is why she is selling the car.

Question 4.

Answer: $1,500

Explanation: The initial price that Elena wanted to sell the car at was $2000 but since she needed to sell it quickly, she has reduced the price to $1500.

Question 5.

Answer: 6:30 pm

Explanation: Jan asks if she can come over and take a look at the car at 6:30 and Elena agreed. Therefore the answer must be 6:30.

Question 6.

Answer: 88 Princess Street

Explanation: Elena stated the address again ‘it’s 88 Princess St. and the suburb is Parkwood’. So the answer is 88 Princess St./88 Princess Street.

Check:​  Get 10 Free Sample Papers

Check:​ Register for IELTS Coaching - Join for Free Trial Class Now

Questions 7-10.

Circle the correct letter A-C.

Question 7. What happened to Sam’s car?

1. It was replaced by another one.
2. It broke down.
3. It was stolen.

Answer: B

Explanation: Sam mentioned that ‘my car broke down last year’. So the correct answer is option B.

Question 8. Why does Jan need a car now?

1. She lives too far from the university.
2. She spends too much time on the bus.
3. She would feel safer at night with a car.

Answer: C

Explanation: Jan mentions that she works at night in the city. She doesn’t want to ‘want to hang around waiting for a bus late at night then walk 3 blocks home alone’. Therefore the answer should be C.

Question 9. What does Sam recommend?

1. check the service records
2. avoid buying an old car
3. get a mechanical inspection

Answer: C

Explanation: Sam stated that ‘I wouldn’t buy an old car without having a mechanic look at it first’. So C is the correct answer.

Question 10. How are they traveling to Elena’s?

1. by motorcycle
2. on foot
3. by bus

Answer: A

Explanation: Sam mentions he could ‘borrow a motorbike from his roommate’ and Jan agreed. So the answer must be A.