In the IELTS Listening Section 1, a common practice test features a conversation between a job seeker (often named Ben Miller
) and a farm owner (such as Mrs. Chandler from Manor Farm) regarding a summer fruit picking application. Manor Farm Application: Key Answers & Details
Below are the typical answers and transcript details found in this specific listening task:
Applicant Identity: The applicant is a 20-year-old student from the USA.
Visa Requirements: He holds a blue card visa, which is valid until November.
Work Availability: He is available from July (or mid-June) through October.
Job Source: He heard about the vacancy through the farm's website rather than an agency. Important Working Conditions at Manor Farm
The second part of the listening (Questions 4–10) usually focuses on the logistics of the job:
Picking Season: The busiest month for picking (specifically apples and pears) is September.
Weather Dependency: The exact dates for picking are not fixed as they depend on the weather.
Payment: Pickers over the age of 18 earn a rate of £5.60 per hour.
Accommodation: There is no housing on the farm; workers stay at a campsite roughly 15 minutes away.
Transport: Because the local buses are infrequent and roads are narrow, pickers are strongly advised to bring a bike.
Required Documentation: To be allowed to work, pickers must provide proof of age, specifically a passport.
Daily Supplies: Workers are responsible for their own meals and must bring their own lunch and a supply of water. Tips for this Section
Word Count: Always check the instructions (e.g., "NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER") to avoid losing marks for over-writing.
Paraphrasing: Listen for synonyms; for example, the recording might mention "available transport" while the question uses "travel around".
Concentration: In Section 1, information often comes quickly. Ensure you are ready for the next question as soon as you have written the previous answer. IELTS Listening Answers: March 2025 | PDF - Scribd
Section 1: Fruit Picking Application
You will hear a conversation between a farm manager, Ms. Thompson, and a job applicant, Alex, about a fruit picking position.
Questions 1-5
Transcript:
Ms. Thompson: Hi Alex, thanks for coming in today. Can you tell me a bit about yourself?
Alex: Hi Ms. Thompson. I'm Alex, and I'm here to apply for the fruit picking position.
Ms. Thompson: Great! Our farm specializes in picking strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries. We have a busy season ahead of us and we're looking for reliable and hardworking individuals to join our team.
Alex: That sounds great. I'm available to work a lot of hours. fruit picking application ielts listening answers work
Ms. Thompson: Excellent. We require our fruit pickers to work at least 6 hours a day, 5 days a week.
Alex: Okay, that's doable. What's the pay rate?
Ms. Thompson: We offer $15 per hour, plus a bonus for meeting our daily picking targets.
Alex: That sounds good. What's the minimum age requirement to work on the farm?
Ms. Thompson: You must be at least 16 years old to work on our farm.
Alex: I'm 20, so I'm good to go. What's the name of the farm?
Ms. Thompson: Our farm is called Sunny Harvest Farm.
Answers:
Section 2: More Questions
Questions 6-10
Transcript (continued):
Ms. Thompson: As a fruit picker, your main responsibility will be to pick high-quality fruit while meeting our daily targets.
Alex: Okay, got it.
Ms. Thompson: Yes, you will be required to work on weekends, as that's when most of our picking occurs.
Alex: Okay, that's fine.
Ms. Thompson: You'll receive your pay bi-weekly, every two weeks.
Alex: Great.
Ms. Thompson: My supervisor, John, will be overseeing your work. He's very experienced and will make sure you're doing well.
Alex: Sounds good.
Ms. Thompson: Our fruit picking season typically runs for about 3-4 months, depending on weather conditions.
Answers:
The "Fruit Picking Application" is a classic Section 1 IELTS Listening task that typically involves a conversation between an applicant (often named Sophie Harries or Ben Miller ) and a farm owner/manager inquiring about temporary work. Core Content of the Listening Task
In this recording, the applicant typically calls to inquire about an advertisement for part-time fruit picking. The conversation covers several key details required to complete an application form:
Personal Information: Applicants provide details like their name, current address (often a hostel in Sydney), and age.
Work Eligibility: For international applicants, this includes the type of visa held (e.g., a "blue card") and its validity. In the IELTS Listening Section 1 , a
Job Details: Discussions include preferred fruits to pick (such as bananas, mangoes, or avocados), payment methods (by the hour vs. per basket), and the peak season (typically August).
Practical Requirements: Pickers are often advised to bring their own supplies, such as lunch and a day's supply of water, as these are not provided. Common Questions and Answers
Based on various "Actual Test" transcripts, here are the frequently occurring answers for this specific task: Question Topic Common IELTS Answer Current Address Central Hostel (Sydney) Applicant's Age 19 or 20 Preferred Location Near the coast Payment Preference By the hour Type of Fruit Mangoes Medical Detail Used to have a problem with their back Required Supply Plenty of water Transport Travel around by bike Exam Strategies for Success
To master this section, consider these expert tips from IELTS Advantage and IELTS Liz: IELTS Academic format: Listening
The "Fruit Picking Application" is a common theme in Section 1 of the IELTS Listening test, where you typically listen to a telephone conversation between a job seeker and a farm owner to complete an employment form. Core Content & Typical Answers
When filling out the application form, you will often need to listen for these specific details: Personal Information:
Full Name: Be ready to spell common or unusual surnames (e.g., Sophie Harries or Ben Miller).
Current Address: Often a local location like a Hostel in a specific city. Age: Usually a number (e.g., 20). Work Preferences:
Availability: Specific dates or months (e.g., from July to October).
Fruit Types: Common fruit names such as apples, pears, mangoes, bananas, or avocados.
Payment Method: Choices between being paid by the hour or per basket. Logistics & Requirements: Transport: Advice to travel by bike.
Documentation: Requirement for a passport or a specific visa (e.g., a blue card). Busiest Month: Often August or September. Equipment: Items to bring, like a supply of water. Essential Strategy Guide
Predict the Word Type: Before the audio starts, look at the gaps to guess if you need a noun (fruit type), a number (age/pay rate), or a date.
Watch for Word Counts: Always check the instruction (e.g., "ONE WORD AND/OR A NUMBER") to avoid losing marks for over-writing.
Identify "Signposting": Listen for phrases like "When do you think you can start?" which signals that the Availability answer is coming.
Expect Distractors: Speakers often change their minds. For example, a candidate might say they want to pick bananas but then settle on mangoes because it's "easier".
Spelling Matters: In Section 1, names and addresses are frequently spelled out letter-by-letter. Practice common English letter sounds like A, E, I, G, and J. Typical Vocabulary to Master
Fruits: Citrus (lime, lemon), Stone (apricot), Tropical (mango, avocado).
Farming Terms: Picking season, weather-dependent, campsite, hourly rate.
Health/Safety: Medical insurance, physical condition, driving license. IELTS Listening Answers: March 2025 | PDF - Scribd
Even if you know the answers, the IELTS listening section for fruit picking applications includes classic distractors:
Before looking at answers, master these lexical fields. The recording will use synonyms or paraphrases of these words:
The IELTS Listening test frequently uses themes of temporary, seasonal, or student work. Fruit picking is a classic example because:
When you see a section titled "Fruit Picking Application," you are likely dealing with Section 1 or Section 2 of the Listening test – a social or transactional context with one speaker (e.g., a student calling a farm manager) or two speakers (e.g., a manager and an applicant).
Use these free resources:
DIY Practice: Record yourself reading a fake application form. Leave 10-second gaps for answers. Play it back and fill in your own blanks.
Before you listen, you must be able to hear these words and instantly recognize their synonyms. Here is the high-frequency vocabulary for fruit picking work:
Man: Good morning, Cherry Lane Orchards. How can I help you?
Woman: Hello, I’m calling about the fruit picking job advertised online.
Man: Certainly. I’ll take some details. What’s your full name?
Woman: Elena Kowalski. K-O-W-A-L-S-K-I.
Man: And are you over 18?
Woman: Yes, I’m 22. My date of birth is the 7th of November, 2001.
Man: Fine. And a contact number?
Woman: 07955 128764. But after next week, use my friend’s phone – 07955 128990.
Man: Noted. Which fruit are you applying for? We have plums, pears, and cherries starting in August.
Woman: I’d like cherries, please.
Man: Do you have a valid working visa?
Woman: Yes, it’s a working holiday visa, valid until December.
Man: Any experience?
Woman: Yes, two weeks of grape picking in France.
Man: Great. Accommodation? We have a campsite at £5 a night or a shared house at £25 a week.
Woman: The shared house, please.
Man: You’ll need steel-toe boots. Do you have them?
Woman: No, I’ll need to borrow a pair.
Man: We can lend you size 6 or 9. Which?
Woman: Size 9.
Man: Finally, an emergency contact name and relationship?
Woman: My brother, Tomasz Kowalski. That’s T-O-M-A-S-Z.
IELTS always includes a correction. The first number/date is wrong. What type of fruit does the farm specialize in picking
Example:
Speaker 1: “Can you start on the 5th?”
Speaker 2: “No, I have a doctor’s appointment. Make it the 7th.”
Answer: 7th (not 5th).
Another example for wages:
Manager: “The rate is $18.50 an hour.”
Worker: “I thought it was $19.00.”
Manager: “That was last year. It’s $18.50 now.”
Answer: 18.50