IELTS Reading: problems with Cambridge 14 answers

A few people have asked me about the answers given at the back of Cambridge 14. It seems that some alternative answers have not been listed.

For example, a student called Haley asked me about the following questions, from test 1 in Cambridge IELTS 14 (General Training):

Q19. What do visitors need to show when parking?
I answered 'prearranged permits' but the answer key says 'permits'

Q20. Where can the nursery pick-up point be found?
I answered 'outside Concorde Building' but the answer key says 'Concorde Building'

Q27. What are Sure Smart Maternity Payments?
I answered 'individual grants' but the answer key says 'grants'

Would Haley's answers be correct? The answer is yes - all three answers are perfectly fine. The words 'prearranged', 'outside' and 'individual' are not necessary, but they certainly don't make the answers wrong.

Comments

[Prasad Gandham]

I wanted to add details to what Mr.Simon has mentioned. In the reading or listening test word count is very important. If the question says 'answer in one word only', then we should write only the keyword,
for example, in one of the above answers, we should write only permits.
But if it is mentioned that the answer should not be more than three words then we are allowed to write either permits or prearranged permits. Similarly, we can write outside Concorde building or Concorde building.
Thank you very much, Simon, for your valuable lessons. I am following this blog for the past 8 years and could learn a lot.
I scored 8.5 in Academic reading and listening tests consecutively two times just because of your lessons.
Kind regards
Prasad Gandham

[Nameless]

Don’t forget the instructions. If the questions only allow us to fill in no more than one word, the answers for questions one and three will be wrong.

[niuxiufeng]

Good morning,

I have a question about words combination,

Is that correct for ask:
what is your favorite hobby?
I think favorite and hobby can not use together, It sounds weird.

can anyone give me an answer.
thanks in advance.

[Magda]

niuxiufeng

As the graph below shows, "favorite" is the second commonest adjective for "hobby" on Google books.

https://books.google.com/ngrams/graph?content=*_ADJ+hobby&year_start=1960&year_end=2008&corpus=15&smoothing=3&share=&direct_url=t2%3B%2C%2A_ADJ%20hobby%3B%2Cc0%3B%2Cs0%3B%3Bnew_ADJ%20hobby%3B%2Cc0%3B%3Bfavorite_ADJ%20hobby%3B%2Cc0%3B%3Bfavourite_ADJ%20hobby%3B%2Cc0%3B%3Bpopular_ADJ%20hobby%3B%2Cc0%3B%3Bexpensive_ADJ%20hobby%3B%2Cc0%3B%3Bother_ADJ%20hobby%3B%2Cc0%3B%3Bfascinating_ADJ%20hobby%3B%2Cc0%3B%3Binteresting_ADJ%20hobby%3B%2Cc0%3B%3Bparticular_ADJ%20hobby%3B%2Cc0%3B%3Bspecial_ADJ%20hobby%3B%2Cc0

[Mirabella]

Answer is correct or not also depends on word count. For instance, if the assignment says "use 1 word", then 2 word answer with redudant word will be wrong.

[sjm]

niuxiufeng

People usually have more than one hobby, so it is natural to ask someone which one is their favorite.

[niuxiufeng]

Thanks a lot @Magda, @sjm

[atiti]

hi simon
we missed you
you havent posted anything in these two days
i hope you are fine wherever you are

[IELTS Rawalpindi institute]

Simon you're one of the best IELTS mentors and teachers in the world and we always look forward to your IELTS tips

[Somlata Acharya]

Q26. My answer is over 16.
However the answer key suggests personal circumstances. Which one is correct?