IELTS Listening: Question Types, Topics, and Free Listening Practice Tests
Highlights:
- Time: IELTS listening section is a 30-minute task, divided into 4 sections.
- Questions: You will face 40 questions in total in IELTS listening exam.
- Preparation: IELTS listening practice includes solving sample papers and listening to podcasts regularly.
- Band Score: The total IELTS listening scoring ranges between 0 to 9, and achieving 7.0 band or higher is considered a good score.
If you are taking IELTS general or academic exam, the listening section consists of the same. IELTS listening test is a 30-minute task to answer 40 questions divided into 4 sections. In IELTS Listening exam Part 1, you will get a conversation between two speakers, and in part 2 only one person speaks which is a monologue. Parts 3 and 4 of IELTS Listening deal with educational and training situations. Regularly taking IELTS listening practice tests will help you to understand the different types of questions. To get an 8.5 band in IELTS listening, you must answer 36 out of 40 questions correctly.
IELTS Listening Practice Test
To practice IELTS Listening, engage in regular listening exercises with diverse English accents, use authentic IELTS practice materials, and focus on improving note-taking skills to enhance your ability to comprehend spoken content. The table below provides a number of IELTS Listening Practice Test that candidates can use as part of their preparation for the exam. Candidates can take IELTS Listening Practice Test to assess their listening skill development for the exam and improve their proficiency in English language.
| IELTS Listening Practice Test 1 - Audio | IELTS Listening Practice Test 2 - Audio |
| IELTS Listening Practice Test 3 - Audio | IELTS Listening Practice Test 4 - Audio |
| IELTS Listening Practice Test 5 - Audio | IELTS Listening Practice Test 6 - Audio |
| IELTS Listening Practice Test 7 - Audio | IELTS Listening Practice Test 8 – Audio |
| IELTS Listening Practice Test 9 - Audio | IELTS Listening Practice Test 10 - Audio |
| IELTS Listening Practice Test 11 - Audio | IELTS Listening Practice Test 12 - Audio |
| IELTS Listening Practice Test 13 - Audio | IELTS Listening Practice Test 14 - Audio |
| IELTS Listening Practice Test 15 - Audio | IELTS Listening Practice Test 16 - Audio |
| IELTS Listening Practice Test 17 - Audio | IELTS Listening Practice Test 18 - Audio |
| IELTS Listening Practice Test 19 - Audio | IELTS Listening Practice Test 20 - Audio |
IELTS Listening Test Contents
The overview of IELTS listening comprises 4 sections that progressively increase in difficulty, covering a range of spoken materials including conversations, monologues, and academic lectures. IELTS Listening tests a candidate’s ability to understand spoken English in various contexts, including everyday conversations, discussions, lectures, and presentations. There is no difference between the syllabus of IELTS Acadmic listening and IELTS General listening section.
| Part 1 | Conversation between 2 people in an everyday social context. (e.g. a conversation to book a room in a hotel) |
|---|---|
| Part 2 | A monologue set in an everyday social context. (e.g. a talk on using time effectively) |
| Part 3 | Conversation among 3 or 4 people set in an educational or training context. (e.g. students discussing an assignment) |
| Part 4 | Monologue related to academics. (e.g. a university lecture) |
IELTS Listening Question Types
There are several types of IELTS Listening questions, including multiple-choice, matching, labeling diagrams or maps, completing sentences, and note completion. These questions of IELTS syllabus are designed to assess various listening skills such as understanding main ideas, details, and the speaker's opinions across a range of contexts. IELTS listening materials consists of four sections, each with ten questions. Check the below are the question types in IELTS listening test:
| Task Type | Question Type | Question Description | Skills Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Task Type 1 | Multiple choice | Candidates are required to choose from three possible answers (A, B and C) | Detailed understanding and overall understanding |
| Task Type 2 | Matching | Candidates are required to match a set of options with numbered list items. | Understanding of information, listening for detail, following conversation, recognition of relationships and understanding of facts. |
| Task Type 3 | Plan, map, diagram labeling | Candidates are required to complete labels on a plan, map or diagram. | Ability to understand. |
| Task Type 4 | Form, note, table, flow-chart, summary completion | Candidates are required to fill in the gaps in outline of all listening text in no more than one or two words. | Ability to acquire factual information. |
| Task Type 5 | Sentence completion | Candidates are required to summarize key information in more than one or two words. | Identifying key information, understanding of functional relationships. |
| Task Type 6 | Short-answer questions | Candidates are required to read a question and then write a short answer. | Ability to listen and summarize facts. |
IELTS Listening Topics
The topics in IELTS Listening test encompass a wide range, including everyday social situations, academic lectures, discussions, and conversations related to general and academic contexts. IELTS exam pattern is divided into four parts. This assessment has four parts and each part has a different topic. Mentioned below are the topics that candidates might come across in this assessment:
| School Life | Conversation Between a Librarian and Students IELTS Listening Answers |
| Conversation Between a Student and a Salesman IELTS Listening Answers |
| Interview | A Radio Interview About a Lakeside Resort IELTS Listening Answer |
| A Radio Presenter Interviewing a Doctor IELTS Listening Answers |
| Application | A Monologue of an Immigration Officer explaining the Visa Application Process IELTS Listening Answers |
| Conversation About A Video Library Application Form IELTS Listening Answers |
| Tourism | Monologue About The Growth Of Tourism IELTS Listening Answers |
| A Monologue On Tourism IELTS Listening Answers |
| Asking a stranger or passer-by for directions | Directions on A Map IELTS Listening Answers |
| Self-Drive Tours in the USA IELTS Listening Answers |
| Renting a room (flat) | Holiday Rentals IELTS Listening Answers |
| Conversation between an Agent of House Services and Customer IELTS Listening Answers |
| Enrolling at the international students’ office | A Monologue On International Students And Employments In The Country IELTS Listening Answers |
| Asking information at a bank or post-office | A Conversation between a Man and a Customer Service Manager of a Bank IELTS Listening Answers |
| An Interview Conversation Between a Banker and a Customer IELTS Listening Answers |
| Attending holiday and leisure activities | Travel to Distant Mountains IELTS Listening Answers |
| Camber’s Theme Park IELTS Listening Answers |
| Listening to an introduction about a scenic spot by a tour guide | Tourist Attractions at Manham IELTS Listening Answers |
| Visiting The Sheepmarket Area IELTS Listening Answers |
| Psychology | Psychology Study IELTS Listening Answers |
| Conversation Between 2 Psychology Students IELTS Listening Answer |
| Medical | A Conversation Between Two Medical Students Discussing Options for Courses IELTS Listening Answers |
| A Lecture describing Some Investigations into the Sense of Taste Listening Answers |
IELTS Listening Band Score
IELTS listening section is scored based on the number of correct answers provided by the candidates. The section comprises a total of 40 questions and answering all of them correctly can result in a band score of 9. Consistent practice with IELTS listening practice tests can improve your chances of securing a good score. The table below provides a detailed breakdown of IELTS listening scoring in detail. Scoring 30 out of 40 in IELTS Listening test reflects a commendable performance, indicating a strong ability to comprehend spoken English across various contexts.
| Question | IELTS Listening Band Score |
|---|---|
| 39-40 | 9 |
| 37-38 | 8.5 |
| 35-36 | 8 |
| 32-34 | 7.5 |
| 30-32 | 7 |
| 26-29 | 6.5 |
| 23-25 | 6 |
| 18-22 | 5.5 |
| 16-17 | 5 |
| 13-15 | 4.5 |
| 11-12 | 4 |
IELTS Listening Marking Criteria
In IELTS listening test, candidates receive one mark for each correct answer. The total number of credits awarded out of 40 is then converted into an IELTS band score. IELTS Listening score is calculated based on the number of correct answers, with each correct answer earning one mark, and the total score is then converted to IELTS 9-band scale.
| Band Scores | Marking Criteria |
|---|---|
| 0 | No accessible information provided. |
| 1 | Lack of ability to use the language. |
| 2 | Use of most basic information, using isolated words or short formulae in familiar situations and to meet immediate needs. Difficulty in understanding spoken English. |
| 3 | Understanding of general meaning in very familiar situations. Difficulty in communicating. |
| 4 | Basic competence is limited to familiar situations. Frequent problems in understanding and expression. Lack of use of complex language. |
| 5 | Has partial command of the language. Understanding of overall meaning of situations. Ability to handle basic communication. |
| 6 | Presence of effective command of the language despite. Ability to use and understand fairly complex language. |
| 7 | Presence of operational command of the language. Ability to handle complex language well and understand detailed reasoning. |
| 8 | Presence of fully operational command of the language. Ability to handle complex detailed argumentation well. |
| 9 | Presence of fully operational command of the language: appropriate, accurate and fluent with complete understanding. |
IELTS Listening Tips
To improve listening skills in IELTS, practice regularly with authentic materials, IELTS listening practice papers, focus on various English accents, and develop effective note-taking techniques to grasp key information. Scoring 33 out of 40 in IELTS Listening indicates a strong performance, reflecting a high level of understanding and proficiency in listening to spoken English across various contexts.
Below are few of IELTS Listening tips to ensure good bands in IELTS listening test.
- Read questions carefully before the recording to familiarize yourself.
- Make notes during the audio, and use the 10 minutes provided to transfer answers accurately, checking for errors.
- Focus on keywords in questions to guide tip for MCQs in IELTS Listening questions.
- Adhere to word count instructions, avoid exceeding it.
- Always recheck your answers before transferring them to the answer booklet.
IELTS Listening Signposting Language
Signposting language in IELTS listening is the usage of phrases and words to guide the reader through the content of a passage or a recording. Following IELTS listening preparation tips effectvely will help you to answer questions effectively. Given below are the list of phrases and words, that are helpful for the listener to anticipate what's next and find the answer.
| Purpose | Signposting language |
|---|---|
| Introduction to the lesson/lecture | The purpose of today’s lecture is… The subject/topic of my talk is ... The lecture will outline ... The talk will focus on ... Today I’ll be talking about / discussing... Today we are going to talk about… The topic of today’s lecture is… |
| Describing the structure of the lecture | I’m going to divide this talk into a few parts. First, we’ll look at….. Then we’ll go on to … And finally I’ll… |
| Introducing the topic/ first point / first section | Let’s start by talking about... To begin,… Firstly,… |
| Starting an idea or linking to another idea | Let’s move on to… Now, let’s turn to… And I’d now like to talk about… Building on from the idea that ..., Another line of thought on ... demonstrates that ... Having established ..., |
| To reach the end of the talk / Summing up | In conclusion, … From the above, it is clear that … Several conclusions emerge from this analysis … To summarize, … I'd like now to recap... |
IELTS Listening Sample Papers
IELTS Listening Sample Papers will help you practice and familiarize yourself with the format, and question types. Effective preparation for IELTS listening must include solving sample papers and getting feedback.
- Conversation Between Customer and Travel Agent About Booking Flight to Toronto IELTS Listening Answer
- A Lecture About A Crater In Australia IELTS Listening Answer
- Job Hunting IELTS Listening Sample Answer
- Jane and Sally discussing Janes preparations for Abroad tour IELTS Listening Answer
- A Conversation between Two Students deciding on a Course IELTS Listening Answer
- A Conversation between a Housing Officer and a Student IELTS Listening Answer
- Turtles IELTS Listening Answer
- Central Cinema Lost Property Form Listening Answers
- A Lecture on the Great Barrier Reef IELTS Listening Answers
- A Lecture On Earth Sciences - IELTS Listening Answer
- A Monologue By Dr. Jespersen About Children’s Language Acquisition IELTS Listening Answer
- Monologue on Scholarship and Funding - IELTS Listening Answer
- A Conversation About Cell Phone Packages IELTS Listening Answer
- A Telephone Conversation Between a Receptionist and a Student About the Upcoming Architecture Conference IELTS Listening Answer
- A Monologue on the Social History of the East End of London IELTS Listening Answer
IELTS Listening Books
Best book for IELTS preparation for listening section includes 15 Days’ Practice For IELTS Listening, Official IELTS Practice Materials, and more. Candidates can strengthen their listening skills by practicing questions from various IELTS listening books. Certain popular IELTS preparation books are as follows:
- 15 Days’ Practice For IELTS Listening (Book + CD) – Check PDF
- Official IELTS Practice Materials – Check PDF
- Barron's IELTS Superpack – Check PDF
- Improve Your IELTS Listening & Speaking Skills - Check PDF
IELTS listening section is divided into four sections. There is a recording for each section in this section. It is necessary for candidates to hear the tape and respond to the questions. Using audio clips, IELTS Listening test gauges a candidate's understanding and listening skills. It is recommended that candidates listen to the audio before answering any of the questions.
FAQs
Ques. How many sections and questions are there?
Ans. The IELTS Listening module consists of four components in total. Social situations will serve as the basis for sections 1 and 2. Sections 3 and 4, however, will be scholarly in nature. This module consists of 40 questions in total, 10 in each area.
Ques. How many times will I be able to listen to the recording?
Ans. There will only be one playback of the recording, so pay close attention the entire time. You won't have another opportunity to listen to the tape, so be sure to thoroughly prepare and focus on your responses.
Ques. Can I take notes during the IELTS Listening test?
Ans. Yes, you are allowed to take notes during the test, and it is advisable to do so to help you remember key information. IELTS Listening is 30 minutes, including the time given to transfer your answers to the answer sheet.
Ques. Is there a break between the sections of the IELTS Listening test?
Ans. No, there is no break between sections. The test is designed to be continuous, and you should be prepared to listen attentively throughout. Social situations will serve as the basis for sections 1 and 2. Sections 3 and 4, however, will be scholarly in nature. This module consists of 40 questions in total, 10 in each area.
Ques. Can I listen to the recording more than once?
Ans. No, the recording is played only once. It is crucial to pay close attention as you won't have the opportunity to hear it again. There will only be one playback of the recording, so pay close attention the entire time.
Ques. What accents can I expect in the IELTS Listening test?
Ans. The test features a variety of English accents, including British, American, Canadian, Australian, and New Zealand accents.
Ques. How are the scores calculated in the IELTS Listening test?
Ans. Each correct answer earns one mark, and your total score is converted to the IELTS 9-band scale.
Ques. Can I use a pen or pencil to write my answers during the IELTS Listening test?
Ans. No, you must use a pencil to write your answers on the answer sheet provided.
Ques. Are there only multiple-choice questions in the IELTS Listening test?
Ans. No, while multiple-choice questions are common, the test also includes other question types such as matching, labeling, and completion tasks.
Ques. How can I improve my performance in the IELTS Listening test?
Ans. To improve IELTS listening, regularly practice with a variety of listening materials, focus on understanding different accents, and develop effective note-taking techniques to enhance your listening skills.
Ques: What is the format of the Listening test?
Ans: The IELTS Listening test has 4 sections with 10 questions each, lasting 40 minutes. Sections 1 & 2 are social contexts (introduction, booking, etc.), while 3 & 4 are academic (lectures, seminars). You get 10 minutes to transfer answers after listening.
Ques: Is there a difference between Academic and General Training Listening?
Ans: No, there is no difference in IELTS listening for IELTS Academic or IELTS general task. Both formats share the same Listening test and types of questions. However, the topics will be different for Academic and general.
Ques: Can I choose the accents I hear?
Ans: No, unfortunately we will not be able to hear the accent as per our choice, The test features various accents (e.g., Australian, British, North American) to reflect the international nature of English. The audio clips are selected randomly and you might get any accent.
Ques: Are there penalties for wrong answers?
Ans: No, there is no penalty for incorrect answers in IELTS listening. Hence, it is suggested that you always guess if unsure of the correct answer. This will help to improve the score rather than decreasing it.
Ques: Should I answer choices in order as per the question?
Ans: It depends on the question type that you are going to answer. Some follow a specific order, while others might not have a specifi order. You can answer as per your wish. However, make sure you do not miss any questions.
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