listening

The IELTS Listening Test is a 30-minute assessment where you’ll listen to audio recordings and answer questions based on what you hear. After the listening portion, you get an additional 10 minutes to transfer your answers from the question paper to the answer sheet

Test Structure

The test is divided into 4 sections, each with an audio recording and 10 questions, making a total of 40 questions. Here’s what each section entails:

  • Section 1: A conversation between two people on everyday topics, like inquiries at an accommodation office or a call to a service provider. You’ll listen for main ideas and factual information.
  • Section 2: A monologue on a general, non-academic topic. It could be an announcement or an explanation about a service. Again, the focus is on identifying main ideas and factual details.
  • Section 3: A discussion involving up to four people in an academic setting, such as a group of students talking about an assignment. This section tests your ability to follow discussions and understand speaker interactions.
  • Section 4: A lecture on an academic subject. You’ll need to comprehend complex information, understand the main ideas, and recognize the speaker’s attitude and opinions.

The test progresses in difficulty from Section 1 to Section 4.

Question Types

You will encounter seven types of questions in the Listening Test:

  1. Form/Flowchart Completion
  2. Multiple-Choice Questions
  3. Short Answer Questions
  4. Sentence Completion
  5. Labeling a Diagram or Map
  6. Classification
  7. Matching

Scoring

Each correct answer earns one point, and correct spelling is crucial as you can lose points for spelling mistakes. Your total score is then converted into an IELTS Listening band score, which can range from 0 to 9. Half-band scores (e.g., 5.5, 6.5) are also possible.

Key Points to remember

  • You only hear the recordings once; you cannot replay them.
  • The test evaluates listening skills in both everyday and academic contexts.
  • Practice understanding both the main ideas and specific details, as well as the speakers’ attitudes and interactions.

Tips for Success

  • Practice listening to different English accents.
  • Work on your note-taking skills during listening exercises.
  • Familiarize yourself with the types of questions and practice with past papers or sample tests.