IELTS Listening

IELTS LISTENING

How long is the Listening paper?

The Listening paper is the same in both the Academic and the General Training modules of the IELTS test. It lasts approximately 30 minutes and you are given an extra 10 minutes to write your answers onto a separate answer sheet.

What type of information will I hear?

The Listening paper has four separate sections. Each section is a little more difficult than the one before. They feature speakers from a variety of English-speaking countries. Each section has a different focus.

In Section 1, you will hear a conversation between two people. (e.g. finding out information about travel) In Section 2, you will hear a monologue on a general topic (e.g. a radio broadcast). In Section 3, you will hear a conversation between two or three people in an academic context (e.g. discussing an assignment). In Section 4, you will hear a monologue in an academic context (e.g. a lecture).

 

Will I hear the recording more than once?

It is important to remember that you will hear the recording only once. To help you prepare, you will be given some extra time at the start of each section. During this time, you should read the questions carefully.

How is the Listening paper assessed?

You will be asked a total of 40 questions. In order to assess how much of the recording you understand, the questions will usually paraphrase (use different words with a similar meaning) the words that are in the text.

What types of question will I need to answer?

There are 10 questions in each section, and there is a variety of question types. For some types, you need to write words or numbers that you hear.

forms/notes/table/flow-chart/summary completion short-answer questions sentence completion

 

For other tasks, you need to choose an option from a list and write a letter on your answer sheet.

labelling a diagram/plan/map matching multiple choice

 

How do I answer the questions?

The instructions and the questions will tell you what type of information you need to listen for, and the type of answer you need to give. Listen carefully to any instructions you hear on the recording. Follow the instructions on the question paper carefully. In this unit, you will be able to practise all of these question types.

How can I improve my Listening paper score?

You can improve your score by following the instructions carefully, and remembering the Test Tips in this unit. This unit will also tell you the skills you need in order to achieve your highest score. Before the test, try to listen to accents from a variety of English-speaking countries. Studying all aspects of English (including vocabulary and grammar) will also help improve your IELTS score. If you make any mistakes in the practice exercises, make sure that you listen to the recording again and check your answers carefully in the Answer Key.