IELTS Listening Module: Exam Format, Question Types and Preparation Tips
The IELTS Listening test is designed to assess your ability to understand spoken English in a variety of contexts. It is the same for both Academic and General Training versions of the IELTS exam and lasts for 30 minutes (with an additional 10 minutes to transfer your answers to the answer sheet).
The Listening test is divided into four sections with 40 questions in total. Each section becomes progressively more challenging.
Section Overview
Section 1: Conversation (Everyday Social Context)
- Format: A dialogue between two people in an everyday situation (e.g., booking a hotel room or inquiring about services).
- Purpose: Tests your ability to identify specific information such as names, dates, times, or numbers.
- Example: A conversation about renting a car.
Section 2: Monologue (Everyday Context)
- Format: A single speaker talking about a general topic (e.g., a guide giving directions or explaining a public event).
- Purpose: Focuses on your ability to understand factual information.
- Example: A talk about a city tour or instructions for an event.
Section 3: Discussion (Academic Context)
- Format: A conversation between 2–4 speakers, often about academic subjects (e.g., a group of students discussing a project with a tutor).
- Purpose: Tests your ability to follow complex discussions, understand arguments, and identify agreement or disagreement.
- Example: A group of students planning a research assignment.
Section 4: Monologue (Academic Lecture)
- Format: A single speaker delivering a lecture or academic talk on a topic (e.g., a professor giving a lecture about history or science).
- Purpose: Assesses your ability to follow structured information in an academic setting.
- Example: A lecture on renewable energy.
IELTS Listening Question Types
The test includes a variety of question types to assess different listening skills:
- Multiple Choice: Choosing one correct answer or multiple correct answers.
- Matching: Linking items from two lists (e.g., matching names to actions).
- Plan, Map, or Diagram Labelling: Filling in labels for visual materials based on the audio.
- Form, Note, Table, Flowchart, or Summary Completion: Completing missing information using words from the audio.
- Sentence Completion: Filling in missing parts of a sentence.
- Short-Answer Questions: Answering questions with a word or short phrase.
Key Features
One-Time Listening
You will only hear the recordings once during the test, so it’s essential to focus and take notes as you listen.
Accents
The recordings feature a variety of English accents, including British, Australian, New Zealand, American, and Canadian.
Word Limit
Pay attention to the word limit for each question, e.g., “Write no more than two words and/or a number.”
Order of Questions
Questions generally follow the sequence of the audio, making it easier to locate answers as you listen.
IELTS Listening Score Chart
Below is the detailed IELTS Listening Score Chart:
| Listening Band | Correct Answers Required | |
|---|---|---|
9.0 | 39-40 | |
8.5 | 37-38 | |
8.0 | 35-36 | |
7.5 | 32-34 | |
7.0 | 30-31 | |
6.5 | 26-29 | |
6.0 | 23-25 | |
5.5 | 18-22 | |
5.0 | 16-17 | |
4.5 | 13-15 | |
4.0 | 10-12 | |
Please note that these scores are approximate.
Tips for Success
Understand the Question Types:
Familiarize yourself with all the question types in practice sessions.
Practice Listening to Different Accents:
Expose yourself to various English accents by watching international TV shows, news, or podcasts.
Focus on Keywords:
Identify keywords in the questions before the audio starts and listen for them.
Use the Time Wisely:
- Read the instructions and questions during the pauses.
- Use the 10 minutes at the end to carefully transfer and review your answers.
Practice Paraphrasing:
Be aware that synonyms or paraphrased versions of words in the question may be used in the audio.