Duration and format.
The Listening test takes around 30 minutes. There are 40 questions and four sections.
The Listening test is recorded on a CD and is played ONCE only.
During the test, time is given for candidates to read the questions and write down and then check their answers.
Answers are written on the question paper as candidates listen.
When the recording ends, ten minutes are allowed for candidates to transfer their answers to an answer sheet.
Task types: There are 4 sections in the listening test.
The first two sections are concerned with social needs. There is a conversation between two speakers and then a monologue. For example – a conversation about travel arrangements or decisions on a night out, and a speech about student services on a university campus or arrangements for meals during a conference.
The final two sections are concerned with situations related more closely to educational or training contexts. There is a conversation between up to four people and then a further monologue. For example – a conversation between a tutor and a student about an assignment or between three students planning a research project, and a lecture or talk of general academic interest.
A range of native-speaker English accents are used in the recordings which reflects the international usage of IELTS.
A variety of questions are used, chosen from the following types:
• multiple choice
• short-answer questions
• sentence completion
• note/summary/flow-chart/table completion
• labelling a diagram
• classification
• matching
NOTE
The listening paper is the same in both Academic and the General training modules of the IELTS test. The duration of this test is approximately 30 minutes, and you are given 10 minutes to write the answers on a separate answer sheet.
Sections:
This consists of four separate sections and a total of 40 questions. Sections 1 and 2 are set in a social context, and section 3 and 4 are set in an academic context. There are 10 questions for each section in the listening test and various task types in the sections. You may have between one and three different tasks per section.
In the IELTS listening, you will hear the text once only.
IELTS Listening Tips:
- Always check your spelling. If you make a spelling mistake in the IELTS Listening paper, your Answer will be marked wrong.
- Before you do each section, you will be given 30 – 45 seconds to look at the questions. Use this time to study the questions and try to predict what you might hear.
- Do not be worried if you see technical terms in the listening questions. These will usually be explained to you.
- For labelling a map or plan in IELTS, you may need to follow directions, or you may hear a description of a location.
- For most questions in the listening paper, you will hear two or more potential answers to each question, but only one will correct. The incorrect answers are called distractors.
- In the IELTS listening paper, sections 1 and 3 are conversations between two or three people. Sections 2 and 4 are monologues, with only one main speaker introducing the talk or asking questions.
- Pay attention to the number of words you need to write. No more than two words means that you may need to write one word or two words only.
- The distractors for this type of task might be extra buildings marked on the map, or they might be extra options in a list of answers.
- You may need to follow directions to locate a place on the map or plan. Marking the way directly on the map can be helpful.
- You should study the map or plan carefully before you listen. Having a clear image in your mind will help you understand what you hear.