How the IELTS Listening test works
| Part | What you hear | Typical questions |
|---|---|---|
| Part 1 | An everyday conversation between two people (a booking, an enquiry) | Form, note or table completion |
| Part 2 | One person talking about a place, service or event | Multiple choice, map or plan labelling, notes |
| Part 3 | A discussion between 2–4 people about study or training | Multiple choice, matching |
| Part 4 | A lecture on an academic topic | Note, sentence or flow-chart completion |
There are 40 questions in about 30 minutes, and the parts get harder. Listening is the same in Academic and General Training. Band 6 needs about 23 correct answers, band 7 about 30, and band 8 about 35.
10 IELTS Listening tips that make the biggest difference
1. Use the reading time to predict
Before each part, read the questions and predict the type of answer for each gap: a number, a name, a date, a place, a plural noun? "Price per night: $" needs a number. "Bring: a " needs a singular noun.
2. Underline the key words in each question
You'll hear paraphrases, not the exact words. If the question says "cost", listen for price, fee or charge.
3. Expect distractors
Speakers often change their minds or correct themselves: "We'll meet on Tuesday… oh, actually, Wednesday is better." The answer is the final information. Part 1 is full of these.
4. Know how names and numbers are spoken
Practise the alphabet (especially A/E/I, G/J, B/V) and spoken numbers: "double seven" = 77, "oh" = 0, "fifteen" vs "fifty". Dates can be written as 14 January or January 14.
5. Spell everything correctly
A correct answer with a spelling mistake scores zero. Learn the spelling of common topic words: accommodation, environment, government, necessary, schedule, library, February, Wednesday.
6. Check the word limit
"NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER" means two words, one number, or two words and a number. Writing three words is wrong.
7. Map labelling: find your starting point
Before the recording starts, find the entrance or "You are here", and the compass. Listen for direction language: opposite, next to, on your left, at the far end, just past, in the corner, north of. Our Listening full test 3 includes a map question set.
8. Don't get stuck
If you miss an answer, let it go and move straight to the next question. Answers come in order, and losing your place costs more marks than one missed question.
9. Part 4 has no break, so follow the signposts
Lectures are organised with signpost phrases: firstly, another factor, turning to, finally, in conclusion. These tell you which section of your notes you're on.
10. Practise with full tests, once only
Don't replay recordings during practice. Our tests let you play each recording once, as in the real test, and give you an estimated band at the end.
Common IELTS Listening question types
| Question type | Tip |
|---|---|
| Form / note / table completion | Predict the word type; check spelling and plurals |
| Multiple choice | Read the options before listening; all options are usually mentioned, but only one answers the question |
| Map / plan labelling | Find the starting point; follow the speaker's route with your pencil |
| Matching | Read the list of options first; information is often paraphrased |
| Flow-chart completion | Follow the order of the process; the stages come in sequence |
| Sentence completion | The completed sentence must be grammatically correct |
Free IELTS listening practice
- Full tests (40 questions, estimated band): Listening full test 1 · Listening full test 2 · Listening full test 3 (with map labelling and a flow-chart)
- Unlimited tests: the IELTS listening mock test generator mixes parts from all our tests.
- Short practice: Listening practice 1 and practice 2.
Our recordings use your browser's built-in voices, so they sound less natural than the real test. Use headphones, and add podcasts and ABC radio to your weekly listening for natural accents.
Unofficial practice. We wrote these questions to match the official IELTS question types and timings. They are not real exam questions, and points shown are practice feedback, not a band score. For official sample tests, visit ielts.org.
Frequently asked questions
How many correct answers do I need for band 7 in IELTS Listening?
On average, about 30 out of 40. Band 6 is about 23, band 8 about 35. IELTS adjusts the exact numbers slightly between test versions.
Do I hear the IELTS Listening recording twice?
No. Each recording is played once. You get time to read the questions before each part.
Do spelling mistakes count in IELTS Listening?
Yes. A misspelled answer is marked wrong. British and American spellings are both accepted. Capital letters don't matter.
How much time do I get to transfer answers?
On the paper test you get 10 minutes at the end to copy your answers onto the answer sheet. On the computer test you type answers as you listen and get 2 minutes at the end to check them.
Is IELTS Listening the same for Academic and General Training?
Yes. Listening (and Speaking) is the same for both versions.