IELTS Listening test format and question types
The Listening test has four recorded parts with 10 questions each, takes about 30 minutes, and you hear each recording once only. The parts get harder, from an everyday conversation to a university-style lecture.
The four parts
- Part 1: a conversation between two people in an everyday situation, such as booking a course.
- Part 2: one person speaking about an everyday topic, such as a guided tour or an announcement.
- Part 3: a conversation between up to four people in an education or training context.
- Part 4: a talk or lecture on an academic subject.
On the computer-delivered test you get two minutes at the end to check your answers. On the paper test you get ten minutes to transfer them to the answer sheet.
Question types
- Form, note, table and summary completion: write words from the recording into gaps. Keep to the word limit, such as "ONE WORD AND/OR A NUMBER".
- Multiple choice: choose one answer, or two from a longer list.
- Matching: match items to a list of options, for example people to opinions.
- Plan, map or diagram labelling: label places or parts.
- Sentence and short-answer completion.
Tips
- Use the time before each section to read the questions and predict the kind of answer (a number, a name, a place).
- Answers come in the order of the questions, so if you miss one, move on.
- Spelling counts. Practise writing names and numbers you hear.