IELTS listening practice with essential tips and techniques to maximise your score. You must do more than simply practice IELTS listening, you must analyse your answers, develop awareness of question types and also build techniques. Develop your IELTS listening skills with these structured practice lessons that are designed to help you gain insight into IELTS listening and into your own areas of concern. This page has everything you need to do well in your test.
On this page, you will find:
- IELTS Listening Test Information
- Practice Materials for IELTS Listening with Essential Tips Included
- Essential Tips for IELTS Listening
IELTS Listening Test Information
There is only one listening test for all IELTS candidates. That means Academic and GT candidates will take the same listening test with the same scoring.
- The IELTS listening test lasts for a total of 40 mins. The recording lasts for 30 mins.
- Transfer/Checking Time. After the recording has ended, you will be given extra time to either transfer or check your answers:
- Paper-based test = you will write your answers on the question paper. At the end of the recording, you will have 10 mins to transfer your answers from the question paper to the answer sheet. Only the answer sheet will be marked. At the end of those 10 mins, you will not be able to write one more word or letter.
- Computer-based test = you will enter your answers directly into the computer during the test. At the end of the recording, you will have only 2 mins to check your answers. At the end of those 2 mins, your computer screen will lock preventing you from writing one more word or letter.
- Note: The transfer/checking time is the only difference between taking the listening test on computer or on paper. It is the same test regardless of how you write/type your answers.
- There will be 40 questions with one point for each correct answer. The total number of points is 40.
- Check how many points you need for the band score you require. Click here: Band Scores Explained
- You will have time to read the questions before the recording starts. However, this will require speed reading to spot the keywords in the question.
- You can only listen to the recording once. You can’t pause the recording.
- You will hear a variety of accents.
- The listening test is about multi-tasking – you have to listen, read the questions and write the answers all at the same time. This is a skill you can practice and improve.
- The biggest challenges: 1) concentration 2) losing your place in the recording 3) writing the wrong number of words for your answer 4) not spotting paraphrases 5) getting distracted by detail
- There are many different question types and you must practice them all. You need to be familiar with and develop strategies for each type of question. This is essential even for people who have native level English.
IELTS Listening Question Types
You can find samples of these question types in my practice lessons below.
- Sentence Completion
- Summary Completion
- Form Completion
- Note Completion
- Multiple Choice
- Short Answer Questions
- Table Completion
- Diagram Labelling
- Map/Plan Completion
- Flow Chart Completion
Sections of the IELTS Listening Test
There are four parts to the listening test and each section will have 10 questions. Sections 1 and 2 are based on social situations and Sections 3 and 4 are based on educations/training and lectures.
For more information about each section, click here: IELTS LISTENING TEST SECTIONS
IELTS Listening Test Instructions
With each set of questions, you will be given instructions about the answer. The instructions are not set for the whole section, they relate to each different question type which can change within one section. If you are asked to write a letter, your answer must be a letter (not a word). If you are asked to write words or numbers, for example “no more than two words and/or numbers”, you must adhere to those instructions.
No more than three words and/or numbers
You can write three words or less, with or without numbers.
- one word (with numbers or without)
- two words (with numbers or without)
- three words (with numbers or not)
- one number or numbers without any word
- You cannot write four or more words
IELTS Listening Practice Lessons
The practice lessons for IELTS Listening below will help you develop the skills needed for IELTS listening. I have highlighted the pages that contain both practice and crucial tips and advice. The lessons vary in difficulty to reflect the real levels that appear in each section of the IELTS Listening Test. Make sure you spend time analysing your answers and techniques as well as reviewing paraphrasing and transcripts – it’s the only way to develop! I hope you enjoy the learning curve!
TABLE COMPLETION PRACTICE WITH TIPS
Turtles: Multiple Choice
SENTENCE COMPLETION PRACTICE WITH TIPS
Summer Course: Form Completion
Sentence Completion TWO Practice Lessons
SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS PRACTICE WITH TIPS
Plastic Straws: Sentence Completion
Numbers Practice
New Year in Vietnam: Sentence Completion
Dinner Invitation: Multiple Choice
Sentence Completion Questions TWO Practice Lessons
Bedford Surgery: Map Building Floor Plan
Brain Drain: Multiple Choice
Sport Festival: Summary & Sentence Completion
Museum Visit: Multiple Choice
My University: Sentence Completion
Eiffel Tower: Diagram Labelling
Blue Footed Boobies: Gap Fill Exercise
Listening for Addresses
Listening for City Names
Listening for Letters: Alphabet Practice
Dealing with Natural Disasters: Dictation Practice
Spelling for Names
Big Numbers Practice
IELTS Listening Test Overview
- Same Test for Everyone: Whether you’re taking Academic or General Training IELTS, the Listening test is exactly the same.
- 30 minutes for listening and answering questions
- 10 minutes to transfer answers to the answer sheet
- Sections 1 & 2: Social context, easier
- Sections 3 & 4: Academic context, more difficult
Section Breakdown
Section 1:
- Type: Conversation between 2 people
- Topic: Everyday situations (e.g. booking a course or a restaurant)
Section 2:
- Type: Monologue
- Topic: Descriptions (e.g. tour guides, organization overviews)
Section 3:
- Type: Discussion with 3–4 speakers
- Topic: Academic discussion (challenging due to multiple voices)
Section 4:
- Type: Monologue (academic lecture)
- Topic: University-style presentation or speech
Answering the Test
- You only hear the recording once.
- You must listen, read, and write at the same time — it's a multitasking challenge.
- Use pencil only for the Listening test and the Reading test.
- Spelling matters. Incorrect spelling = incorrect answer.
- Grammar counts. Pay attention when completing sentences.
Tips to Improve Your Listening Score
1. Use the Official IELTS Answer Sheet
Download it and practice with it. Get familiar with transferring answers correctly and clearly in the final 10 minutes.
2. Write Clearly and Consistently
You can write:
- In all CAPITAL LETTERS
- In lowercase But be consistent. Don’t switch styles halfway.
3. Follow Word Limit Instructions
For example:
No more than two words and/or a numberThis means:
- One word ✅
- Two words ✅
- One word + one number ✅
- Three words ❌
4. Know When to Use Prepositions or Articles
- If it's a sentence completion task, it must be grammatically correct.
- If it’s a form or note completion, a single word may be enough.
5. All Words Count
- "A holiday" = 2 words
- "1950" = 1 number
Capitalization & Spelling
- Incorrect spelling = incorrect answer
- Use your 10-minute transfer time to:
- Fix spelling
- Add missing capital letters
- Check grammar
Multiple Choice Tip
If instructions say:
Choose the correct letter A, B, or CYou must write only the letter on the answer sheet — not the word.
Common Question Types in IELTS Listening
- Multiple Choice (A, B, C...)
- Map / Plan / Diagram Labeling
- Form, Note, Table, Summary, Flowchart Completion
- Sentence Completion
- Short Answer Questions
Make sure to practice each question type so you're not surprised on test day.
10 Smart Listening Strategies
-
Focus on the answer, not the whole recording.
-
Prepare questions quickly when told: "You have time to look at questions 1 to 5."
-
Underline keywords in the questions to stay focused.
-
Watch out for distractors — answers that are changed mid-conversation.
-
Pay attention to paraphrasing — same meaning, different words.
-
Answers can come fast — always glance at upcoming questions.
-
Don’t panic if there’s a pause. Stay calm and wait for the keywords.
-
If you miss an answer, move on. Don’t get stuck.
-
Guess if unsure. No penalties for wrong answers.
-
Don’t reformulate what you hear. Use the words exactly as spoken.
Understanding Common Traps
Changed Answers:
- “Let’s meet at 7.”
- “Oh, actually, let’s meet at 7:30.”
- ✅ Final answer: 7:30
- ❌ Wrong if you wrote 7
- Same Words in Questions and Audio:
- These could be traps — look for paraphrased meanings.
Scoring Breakdown
| Band Score | Correct Answers |
|---|---|
| 5.5 | ~20–22 |
| 6.0 | ~23–25 |
| 6.5 | ~26–29 |
| 7.0 | ~30–31 |
| 7.5 | ~32–34 |
| 8.0 | ~35–36 |
Pro tip: Always guess an answer if you're unsure — blank answers = lost opportunity.
Final Tips Before Test Day
- Listen to the example at the beginning of Section 1. Use it to adjust your headphones and get used to accents.
- Practice different English accents (British, Australian, Canadian, etc.)
- Read question titles to understand the topic.
- Check if questions are on multiple pages. Don’t miss questions hiding on the back!
- Stay calm, focus, and train your concentration.
Ready to Practice?
- Practice with official IELTS books
- Use free online lessons and resources
- Familiarize yourself with common traps, paraphrasing, and accents
🛠Useful Resources
- IELTS Official Answer Sheet (PDF)
- Practice Listening Exercises by Type
- Scoring & Band Descriptor Chart
Good luck with your IELTS preparation! Stay consistent, practice daily, and keep improving. You've got this!
