What Happens on IELTS Listening Test Day?

Knowing what to expect in the IELTS exam is crucial as test day draws near. It ensures that students can perform well on the test, as well as the experience of giving the test goes smoothly. The Listening test is the same for both the IELTS General Training and IELTS Academic versions and will have a variety of voices and native-speaker accents.

So now, are you ready to read about what to expect on the IELTS Listening exam? Go through this article now for a complete overview of what to look forward to on the IELTS Listening Day!

IELTS Listening Test Facts

The Listening component of the IELTS has 4 sections with 10 questions each. Each section of the test gets harder as you go, taking about 30 minutes to finish. After the listening test, you will have 10 minutes to write your responses on the answer sheet.

The 4 listening sections will have different audios, as follows.

Before you begin with the test day preparation tips, try reading our expert IELTS Listening tips!

Preparing for the IELTS Listening Test Day

Here are some pointers to help you be prepared for your IELTS Listening day.

1. The ID you need to bring should be confirmed with your exam centre in advance. Don’t forget to bring it.
2. Ensure the exact IELTS test location and how long it will take you to get there. You won’t be able to enter the test room if you arrive late.
3. You are not permitted to bring any electronic devices into the exam room, including your phone.
4. After you enter the exam hall, you can open your IELTS Listening test booklet but do not look at the questions yet and get ready to focus on the speaker’s voice.
5. Listen to the introduction that contains something like, “You will be hearing a receptionist and a customer talking about booking a hotel room. You will have some time to look at questions 1 to 5.”
6. This will let you know who will be talking and what the talk is going to be about. This is important as it will warm your brain up to be ready to hear about the topic.
7. Try to be active and look for keywords in the audio and make sure to take notes as you listen.
8. Repeat this, and write your answers on the question booklet and not on the answer sheet. You will have 10 minutes to transfer your answers at the end of the test!

Improve Your Listening Skills with IELTSMaterial.com

Note that, practice is the key! If you’re fully prepared for your IELTS Listening day, it should be an easy ride for you. Every student who scores a 7 or better on the test will tell you that planning is important alongside working hard to hone listening skills. To get started get help from our IELTS experts or attend our FREE webinars to learn tricks to improve your listening skills!

Also check:

• IELTS Listening Recent Actual Tests Volume 3 (Ebook & Audio)
• IELTS Listening Recent Actual Tests Volume 4 (Ebook & Audio)
• 15 Days’ Practice For IELTS Listening (Ebook & Audio)
• Should You Use All Capital Letters In The IELTS Listening And Reading Test