IELTS Listening: Types, Parts, Exam Format, Scoring & Tips!
-
Copy link
5 Must Complete IELTS Listening Practice Tests: Free Download
“A guide for acing the IELTS Listening test. Learn about the types of listening, parts of the test, exam format, scoring system, and tips to get a higher band.“
This blog aims to provide you with valuable insights, tips, and strategies to excel in the Listening section of the IELTS exam. As one of the four components of the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), the Listening test plays a crucial role in assessing your ability to understand spoken English in various contexts. With our expert guidance, you'll learn how to tackle different question types effectively and boost your confidence to achieve your desired score.
A high band score in listening can make or break your dreams of studying abroad landing your ideal job or getting your dream university. That’s why it’s so important to understand exactly what’s tested in the listening exam, how it’s formatted and scored, and the techniques required to get band 7.0 or higher.
What Types of Conversations Are Tested in IELTS Listening?
The IELTS listening test focuses on two main types of listening:
-
Casual Conversation
This includes informal dialogues between two people, like a conversation between friends or a service encounter in a store. You'll need to understand slang, idioms, and fast, conversational language.
-
Academic Lectures
These are more formal monologues in an academic context, like a university lecture or presentation. The language is more complex with advanced vocabulary.
What Are the Different Parts of the IELTS Listening Test?
The IELTS listening test has 4 parts:
Parts | Explanation |
IELTS Listening Part 1 | Conversation between 2 people in an everyday social context. (e.g. a conversation to book a room in a hotel) |
IELTS Listening Part 2 | A monologue set in an everyday social context. (e.g. a talk on using time effectively) |
IELTS Listening Part 3 | Conversation among 3 or 4 people set in an educational or training context. (e.g. students discussing an assignment) |
IELTS Listening Part 4 | Monologue related to academics. (e.g. a university lecture) |
Each part gets more difficult and tests your ability to understand complex ideas, detailed information, inferences, and opinions.
What's the IELTS Listening Exam Format?
The entire IELTS listening exam format is given below:
- The test takes around 30 minutes.
- There are 40 questions in total.
- You'll hear each recording only once.
- You are given time to read the questions before each recording begins.
- At the end of each recording, you'll have time to review your answers.
- The recordings are organized in ascending order of difficulty.
What Are the Different Question Types of IELTS Listening?
The IELTS listening test uses a variety of question types to assess your understanding. Being familiar with these will help you listen strategically.
1. Multiple Choice Questions: In MCQ, you’ll have three or four options and you must choose the correct one. Listen for exact words or numbers that match the options.
2. Short Answer Questions: You need to write a word, a few words, or a number that you hear. Pay close attention to capturing details.
3. Sentence Completion: For Sentence completion, you will be given the start of a sentence and must fill in the missing words based on the listening passage. Focus on grammar and meaning.
4. Summary Completion: In summary completion questions, test-takers are required to listen to a recording and complete a summary by filling in the missing words or phrases.
5. Table/Note Completion: You have to complete a table or notes summary with information from the audio. Listen for specific data like dates, prices, and names.
6. Labeling a Diagram/Map/Plan: In Map Labeling, you will label a visual display based on the information heard. Imagine the diagram in your mind while listening.
7. Matching Questions: Matching Questions is a set of options to a list of main points or people. Listen carefully to match the parallel ideas.
Each of these tests a different skill, from identifying key details to linking ideas. The listening tests will be of the same type for both academic as well as general training categories. Expect a mix of question types in each part.
Take a Sneak Peek Into Our 1:1 Session
How Is the IELTS Listening Test Scored?
The IELTS listening band descriptors system starts from 1 (non-user) to 9 (expert user).
You'll get 1 mark for each correct answer, so the total marks equal the number of questions (40). The table illustrates how IELTS Listening scores are calculated.
The total marks are converted to a band score using the official IELTS 9-band scale. To get a high overall band score, you need to excel in the listening test.
Chart for IELTS Listening Band Score Calculation | |
Correct answers | Band |
39-40 | 9 |
37-38 | 8.5 |
35-36 | 8 |
32-34 | 7.5 |
30-31 | 7 |
26-29 | 6.5 |
23-25 | 6 |
18-22 | 5.5 |
16-17 | 5 |
13-15 | 4.5 |
11-12 | 4 |
Get Your Listening Skills Better!
Buy Our IELTS Listening Book Now
IELTS Listening Preparation Tips
Here are 10 tips for achieving a high band score in IELTS Listening:
- Expand your vocabulary - Make flashcards for common vocabulary topics like education, work, travel, health, hobbies, and technology. Listen to vocabulary-building audio lessons.
- Get familiar with accents - Train your ear by watching TV shows, movies, and news clips with different English accents like British, Australian, and American. Focus on comprehending fast, natural speech.
- Listen for key details - Practice picking out important numbers, stats, dates, names, and facts when listening. Note these down rather than trying to understand everything.
- Take organized notes - Develop your own shorthand style of note-taking. Use abbreviations, symbols, and formatting to capture info quickly.
- Analyze questions - Read questions carefully before listening and predict the type of answer needed to be based on keywords like "when", "how many", and "why".
- Improve concentration - If you lose focus, take a deep breath and zero in on the next question. Don't let one lapse affect your whole test.
- Listen for paraphrases - Answers won't be exact words from the audio so listen for synonyms and rephrased options.
- Learn question strategies - Study techniques for multiple choice, fill in the blanks, matching, and other question types.
- Review answers - Double-check at the end for silly mistakes. Make sure answers are clear and properly spelled.
- Develop speed - Practice doing sample tests against the clock to improve your listening pace and efficiency.
Resources To Use
Youtube Videos
For different question types:
- IELTS Listening Table Completion Tips | DAY 1 | IELTS in 45 Days
- IELTS Listening Note Completion Tips | DAY 2 | IELTS 2022 in 45 Days
- IELTS Listening 2024 Flowchart Completion | DAY 6 | IELTS in 45 Days
- IELTS Listening Summary Completion Task | DAY 9 | IELTS in 45 Days
- IELTS Listening Answer Short Question | DAY 10 | IELTS in 45 Days
Practice Tests
- IELTS Listening Practice Test 2024 with Answers | 31.01.2024 | FULL IELTS Listening Test
- IELTS Listening Practice Test 2024 with Answers | 14.02.2024 | February 2024
- IELTS Listening Practice Test OCTOBER 2023 with Answers | 16.2.2023
- IELTS Listening Practice Test 2023 with Answers | 18.02.2023
- IELTS Listening Practice Test 2023 with Answers | 02.03.2023
Also, Check:
- How to improve listening sections 3 and 4?
- Useful Resources & Websites For IELTS Listening
- Improve Your Skills: Listening & Speaking For IELTS 6.0 – 7.5 (Ebook)
- IELTS Listening Section Exam Guide
- 1200 Commonly Repeated Words In the IELTS Listening Test
- Improve Your IELTS Listening & Speaking Skills (Ebook & CDs)
- IELTS Listening Recent Actual Tests Volume 3 (Ebook & Audio)
- IELTS Listening Recent Actual Tests Volume 4 (Ebook & Audio)
- IELTS Band Score Calculation
- 15 Days’ Practice For IELTS Listening (Ebook & Audio)
- Should You Use All Capital Letters In The IELTS Listening And Reading Tests
Frequently Asked Questions
How many sections and questions are there?
How many times will I be able to listen to the recording?
How long do I get to transfer the answers to the answer sheet?
Are there different word counts for each question?
Do I get time to read the questions first?
What is the scoring for listening?
Will I lose points because of a wrong answer?
Do they allow students to write on the question paper?
Should I use a pencil or a pen to write answers?
Does wrong spelling make a difference?
Practice IELTS Listening based on question types
Recent Articles
Kasturika Samanta
Nehasri Ravishenbagam
Nehasri Ravishenbagam
Raajdeep Saha