IELTS Listening
The same test for Academic and General Training: four parts and 40 questions. The recording plays once, with no pause or replay, and you answer while you listen. You then have 2 minutes to check your answers.
Use headphones. After you open a test you have 15 minutes to press Play.
- Parts
- 4
- Questions
- 40
- Time
- About 30 min
- Played
- Once
Practice tests
IELTS Listening Practice Test 1
40 questions · about 27 min
IELTS Listening Practice Test 2
40 questions · about 28 min
IELTS Listening Practice Test 3
40 questions · about 29 min
IELTS Listening Practice Test 4
40 questions · about 27 min
IELTS Listening Practice Test 5
40 questions · about 26 min
IELTS Listening format at a glance
IELTS Listening is the same test for Academic and General Training. It has four parts with 10 questions each, 40 questions in all. Each recording is played once only, and you answer while you listen. The first two parts are about everyday life; the last two are set in education and training.
| Part | Situation | Speakers | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Part 1 | Everyday social conversation | Two people | Booking a hotel room or asking about a gym membership |
| Part 2 | Everyday monologue | One person | A guide describing a museum or a talk about local facilities |
| Part 3 | Conversation in an education or training setting | Two or more people | Students discussing an assignment with a tutor |
| Part 4 | Academic monologue | One person | A university lecture on a subject |
The parts get harder as you go. Part 1 usually asks for concrete details such as names, numbers and dates. Part 4 asks you to follow an argument or explanation with no second speaker to slow things down.
Question types
Any part can use any of the question types below, and one part often mixes two or three. Read the instructions for every group of questions: the word limit and the format of the answer change from group to group.
Multiple choice
A question with three options (A, B, C), or a longer list where you choose two or more answers. It tests whether you understand the main point or a specific detail, not just single words.
- Before the audio starts, underline the key words in the question, not just the options.
- Expect every option to be mentioned. The speakers often reject one or two, so listen for the final decision.
- When you must choose two answers, the order does not matter, but each answer is marked separately.
Matching
You match a numbered list of items to a set of options, for example people to their opinions or places to their features. It tests whether you can follow a conversation and catch how facts connect.
- Read the options first: they are usually paraphrased in the audio, not read out word for word.
- The numbered items come in the order you hear them; the options do not.
- Some options are not used. Do not force every option into an answer.
Plan, map and diagram labelling
You label parts of a map, building plan or diagram, either by choosing letters from the picture or by writing words. It tests whether you can follow directions and descriptions of where things are.
- Find the starting point and the compass or entrance on the picture before the audio begins.
- Learn direction language: opposite, next to, at the far end, turn left, clockwise.
- Follow the speaker with your eye or cursor as they move around the map.
Form, note, table and flow-chart completion
You fill gaps in a form, a set of notes, a table or a flow-chart that summarises what you hear. The instructions set a word limit, for example NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER. It tests whether you can pick out the key facts.
- Predict the answer type for each gap: a number, a name, a noun, an adjective.
- Use words you hear. You do not need to change their form, and the grammar of the gap should still work.
- Keep to the word limit. An answer that is too long is marked wrong even if it contains the right words.
Sentence completion
You complete sentences that summarise information from the recording, within a word limit. It tests whether you understand the key information in a longer stretch of speech.
- Read the whole sentence first so you know what kind of word fits.
- The sentence paraphrases the audio, so listen for the meaning, not the same words.
- Check that the completed sentence is grammatical.
Short-answer questions
You answer direct questions about facts in the recording, such as prices, times or places, within a word limit. Some questions ask for a list of two or three points.
- Underline the question word (who, when, how much) so you know what you are listening for.
- Write only the answer, not a full sentence.
- Stay within the word limit.
Band scores: how many correct answers you need
Each correct answer is worth one mark, and your total out of 40 is converted to a band from 0 to 9. IELTS publishes this approximate conversion:
| Band | Correct answers out of 40 |
|---|---|
| 5 | 16 |
| 6 | 23 |
| 7 | 30 |
| 8 | 35 |
The conversion is approximate and can vary slightly from one test version to another. Use it as a guide to what you need, not a promise.
Your Listening band counts for a quarter of your overall band. See how the overall band is calculated on the IELTS guide.
How the test runs on computer
- You wear headphones and can adjust the volume before the test starts.
- You type or select your answers on screen while the recording plays. There is no separate answer sheet.
- You can move between questions and parts at any time, but the recording does not stop or rewind.
- At the end you get 2 minutes to check your answers.
- Paper-based IELTS is being withdrawn from mid-2026, with dates that vary by country. In the Writing on Paper option, Listening and Reading are still on computer, so Listening works the same way.
Our Listening practice tests use the same kind of screen, so you can get used to answering while you listen.
Common mistakes
- Spelling. A misspelt answer is wrong. Practise names, places, days, months and common topic words.
- Going over the word limit. If the instruction says ONE WORD ONLY, a two-word answer scores zero.
- Singular or plural. Check whether the gap needs a plural, for example 'bags' instead of 'bag'.
- Falling for distractors. Speakers often give one answer and then correct it: 'on Tuesday, oh no, sorry, Thursday'. Wait for the final answer.
- Panicking after a missed answer. If you miss one, move on at once. Losing your place costs you the next three questions too.
- Leaving blanks. A wrong answer loses nothing, so guess rather than leave a gap.
A 4-week preparation plan
| Week | Focus | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Know the test | Take one Listening practice test under test conditions to find your level. Review every wrong answer with the question type it belongs to. |
| Week 2 | Weak question types | Practise the two question types you missed most. Build a list of words you misspelt and practise them daily. |
| Week 3 | Parts 3 and 4 | Listen to lectures and discussions in English every day. Practise following an argument and taking short notes. |
| Week 4 | Full practice | Take full mock tests to practise Listening straight into Reading and Writing. Check your score against the band table above. |
Listening is the same for both modules, so this plan works whether you take IELTS Academic or IELTS General Training.
Frequently asked questions
Is IELTS Listening the same for Academic and General Training?
Yes. Both modules take exactly the same Listening test, with the same four parts and 40 questions.
Can I replay the audio in IELTS Listening?
No. Each recording is played once only. You answer while you listen and get 2 minutes at the end to check your answers.
Does spelling count in IELTS Listening?
Yes. An answer with a spelling mistake is marked wrong, even if you heard it correctly.
How many correct answers do I need for band 7 in Listening?
About 30 out of 40. The conversion is approximate and can vary slightly between test versions.
How long is the IELTS Listening test?
About 30 minutes of recordings, plus 2 minutes at the end to check your answers on computer.
Is there negative marking in IELTS Listening?
No. A wrong answer does not lose marks, so answer every question.
Where can I practise IELTS Listening for free?
Take our Listening practice tests or a full mock test. Both are marked instantly with an estimated band.