Listening

What do you know about IELTS listening?

How long is the listening test?

30 min (10 min to transfer your answers)

How many sections are there?

4 sections and it’s a progressive test

How many questions?

40 questions
 IELTS Listening
A 30-minute test composed of four sections:
Section 1 : A conversation between two speakers on an everyday,
social topic.
Section 2 : A talk by one speaker on a general topic.
Section 3 : A discussion between two to four speakers on a topic
related to education.
Section 4 : A lecture or talk by one speaker on an academic or
study-related topic.
Question types:
1. Multiple choice
Be careful with the unexpected turn and the explicit answer

2. Short answer question

Don’t write more than the specified number of words
3. Sentence completion
Make sure that your sentence makes sense grammatically
Question types:
4. Form/note/summary/flow-chart/
table/ completion
Predict the types of words
Make sure you don’t copy words from the questions as part of the answers

5. Labeling a diagram/ a map/ a plan

Pay attention to prepositions of place

6. Matching
If it’s matching pictures with desc: work out the difference before the recording starts
If it’s matching names and desc, you might have more options than questions, so some
options will not be used.
Note taking is often useful here.
Listening section 1
 What is Section 1 like?
 You will hear a conversation based on an
everyday social situation.
 Example: a woman answering an advert looking for
help at charity event
 Section 1 mostly re simple facts, including
names and numbers.
 There are always two speakers in Section 1.
Which situations belong to Section 1?

 A) enrolling in a club.
 C) booking a holiday.
 D) negotiating an essay extension.
 E) a discussion on the value of TV.
 F) making a dental appointment.
 G) a lecture on river pollution.
 H) ordering a product.
Some tips for Section 1
 Try to predict the answer (the type of word)
 When transferring your answer, make sure
you do not make trivial mistakes
 Check if there are any answers that may
contain plural words
Listening Section 2
What is section 2 like?
 Most probably a monologue (one person
speaking) with the general topic
 Example: a radio broadcast; a talk about a place
 Section 2 is a little harder than Section 1,
obviously!
 You will have to decide what the important
details are, without the help of another speaker’s
questions to guide you.
 There can be two or three sets of questions
Some tips for Section 2
 Underline the key words and think of an
alternative which you think will help you listen
for the answer
 If it is a map, study the map carefully. The
description is more likely to start from the
entrance
 North is marked on the map, think about the four
points of the compass
Listening Section 3
What is section 3 like?
 A discussion between two to four speakers on
a topic related to education
 Example: preparing a tutorial
receiving feedback on an assignment
 Most likely to be in one topic, and the recording
is divided into two sections.
Some tips for Section 3
 In the multiple choice questions, you will
hear all of the options in the recording.
 Don’t just select the first word you hear.
 Check the maximum number of words
you need to write
Listening Section 4
What is section 4 like?
A lecture or talk by one speaker
on an academic or study-related
topic.
There is no break in the middle but
there is a pause of a few seconds
Some tips for Section 4
 Talks and lectures are frequently organized using
predictable linking words. This will help you to
follow the flow and structure.
 Tick the word as you hear it to keep on track.
 Sometimes the answers come close together,
sometimes there’s a big gap between them.
 Make sure you do not lose concentration.
You cannot ‘learn IELTS’,
so learn English!