IELTS Listening Pattern
The IELTS Listening test assesses how well you can understand spoken English in various contexts. This skill is crucial to survive in any English-speaking country.
The IELTS Listening test lasts 30 minutes and is divided into 4 parts. You get an additional transfer time of 10 minutes if you’re writing the IELTS paper-based test. However, you don’t get any transfer time for the computer-based test since you enter the answers directly onto the computer screen.
Audio of 4-6 minutes will be played in each of the 4 parts. The first two parts revolve around audio clips set in everyday contexts, while the latter delve into educational and training scenarios. The audio can be conversations between two or more people, monologues, discussions, and lectures.
Note: The audio is played only once, and it’s important that you listen to them carefully till the end.
Each audio is followed by 10 questions related to it. You aim to grasp the concept from the audio and answer the corresponding questions.
At a glance:
| Total Duration | 30 minutes (Common) + 10 mins of transfer time (Only for Paper Based) |
| Duration of the Audio Clips | 4-6 mins |
| Number of Sections | 4 parts |
| Number of Questions | 40 |
| Marking | 1 mark for each right answer, no negative marking |
The questions asked in the Listening test are similar to IELTS Reading and come in various forms like Matching Information, Matching Headings, Summary Completion, and Flow Chart Completion.
The IELTS Listening test is the same in both IELTS exams: Academic and General. You can take the test in Computer-based or Paper-based versions.
IELTS Listening: All About Parts
As we mentioned, there are four parts to the IELTS Listening test. Each part is presented over four separate web pages.
- Parts 1 and 2: They cover everyday contexts, such as a conversation about making travel arrangements or a speech about local facilities in a city.
- Parts 3 and 4: These two parts are slightly more academic. You’ll likely hear two students discussing or lecturing about a specific subject.
Here are some general instructions for the IELTS Listening Test.
- Open the question paper only after you are instructed to do so
- Pay attention to the instructions for every part
- Try to attempt all the questions, even if you’re not sure
- You can take notes on the question paper while you’re listening to the audio
- You get 10 minutes at the end to transfer your answers for the paper-based test
Let’s dive deeper into each part.
IELTS Listening Part 1
In Part 1 of IELTS Listening, you’ll hear a conversation between two or more people set in an everyday scenario. These audios can be as simple as people booking accommodation in a travel agency or a chat between friends.
IELTS Listening Part 2
Part 2 features a monologue where one speaker discusses a topic in a social context. This audio can be a speech or a presentation.
IELTS Listening Part 3
Part 3 of the Listening section shifts towards an academic setting. In this part, you’ll hear an academic discussion between multiple speakers.
IELTS Listening Part 4
The last part is slightly more challenging than the others. Here, you will listen to an informational lecture, talk or a presentation. The ideas expressed in the audio require more focus to grasp.
IELTS Listening: Question Types
There are 6 types of questions in the IELTS Listening test.
Multiple Choice Questions
MCQs in the IELTS Listening test can be answered with one or more options. It’s crucial to read the instructions carefully before you attempt. While choosing an answer, you must select one that most accurately matches the information in the audio.
How to answer:
- Spot the keywords while listening to the audio
- Pay attention to names, facts, and any significant information told in the audio
- Review the questions and identify the keywords
- Use the elimination method to identify options with inaccurate or false information as per the audio
- Match each option to what you heard in the audio and select the answer that aligns most accurately with it
- Double-check your answers and finalise them
Matching Information/Sentence Endings/Headings
In this task, you must match a set of information you hear in the audio with the options on your question sheet. The intention behind this task is to understand how well you are able to follow up with conversations between multiple people.
How to answer:
- Listen to the audio, identify keywords and try to determine the main subject or topic of the conversation
- Review the questions and look for words or phrases that are synonyms
- Use the method of elimination and get rid of the answers that look obviously incorrect
- Recheck your answer and finalise
Plan, Map, Diagram Labelling
As the name suggests, this section requires you to label a-
- Plan: Example of a building
- Map: Example of a city
- Diagram: Example of an equipment
Typically, these questions are similar to matching questions. You will be given a set of labels to choose and match in the given plan, map or diagram.
How to answer:
- Review the plan/map/diagram before you listen to the audio
- While listening to the audio, pay attention to directions, landmarks, and key features that are being mentioned
- Pay attention to phrases like “off-to”, “opposite of” or “next to”. They’re indications of directions
- Review your answers and finalise
Form, Note, Table, Flowchart, and Summary Completion
The aim of this task is to fill the outline with the missing information. The missing information can be presented in a list of options (like multiple choice questions), or you must look for it in the audio.
The outline can vary in nature; it can be:
| Form | for recording factual data like names, addresses, and phone numbers |
| Notes | to summarise information and show relationships between items |
| Table | for summarising details in categories like place, time, and price |
| Flowchart | to outline processes with clear stages, using arrows to show the flow |
How to answer:
- Review the questions before you start the audio
- While listening to the audio, be on the lookout for important information or keywords
- Note down key information as you hear the audio
- Follow the word limit, finalise your answers
Sentence Completion
You will receive incomplete sentences extracted from the audio clip in this task. You aim to complete the sentences with missing information. Pay attention to the word limit.
How to answer:
- Review the questions and identify keywords you should look for
- Listen to the audio and pay attention to when these keywords appear
- Taking notes is a good way to keep track of possible answers
- Verify and confirm your answers
Short-answer Questions
Short-answer questions are similar to sentence completion questions. In this task, you will be given sentences with blank spaces. You must aim to listen to the audio and find the missing information.
How to answer:
- Begin by reviewing the questions to grasp what information you should watch out for in the audio
- Listen to the audio and look out for keywords
- Pay attention to synonyms or rephrased versions of the possible answers
- Check if your answers are contextually right, and confirm them
IELTS Listening Band Score
The IELTS Listening Band Score holds an equal weightage as the rest of the modules in the IELTS exam. You must score well in each section for a good overall band score. You can do that by first understanding the scoring system.
The IELTS Listening test is scored in the same way for both the IELTS Academic and General exams.
The Listening test is much like the IELTS Reading section. The test is assessed on a band scale of 0 to 9 and comprises 40 questions. Each correct response earns you 1 point, and the sum of it is referred to as the ‘Raw Score.’ There is no negative marking in any section of IELTS.
The final IELTS Listening band score is determined by converting your raw score to the IELTS band scale of 0 to 9. This conversion table applies to both the IELTS Academic and General exams.
