IELTS Listening

Test takers listen to four recorded texts, monologues and conversations by a range of native speakers, and write their answers to a series of questions.

There are multiple question formats that may be used to test your listening comprehension so it is important to be familiar with each type of question and to understand what is required. Often times a word limit is given, for example, ‘NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER’. Test takers are penalised for writing more than the stated number of words, and test takers should check this word limit carefully for each task. Contracted words will not be tested. Hyphenated words count as single words.

Here are the types of test questions that you will encounter in the listening part and the particular skill or task that you are being evaluated for.

1. Multiple Choice

Multiple choice questions are used to test a wide range of skills. For example, to assess your understanding of specific points or an overall understanding of the main points of the listening text.

In multiple choice tasks, there is a question followed by three possible answers, or the beginning of a sentence followed by three possible ways to complete the sentence. Test takers are required to choose the one correct answer - A, B or C.

  1. The questions are always presented in the same order as the listening passage.
  2. Many of the answers will be mentioned in the audio but may not be the correct answer.
  3. If you face trouble in answering any question, leave it and move on. Don’t waste time on it and end up panicking. If you have time left in the end, come back to it later

2. Matching

Matching assesses the skill of listening for detail and whether you can understand information given in a conversation on an everyday topic. It may also be used to assess test takers’ ability to recognise relationships and connections between facts in the listening text.

In the matching questions, you are required to match a numbered list of items from the listening text to a set of options on the question paper.

  1. Read the questions. Identify the information you need.
  2. Look out for synonyms (words with same or nearly same meanings as another word) from the question. For instance, “She likes going to the gym and playing tennis”; it could be listed on your answer sheet as “She is an active person.”

3. Plan, Map, Diagram Labelling

This type of questions assesses your ability to understand a description and to relate this to a visual representation. This may include being able to follow language expressing spatial relationships and directions (e.g. straight on/through the far door). Test takers are required to complete labels on a plan (eg of a building), map (eg of part of a town) or diagram (e.g. of a piece of equipment).

  1. Pay close attention to the start of the audio. This is where much of the key information is presented.
  2. Take note of key features of the map or plan as these will be used as reference points.
  3. Listen for words and phrases that are used to give direction, e.g. ‘opposite’, behind’, ’adjacent’

4. Form, Note, Table, Flow-Chart, Summary Completion

Test takers are required to fill in the gaps in an outline of part or of all of the listening text. The outline will focus on the main ideas/facts in the text. It may be:

  1. a form: often used to record factual details such as names.
  2. a set of notes: used to summarise any type of information using the layout to show how different items relate to one another.
  3. a table: used as a way of summarising information which relates to clear categories – e.g. place/time/price.
  4. a flow-chart: used to summarise a process which has clear stages, with the direction of the process shown by arrows.
  1. Use the reading time to follow the table from point to point. Try and predict how the conversation will flow.
  2. You will often have to write dates, names, times and amounts. Familiarize yourself with expressions like “double five”, “naught” or “triple three”.
  3. The information in the table will not always be in the same order as the audio. However, the answers will always come in order, usually from top to bottom.

5. Sentence Completion

Task focus: Sentence completion focuses on the ability to identify the key information in a listening text. Test takers are required to read a set of sentences summarising key information from all the listening text or from one part of it. They then fill a gap in each sentence using information from the listening text.

A word limit is given, for example, ‘NO MORE THAN ONE WORD AND/OR A NUMBER’ and Test takers are penalised for writing more than the stated number of words. The limit is either ONE, TWO or THREE words. Contracted words will not be tested. Hyphenated words count as single words.

  1. Make sure you listen for plurals – answers will be marked incorrect if not in the plural form.
  2. Do note the word limits for each section. If you write more than the specified limit, you may end up getting no marks for the attempted answer.
  3. Hyphenated words count as single words.

6. Short-Answer Questions

Test takers are required to read a question and then write a short answer using information from the listening text. A word limit is given and test takers are penalised for writing more than the stated number of words. This task focuses on the ability to listen for concrete facts, such as places, prices or times, within the listening text.

  1. Do note the word limits for each section. If you write more than the specified limit, you may end up getting no marks for the attempted answer.
  2. Multiple times, dates and places may be mentioned to try and “distract” you.
  3. Check your spelling. Words that are misspelled are marked as wrong.