IELTS Listening Tips, Lessons

IELTS listening tips and practice lessons for success in your IELTS listening test. Develop your skills, learn about the test, get useful tips and much more. This page has everything you need to do well in your test.

On this page, you will find:

• IELTS Listening Test Information
• Practice Listening Lessons for IELTS Preparation

IELTS Listening Test Information

There is only one listening test for all IELTS candidates. That means Academic and GT candidates will take the same listening test with the same scoring.

1. The IELTS listening test lasted for a total of 40 mins.
2. The IELTS listening recording will last for 30 mins.
3. There are four parts to the IELTS Listening test:
   1. Conversation between 2 people: social context
   2. A speech or talk with just one person: social context
   3. Conversation between up to four people: educational or training context
   4. A talk by one person on an academic subject
   5. Please note again that all IELTS candidates take the same listening test. The GT candidates take the same listening test.
4. For the paper based listening test, you must listen and write your answers on the questions paper at the same time. After the recording ends, you will be given an extra 10 mins to transfer your answers from the question paper to the answer sheet.
5. For the computer delivered IELTS listening test, put your answers directly into the computer. You are NOT given 10 mins to transfer answers because the answers are already in the computer. Instead you have 2 mins to review your answers and change anything you need to. This is the only difference between the paper and computer listening test.
6. For each set of questions there will be a word count limit – you need to pay close attention to the limit and how it changes for the next set of questions.
   1. For example: write no more than two words and/or a number – you can write one word, two words OR a combination of one or two words with a number OR just a number on its own. Always notice if it allows “a number” or “numbers”.
   2. You can learn how words are counted for IELTS listening on this page: Counting Words
7. You will have time to read the questions before the recording starts.
8. If the word is spelled wrong, it will be marked wrong.
9. COMPUTER DELIVERED IELTS.  Click here to read about the Pros & Cons of Computer Based IELTS

IELTS Listening Tips

Essential tips for success in your IELTS listening test.

Notice about Using capital letters: this tip has been updated and listed on this page: 25 Essential Tips Listed for Listening

IELTS Listening Practice Lessons

Some practice listening exercises to help you develop the skills needed for IELTS listening. The lessons vary in level to give all students a chance to practise. I’ve listed the type of listening question with each lesson to help you focus on different IELTS question types.

1. Listening for Diagrams Practice & Tips

2. Turtles: Multiple Choice Questions & Tips

3. Blue Footed Birds: Gap Fill

4. Spelling for Names

5. Listening for Addresses

6. Listening for City Names

7. Sponsored Walk: Short Answer & Sentence Completion

8. Superbugs:  Short Answer Questions

9. Nadiya Hussein: Short Answer Qs & Sentence Completion

10. Museum Visit: Multiple Choice

11. Sports Festival:  Summary & Sentence Completion