The IELTS listening section works on the principle of absorbing information through hearing, refining it and presenting new perspectives and opinions. It evaluates your listening comprehension skills in everyday life situations, be it academic or societal settings.
Listening is an important part of effective communication as it helps people understand each other and resolve conflicts. In this blog, we have discussed the IELTS listening section, along with their question types, topics, and preparation tips.
Table of Contents
IELTS Listening Section: An Overview
- The listening part of the IELTS exam is the crucial component.
- Test takers are required to answer the 40 questions in 30 minutes.
- It requires test takers to listen, comprehend, and follow the development of thoughts through listening to the audio recordings.
| Duration | 30 minutes (10 minutes extra for transferring the answer to a sheet) |
|---|---|
| Number of audio recordings played | 4 |
| Number of questions per recording | 10 |
| Total questions to answer | 40 |
| Marks per question | 1 |
| Negative marking | No |
Format of IELTS Listening
- The IELTS listening section is the same for both academic and general training tests.
- It requires test takers to answer 40 questions in 30 minutes based on the four different types of recordings.
- Test takers listen to 4 different types of audio recordings, each having a different context and native accent.
- Each recording plays once, after which test takers have to start answering the questions.
- These recordings include monologues and group conversations.
What do the IELTS Listening Recordings Include?
As mentioned above, test takers are required to listen to 4 different types of recordings that contain conversations and monologues in academic and social settings, depending on the type of test.
Recording 1
Recording 1, or part 1 of the IELTS listening section, is a conversation exchange between two people in general or casual social settings.
Recording 2
Recording 2, or part 2 of the IELTS listening section, is a monologue presented in a general or casual setting about local amenities.
Recording 3
Recording 3, or part 3 of the IELTS listening section, is a group discussion between four individuals in an academic setting. For example, the discussion could be between a university professor and a student on a project.
Recording 4
Recording 4 or part 4 of the IELTS listening section is a monologue focusing on an academic subject like a university lecture.
What are the Types of IELTS Listening Questions?
After hearing each recording, test takers are required to answer 10 questions. The question types might depend on the assessment purpose, context of the recordings, complexity level, etc.
- Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ)s
- Matching Type Questions
- Plan, Map, and Diagram Labels
- Completing Forms, Notes, Tables, Flow Charts, and Summaries
- Short Answer Questions
- Sentence Completion
How to do the IELTS Listening Section Progress?
The following is the chronological progression of the IELTS listening section.
Introduction to Listening Section
- Test takers are introduced to the section’s format before the commencement of the test.
- Test takers must go through important instructions and other details given carefully.
Playback of the Recording
- Each recording is played once
- The recording will play for about 30-60 seconds
- Each recording has its unique context
- The recording will be played continuously
Take Down Notes
- Test takers can make notes while hearing the audio recording.
- Notes can help them recall the facts while answering the questions.
- As test takers hear any crucial information, they must note them down instantly using short abbreviations and bullet points.
Question Delivery and Timing
- The questions follow the order of the audio.
- At the end of each part, there will be a short pause (around 30 seconds) to give test takers time to check answers.
- The examiner will inform test takers when to move on to the next section.
- Test takers will be provided 10 minutes extra after the conclusion of the test to transfer their answers to the official answer sheet.
IELTS Listening Marking System
- Answering each IELTS listening section question awards 1 mark.
- There is no negative marking; however, leaving the question unattempted will result in no marks.
- The total number of correct answers forms the raw score, which is later converted into a band score.
| Number of Correct Answers (Raw Score) | Band Score |
|---|---|
| 39-40 | 9 |
| 37-38 | 8.5 |
| 35-36 | 8 |
| 32-34 | 7.5 |
| 30-31 | 7 |
| 26-29 | 6.5 |
| 23-25 | 6 |
| 18-22 | 5.5 |
| 16-17 | 5 |
| 13-15 | 4.5 |
| 11-12 | 4 |
Preparation Tips for the IELTS Listening Section
Below, we have discussed some important preparation tips for the IELTS listening section.
- Familiarise yourself with the IELTS listening format and patterns.
- Listen regularly to podcasts, news, interviews, and TED Talks in various accents.
- Practice writing your opinions and ideas after listening to English content every day.
- Use official IELTS Listening practice materials from IDP and British Council websites and apps.
- Train yourself to listen for important details like dates, names, times, numbers, and key phrases.
- As you listen, note down the key details using abbreviations to write quickly.
- Practice skimming techniques by reading newspapers and articles.
- After practicing, review your answers carefully and pay attention to the mistakes that you made.
- Improve your vocabulary, learn synonyms, and practice using them in different contexts of your everyday life.
- Time yourself when practicing to ensure that you stay within limits.
- Participate in monologue and group conversations occasionally.
- For detailed feedback, you can ask experienced counsellors or IELTS mentors or join the AdmitX Smart Academy.
Key Takeaways by Smart Academy
The IELTS listening section assesses a test taker’s ability to actively listen, comprehend the flow of ideas, and interpret opinions. Key skills required to excel in this section include active listening, attention to detail, the ability to connect verbal and visual cues, and a strong grasp of the main ideas conveyed in the recordings.
FAQs
How many sections are in the IELTS listening?
In the IELTS listening section, test takers are required to listen to 4 different audio recordings, based on which 10 questions will be asked per recording.
How do I write IELTS listening answers?
The most effective way to write the IELTS listening answers is to make notes (bullet points and abbreviations) while you are keenly listening to the individual recording. After the end of this section, you will get 10 minutes extra to transfer your answers into sheets properly.
What types of questions are asked in the IELTS listening part 1?
The question types in the IELTS listening section part 1 include multiple choice questions (MCQ), matching type questions, plan, map, and diagram labels, completing forms, notes, tables, flow charts, summaries, short answer questions, and sentence completion.
What mistakes should be avoided in the IELTS listening section?
The following mistakes should be avoided in the IELTS listening section
Ignoring instructions
- Not hearing audio properly with keen attention and details
- Lack of time management
- Misinterpreting synonyms
- Rushing to write the answers
Can we replay the audio in the IELTS Listening section?
The audio recordings in the IELTS listening section can be played only once, so you are required to pay keen attention and focus without any distractions.
