The IELTS listening section is the second part of the test. You must listen to four audio passages and answer questions.
Part 1
The first part is a conversation between two people. One person is asking for information and the other person is giving the information. An example could be a person asking about class times and prices.
Part 2
This part is a single person speaking about a topic of general interest.
Part 3
This is a conversation between more than 2 people. The topic is academic.
Part 4
The final part is an academic lecture by 1 person.
IELTS Listening Question Types
The IELTS listening section has a variety of question types:
Multiple Choice questions ask for main ideas, opinions, and specific information.
Short Answer questions ask you to fill in the blanks with nor more than 2/3 words.
Form Completion questions ask you to fill in a form based on information one of the speaker’s is giving.
Sentence Completion questions give single sentences to complete.
Summary Completion questions are fill in the blank questions in a summary paragraph.
Flow Chart questions go in chronological order to fill in a chart of information.
Diagram questions need to be completed in chronological order as the speaker discusses the diagram.
Map/Plan questions give you a map to fill in. Listen as the speaker will talk about each item in the map.
Classification questions give you three choices to match with sentences.
IELTS Listening Strategies
The strategies below will help you improve your listening score on the IELTS.
1. Have a purpose for listening.
Skim the questions before you begin to listen. This will give you a purpose and an idea of what to listen for.
2. Know the patterns of each question type.
Most are in chronological order.
3. Do not write more words than the maximum given.
This is usually three. Don’t write more than they ask for. You will receive a penalty.
4. Be ready for introductions.
Some questions have introductions before they start discussing the answers. They don’t have any important information.
5. Be ready for transitional words.
Understand how speakers use transitional words to move from point to point. Some examples include next, also, or however.
6. Think about what type of information is being asked for.
This could be a date, time, name, etc. Understanding what you need to answer makes it easier.
7. Watch out for common distractors.
Just because you hear a word, does not mean it is the answer.
8. Be ready for synonyms.
Synonyms are extremely important. It is not usual for the exact word to be on the paper and in the listening. You are expected to be able to connect synonyms.
9. Be ready for different accents.
The speakers have different accents, for example British or American.
10. Be ready for a conversational tone.
The speakers will use conversational vocabulary, such as slang, idioms, contractions, and reduced pronunciation.
11. Answer every question.
There is no penalty for a wrong answer. Guess if you run out of time.