IELTS Listening: Academic and General Training

The IELTS Listening module is an essential part of both the IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training exams. It tests your ability to understand spoken English in a variety of settings, such as conversations, lectures, and discussions. The Listening section is the same for both test types, ensuring consistency in evaluating your listening skills, whether you are taking the exam for educational, immigration, or professional purposes.
In this guide, we will explain in detail what the IELTS Listening module is, how it works, what types of questions are included, and how the scoring system operates.

What is the IELTS Listening Module?

The IELTS Listening module is designed to assess your ability to comprehend spoken English across a range of real-life situations. These can include everyday social interactions, academic lectures, or professional discussions. During the test, you will listen to four recordings and answer a series of questions based on the information presented. The test measures your ability to:
  • Understand the main ideas and specific details
  • Follow the progression of facts and arguments
  • Recognize opinions, attitudes, and purpose of the speaker

The Listening section is the same for both IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training tests, ensuring a uniform evaluation for all test-takers.

How the IELTS Listening Module Works

The IELTS Listening test lasts for 30 minutes, with an additional 10 minutes at the end to transfer your answers from the question booklet to the answer sheet (if you're taking the paper-based test). The computer-based version provides time within the test to check and submit your answers.

The test consists of four sections with a total of 40 questions. Each recording is played only once, so it is essential to listen carefully and manage your time wisely. The recordings include various accents, such as British, Australian, and American, to simulate real-world English listening experiences.

Section 1: A conversation between two speakers on an everyday topic (e.g., booking a hotel or enrolling in a course).

Section 2: A monologue about a social or general topic (e.g., a speech about local amenities or community activities).

Section 3: A conversation between up to four people in an academic setting (e.g., a student discussing a project with a professor).

Section 4: A lecture or talk on an academic subject, typically delivered by one speaker.

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Types of Questions in the IELTS Listening Module

The IELTS Listening module includes a variety of question types designed to assess different aspects of your listening skills. You will encounter questions that require you to:

Multiple Choice: You will choose the correct answer from a list of options based on the information you hear in the recording.

Matching: You will match information or statements to speakers, topics, or categories.

Plan, Map, or Diagram Labelling: You will label a visual representation (e.g., a map or diagram) based on directions or descriptions in the recording.

Form, Note, Table, Flowchart, or Summary Completion: You will fill in gaps in a form or summary by using words or numbers heard in the recording.

Sentence Completion: You will complete sentences using information from the recording, ensuring correct spelling and grammar.

Short Answer Questions: You will answer questions using information from the recording, often requiring a brief response (e.g., one or two words).

How IELTS Listening is Scored

The IELTS Listening module is scored on a scale of 0 to 9, with your score based on the number of correct answers out of 40. Each correct answer earns one point, and there is no penalty for incorrect answers. The raw score (the number of correct answers) is then converted to a band score on the 9-band IELTS scale.
  • Band 9: 39-40 correct answers
  • Band 8.5: 37-38 correct answers
  • Band 8: 35-36 correct answers
  • Band 7.5: 32-34 correct answers
  • Band 7: 30-31 correct answers
  • Band 6.5: 26-29 correct answers
  • Band 6: 23-25 correct answers
  • Band 5.5: 18-22 correct answers
  • Band 5: 16-17 correct answers
  • Band 4.5: 13-15 correct answers
  • Band 4: 11-12 correct answers

Both IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training candidates are scored using the same criteria, so the band score reflects your overall listening ability regardless of the test type.

The IELTS Listening module is a critical part of both the Academic and General Training IELTS exams, designed to assess your ability to understand spoken English in various contexts. With its range of question types, the test evaluates how well you can follow conversations, understand main points and details, and recognize opinions and attitudes. Whether you’re taking the exam for education, migration, or employment, a strong performance in the Listening section is essential for achieving your desired score.

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