Test format

There are two types of  IELTS:  Academic and General Training. All test takers take the
same Listening and Speaking tests but different Reading and Writing tests.  Make sure
that you prepare for the correct test type.

The Listening, Reading and Writing sections of all IELTS tests are completed on the same
day, with no breaks in between them.

The Speaking section, however, can be completed up to a week before or after the other
tests. The total test time is 2 hours and 45 minutes.

IELTS official practice test

Know where you stand before you take your test with an official IELTS practice
test. IELTS Progress Check  is an official IELTS online marked practice test. The test will
give you an indication of your band score and provide feedback on areas to improve.
Book your official practice test today.

 Listening
 Academic Reading
 General Training Reading
 Academic Writing
 General Training Writing
 Speaking

Test format – Listening (30 minutes)

You will listen to four recordings of native English speakers and then write your
answers to a series of questions.

 Recording 1 – a conversation between two people set in an everyday social

context.
 Recording 2 – a monologue set in an everyday social context, e.g. a speech
about local facilities.
 Recording 3 – a conversation between up to four people set in an educational
or training context, e.g. a university tutor and a student discussing an
assignment.
 Recording 4 – a monologue on an academic subject, e.g. a university lecture.

Assessors will be looking for evidence of your ability to understand the main ideas and
detailed factual information, the opinions and attitudes of speakers, the purpose of an
utterance and evidence of your ability to follow the development of ideas.
  

IELTS Listening description

Paper format: There are four parts with ten questions each. The questions are
designed so that the answers appear in the order they are heard in the audio.

The first two parts deal with situations set in everyday social contexts. In Part 1, there
is a conversation between two speakers (for example, a conversation about travel
arrangements), and in Part 2, there is a monologue in (for example, a speech about
local facilities). The final two parts deal with situations set in educational and training
contexts. In Part 3, there is a conversation between two main speakers (for example,
two university students in discussion, perhaps guided by a tutor), and in Part 4, there
is a monologue on an academic subject.

The recordings are heard only once. They include a range of accents, including
British, Australian, New Zealand, American and Canadian.

Timing: Approximately 30 minutes (plus 10 minutes transfer time).

No. of questions: 40

Task types: A variety of question types are used, chosen from the following: multiple
choice, matching, plan/map/diagram labelling, form/note/table/flow-chart/summary
completion, sentence completion.

Answering: Test takers write their answers on the question paper as they listen and
at the end of the test are given 10 minutes to transfer their answers to an answer
sheet. Care should be taken when writing answers on the answer sheet as poor
spelling and grammar are penalised.

Marks: Each question is worth 1 mark.

IELTS Listening in detail

A detailed look at the paper with links to related resources.

Task type 1 – Multiple choice

Task type and format: 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.

Sometimes, test takers are given a longer list of possible answers and told that they
have to choose more than one. In this case, they should read the question carefully
to check how many answers are required.
Task focus: Multiple choice questions are used to test a wide range of skills. The
test taker may be required to have a detailed understanding of specific points or an
overall understanding of the main points of the listening text.

No. of questions: Variable

Task type 2 – Matching

Task type and format: Test takers are required to match a numbered list of items
from the listening text to a set of options on the question paper. The set of options
may be criteria of some kind.

Task focus: Matching assesses the skill of listening for detail and whether a test
taker can understand information given in a conversation on an everyday topic, such
as the different types of hotel or guest house accommodation. It also assesses the
ability to follow a conversation between two people. It may also be used to assess
test takers’ ability to recognise relationships and connections between facts in the
listening text.

No. of questions: Variable

Task type 3 – Plan, map, diagram labelling

Task type and format: 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). The
answers are usually selected from a list on the question paper.

Task focus: This type of task assesses the ability to understand, for example, a
description of a place, 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).

No. of questions: Variable

Task type 4 – Form, note, table, flow-chart, summary completion

Task type and format: 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.

Test takers may have to select their answers from a list on the question paper or
identify the missing words from the recording, keeping to the word limit stated in the
instructions. Test takers do not have to change the words from the recording in any
way.

Test takers should read the instructions very carefully as the number of words or
numbers they should use to fill the gaps will vary. 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.

Task focus: This focuses on the main points which a listener would naturally record
in this type of situation.

No. of questions: Variable

Task type 5 – Sentence completion

Task type and format: 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’.

Test takers are penalised for writing more than the stated number of words. (Test
takers should check this word limit carefully for each task: the limit is either ONE,
TWO or THREE words). Contracted words will not be tested. Hyphenated words
count as single words.

Task focus: Sentence completion focuses on the ability to identify the key

information in a listening text. Test takers have to understand functional relationships
such as cause and effect.

No. of questions: Variable

Task type 6 – Short-answer questions

Task type and format: 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, for
example, ‘NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER’. Test takers are
penalised for writing more than the stated number of words. (Test takers should
check this word limit carefully for each task.) Contracted words will not be tested.
Hyphenated words count as single words. Sometimes test takers are given a
question which asks them to list two or three points.

Task focus: Sentence completion focuses on the ability to listen for concrete facts,
such as places, prices or times, within the listening text.

No. of questions: Variable

IELTS Listening – how it's marked

The Listening test is marked by certificated markers, who are regularly monitored to
ensure their reliability. All answer sheets, after being marked, are further analysed by
Cambridge Assessment English.

Band score conversion

A Band Score conversion table is produced for each version of the Listening test
which translates scores out of 40 into the IELTS 9-band scale. Scores are reported in
whole bands and half bands.

One mark is awarded for each correct answer in the 40-item test. Care should be
taken when writing answers on the answer sheet as poor spelling and grammar are
penalised.