Module format
IELTS Listening has four sections, each with 10 items (or questions). Each item is worth one mark. The items are designed so that the answers appear in order in the listening passage. During the test, time is given for candidates to read the questions and write down and check their answers. Answers are written on the Question Paper as candidates listen. When the tape ends, ten minutes are allowed for candidates to transfer their answers onto an Answer Sheet.

The table below provides a summary of IELTS Listening.

SECTION

Topic Area

Input

Main Skill Focus

Number of Questions

1

Social needs

Conversation with a transactional purpose e.g. finding out about travel services

Listening for and noting specific factual information

10

2

Social needs

Monologue or prompted monologue with a transactional purpose e.g. giving information about a public event

Listening for and noting specific factual information

10

3

Education and training

Discussion between 2 – 4 people in an academic context, e.g. tutorial or seminar

Following a conversation which involves negotiation of meaning. Listening for specific information, attitudes, and speakers’ opinions

10

4

Education and training

Monologue in an academic context e.g. lecture

Following an academic argument. Listening for main ideas, specific information, attitude and speaker’s opinion

10



Answer format
Candidates write their answers on an answer sheet.

Timing
Approximately 30 minutes plus 10 minutes transfer time.

Marks
Each question carries one mark, giving a total of 40 marks.

Listening texts
The first two sections are concerned with social needs. There is a dialogue between two speakers, for example a conversation about travel arrangements, and then a monologue, for example a recording about museum opening times.

The final two sections are concerned with situations related more closely to educational or training contexts. There is a conversation between up to four people, for example a conversation between a tutor and a student about an assignment, and then a further monologue, for example a lecture of general academic interest.

Task types
A variety of task types is used. The principal task types are:

Task Type 1

Forms/Notes/Table/Flow-chart/Summary Completion

Task Type 2

Multiple Choice

Task Type 3

Short-answer Questions

Task Type 4

Sentence Completion

Task Type 5

Labelling a Diagram/Plan/Map

Task Type 6

Classification

Task Type 7

Matching

Recordings
Each section is played ONCE only. The recordings include a range of accents, including British, Australian, New Zealand and American.

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