IELTS Listening Question Types
Understand the types of possible IELTS listening questions: In the IELTS listening examination, these types of questions are asked:
- note completion
- summary completion
- diagram labelling
- map labelling
- sentence completion
- form completion
- multiple choice
- table completion
- form chart
Having a clear-cut understanding of all the possible questions can be helpful for the candidates as it can help them to effectively answer the questions and save time.
Let’s First Check a Few Basic Requirements Before Delving Deep into the Matter: -
- Increase Your Knowledge of Vocabulary: The IELTS Academic Listening passages encompass a broad spectrum of scholarly subjects. Gaining an extensive vocabulary for academic writing is necessary to understand the wide range of material. To become familiar with academic terminology, read journals, papers, podcasts, and lectures on a variety of topics. Make a list of new terms and their definitions, and start incorporating them into your regular vocabulary. This practice is a key aspect of IELTS preparation, particularly for the listening component. Regular exposure to and practice with complex academic language, a part of both IELTS preparation online and traditional study methods, will significantly enhance your ability to grasp and respond to the content in IELTS preparation listening practice tests and listening IELTS practice tests.
- Improve Your Capability to Take Notes: Taking notes efficiently is an essential skill for the IELTS Academic Listening exam. Create a system of shorthand that works for you by emphasising important details like names, dates, locations, and core concepts. Practice summarising the main ideas from recordings in a few sentences. Recall that during the allotted time, you can move your notes to the response sheet.
- Practice Time Management: The IELTS Academic Listening test requires strong time management skills. There are forty questions to answer in thirty minutes, and the audio only plays once. To enhance your speed and accuracy in answering questions, work on timed practice exams. Acquire the skill of anticipating the appearance of the subsequent set of questions and utilise this anticipation to get a sneak peek at the portion that will come up next. Regular practice with listening IELTS practice tests and IELTS exam listening practice tests, as part of your overall IELTS preparation, will help you enhance these time management skills. This preparation strategy, whether undertaken through IELTS preparation online or other methods, is key to navigating the listening test effectively and maximising your performance.
- Boost Your Academic Listening Proficiency: Make sure you listen to a range of scholarly materials. To become acquainted with the tone and style of academic communication, tune in to lectures, TED speeches, and academic podcasts. Take note of the way concepts are presented and the material is arranged. You'll feel more at ease with the intellectual material offered in this exposure.
- Review and Learn from Mistakes: A crucial aspect of IELTS preparation for the listening section is the review and analysis of practice test results. After completing IELTS preparation listening practice tests or listening IELTS practice tests, take the time to thoroughly examine your responses. Understand why you got certain questions wrong and learn from your mistakes. This reflective process will help you refine your strategies and address weaknesses in your listening skills.
This particular test assesses a candidate's ability to understand spoken English in various contexts. Here's an overview of the four parts:
General Characteristics:
- The Listening test lasts approximately 30 minutes.
- The recordings are played only once.
- There are a variety of accents, including British, American, Canadian, Australian, and New Zealand.
- The difficulty level increases progressively from Part 1 to Part 4.
- Questions come in varieties: multiple choice, short answer, completion of sentences, notes, synopsis, plan, schematic, completed table or chart, marking up a diagram with numbered components, categorising and matching.
Part 1: Social Context (Conversation between two speakers)
- Format: A conversation between two speakers, often set in an everyday social context (e.g., a conversation between a student and a librarian).
- Number of Questions: Usually, there are 10 questions.
- Question Types: Multiple-choice, matching, plan/map/diagram labelling.
Part 2: Monologue (Speech or Presentation)
- Format: A monologue, such as a speech, lecture, or presentation by a single speaker.
- Number of Questions: Typically, 10 questions.
- Question Types: Completion of sentences, notes, summaries, or tables.
Part 3: Interaction in an Academic Context (Between up to four speakers)
- Format: A conversation or discussion in an academic context, involving up to four speakers (e.g., a discussion among university students and a tutor).
- Number of Questions: Generally, 10 questions.
- Question Types: Multiple-choice, matching, and completion of tables or diagrams.
Part 4: Academic Monologue (Lecture or Talk)
- Format: A monologue, often in an academic setting, such as a lecture or talk by a single speaker.
- Number of Questions: Typically, 10 questions.
- Question Types: Completion of notes, summaries, or diagrams
Read More:
Time to Check a Sample Question:-
Tape script: -
Hello, and welcome to “Focus on the Arts.” I’m your host, Dave Green, and today we're highlighting The National Arts Centre. It's not just renowned for classical music but is a comprehensive arts complex with concert rooms, theatres, cinemas, art galleries, a public library, as well as dining options and a bookshop—all under one roof. The Centre, a city's gift to the nation, emerged after the area was bombed during the war in 1940, with planning in the '60s, construction in the '70s, and opening to the public in 1983. Run by the City Council, it hosts regular performances by the National Symphony Orchestra and National Theatre Company.
If you're into classical music, catch 'The Magic Flute,' Mozart's popular opera, at the Garden Hall on Monday or Tuesday evening at 7:30. Tickets start at £8.00, but get there early for the best prices. For cinema enthusiasts, the Canadian film 'Three Lives' is showing on Wednesday at 8 pm in Cinema 2, with tickets at a reduced price of £4.50. The weekend's main attraction is the 'Faces of China' exhibition in Gallery 1, showcasing Chinese art with paintings and sculptures, and it's free to attend from 11 am to 10 pm on Saturday and Sunday.
Don’t miss out on these events at the National Arts Centre next week, and be sure to pick up a program for a comprehensive list of performances and exhibitions throughout the year. Join us next week when we'll explore the new Museum of Science.
Let's consider a possible type of question:
Example Note Completion Question:
Complete the notes below using NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER-
Solution: -
- Title: (11) National Arts Centre Highlights
- Type of Event: (12) Classical Music: 'The Magic Flute' on Monday or Tuesday evening at _____.
- Film Showing: (13) New Canadian Film, 'Three Lives,' on Wednesday at _____ in Cinema 2.
- Weekend Exhibition: (14)'Faces of China' in Gallery 1 on Saturday and Sunday from _____ to _____.
- Cost: (15) 'Three Lives' tickets are _____, a reduction from the usual price.
- Special Note: (16) 'Faces of China' exhibition is _____.
Pointers to be taken care of while solving note completion questions:
Preview the Questions: Quickly read through the questions before listening to the recording. This helps you focus on the specific information you need.
- Identify Keywords: Identify keywords or phrases in the questions that will help you locate the relevant information in the audio. Train yourself to identify keywords and phrases that convey the main idea. This skill is crucial for understanding the context of a conversation or lecture. Like in the above, the keywords are Film, China, Exhibition, etc. And the main idea of the passage is to introduce and highlight the National Arts Centre. The host, Dave Green, emphasises that the Centre is not only famous for classical music but is a comprehensive arts complex with various facilities. (It can be easily traced if you carefully look for the author’s opinionated lines, excluding the facts and examples)
- Listen Carefully: Pay close attention to the relevant part of the recording. The information will be presented in the same order as the questions.
- Use Shorthand: Develop your own system of shorthand or abbreviations to quickly jot down key information.
- Check Word Limits: Note the word limits specified in the instructions. If the limit is, for example, "NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS," make sure your answer adheres to this rule.
- Practice Timing: Practice note completion questions with a timer to get used to the pace of the test. Gradually increase the speed of the audio you listen to. This challenges your ability to process information quickly and improves your overall listening speed.
Remember, the key to success in the listening test is a combination of good listening skills, note-taking, and time management. Practice with various listening materials to enhance your ability to extract information accurately and efficiently.
A few additional tips to excel in this section: -
- Repeat and Paraphrase: Repeat sentences or phrases you hear to reinforce your understanding. Try to paraphrase what you've heard in your own words to ensure comprehension.
- Use Audiobooks for Reading Practice: Listen to audiobooks while following along with the written text. This helps connect spoken words with their written counterparts, reinforcing vocabulary and comprehension.
- Join Discussion Groups: Participate in discussion groups or forums where you can listen to and engage with a variety of opinions and speaking styles.
- Seek Feedback: Ask for feedback from native speakers or language instructors. Constructive feedback can provide valuable insights into areas for improvement.
- Simulate Test Conditions: If you're preparing for a specific test like the IELTS, simulate test conditions during your practice sessions. Time yourself and practice answering questions within the allotted time frame.
- Familiarise Yourself with Different Accents: The IELTS Listening exam aims to use different English accents. Try listening to people who come from different countries to learn how they speak and say their words.
- Practice Note-Taking: Come up with short ways to record key information when doing the listening exercises. With good notes, you can easily remember the details needed to answer questions.
- Review and Analyse Practice Tests: Once you have finished practice tests, look over your answers to see the mistakes you made. Check why you got some answers wrong so you don’t make the same mistakes in the exam.
In summary, excelling in the IELTS 2025 Listening test is achievable through focused IELTS 2025 preparation, including practising with IELTS preparation listening practice tests 2025 and listening IELTS practice tests 2025. Expanding your vocabulary, refining note-taking skills, and managing time effectively are essential strategies. Learning from mistakes and engaging in active listening exercises, like paraphrasing, are crucial for improvement. Consistent practice, both in traditional settings and via IELTS preparation online, is key to enhancing your listening abilities. Ultimately, a systematic and dedicated approach to preparing for the IELTS Listening test will significantly boost your chances of success in this important component of the exam.
Review Your IELTS Listening Practice Tests in 6 Easy Steps
Step 1: You should complete official practice tests under exam conditions.
Step 2: Identify the question types that caused you problems.
Step 3: Now you should analyse your mistakes.
Step 4: Think about why you made those mistakes. What were the particular reasons behind those mistakes? Work on the issue due to which mistake occurs, such as strategy, vocabulary, grammar, listening skills, spelling, etc.
Step 5: Work on your weaker areas and improve your weakest areas first.
Step 6: Repeat the process until you consistently get the score you need.
IELTS 2025 Listening Practice Sets
The listening section of the IELTS examination can be challenging for candidates without constant practice. Therefore, the candidates must ensure that they indulge in various IELTS Listening practice tests to have a chance to improve their IELTS listening band scores.
IELTS LISTENING PRACTICE SETS
IELTS WRITING PRACTICE SETS
IELTS 2025 READING PRACTICE SETS
IELTS SPEAKING PRACTICE SETS
About the Author:
Pooja Aggarwal is an experienced trainer with over 15 years of expertise in helping students achieve their educational goals. With a degree in Education, she focuses on clear, patient, and personalized instruction. Her approach has successfully guided students from diverse backgrounds, preparing them for both Academic and General Training modules of various exams in a supportive and engaging environment.
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