IELTS Listening: Proven Strategies to Boost Your Band Score

The IELTS listening section assesses how well you are able to understand and comprehend spoken English. The IELTS listening test consists of 4 sections and this section is the same for the Academic and General Training. The IELTS listening test questions will feature different scenarios- from everyday conversations to academic lectures. Note that in this section, you will be facing different accents in the English language and also different speaking speeds. There will be 40 IELTS listening questions in various formats such as MCQs, short answers and map-labelling. In this blog, get to know everything about the IELTS listening section so that you can have a good IELTS listening band score.

IELTS listening format

The duration of the IELTS listening test questions is 30 minutes for listening and 10 minutes for transferring the answers (paper-based test). There are 4 sections in total and there are 10 questions in 1 section, leading to a total of 40 questions. The questions are presented with increasing difficulty and the format will include a mix of multiple choice questions, match the following, diagram labelling, completing the sentences and short-answer type questions. There will be 1 mark for every correct answer and no negative scoring. The total score is then converted to the IELTS listening band score, which ranges from 0 to 9. Four audio recordings will be played with different scenarios and various accents such as the American, British and Australian accents. Here are the details about the four recordings played in the IELTS listening exam.

Recording 1

The first recording will be an audio of a conversation between two people in a social context. For example, they could be talking about placing a food order or confirming details for reservation at a hotel. Focus on the names, specific details such as the venue/time/date and other important details spoken.

Recording 2

The second recording will be a monologue on a topic. This could be a speech or an announcement for example someone describing a place in the city, or giving details about a festival, or even explaining how a process works. Focus on the main ideas and sequence of the information that is being provided.

Recording 3

The third recording will be a discussion-based conversation between 2-4 people in an educational or academic context. It could be a teacher teaching a topic, students discussing a group work or a group discussion on a topic. Note that this portion can be challenging because it involves multiple speakers who may have different accents. Try to recognise the individual viewpoints, relationship between ideas and supporting arguments by the different speakers.

Recording 4

This will be a proper academic lecture that will take to the confines of a classroom! It will be a monologue in the form of a lecture on socially relevant matters such as climate change, global warming, or even a research-related topic. It can be a lecture on any topic, so try to actively listen to the points made and focus on specific data or terminologies stated. If you are seeking assistance related to the IELTS listening exam practice test, reach out to Immimart today and we’ll be helping you with the best study abroad consultants. With expert guidance on exam preparation and comprehensive coaching sessions and mock tests, you’ll be easily able to achieve a good IELTS listening band score

IELTS listening exam questions type

The IELTS listening test questions are of the certain types:

Multiple-Choice Questions
Match the following
Label the diagram or map
Fill in the blanks
Complete the form
Fill in the missing information in the table
Complete the flowchart steps
Fill in the missing words/phrase so as to complete the summary
Answer very short questions

The IELTS listening exam tests how well you are able to listen and understand spoken English, and that too in various accents, situations and viewpoints. Note that you will only hear the recording once, so pay full attention while the audio is being played. As the audio is being played, you can take active notes meanwhile so as to not miss out on any important information. Stick to what the question asks of you and ensure you have transferred all your answers within the stipulated time. By taking the IELTS listening exam practice test and solving questions regularly, you will be easily able to ace the IELTS listening questions.

Key Takeaway

The IELTS listening section does not only test your vocabulary and listening skills but also your time! Thus, maintaining the speed of actively listening and answering the questions can be a bit difficult. However, with the right strategies and solving the IELTS listening exam practice test regularly, you will definitely ace this section! Also consider reading our guide on the writing and speaking sections!