What types of questions are included in the IELTS Listening test?

Instructions are played at the beginning of the test along with a sample question. After that, you can read section 1 questions, and listen to section 1 and answer them.

IELTS Listening section is for 40 minutes (30 min + 10 min)

• Four recordings (two conversational, two monologues).

• 40 questions total.

• You hear each recording once.

• Question types: multiple choice, matching, labeling diagrams, short answers, form completion.

• Timing: roughly 30 minutes listening + 10 minutes to transfer your answers to the answer sheet.

Key points to remember:

• Each section gets progressively harder.

• Each recording is played once—no second chances.

The IELTS Listening test contains 40 questions. Students need to answer the questions and for each correct answer, they are awarded one mark. Scores out of 40 are converted to the IELTS nine-band scale. Scores are reported in whole and half bands.

Achieving a perfect 9 in IELTS Listening requires exceptional listening skills and meticulous attention to detail. You must demonstrate complete comprehension of all audio material, regardless of accent or complexity. It's important to practice active listening techniques, such as predicting answers and taking detailed notes. Review and correct any mistakes to identify your weaknesses and prevent repeat errors.

To get good score in IELTS Listening, you must know the test format very well. This is the main thing. You need to use good strategies to find correct answers. Check all the different question types. Before audio starts, always mark the keywords in the question paper. Then listen carefully for these words. Sometimes they will say synonyms (different words with same meaning), so be careful.