A Begginer's Introduction To IELTS Listening Test

Welcome to your journey through the IELTS Listening Test! If you're feeling nervous or just curious about what is coming, you're in the right place. This guide is made to be your friendly helper, explaining each part of the test in a way that's easy to understand and use.

So, take a deep breath, and let's explore the world of IELTS Listening together – your success is our aim!

The Goal Of The Listening Test

The listening exam aims to check how well you understand spoken English in different situations. It is an important part of the IELTS exam, showing if you are ready to use English at work or in school in an English-speaking country. This test looks at how well you can understand main ideas and specific details when listening to English. It also tests how well you can understand different English accents and ways of speaking. The test is like real life, helping you get ready for talking and listening in English every day.

The IELTS Listening Test Format

The IELTS Listening part has four sections, each different in its approach, and in total, it lasts about 40 minutes. The first 30 minutes are for listening to the recordings, and you get an extra 10 minutes to write your answers on the answer sheet.

- Time: The test takes about 40 minutes in total. You need to listen to an audio recording carefully and answer the questions given.

- Headphones: Depending on the test center, you may be given headphones to listen to the recordings.

- Number of Questions: There are a total of 40 questions, spread across the four sections (10 questions in each). You get time to read the questions before the audio plays.

- Answer Transfer Time: After listening for 30 minutes, you get 10 extra minutes at the end of the test to transfer your answers from the question paper to the answer sheet. Note that this is only for the paper-based test.

This format is made to check your ability to understand English through different types of listening tasks. It's important to manage your time well and pay close attention to the recordings, as they are played only once.

Please note that there is no difference between IELTS academic and general training listening tests.

Now let's take a closer look at the four sections.

Part 1

In Part one of the test, you will hear a conversation between two people in a common everyday setting. This might include situations like booking a hotel, asking about a service, looking for a place to stay, or planning an event. The conversation is made to be simple (but may have distractions) and tests your ability to understand English in everyday situations.

- Setting: Everyday social situations.

- Speakers: Two people having a casual conversation.

- Focus: The ability to find key details from a regular conversation.

Thus, section 1 of the test is a good starting point as it involves basic listening skills. The language used is usually simple and clear. It’s important to listen carefully for specific information, such as dates, names, places, and times.

Part 2

Section 2 of the test brings a slightly different challenge. In this section, you will listen to one speaker giving information about a general topic. This could be a talk about a public event, a short introduction to a place like a museum or a gym, or a description of a location, such as a holiday resort.

- Setting: A talk about a general subject.

- Speaker: One person giving detailed information.

- Focus: Understanding a talk on a specific topic.

The key in this part is to understand the main ideas and important details of the talk. This could include understanding descriptions, processes, or instructions given by the speaker. Unlike Part 1, which focuses on conversational English, Part 2 requires you to follow a more organized and detailed talk. It's important to stay focused and note any key points, especially facts and figures, as they are often the subject of questions.

Part 3

This section of the listening takes you into a school or training context. In this section, you will hear a conversation with up to four people. The discussion usually takes place in a university or professional setting, like a teacher meeting with students, students discussing a project, or coworkers discussing work-related topics.

- Setting: Academic or professional group discussion.

- Speakers: Up to four people in a conversation.

- Focus: Understanding interaction in an educational or work-related context.

This part tests your ability to understand group discussions and complex interactions. The speakers may share different opinions or talk about various parts of a topic, making it important to recognize not just the facts but also the speakers' views and feelings. Pay attention to how ideas are expressed and how the conversation develops, as this can help you find key points and understand the overall context of the discussion.

Part 4

Part 4 is the last section of the test, offering a more academic challenge. In this part, you will listen to a talk, usually a lecture or a speech, on an academic subject. Unlike the previous parts, this section focuses on a more formal and organized presentation of information.

• Setting: Academic lecture or speech.

• Speaker: One person giving a formal talk.

• Focus: Understanding detailed information and ideas in an academic context.

This part requires a higher level of focus and the ability to follow a detailed and sometimes complex argument or explanation. The language used here is more formal and may include special words related to the subject. It's important to understand the main ideas, details, and the speaker's opinion or argument. Taking notes can be very helpful in this section to keep track of key points and follow the flow of the lecture.

Notice that part 1 and 2 of the listening test are in a general context, while part 3 and 4 are in a more formal/academic context.

IELTS Academic and General Marking Criteria (Band Score Calculation)

The marking rules for the test are simple and are based on the number of correct answers you give. As is common in the IELTS test, this score is then changed into a band score, which is your final score for the listening section.

• Scoring: Each correct answer earns you one point. There are no penalties for wrong answers, so it's good to try every question.

• Score: Your total score out of 40 is then changed to the IELTS 9-band scale. This change is standardized to ensure fairness across different test versions.

• Accuracy: As well as spelling, it's important to pay attention to the question requirements, such as word limit, as answering the questions without following these can lead to a wrong answer even if the information is correct. If handwriting is a problem, you can write in capital letters.

RAW SCORE	SCORE
39- 40	9
37- 38	8.5
35- 36	8
32- 34	7.5
30- 31	7
26- 29	6.5
23- 25	6
18- 22	5.5
16- 17	5
13- 15	4.5
11- 12	4

The Question Types

The test has different types of questions to check different listening skills needed. Knowing these question types can help you prepare better for the test.

1. Multiple Choice Questions: You'll choose the answers from a list of options. This tests your ability to understand certain information and main ideas. This is the type of question many students find the hardest.

2. Matching: This involves matching a list of items from the listening text to a set of options on the question paper. It tests your ability to understand relationships and connections between facts.

3. Plan, Map, Diagram Labelling: You'll need to complete labels on a plan (e.g., a building), map (e.g., a part of town), or label a diagram (e.g., a piece of equipment). This checks your ability to understand spatial descriptions and signs in the listening text.

4. Form, Note, Table, Flow-chart, Summary Completion: These questions require you to fill in the gaps in an outline or table. It tests your ability to find key details and main ideas.

5. Sentence Completion: You will complete sentences in a way that correctly reflects what you heard. This checks your ability to understand specific information and follow the development of ideas.

6. Short-answer Questions: You give answers to questions, often about factual information, in a few words. This type of question checks your ability to listen for concrete facts, such as places, prices, or times.

Each type of question requires specific listening strategies. Getting familiar with these types and practicing them will greatly improve your ability to do well in the test.

Introduction To IELTS Listening - Done!

I hope this article has helped you understand the IELTS Listening test and also given you a head start for your IELTS listening practice. Good luck, and remember that every bit of preparation brings you one step closer to reaching your desired IELTS score!