IELTS Listening takes about 30 minutes: 4 parts of 10 questions each, 40 in total, and every recording is played only once. Band 7 needs about 30 correct answers on average (ielts.org). Below: what happens in each part, the 6 question types, the word-limit rules and the habits that get you to 30+.
Four parts: who speaks and about what
Listening is the same for Academic and General Training. Questions follow the order of the recording and the parts get harder as you go. Speakers use British, Australian, New Zealand and North American accents.
| Part | Context | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Part 1 | Everyday situation, two speakers | A phone call about travel arrangements |
| Part 2 | Everyday situation, one main speaker | A talk about a local sports centre or museum |
| Part 3 | Education or training, two or three speakers | Two students and a tutor discussing an assignment |
| Part 4 | Education, one speaker | An academic lecture |
Paper vs computer
- On paper you write answers on the question booklet, then get 10 minutes at the end to transfer them to the answer sheet.
- On computer you type answers straight in, so there is no transfer - just a short review at the end (about 2 minutes).
- Questions and difficulty are the same. If you sit the computer test, practise on screen too: typing and scrolling while listening takes getting used to.
The 6 question types and how to handle each
| Question type | Usually in | Approach |
|---|---|---|
| Form, note, table, flow chart completion | Part 1, Part 4 | Predict the kind of word first: number, name, noun, date |
| Multiple choice | Part 2, Part 3 | Mark how the options differ - the audio often mentions all of them, only one fits |
| Matching | Part 2, Part 3 | Shrink the option list to short keywords |
| Plan, map, diagram labelling | Part 2 | Find the starting point, listen for “opposite”, “next to”, “turn left” |
| Sentence completion | Any part | The sentence must stay grammatically correct |
| Short-answer questions | Any part | Stick to the word limit |
Word limits and spelling: the easiest marks to lose
- If the task says “NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER” and you write more, you lose the mark even if the idea is right.
- A hyphenated word (“check-in”) counts as one word.
- Answers must be spelled correctly: a misspelled word gets no mark.
- British and American spelling (colour / color) are both accepted - just be consistent.
- Each correct answer is 1 mark and wrong answers lose nothing. Never leave a gap.
How many correct answers band 7 needs
Average thresholds from the ielts.org page “IELTS scoring in detail” (they vary slightly between test versions):
| Band | Correct answers (of 40) |
|---|---|
| 5 | 16 |
| 6 | 23 |
| 7 | 30 |
| 8 | 35 |
Before the audio starts and while you listen
- Use the pause before each part to read the questions and underline keywords.
- Watch for distractors: a speaker says one thing, then corrects it (“Tuesday... oh no, sorry, Thursday”). The last version counts.
- The audio rarely repeats the question’s word - it uses a synonym: not “cheap” but “doesn’t cost much”. Listen for meaning.
- In Part 4 the lecturer signals moves with “firstly”, “another point”, “finally” - a cue that the next question is coming.
- Missed one? Move on at once: the recording will not come back.
- Drill numbers and letters by ear: phone numbers, “double seven” and spelled-out names are common in Part 1.
A practice method that leads to band 7
- Step 1: do a full timed test with one play - that is your real level.
- Step 2: sort your mistakes: spelling, word limit, missed synonym or lost focus.
- Step 3: replay the part you got wrong with the transcript and find the exact moment you missed.
- Step 4: repeat the hard passage along with the speaker (shadowing) - your ear adapts to fast speech.
- A common routine: at least 2 full tests a week and 15-20 minutes of English podcasts or lectures every day.
Frequently asked questions
- How many times is the audio played? Once.
- How long is Listening? About 30 minutes; on paper add 10 minutes to transfer answers.
- Is Listening different in Academic and General Training? No, it is the same test.
- What raw score is band 7? About 30 correct out of 40.
