The IELTS Listening test is a 30-minute exam with 40 questions spread across four sections. Each section presents a different recording that you'll hear only once.

Sections 1 & 2: Social Contexts

Section 1 is a conversation between two people in a social setting, like booking a reservation or asking for information. You'll typically be asked to fill in a form or complete notes.

Section 2 is a monologue, also in a social context. An example could be a tour guide explaining a museum layout or someone giving a speech about a new community project. The questions often involve matching, short-answer questions, or completing a diagram.

Sections 3 & 4: Academic Contexts

Section 3 features a conversation with up to four people in an academic or training setting. This could be a discussion between a student and a tutor about an assignment or a group of students planning a research project. The questions are more complex, often requiring you to identify the speaker's opinion or purpose.

Section 4 is a monologue on an academic subject, like a university lecture. This is the most challenging section, as the content is more technical. The questions usually involve completing notes or a summary of the lecture.

Key Takeaways

• Four Sections, 40 Questions: You have a total of 40 questions to answer.

• Listen Once: You will hear each recording only one time, so you must pay close attention.

• Progressive Difficulty: The test gets progressively harder, moving from simple social conversations to complex academic monologues.

• Transfer Time: After the listening portion, you'll have 10 minutes to transfer your answers from the question booklet to the answer sheet.