The document provides a complete guide to the IELTS listening test. It discusses the structure, timing, types of questions, and strategies for each of the four sections. The first two sections contain everyday social conversations, while the third and fourth sections involve more academic topics. Test takers are advised to read questions carefully, listen for both general ideas and specific details, be aware of synonyms and paraphrases, and ignore distractions. Focus is important, especially in the last two more difficult sections. Following instructions and practicing with different accents can also help improve listening skills.

1. Complete Guide to the IELTS
Listening Test
BY ZARISH KHAN

2. An Overview
 The IELTS listening exam is the same for both the general and academic
IELTS tests. It requires no specialist knowledge in order to pass, and is a
good test of your overall English ability. Sections one and two are in a
social context but the third and fourth sections are usually located in an
educational facility, and have an academic context. I shall explain more
about this, in detail, later.

3. Purpose of the IELTS Listening Exam
 The purpose of the IELTS listening exam is to test your ability to do the following:
• understand main ideas
• follow logical arguments
• find specific information (i.e numbers, addresses)
• recognize opinions or attitudes
 Importantly, you will only have one chance to hear the recording and choose a correct answer.

4. TIMING
 You will listen to approximately thirty minutes of recordings, including time for
reading the questions. The instructions are clear, and you will be told “you now
have x minutes” to check your answers or read the next set of questions. At the end of
this time, you have ten minutes to transfer your answers from the question paper to
the answer paper, which looks like this:
 You will be given some time to read the questions prior to actually listening to the
recording. You should note your answers on the question paper, and then transfer
them during the final ten minutes to the answer sheet. Copy the answers carefully,
paying attention to spelling. Make sure that you enter the right answer for the right
question number.
 Hint: Use your time wisely. When you are given time before a new section starts, don’t
check answers from the previous section. Instead, read ahead and predict the sort of
material you will hear next. For example, if there is a $ before the blank space, you
will be listening for a number. Think about themes and content, as well as the specific
answers you should listen for. You can use the time at the end to check spelling and
review your answers.

5. STRUCTURE
 There are four sections to the exam, and each is little
more difficult than the one before it. This means that
the first section is the easiest and the last is the most
difficult.
 The first thing that you will hear is a set of instructions
and an example answer, which is also marked on your
question paper. After that, you will soon begin section
one.

6. TYPES OF QUESTIONS IN IELTS LISTENING
TEST
• Matching
• Multiple choice
• Note completion
• Form completion
• Table completion
• Sentence completion
• Summary completion
• Short answer questions
• Map & plan labelling
• Diagram & flowchart completion

7. Follow Instructions
 Ensure sure to read the instructions given in the section carefully. Do you need to
write one word, two words, or a number? Remember, the listening test is not just
checking your listening skills but also your ability to comprehend. When you
transfer the answers into the answer sheet, make sure you have double-checked
the instructions for each section and followed them. A fundamentally correct
answer not meeting the word count (mentioned in the instructions) will be marked
incorrect.

8. Read the question carefully
 Before you hear the audio, you will get some time to read the questions. Ensure
that you use the time to read the questions and decide what exactly you need to
listen for in the audio. There are approximately 10 different types of questions
ranging from sentence completion, true-false-not given, matching headings, etc.,
while some are tougher than the others. Once you identify the questions in which
you need extra practice, you could focus your preparation accordingly.

9. Listen for the gist and specific
information
 The listening test aims to test your ability to use various listening sub-skills such
as listening for gist, specific information, details, or inferring meaning. For
example, the first two sections, where there are two and then one person
speaking in a social setting, are usually aimed at checking the ability to listen for
specific information. It could be a phone number, part of an address, or the price
of an item. Understanding the gist or the general idea behind a speaker’s words is
trickier. Here you need to pick up the cues from the voice tone, intonation and
generally learn to listen between the lines. Practicing these two skills with
preparation materials as well as with live examples around you will be very useful.

10. Listen for synonyms and paraphrases
 One way the IELTS listening test assesses the candidate's English level is
through the use of synonyms in the listening test. For example, the speaker may
say, ‘there was a riot’ in the audio, and in the question, the synonym ‘rampage’
may be used. You should underline or note important words in the question that
they need to listen for and be ready to hear the synonyms or even paraphrased
sentences used in place of that word.

11. Pick up on distraction cues
 Imagine a conversation at a market, “I’ll take the blue one.
oh! Wait a minute, maybe the yellow…Umm come to think of
it, I look terrible in that colour, blue it is!” This is a distraction.
Most questions will require you to listen carefully to decipher
what the speaker is actually saying. They may start off by
saying something and then change their answer later. Pay
special attention to these and don’t get distracted.

12. Accents
 During the test, you will be listening to speakers from various
English-speaking countries such as the United Kingdom,
USA, New Zealand, etc. The United Kingdom itself has
numerous accents across different regions. While you
prepare and attempt the mock tests, note the accents you
find more difficult. Once identified, it will be useful to focus on
listening to this accent on podcasts, live news or even follow
a popular artist!

13. Focus
 The test gets tougher with each section. The speed
of speech increases at a rapid rate during the last 2
sections. Here the speaker(s) are discussing topics
of an academic nature. You need to be alert and
awake - for the entire test - but more so for these
sections.

14. SECTION 1
 In this section, you will hear a conversation between two people.
 The situation will be a normal, everyday social setting.
 For example, a phone call to a travel agency or realtor.
 You are typically expected to listen for
specific details like the person’s name, address, and phone number.
It may look like this:

15. SECTION 2
 Next is a monologue, which means just one
person speaks. This is again a social setting
and typical examples include someone giving
details about services, arrangements, or
facilities.

16. SECTION 3
 In section 3, you will hear a conversation between two or more people talking about something
related to education – maybe a college assignment or a post-lecture discussion. There can be up
to four people talking, and you will most likely have to track their attitudes and opinions. You
should also be aware that you may need to record factual information as well.
 Here is an example question:


17. SECTION 4
 The final section is the most difficult one, and is a monologue set in an
academic context. It may consist of a lecturer or other speaker giving an
informative talk on a set topic. You will not need to know anything about
the topic in advance in order to get the questions right. You will, however,
need to gather factual information and identify attitudes and opinions.