IELTS

01

LISTENING
The test lasts for approximately 30 02

minutes and has four sections.

You hear each section of the recording ONCE only. You should answer the questions
as you listen, and write your answers directly onto the question paper. You have ten
minutes at the end of the test to copy your answers on to the separate answer sheet.

Section 1

In this part of the test. you hear a conversation

between two people. The conversation is generally
about living, studying or working in an English-speaking
country. For example, you may hear a conversation
between an employer and an employee, or one
between a student and a college administrator or two
friends talking about how to spend their free time.
Section 2
Section 3 02
In this part of the test, you hear one speaker giving a
talk to a group of people. The talk is generally about
living, studying or working in an English-speaking
In this part of the test, you hear a conversation
country, for example an employer talking to a group of
between two or three people in an academic setting.
employees or someone making an announcement.
The conversation is generally about an academic topic
The talk or announcement has an aim, such as giving
and the two main speakers are exchanging both
instructions. Most of the questions, therefore. test your
information and ideas. For example,
ability to understand detailed information.
the conversation may involve two people who are
working together on a research project, or a meeting
between a tutor and two students reporting on their
progress.

Section 4
IIn this part of the test, you hear one speaker giving a
lecture or presentation. The talk is about an academic
topic and
the speaker is discussing the topic in depth. You could,
for example, hear about some research that the
speaker has been involved in, or the speaker may be
discussing different people's ideas and opinions on a
subject.
03
Marking
Each numbered question i n the Listening test i s worth one mark. If you write the
correct answer, then you get the mark. No marks are taken off for wrong answers, so
it's always a good idea to write an answer, even if you're not sure whether it's correct
or not.

The instructions tell you how many words you can write. If the instructions say 'WRITE ONE WORD for each answer', then you
must only write one word.

The words you write must be spelled correctly.

Both UK and US spellings are accepted

as correct. The answers aren't technical words or words that have difficult spellings. Sometimes the names of people and
places are spelled out for you on the recording. This tests your knowledge of the alphabet.

Remember that the words you need to write are the words
you hear on the recording. Don't try to use your own words. For example, if the word you hear on the recording is 'incredible'
and you write 'unbelievable' as your answer, you don't get the mark.
You can write your answers in either UPPER CASE or lower case - both are marked correct, and you don't need to worry about
punctuation. For example, if the answer to the question is 'online' and you write 'on-line', you still get the mark.

 04

Strategies 01 Predict the type of vocabulary and

information that you're going to hear.

Practise predicting the type of words and

02 information that is rnissing in tasks where

Before the
you have to write the answer.

Use the Internet to keep up with the latest

03 news and current affairs in English. While
you're listening, think about the type of

test
language the speakers use to make their
points.
 04

Strategies 01 Remember that the questions follow the

order of information in the recording.

Remember there are pauses between each

02 part and halfway through each part so you
can read the tasks and get ready to answer.

During the 03 Always write an answer while you're

listening, even if you're not sure whether it's
right or not.

test 04 Don't worry about spelling while you're

listening - you have time to check that later -
but write clearly so that you can read your
own answers later.

Don't stop to think if you're not sure of an

05 answer. You need to be ready to answer the
next one.
Strategies
04

When the recording has finished, you have

01 ten minutes to copy your answers on to the
separate answer sheet.

At the end
You have time to check your answers,
02 especially the spelling of the words you
wrote while you were listening.

of the test
Remember you have to write one answer. If
03 you're not sure, don't put two answers. If
you do that, you don't get the mark.

Check very carefully that you put your

04 answers next to the correct number on the
answer sheet, and keep checking that you
haven't made a mistake in the numbering.

If you don't know the right answer to a

05 question, always write something. You may
have understood more than you think.
 Task TYPE 1 Sentence
Completion
1 Read the information about the task type. Then look at and correct the notes a student
made about the task. The student has made four mistakes.

05
Sample questions
2 -05 Listen a n d complete t h e sentences. Use the rules about the task from Section A
to help you. Then check your answers. Which questions did you find difficult?
 Tips and tactics
Work in pairs. Read the tips and tactics and discuss these questions.
Which tips and tactics do you think are the most useful?
07 Did you use any of these tips and tactics when you answered the sample questions in Section B?
Which tips will you use in the future?