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Here, we focus upon demystifying few of the listening skills students should improve through a detailed coverage of IELTS Listening question types.. For finer nuances and techniques you should consider enrolling for Srishti's IELTS course
Do remember these about IELTS Listening
IELTS Listening 'Must-knows'
- IELTS Listening is the same for IELTS General and IELTS Academic.
- IELTS Listening test has 4 parts, each with 10 questions,
- IELTS Listening test takes anywhere between 30 to 40 minutes to complete
- The audio will be played only once
- In the paper-based IELTS test, you will be given 10 minutes after the recording ends to transfer the responses to the answer-sheet
- In the computer-based IELTS test, Listening responses ends when the audio of all 4 section is played once
IELTS Listening Parts | Audio type |
Part-1 | A conversation between two people in everyday contexts, usually involving customer service. Example: a complaint or in public library |
Part-2 | A monologue in everyday context Example: introduction of a place, event, activity, or organization |
Part-3 | A conversation in schools, usually between two students, sometimes being guided by a teacher |
Part-4 | A short piece of lecture by a teacher |
While the core of IELTS Listening test is to evaluate your listening ability, but the various types of questions are included in the test to evaluate your listening levels.
Here are the 6 types of questions that you will encounter in your IELTS Listening test
- Multiple Choice
- Matching
- Diagram
- Fill a form or a table
- Complete a sentence
- Short answers
Note: One test paper may not contain all types of questions listed above.
Type of Questions and their detailed descriptions
Let us understand each type of question and the expected response
- Multiple choice: You will be required to choose the right letter from amongst the choices
- Matching: Here too, you will need to choose the correct letter from a list of matches provided
- Diagram: Here again, you will need to choose the correct letter or sometimes a word/ words that you will hear in the audio that is played
- Fill a form or a table: Here you will need to fill in a word or number depending on the blank that you will see
- Complete a sentence: As is obvious from the type of question, you will be required to complete a sentence with word(s) and/or number(s)
- Short answers: You will be required to fill in with word(s) and/or number(s)
The best way to improve your listening skills
- Though you may be fluent in English language, you should start practicing to listen to those ‘unsaid words’
- Do NOT complete the sentence before it is spoken to you/ heard by you
Listening towards IELTS Listening goals
Day-1: Watch an English movie in YouTube. Note: The movie should be Captions enabled and watch the movie from 11th minute (11:00:00) till the 20th minute (19:59:59). Add the movie to your favourites
Day-2: Watch the same movie from 11:00:00 to 19:59:59, Note: Today, you should MUTE the audio
Day-3: Watch the same movie from 11:00:00 to 19:59:59 Note: This day, you should DISABLE CAPTIONS and enable AUDIO
Day-4: Watch the movie from the beginning and when it reaches the 11th minute, LISTEN as well as SPEAK along with the movie till 19:59:59
More Help with your IELTS General Test
IELTS Mock Test (all modules) – Get it free
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IELTS Academic Writing Task-1 – Latest sample
IELTS General Reading – Latest Tips and Tricks. Here and here
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IELTS General Listening – Tips – January 2022
