The OET Listening sub-test structure

IELTS Academic Listening – (30 minutes)

Sections 1 & 2 – General topics (10 questions each section)

Typically cover more general, social situations, but even these can sometimes touch on topics relevant to academic life, such as student services or campus facilities.

Sections 3 & 4 – Academic topics (10 questions each section)

Often revolve around educational and academic contexts. You might hear conversations between students and tutors discussing assignments or academic life, or lectures on subjects of general academic interest. 


IELTS General Listening – (30 minutes)

Sections 1 & 2 – Daily Life topics (10 questions each section)

Typically focus on daily life, such as travel arrangements, booking accommodations, ordering goods, discussing local facilities, or providing general information.

Sections 2 & 3 – Education and Training topics (10 questions each section)

Can include conversations or monologues related to educational or training scenarios, like students discussing assignments or a tutor explaining something, but the overall focus remains accessible to a general audience. You might hear discussions about work-related topics, training courses, or general announcements and information relevant to daily life in an English-speaking environment.


IELTS Listening Question Types

  • Multiple Choice: Selecting the correct answer from a set of options.
  • Matching: Linking items from the audio to options provided in the question paper.


  • Plan/Map/Diagram Labelling: Completing labels on a visual representation.


  • Form/Note/Table/Flow-chart/Summary Completion: Filling in missing information in a structured format.


  • Sentence Completion: Finishing sentences based on what you hear.


  • Short Answer Questions: Providing brief written answers to specific questions.


How is listening ability assessed in IELTS?

The IELTS Listening test assesses your ability to understand spoken English by evaluating several key skills. You need to grasp both the main ideas and specific details, recognize speakers' opinions and purposes, follow how ideas develop, and understand the relationships between speakers. These skills are tested through 40 questions of various types across four sections, and your performance determines your IELTS band score for listening. 

 


How is the Listening sub-test scored?

The IELTS Listening sub-test is scored based on the number of correct answers you provide out of the 40 questions. Each correct answer receives one mark, contributing to your raw score. This raw score, ranging from 0 to 40, is then converted into an IELTS band score on a scale of 1 to 9.


How to prepare for the IELTS Listening test?

  1. Practice with the official answer sheet: Get familiar with the format.
  2. Understand the recording is played only once: Pay close attention the first time.
  3. Write in all capitals OR all lowercase: Be consistent with your capitalization.
  4. Pay attention to word limits: Adhere strictly to the number of words allowed per answer.
  5. Understand the importance of prepositions: They often carry crucial information.
  6. Ensure accurate spelling: Incorrect spelling will be marked wrong.
  7. Familiarize yourself with different question types: Each type might need a slightly different approach.
  8. Don't try to understand every single word: Focus on understanding the main ideas and the information needed to answer the questions.
  9. Prepare answers and questions: Before the recording starts, read the questions and try to predict the type of information you need to listen for.
  10. Be aware that answers can come quickly: Be ready to note them down as soon as you hear them.
  11. Be cautious of common traps: Listen for words like "but," "however," or changes in tone that might indicate a correction or a different piece of information.
  12. Listen to the example at the beginning: This will help you get used to the speaker's voice and the pace.
  13. Be aware of different accents: Practice listening to various English accents.
  14. Check the titles: Titles can give you context for what you're about to hear.
  15. Move on quickly if you miss an answer: Don't dwell on it; focus on the questions that follow.
  16. Note that technical language is often not paraphrased: Be prepared to hear specific terms.
  17. Write down the words you hear: Don't try to paraphrase while listening; write down exactly what you hear and then check if it fits the question later.