IELTS Listening practice test collection
IELTS Listening
ExamBand · 11 full tests · 4 h 49 min of recordings · Academic and General Training
11 IELTS Listening practice tests
- Practice Test 1Booking a cycle tour · Volunteering at a wetland centre · A research project on food waste · Mangrove forests27:30Start free
- 2 Practice Test 2Renting a holiday cottage · A summer festival · Music and memory · Ancient Roman concrete25:18Start free
- 3 Practice Test 3Joining a gym · A reopened museum · Tourism in a fishing village · Urban beekeeping27:52Start free
- 4 Practice Test 4Lost property on a train · Coastal conservation volunteers · A commuting survey · The history of paper26:20Start free
- 5 Practice Test 5Booking a function room · A new city park · A dissertation on picture books · Sleep in animals27:16Start free
- 6 Practice Test 6Renting a flat · A new health centre · A marine field trip · Urban heat islands25:49Start free
- 7 Practice Test 7Swimming lessons · A town walking tour · A café business plan · Colour in marketing26:26Start free
- 8 Practice Test 8Hiring a car · A TV studio visit · Feedback on a history essay · Ice cores and past climate25:43Start free
- 9 Practice Test 9A kayaking course · A charity fun run · Planning a podcast · Bioluminescence26:05Start free
- 10 Practice Test 10A home insurance quote · A new airport terminal · An archaeological dig · Spider silk25:35Start free
- 11 Practice Test 11Renting a storage unit · A summer camp for children · A work placement report · Restoring coral reefs24:59Start free
The guide
About the IELTS Listening practice test
What is in the IELTS Listening test
Listening is the same for Academic and General Training. You hear four recordings, once only, with 10 questions on each. On the computer test you type your answers while you listen, then have 2 minutes at the end to check them. Every IELTS Listening practice test here follows this format exactly.
A conversation between two people in an everyday situation, such as booking a room or joining a club.
Form, note or table completion, often with names and numbers to spell.
One person speaking about an everyday subject, such as a tour of a building or a new local service.
Multiple choice, map or plan labelling, matching.
Up to four people talking in a study setting, such as students and a tutor discussing an assignment.
Multiple choice, matching and completion, with opinions and attitudes.
One speaker giving a talk on an academic subject, like a short university lecture.
Note or summary completion. Usually the hardest part.
The question types you will meet
Every type below appears across our tests, with the same instructions and word limits as the real exam.
Multiple choice
Choose one answer from three, or two or three answers from a longer list.
Matching
Match people, places or opinions to a list of options.
Map, plan and diagram labelling
Follow a speaker around a place and label it as they go.
Form, note, table and summary completion
Fill each gap with words you hear, within the word limit.
Sentence completion
Finish sentences with the exact words from the recording.
Short-answer questions
Answer a question in a few words or a number.
How IELTS Listening is marked
Your number of correct answers out of 40 is turned into a band score. This is the published guide, which can move slightly from one version of the test to another.
- Each correct answer scores one mark, and a wrong answer loses nothing, so never leave a gap empty.
- Spelling counts. British and American spellings are both accepted.
- Word limits are strict: if the instruction says NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS, a three-word answer is wrong.
Source: ielts.org: IELTS scoring in detail
Turn your score into a band with the IELTS band score calculator Every Listening score out of 40, explained| Correct answers (out of 40) | Band |
|---|---|
| 39–40 | 9 |
| 37–38 | 8.5 |
| 35–36 | 8 |
| 32–34 | 7.5 |
| 30–31 | 7 |
| 26–29 | 6.5 |
| 23–25 | 6 |
| 18–22 | 5.5 |
| 16–17 | 5 |
| 13–15 | 4.5 |
| 10–12 | 4 |
From 10 years of teaching IELTS
Tips for IELTS Listening
- 1
Read ahead every time
Use the seconds before each part to read the next questions and guess what kind of answer you need: a number, a name, a place or a reason.
- 2
Listen for the change of mind
Speakers often give one answer, then correct it: “the 15th… no, sorry, the 16th”. The second one is usually the answer.
- 3
Expect different words
The questions rarely use the speaker's exact words. Listen for the same meaning said another way.
- 4
Let a missed answer go
The recording never stops. If you miss one, move straight to the next question instead of losing three.
- 5
Check plurals and spelling
Use the 2 minutes at the end for plurals, double letters and numbers. These small slips cost students a band more often than hard questions.
- 6
Train for Part 4
A ten-minute lecture with no pauses needs stamina. Practise full recordings, not just short clips.
Questions about the IELTS Listening practice test
Is this IELTS Listening practice test free?
Yes. All 11 Listening practice tests are free to take, and a free account saves your results.
How many answers do I need for band 7 in Listening?
About 30 out of 40. Band 6 needs about 23, and band 8 about 35. The full table is above.
Is Listening the same for Academic and General Training?
Yes. Both take the same Listening test, so every test here works for either.
Can I hear the recording twice?
No. As in the real exam, you hear each recording once, so these tests train you to answer as you listen.
How long is the computer-delivered Listening test?
About 30 minutes of recordings, then 2 minutes to check your answers. There is no extra transfer time on the computer test.