Prepare for Listening
Start here, then choose a practice below. Open each section for focused advice.
Skills to develop
- Predict the kind of answer needed, such as a number, noun or place, from the question.
- Recognise paraphrases, signpost words and changes of opinion; practise listening to different accents.
- Follow a speaker’s direction on a map and distinguish similar numbers, dates and letters.
A practical approach
- Read the questions and instructions during the preparation time; underline important differences between options.
- In the official test the recording is played once. Keep moving if you miss an answer and use any checking time to review spelling and grammar.
- Write within the stated word limit. Practise under test conditions before replaying audio for learning.
Question types: how to tackle them
- Forms, notes, tables, flow charts and sentence completion: predict the missing information; listen for a correction before writing the final answer.
- Multiple choice: read all options, listen for the complete meaning and beware of options mentioned but rejected.
- Matching: follow each item as it is discussed and match the speaker’s final view, not merely a repeated word.
- Maps, plans and diagrams: identify the starting point, orientation and landmarks; follow direction words carefully.
- Short answers: identify the requested detail and follow the word and number limit.
Common mistakes that cost marks
- Writing the first number heard when the speaker later corrects it.
- Missing the next answer while worrying about a previous one.
- Ignoring spelling, singular or plural endings, or the word limit.
- Choosing an option because it is mentioned rather than because it answers the question.
Full exercises are available to approved purchasers and students granted free access. Purchase / check access →
How to use the Listening tests
Open a test below and work through Parts 1–4 in order. Read the questions before listening. On your first attempt, play the recording once and reveal the answer key afterwards.
Add the four part scores for a total out of 40. These practice results do not provide a calibrated IELTS band score.