International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Listening Syllabus

Listening syllabus — full chapter and topic list

Expand any chapter to see its topics and sub-topics. This is the whole examinable outline for Listening in International English Language Testing System (IELTS), not a summary of it.

1. 1

   Listening Structure and Sections

   3 topics

   • The four recordings and their contexts
     • Section 1: everyday social conversation
     • Section 2: monologue in a social context
     • Section 3: academic discussion
     • Section 4: academic lecture
   • Number of questions and timing
   • Single-play audio and accent variety
     • British, Australian, North American, NZ accents
2. 2

   Question Types

   5 topics

   • Multiple choice (single and multiple answer)
   • Form, note, table and flow-chart completion
   • Sentence completion and short answer
   • Matching items and statements
   • Labelling maps, plans and diagrams
3. 3

   Core Listening Skills

   5 topics

   • Predicting content from question wording
   • Listening for specific detail (numbers, dates, names)
     • Spelling out names and addresses
     • Numbers, prices, and measurements
   • Following signpost and discourse markers
     • Sequencing and contrast signals
     • Distractors and corrected information
   • Identifying gist, attitude and opinion
   • Recognising paraphrase and synonyms
4. 4

   Accuracy and Answer Conventions

   4 topics

   • Word-limit rules and counting words
   • Spelling, grammar and singular/plural agreement
   • Capitalisation and number formats
   • Common avoidable errors

Listening flashcards for International English Language Testing System (IELTS)

20 of 50 cards from the Listening deck — real questions with worked answers.

1. How many separate recordings (sections/parts) does the IELTS Listening test contain?

   Four recordings (Parts 1-4), each heard once.

2. What is the context and speaker setup of Listening Part 1?

   A conversation between two people set in an everyday social context (e.g. booking accommodation, arranging an event).

3. What is the context of Listening Part 2?

   A monologue (one person speaking) in an everyday social context, such as a speech about local facilities.

4. What is the context and speaker setup of Listening Part 3?

   A conversation between up to four people set in an educational or training context, e.g. students discussing an assignment with a tutor.

5. What is the context of Listening Part 4?

   A monologue on an academic subject, such as a university-style lecture.

6. How many questions are there in total in the IELTS Listening test, and how many per part?

   40 questions in total, with 10 questions in each of the four parts.

7. How long is the IELTS Listening test, including transfer time (paper-based)?

   About 30 minutes of audio plus 10 minutes to transfer answers to the answer sheet, totalling roughly 40 minutes.

8. How much transfer time is given on the paper-based test, and does the computer-based test have it?

   Paper-based gives 10 extra minutes to transfer answers; the computer-based test gives only about 2 minutes to check answers (no full transfer time).

9. How many times is each IELTS Listening recording played?

   Once only - the audio is single-play, so you must answer as you listen.

10. What range of English accents can candidates expect in the Listening test?

    A variety of native-speaker accents, including British, Australian, New Zealand, North American and other native English accents.

11. In a single-answer multiple choice question, how many options are typically given and how many do you choose?

    Usually three options (A, B, C) from which you select the one correct answer.

12. In a multiple-answer multiple choice question, how should you answer, e.g. 'Choose TWO letters'?

    Select the exact number of options stated (e.g. two), from a longer list such as A-E; choosing too few or too many loses the mark.

13. Do answers in multiple-answer multiple choice questions need to be written in a specific order?

    No - the two (or more) correct letters can be written in any order and still be marked correct.

14. What four completion task types commonly appear in IELTS Listening?

    Form completion, note completion, table completion, and flow-chart completion.

15. What is the key skill tested by form and table completion tasks?

    Listening for specific factual detail - names, numbers, dates, addresses - and fitting them into a given structure.

16. What does a flow-chart completion task require you to track?

    The sequence of stages in a process, filling gaps in the correct order following the flow of the talk.

17. What does sentence completion test, and what controls the answer?

    Completing a sentence with words from the recording, controlled by both the meaning heard and the grammar of the sentence plus the stated word limit.

18. In short-answer questions, what governs the form of the answer?

    The word limit instruction (e.g. NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS) and answering the question word (what, where, how many) accurately.

19. What does a matching task require you to do?

    Match a numbered list of items to a set of lettered options/statements based on information in the recording.

20. In matching tasks, can the same option be used more than once?

    Only if the instructions say so; otherwise each option is used once - always read whether options can be reused.

See more Listening flashcards →

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