The IELTS Listening test consists of four sections, each progressively more difficult. You hear each recording only once and have approximately 30 minutes to answer 40 questions, plus 10 minutes to transfer your answers to the answer sheet (paper-based test) or the answers are entered directly on screen (computer-delivered test).
A conversation between two people in an everyday social context (e.g. booking accommodation, asking about local facilities). This is generally considered the easiest section.
A monologue set in an everyday social context (e.g. a speech about local facilities, a talk about arrangements for meals during a conference).
A conversation between up to four people in an educational or training context (e.g. a university tutor and student discussing an assignment, or a group of students planning a research project).
A monologue on an academic subject (e.g. a university lecture). This is generally the most challenging section, with more complex vocabulary and ideas.
| Question Type | What You Do | Sections |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple Choice | Choose the correct answer from three options | 1–4 |
| Matching | Match items from a list to categories | 2–4 |
| Plan/Map/Diagram Labelling | Label parts of a visual diagram | 1–3 |
| Form/Note/Table Completion | Fill in gaps with missing information | 1–4 |
| Sentence Completion | Complete sentences using words from the recording | 1–4 |
| Short Answer | Write short answers to questions | 1–4 |
| Band Score | Raw Score (out of 40) |
|---|---|
| 9.0 | 39–40 |
| 8.5 | 37–38 |
| 8.0 | 35–36 |
| 7.5 | 32–34 |
| 7.0 | 30–31 |
| 6.5 | 26–29 |
| 6.0 | 23–25 |
| 5.5 | 18–22 |
| 5.0 | 16–17 |
Source: British Council / IDP IELTS official scoring guidelines. Score boundaries are approximate and may vary slightly between test versions.
Originally published July 2026. Last reviewed 6 July 2026.