Proven strategies for this IELTS Listening question type. Includes prediction techniques and common traps to avoid.
Originally published July 2017. Last reviewed 3 July 2026.
In this post, we will take a look at how you can practice using your listening skills so that you can be super successful in the IELTS Listening test.
There are 5 main tips that you can follow to make sure that you are improving not only your listening skills but also your General English.
Take a look and try out the practice exercises!
1. Give It Your Full Attention
When you listen to something, a practice test, youtube videos, audiobooks or podcasts etc, try to be fully focused on what you are hearing. Don’t allow yourself to become distracted. If you have other things on your mind and you tend to zone in and out, try to sort out things you need to do before you start your listening practice and preparation.
When listening, pay your full attention to the words used and the tone of voice. This will help you to find out the information you need.
Listen to the TED Talk below and think about the following questions >>
What story does the speaker tell about his sister?
What is the reason he wakes up every morning?
How do people measure their happiness?
What examples does the speaker give to support his points?
Should we work harder in order to be happy?
2. Pick Up Key Points
Many people lose focus when someone has been talking for more than one minute. It is really easy for our attention to drift away and start thinking about other things, making us miss out on information the speaker has given.
Try to stay focussed and listen out for key points the speaker is giving to you. For example, if you are listening to a TED talk, think about the key points you have heard and make some notes.
Listen to the TED Talk below and think about the key points >>
3. Practice Active Listening
Focus completely on whatever you are listening to and what the person is saying. A good exercise to do for practice is to sit down with a friend and practice giving feedback on what they have been saying. You should focus on their words, grammar and how they give you their information. Doing this will make you think about the information they are giving you in much more depth, focus on the specifics.
Active listening will help you to think about understanding pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar and structure.
Listen to the TED Talk below and think about the following >>
Pronunciation
Vocabulary
Grammar
Structure
4. Be Curious
Be a curious learner and listen to more than just the IELTS practice tests. Look for opportunities to practice your listening skills in other places, such as listening to podcasts, TED talks, the news, tv shows, documentaries or audiobooks. Always be on the lookout for interesting things you can listen to.
Take a look at the links below and listen to some great content:
When you listen to a TED talk or the news, for example, think about the views of the speaker, how do they feel about the issues? What are their thoughts on the subjects that are being discussed? Being able to recognise the attitude and opinion of the speaker are necessary to be successful in the IELTS Listening Test.
Look out for the language they use to convey their opinions to the audience and how you pick up on that, what type of vocabulary do they use? How do they tell the audience what they think?
Watch the video below from TED Talks, can you answer the following questions?
How does the speaker feel about the refugee crisis?
What language does the speaker use to convey his opinions to the audience?
Step-by-step guide to answering this type of IELTS Writing Task 1 question. Covers structure, key language, and band-scoring criteria.
Originally published July 2017. Last reviewed 3 July 2026.
In the IELTS listening test, you may have to complete a flowchart, table, notes, a summary or a form. In this post, we will look at how you should answer these types of questions in more detail.
It is really important that you read the instructions of the questions carefully, often when people do not read them and follow them correctly they lose marks. When you are asked to complete questions, you will also be enlightened as to what information you can put into the gaps.
For example, you may be asked to:
Write NO MORE THAN ONE WORD for each answer
Write NO MORE THAN ONE WORD AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer
Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS for each answer
If your answer does not follow the instructions given, it will be marked as incorrect.
Lexical Resource
As the answers require you to follow strict instructions about how many words or numbers you can use in your answers, you may need to change the verbs to nouns, nouns to verbs or verb-adverb combinations to other words.
For example;
Once the ingredients had been added the mixture was pliable.
When you add the ingredients you will see the mixture start to change.
After adding the two main ingredients, the mixture was ready to be stirred.
Each example gives you the same idea, using different words. The listening test will test your ability to use language to show your understanding.
You must also be aware of synonyms and paraphrasing, as the words used in the listening test may say for example ‘travel’ and on the paper say ‘excursion’.
Completing A Flowchart
You may see a flowchart that requires you to listen to the recording and then fill in the missing words.
Look at the flowchart below, would you be able to guess the missing words before listening to the recording?
Example Flowchart Question
Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS for each answer.
Answers at the bottom of the page.
Notes
Notes are often numbered or organised with bullet points. They may also be organised by heading and subheading followed by the organised information.
You would hear information that will allow you to complete the notes by filling in the missing information.
Example Notes Question
Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer.
History of The Acropolis
The Beginning
A temple to the goddess 31. …………………………
A symbol of culture and 32. ……………………………………..
Aesthetics
Full of decoration, the Parthenon was home to a detailed 33. ……………………………. above the columns.
The Parthenon had been built for 34. ……………………… years.
Under Attack
The Parthenon was attacked during 35. …………………….
Later on, Lord Elgin wanted to remove the 36. ………………………………….. and take them to England.
Completing A Table
You may be asked to complete a table, with gaps for you to complete. The headings in the table will tell you the type of information you will hear and need to listen for. You may have a gap fill table or a task to complete a table with a list of words in a box to choose from.
To complete a table you will need to write words that you hear in the recording during the test. You will be given a number of words and/or numbers to write in the instructions.
Example Table Question
You would hear information during the test that will allow you to complete the table by filling in the missing words/numbers.
Complete Questions 5-8.
Write NO MORE THAN ONE WORD AND/OR A NUMBER.
Trains To Berwick
Completing A Summary
Summaries are seen often, from recommending a book, movie or even a restaurant, we summarise the events. When you see a summary question in the listening test, it will look similar to other summary exercises you have seen, including gap-fill questions. The summary answers do require you to show that your answers are grammatically correct.
You will hear information that will allow you to complete the summary by filling in the missing information.
Before listening to the sound clip you should read through the paragraph and try to predict the word that would be suitable for each gap.
Example Summary Question
Complete the summary below.
Choose ONE WORD ONLY from the passage for each answer.
How To Write A Speech
This is the second most important thing you need to do when you are creating your speech. The first thing you should do is understand what your 37. …………………………….. will be. How do you plan on getting people’s attention? You need to think of something that will link to the 38. ……………. this is the idea that you are trying to sell or the point you are making to your audience. The next thing you need to include is the 39. ……………………….. this would be the main points you are getting across. Next, you would have a call to action, telling them what you want them to do. Finally, you will 40. …………………………. and link this back to the opening.
Answers at the bottom of the page.
Completing A Form
You have probably filled out many forms during your life, for courses, official documents or job applications. In the listening test, you may see a form with missing information, which includes names, dates and numbers.
You would hear information in the test that will allow you to complete the form by filling in the missing information.
Before listening to the sound clip during the test you should read through the form and try to predict the word that would be suitable for each gap.
REVIEW AND STRATEGY
TIP >> Read the instructions and questions before you start listening to the recording. What are you being asked to do? Familiarise yourself with the questions and think about the context.
TIP >> Look at the information/options you have been given and highlight any keywords.
TIP >> Listen carefully for information but be wary of distractors.
TIP >> Be aware of paraphrasing and synonyms.
TIP >> If you do miss an answer or were not sure, then it is ok to take a guess. This is better than leaving a blank space and you never know, you might answer correctly!
Answers >>
Flowchart Answers >>
B – cornstarch
C – smooth
D – slime
E – solid
F – liquid
Notes Answers >>
31. Athena
32. refinement
33. frieze
34. 2000
35. 1687
36. marble friezes
Summary Answers >>
37. opening
38. premise
39. body
40. close
We hope you found this post useful in helping you to study for the IELTS Test. If you have any questions please let us know in the comments below or on the Facebook page.
The best way to keep up to date with posts like this is to like us on Facebook, then follow us on Instagram and Pinterest.
If you need help preparing for the IELTS Test, join the IELTS Achieve Academy and see how we can assist you to achieve your desired band score. We offer an essay correction service, mock exams and online courses.
Proven strategies for this IELTS Listening question type. Includes prediction techniques and common traps to avoid.
Originally published July 2017. Last reviewed 3 July 2026.
The IELTS Listening Test lasts 30 minutes, with an extra 10 minutes to transfer answers to the answer sheet. It is made up of four parts, with a total of 40 questions (10 per section).
During the test, the texts become more difficult, with part one being the easiest and part 4 the hardest. You will only hear each recording once, never more than that.
IELTS Academic and IELTS General students take the same test and it is marked in the same way.
What you will listen to
Sections 1 and 2 are set in a social context and sections 3 and 4 are set in an academic context.
You may hear one of the following;
A conversation between a travel agent and a customer
An introduction to animal science
A dialogue between three students in a cafe.
A lecture about climate change
A conversation between student and teacher.
Parts 1 and 2 of the Test
Parts 1 and 2 are set in a social context, with general topics.
In part 1 you will listen to a conversation between two people, during the conversation they will complete some sort of transaction. A common plot involves a customer who calls a company to find out specific information about a service or product.
In part 2 you will hear a monologue that provides some sort of information. A possible plot is a speaker giving a short presentation on a service or a guided tour.
Parts 3 and 4 of the Test
Parts 3 and 4 are set in an academic context, with specialised topics.
In part 3 you will most likely hear a student and teacher discussing an academic topic.
In part 4 you will probably hear a speech or a lecture, in an educational setting. it is likely to be a topic you will know little about, but simple enough for you to understand.
Who is speaking and what is the topic?
Listen to the sound clip and think about the context – you should try to think about the context as soon as you can, this will enable you to predict the communication and information that you will hear.
Read the following questions and answer them as you listen;
What is the format of the recording? (is it a monologue? a conversation?)
Who is speaking? (an expert? a sales representative? A lecturer?)
What is the topic? (A lecture? A request for information? A tour?)
Answers are at the bottom of the page.
Accents you will hear
During the test, you will likely hear a variety of English accents, not just those from Britain. You could hear accents from America, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
it is a good idea to try and listen to these accents before you take your test, listening to the radio, watching movies or TV shows is a good way to become more used to those types of accents.
Task Types
During the test, you will have 10 questions for each section of the listening test. below are the task types you may find in any section.
Notes/summary/table/flowchart completion – To complete with a suitable word or words with a given word limit.
Multiple Choice – Choose an answer (could be one answer or two answers from A-C / A-E.
Short Answer Questions – answer questions within the given word limit.
Sentence Completion – Complete a sentence with the suitable word(s) within the given word limit.
Labelling a diagram, plan or map – Label the diagram, plan or map with suitable words or choose them from a box of possible answers.
Classification – Classify the information according to three different types of criteria (A, B or C). This could include names, dates or times.
Matching – Match a list of statements to a list of possible answers in a box, for example, people, theories or dates.
The information you hear will be in a logical order, that is the information given will appear in the same order as the recording. You will hear the information relating to the first question before you hear the information for the second and so on.
Sometimes, you may need to select an opinion from a list of options and the listed items are in a random order.
Spelling and Numbers
Be aware of you spelling during the test as misspelt words will cost you marks. Both US and UK spelling are allowed in the test, but any that are incorrect will be marked as incorrect. This is important for all spelling, but important for names and places too, make sure you spell them with a capital letter to get a correct answer.
At the end of the test when you transfer your answers to the answer sheet (10 mins) be careful with your spelling and make sure your answers are grammatically correct.
You should also be aware of numbers during the test, as they will likely be included in part 1 of the listening test. How well do you know your numbers?
52nd = ordinal number
65% = percentage
€35.00 = amount of money
365 – cardinal number
1980 – date
Do you also know currencies? from British Pounds £ to Euros € to US Dollars $?
Practice
Practice with a range of test papers you find online or from IELTS textbooks. You can find IELTS listening practice tests from the British Council . Try to complete the test in exam conditions (listening only once!)and go through your answers, checking the errors and looking back to see why you made those errors.
You should also aim to listen to English as often as you can, from the BBC News, TED Talks, movies, TV shows, documentaries etc in a variety of accents. Think about listening to different accents – American, Canadian, Australian, New Zealand as well as regional accents from the UK.
Answers >>
Who is speaking and what is the topic?
1. The recording is a monologue.
2. A female speaker who is promoting an exhibition.
3. This is a presentation to introduce an exhibition.
We hope you found this post useful in helping you to study for the IELTS Test. If you have any questions please let us know in the comments below or on the Facebook page.
The best way to keep up to date with posts like this is to like us on Facebook, then follow us on Instagram and Pinterest.
If you need help preparing for the IELTS Test, join the IELTS Achieve Academy and see how we can assist you to achieve your desired band score. We offer an essay correction service, mock exams and online courses.
