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1. Listening
IELTS
BY: Tatiana Chavarro
Nicolle Diaz
Tatiana Colmenares

2. Listening description
Paper
element
Description
Paper Format
Four sections, six kind of questions. It appears in order and the sections are related to social context
and educational and training context. The records are heard once only and include several accents.
●You will hear each section ONCE only.
Timing 30 minutes plus 10 minutes to transfer to answer sheet.
Nº of
Questions
40 Questions
Task Types A variety of questions are use from these six types.
Answering
The time of listening and the time to transfer BE CAREFUL! Poor spelling and grammar are
penalised.
Marks All questions carry 1 mark

3. Section 1 Section 2 Section 3 Section 4
Usually a conversation
between two people.
Sometimes a third
person might be
involved or introduced
to the conversation.
4 minutes listening
time
Usually a monologue
of social or functional
nature. For example, an
outing, a tour guide
giving instructions or
directions.
3-4 minutes listening
time
Usually a conversation
two to four people. For
example a dialogue
between two students
regarding a tutorial, an
assignment or oral
presentation.
4 minutes listening
time
Usually a lecture or
speech given as a
monologue. Sometimes
the person is introduced
by a second person at
the beginning of the
lecture.
4-5 minutes listening
time

4. Task Type 1 - Multiple Choice
Task type and format
In this task type, identifying types of answers excepted (what, when, where, etc.)
There is a question followed by three possible answers, or the beginning of a sentence
followed by three possible sentences ending.
Sometimes test takers are given a longer list of possible answers and told that they have
to choose more than one. In this case they should read the question carefully to check
how many answers are required.
Task focus
This task type is used to test a wide range of skills. It may require the test taker to have
detailed understanding of specific points or an overall understanding of the main points
of the listening test.
No. of questions Variable

5. Strategy
The first thing you need to do look through the question. you have 30 seconds to do this
before you hear the audio.
Highlight keywords in questions. Identify answers that seem unlikely and then find
proof before eliminating them.
You should focus on the question stem but also look at the choices and note that you are
listening.

6. Task type 2 -
Matching
Task type and format
In this task type, test takers are required to match a numbered list of items from the
listening text to a set of options on the question paper. The set of options may be criteria
of some kind.
Many variations of this task type are possible with regards the type of options to be
matched.
Task focus
This task type assesses the skill of listening for detail. It assesses whether a test taker
can understand information given in a conversation on an everyday topic such as
different types of hotel or guest house accommodation. It also assesses the ability to
follow a conversation involving interaction between two people. It may also be used to
assess test takers’ ability to recognise relationships and connections between facts in the
listening text.
No. of questions Variable

7. strateg
y
Hearing all the words: In this type of question, it is very likely that you will hear ALL the words that you are given in
each choice. Two will obviously not be referring to the answer, so you need to listen very carefully to make sure you get
the correct one.
Similar Choices: Another problem is that you may be given very similar choices. For example, all the choices may refer
to ‘years’, so it is easy to choose the wrong one. Also, the information you hear about each choice may be quite similar.
Paraphrases and synonyms: Also, sentences and words that you hear in the listening will often be changed in the actual
listening script. The test would be quite easy if you could heard exactly what you see in the question, but it will be
changed in some way.
A different order: The person you hear speaking may not necessarily give you the information or choices in the same
order as the question you see on the paper.

8. Task type 3 - Plan, map,
diagram labelling
Task type and format
In this task type, test takers are required to complete labels on a visual. The answers are
usually selected from a list on the question paper. The visual may be: a diagram (e.g.
piece of equipment), a set of pictures, a plan, a map.
Task focus
This task type assesses the ability to understand, for example, a description of a place,
and to relate this to a visual representation. This may include being able to follow
language expressing spatial relationships and directions.
No. of questions Variable

9. Strategy
Read the instructions carefully, this is so know what you need to do and maximum numbers of words
you can use.
Know the vocabulary of location, you know words commonly used to describe where things are
located.
Pay particular attention to any other clues in the map.
Understand the context, listen carefully at the beginning as the speaker will give you the context.

10. Task type 4-Form,note, table, flow-
chart, summary completion
Task type and
format
The outline will focus on the main ideas/facts in the text. It may be: 1) a form: often used to record
factual details such as names; 2) a set of notes: used to summarise any type of information using the
layout to show how different items relate to one another, 3) a table: used as a way of summarising
information which relates to clear categories. 4) a flow-chart: used to summarise a process which has
clear stages, with the direction of the process shown by arrows. Test takers may have to: a) select their
answers from a list on the question paper; b) identify the missing words from the recording which fit
into the form/notes, etc. Test takers do not have to change the words from the recording in any way.
Test takers should read the instructions very carefully as the number of words or numbers they should
use to fill the gaps will vary. Test takers are penalised for writing more than the stated number of
words, and test takers should check this word limit carefully for each task. Contracted words will not
be tested. Hyphenated words count as single words.
Task focus
This task type focuses on the main points which a listener would naturally record in this type of
situation.
No. of
questions
Variable

11. Strate
gyYou should first look at the sentences and try to understand the general meaning. Use the sentences
to predict what you are going to hear. This will help you follow the listening and hopefully get
the correct answers more easily.
Next you have to remember that the sentences are just paraphrases of what you will hear and you
will therefore need to think about how they might have changed the sentences. For example, the
sentence might say ‘The ________ family structure has changed greatly in the last fifty years.’
but in the listening you might hear ‘In the last half century the nuclear family unit had been
altered significantly’.
Next you need to look at the gaps and try to predict what the answer will be. You can predict what
type of word will fit grammatically (verb, noun, adjective etc.) and predict the content based on
the other words around it.

12. Task type 5 - Sentence
completion
Task type and format
In this task type, test takers are required to read a set of sentences
summarising key information from all the listening text or from one part of it.
They have to complete a gap in each sentence using information from the
listening text. A word limit is given, for example, ‘NO MORE THAN ONE
WORD AND/OR A NUMBER’. Test takers are penalised for writing more
than the stated number of words. (Test takers should check this word limit
carefully for each task: the limit is either ONE, TWO or THREE words).
Contracted words will not be tested. Hyphenated words count as single
words.
Task focus
This task type focuses on the ability to identify the key information in a
listening text. Test takers have to understand functional relationships such as
cause and effect.
No. of questions Variable

13. STRATEGY
1. Make it a point to read the sentences/summary before you listen.
2. Predict not only the type of information or part of speech that is needed, but also what the missing
word or words could actually be.
3. Write your answers exactly as you hear them.
4. Re-check your answers to determine if they grammatically fit.
5. Check for correct spelling.
6. Be alert. The answers could be mentioned one after the other.

14. Task type 6 - Short-answer
questions
Task type and format
In this task type, test takers are required to read a question to which they have to write a
short answer using information from the listening text. A word limit is given, for
example, ‘NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER’. Test takers are
penalised for writing more than the stated number of words. (Test takers should check
this word limit carefully for each task.) Contracted words will not be tested. Hyphenated
words count as single words. Sometimes test takers are given a question which asks
them to list two or three points.
Task focus
This task type focuses on the ability to listen for concrete facts – such as places, prices
or times – given in the listening text.
No. of questions Variable

15. strategy
1. Skim and scan the questions in your booklet before you listen, then determine what situation might be required.
2. Predict the type of information you should listen for (e.g. "How far has" indicates distance).
3. Be alert for synonyms and paraphrases. There will be times when the information expressed in the question
would not be expressed in the same way as those you would get to hear.
4. Read instructions carefully.
5. Write what you hear. The needed information is always exactly in the form that you should place in the blanks.
6. Note the maximum number of words you should write.
7. Check your spelling

16. THANKS