The four parts of IELTS Listening
The Listening test has 4 parts and 40 questions and lasts about 30 minutes. You hear each recording once only.
- Part 1: a conversation between two people in an everyday situation, such as booking a hotel or joining a gym. Usually form or note completion.
- Part 2: one speaker on an everyday topic, such as a tour guide or a radio announcement. Often includes a map or plan.
- Part 3: a discussion between two or three speakers in an academic setting, like students planning a project with a tutor.
- Part 4: a lecture or talk on an academic subject, with no break in the middle.
On computer-delivered IELTS you get 2 minutes at the end to check answers. On paper you get 10 minutes to transfer answers to the answer sheet. Band 7 needs roughly 30 correct answers out of 40.
Accents: getting used to British voices
The test uses a range of English accents, with British voices very common. Many students in Lucknow are used to Indian English on the news and American English in films and series, so British vowels and rhythm can feel unfamiliar at first, especially at speed.
IELTS Learning's 88 practice sets are recorded with British voices, covering Parts 1 to 4. Listening to the same speaker style many times trains your ear to catch words that sound quite different from Indian English, such as "can't" with a long vowel, or a final "r" that is not pronounced.
Spelling and numbers: the hidden mark-losers
Many wrong answers in Listening are not misunderstandings. They are small writing errors.
- Spelling counts. "Accommodation", "environment", "temperature" and "Wednesday" are classic slips. Keep a list of words you misspell and revise it.
- Letters spelt aloud. In Part 1, names and postcodes are often spelt letter by letter. Practise hearing confusing pairs like A/E/I, G/J and B/V.
- Numbers. "Fifteen" and "fifty" sound close. Phone numbers might include "double six" or "oh" for zero.
- Word limits. "NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER" means exactly that. Three words is wrong, even if correct in meaning.
- Plurals. If the speaker says "tickets", writing "ticket" may cost the mark.
Map and plan questions
Map questions in Part 2 worry many students, but they follow patterns. Before the audio begins:
- Find the starting point ("You are here", or the entrance).
- Note compass directions and labelled features: car park, reception, lake.
- Learn direction language: "opposite", "next to", "at the far end", "on your left as you enter", "beyond".
Lucknow students who are used to giving directions by landmarks, like "near the temple, past the sweet shop", already think this way. Practise the English phrases and you are halfway there.
Answers come in question order
In almost all question types, answers come in the same order as the questions. This matters more than students think.
- If you miss question 14, do not stop to think about it. Move to 15 immediately.
- Keep your eyes one or two questions ahead of the speaker.
- In multiple choice, speakers often mention all three options; wait for the final decision.
Our practice sets follow this question order just like the real test, so you can train this skill.
Practising Listening in Lucknow
Lucknow can be noisy, between street traffic, wedding bands in the season and household chatter. Good practice habits help.
- Use headphones every time. Over-ear headphones block more noise. If you are taking computer-delivered IELTS, you will wear headphones on test day too.
- Take full Parts 1 to 4 in one sitting at least twice a week, ideally when the house is quiet.
- Use your commute for extra listening on the metro or in a cab: British radio, podcasts or audiobooks. Do not do scored practice in traffic, though; it gives misleading results.
- Review with explanations, and let the Mistake Notebook show you whether you are losing marks to spelling, numbers or distraction.
Common errors and Charged sets
The most common errors are: losing your place after one missed answer, writing too many words, ignoring plurals, and choosing the first option mentioned in multiple choice. Once you are steadily around 30 out of 40, try the Charged Listening sets. They are harder, faster and include trickier distractors, designed for students aiming at band 7 or above.
Free sample Listening sets are available without a card. Start practising, and upgrade to Full Access at ₹999 for 2 months when you are ready for all sets and mocks.