🎧There are 10 different types of IELTS Listening questions:
1️⃣Matching
2️⃣Multiple choice
3️⃣Note Completion
4️⃣Form completion
5️⃣Table completion
6️⃣Sentence completion
7️⃣Summary completion
8️⃣Short answers completion
9️⃣Map & Plan labelling
🔟Diagram & flowchart completion
👇Below we will discuss all types of questions in more detail.
❗️More about IELTS @ieltstoday
1️⃣Matching
2️⃣Multiple choice
3️⃣Note Completion
4️⃣Form completion
5️⃣Table completion
6️⃣Sentence completion
7️⃣Summary completion
8️⃣Short answers completion
9️⃣Map & Plan labelling
🔟Diagram & flowchart completion
👇Below we will discuss all types of questions in more detail.
❗️More about IELTS @ieltstoday
1️⃣👉Matching questions are especially common in Section 1 where you're required to listen for detail in a conversation between two people.
You will have to match the items in two lists of options. In the sample question below, for example, you must match the hotels (A – E) with the descriptions (1 – 4).
You will have to match the items in two lists of options. In the sample question below, for example, you must match the hotels (A – E) with the descriptions (1 – 4).
2️⃣👉In multiple choice questions, you are required to choose the correct answer from a shortlist (usually 3 words or phrases). Often the answers will look similar in meaning so you will need to listen very carefully. Don’t just select the first answer you hear.
In this sample test, the answers to questions 26 to 30 are either option A, B or C.
In this sample test, the answers to questions 26 to 30 are either option A, B or C.
3️⃣👉This is a gap fill type question. You must listen to the recording and fill in the missing words in the sentences to complete them. You may have to add the ending to the sentences or fill in words within the sentences.
Take careful note of how many words you are allowed to write and do not write more than this or your answer will be marked ‘incorrect’ even if the information you give is correct.
In this sample question, you have to complete four sentences using no more than two words for each answer.
Take careful note of how many words you are allowed to write and do not write more than this or your answer will be marked ‘incorrect’ even if the information you give is correct.
In this sample question, you have to complete four sentences using no more than two words for each answer.
4️⃣👉Form completion questions often come up in Section 1, which is a conversation between two people, but do appear in other sections too. The most common type is an application or an order form.
It's generally easy to predict what information you'll need to listen out for. In this sample question, for example, the answers will be a surname, a street name, a postcode, the type of item ordered and a number for how many items are ordered.
It's generally easy to predict what information you'll need to listen out for. In this sample question, for example, the answers will be a surname, a street name, a postcode, the type of item ordered and a number for how many items are ordered.
5️⃣👉This type of question can take many different forms. It will be a gap fill activity of some sort where you have to fill in the missing words. This could, for example, be missing words in a set of notes from a lecture.
Pay careful attention to the number of words or numbers you are allowed to write for the answer.
The recording for this sample question is a radio broadcast about The National Arts Centre. You are required to fill in 6 pieces of missing information about the centre.
Pay careful attention to the number of words or numbers you are allowed to write for the answer.
The recording for this sample question is a radio broadcast about The National Arts Centre. You are required to fill in 6 pieces of missing information about the centre.
6️⃣👉Table completion questions also require you to fill in missing information. The table will be made up of columns and rows containing information.
Tables generally categorise information, that is, they group pieces of information that are related in some way or share the same features.
This sample question follows on from the notes completion question we’ve just looked at and is also about The National Arts Centre. There are 4 pieces of missing information that need to be filled in.
Tables generally categorise information, that is, they group pieces of information that are related in some way or share the same features.
This sample question follows on from the notes completion question we’ve just looked at and is also about The National Arts Centre. There are 4 pieces of missing information that need to be filled in.
7️⃣👉The Listening test gets more difficult as you progress through it and summary completion questions often come up in Section 4, the most challenging part of the test.
You will be given a summary of the recording, typically a monologue on an academic subject such as a lecture on wildlife. There will be words missing from the summary which you must fill in. Expect synonyms and paraphrasing to be used extensively.
This sample question is a summary of a lecture on the Caveman Diet with 5 pieces of information missing.
You will be given a summary of the recording, typically a monologue on an academic subject such as a lecture on wildlife. There will be words missing from the summary which you must fill in. Expect synonyms and paraphrasing to be used extensively.
This sample question is a summary of a lecture on the Caveman Diet with 5 pieces of information missing.
8️⃣👉This is another type of question where you must identify specific information about a topic.
It’s particularly common in Section 2 which will be a monologue set in an everyday social context, for example, a welcome talk for new college students.
You must listen to the recording and write a short answer in each blank space provided. Sometimes, more than one answer will be required, for example, “What are the TWO major concerns new students have regarding accommodation?”
The recording for this sample question is an extract from a talk given to a group who are going to visit the UK. There are three questions with two answers required for each one.
It’s particularly common in Section 2 which will be a monologue set in an everyday social context, for example, a welcome talk for new college students.
You must listen to the recording and write a short answer in each blank space provided. Sometimes, more than one answer will be required, for example, “What are the TWO major concerns new students have regarding accommodation?”
The recording for this sample question is an extract from a talk given to a group who are going to visit the UK. There are three questions with two answers required for each one.
9️⃣👉For this type of question, you’ll be given a plan of a building, a map of a specific location or a diagram of something and must fill in the missing labels.
Many students find these one of the easiest question types to answer because the graphic will contain lots of clues as to the missing words, especially in the labels already present.
As well as the plan, map or diagram, you may also be given a list of words from which to choose the correct answers. This is the case in the sample plan below. In this question, the speaker is the librarian of a new town library talking to a group of people who are visiting the library.
Many students find these one of the easiest question types to answer because the graphic will contain lots of clues as to the missing words, especially in the labels already present.
As well as the plan, map or diagram, you may also be given a list of words from which to choose the correct answers. This is the case in the sample plan below. In this question, the speaker is the librarian of a new town library talking to a group of people who are visiting the library.
🔟👉A flowchart shows the steps of a process. The process will have a start and an end with several steps in between.
It could be about almost anything that can be broken down into stages, for example, the outline of a lecture or essay, an application process, the stages of a training course or a short manufacturing process.
The graphic in this sample question shows the 3 stages of a project to design a water treatment system. It’s a Section 3 question so the recording will be a conversation between up to four people set in an educational or training context. In this case, the conversation is between a peer tutor and an engineering student who needs help with their project.
It could be about almost anything that can be broken down into stages, for example, the outline of a lecture or essay, an application process, the stages of a training course or a short manufacturing process.
The graphic in this sample question shows the 3 stages of a project to design a water treatment system. It’s a Section 3 question so the recording will be a conversation between up to four people set in an educational or training context. In this case, the conversation is between a peer tutor and an engineering student who needs help with their project.