IELTS Listening
IELTS Listening Overview
IELTS Listening lasts about 30 minutes and has 40 questions across four recorded parts. This lesson explains the structure, the accents you will hear and how raw scores convert to bands.
The four parts
| Part | Context | Speakers |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Everyday conversation (e.g. booking, enquiry) | Two people |
| 2 | Everyday monologue (e.g. a talk about facilities) | One person |
| 3 | Academic conversation (e.g. students + tutor) | Up to four people |
| 4 | Academic lecture | One person |
The recording is played once only. Difficulty increases from Part 1 to Part 4, and you hear a range of native accents including British, Australian, North American and New Zealand.
Scoring
Each correct answer scores one mark out of 40. Roughly 30/40 corresponds to band 7 and 23/40 to band 6, though exact conversions vary slightly by test.
On paper-based IELTS you get 10 extra minutes to copy answers onto the answer sheet. On computer-delivered IELTS you type as you go and get 2 minutes to check.
Test yourself with our free IELTS practice questions and instant scoring.
Take test →Frequently Asked Questions
Is the IELTS Listening recording played twice?+
No — you hear it only once, so you must catch answers the first time. Reading the questions ahead in the pauses is essential.
How many marks do I need for band 7 in Listening?+
Around 30 out of 40 correct answers typically gives a band 7, though the exact boundary can shift a little between tests.