The IELTS is a standard exam to assess the candidate’s fluency in the English language. The assessment is widely recognised as proof of English proficiency in over 11,000 educational institutions across the globe. The IELTS exam contains four sections that analyse and determine the fundamental language skills of the candidate. Your performance is evaluated, and the assessment provides your scores in bands. Let’s look in detail at the IELTS listening band score.
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IELTS listening section: An overview
| IELTS full form | International English Language Testing System |
| Conducted by | British Council, IDP Education and Cambridge Assessment English |
| No. of parts in the listening section | 4 |
| No. of questions in each listening part | 10 |
| Total no. of questions | 40 |
| Total raw score | 40 |
| IELTS listening band score range | 0-9 |
| Duration (in minutes) | 30 |
| Is the syllabus the same for IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training? | Yes |
Data updated as of June 2023
Table of Contents
- IELTS letter writing samples for task 1: Key highlights
- IELTS General Training: An overview
- IELTS General writing task 1
- IELTS letter writing samples
- IELTS letter writing sample 1
- IELTS letter writing sample 2
- IELTS letter writing sample 3
- IELTS letter writing sample 4
- IELTS letter writing sample 5
- Pro tips to prepare for the IELTS letter writing task
- Frequently asked questions
IELTS listening section: Key takeaways
Total no. of questions: 40
Total duration: 30 minutes
- The IELTS listening section consists of 40 questions split into four parts. The exam is adaptive; that is, the difficulty level of the assessment depends on your performance.
- The section consists of four pre-recorded monologues or conversations you should listen to before answering the questions. The tasks are the same for the IELTS Academic and General Training versions.
- The voices in the recordings can have different accents, like British, American, Canadian, Australian, and New Zealand. You can listen to the recordings only once, so ensure to take note down the key points for answering the questions.
Also read: IELTS Exam Syllabus 2023
IELTS listening section syllabus 2023
The IELTS listening section determines your ability to listen and understand the ideas and opinions in the conversation. It is essential to improve your listening skills and understand the tasks you likely encounter during the exam.
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Questions to expect in the IELTS listening section
Sentence completion
The question contains sentences that summarise the recording. You must fill the gap with the appropriate word, number, or phrase from the listening text. Sentence completion tasks identify your ability to determine the critical information from the audio.
Short answer questions
You should write a short answer relevant to the information obtained from the listening text. Stick to the word limit and other essential requirements while answering the questions.
Matching sentence endings
The questions require you to match a list of sentences with the correct options based on the audio. Matching determines your ability to understand and implement the information in the listening text.
Plan, map, or diagram labelling
Based on the listening text, you should fill in the missing answers in a diagram, map, or plan. This task evaluates your ability to represent visual data from the given audio.
Multiple choice questions (MCQs)
You should choose the correct option from the given list of possible answers. MCQs analyse your ability to acquire detailed knowledge and understand the overall idea of the audio.
Form, note, table, flowchart, or summary completion
You should complete the missing components with words or numbers you hear in the listening text. The questions can be a form, a note, a table, a flowchart, or a summary based on the listening text.
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Recordings to expect in the IELTS listening section
- A conversation between two people (a discussion about weather or travel)
- A monologue (a speech about a local region)
- A monologue on an academic topic (a lecture)
- A conversation between a group of people (a discussion about a project between a professor and students)
Also read: 7 quick IELTS tricks and tips to score high
IELTS listening band score
The IELTS listening section contains 40 questions, where each question carries one mark. This score is known as the raw score. The final result converts the raw score into a nine-band scale.
IELTS listening band score
| Raw score (out of 40) | Band score |
| 39-40 | 9.0 |
| 37-38 | 8.5 |
| 35-36 | 8.0 |
| 32-34 | 7.5 |
| 30-31 | 7.0 |
| 26-29 | 6.5 |
| 23-25 | 6.0 |
| 18-22 | 5.5 |
| 16-17 | 5.0 |
| 13-15 | 4.5 |
| 11-12 | 4.0 |
Data updated as of June 2023
IELTS listening band score: What do they mean?
| IELTS band score | Score description |
| 9 | Expert user Candidate has full operational command and is fluent in the language |
| 8 | Very good user Candidate is fluent in the language except for the occasional inaccuracies |
| 7 | Good user Candidate can handle complex situations but cannot understand concepts in some situations |
| 6 | Competent user Candidate has effective command of the language and can understand some reasonably complex concepts |
| 5 | Modest user Candidate has partial command of the language but makes mistakes while expressing ideas |
| 4 | Limited user Candidate has basic competence and finds it difficult to use complex language |
| 3 | Extremely limited user Candidate can only understand and express general concepts |
| 2 | Intermittent user Candidate can only express basic words, phrases and information in familiar situations |
| 1 | Non-user Candidate has no command of the language except for a very few words and phrases |
| 0 | Did not attempt the test |
Data updated as of June 2023
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Best tips to prepare for the IELTS listening section
- Listen to and familiarise yourself with different accents: The IELTS listening section includes various accents, like British, American, Australian, or Canadian. Practice listening to recordings in different accents to develop your understanding and improve your listening skills.
- Practice listening: Make sure to listen to audio materials. Ensure to focus on understanding the main ideas and details, and take notes while listening. This will help you stay focused and understand the audio more effectively.
- Enhance your vocabulary: Reading English texts, listening to English podcasts or videos, and using vocabulary-building resources can improve your vocabulary to a great extent.
- Practice with test materials: Familiarise yourself with the IELTS listening section by practising with sample tests. You can find official IELTS practice materials or online test resources to prepare for the assessment.
Also read: How to crack IELTS in 3 months: Tips and strategies
Sign up now to achieve a Score of 6 or higher with our free IELTS Masterclass!
Frequently asked questions
What is 30 out of 40 in IELTS listening?
A raw score of 30 on the IELTS listening test is equivalent to a band score of 7.0.
What is 37 out of 40 in IELTS listening?
An IELTS listening score of 37 will give you a band score of 8.5.
How can I improve my listening in IELTS?
Here are some of the best tips to improve and prepare for your IELTS listening test.
- Listen to and familiarise yourself with different accents
- Practice listening
- Enhance your vocabulary
- Practice with test materials
Is IELTS listening fast?
The listening texts in the IELTS exam can sometimes be fast, and some candidates find it difficult to understand and note down the key ideas and details. So ensure that you prepare well with enough practice for the listening test.
Why is listening difficult in IELTS?
Candidates might find the IELTS listening section difficult due to various reasons. Exposure to different accents and complex and fast speech can be challenging, but with enough preparation and practice, one can ace the exam in no time.
