IELTS listening syllabus
Listening is the same paper in IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training. Forty questions across four parts in about 30 minutes, ten questions in each part, every question worth one mark. The IELTS Academic syllabus hub page covers the other three modules.
Pattern
| Part | What you hear | Questions | Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| Part 1 | A conversation between two speakers | 10 | Everyday social |
| Part 2 | A monologue | 10 | Everyday social |
| Part 3 | A conversation between up to four speakers | 10 | Educational or training |
| Part 4 | A monologue | 10 | Academic |
The recording plays once only. There is no negative marking, so an unanswered question is simply a mark given away. On paper based tests you get an extra 10 minutes at the end to transfer answers to the answer sheet.
Difficulty rises across the four parts. Part 1 is usually a form or booking conversation with names, dates and numbers. Part 4 is a lecture extract with no second speaker to slow it down or repeat anything.
Even if $9 invested today doubled in five years...
$9 spent on mocks today could change what you’re earning in five years.
IELTS Academic Pro · one year of access.
Question types
- Multiple choice: one answer from three options, or several answers from a longer list
- Matching: linking items in the recording to a set of options
- Plan, map and diagram labelling: following directions or a described layout
- Form, note, table and flow chart completion: filling gaps with words or numbers from the recording
- Sentence completion: completing a sentence within a word limit
- Short answer questions: answering within a stated word limit
Completion tasks carry a word limit stated on the paper, usually one, two or three words and a number. Going over the limit scores zero even when the meaning is right, which is the most common avoidable loss in this module.
What is not in the syllabus
- No repeated recordings. Everything plays once
- No subject knowledge. The academic content in Part 4 is written to be followed by a non specialist
- No negative marking
- No accent restriction. A range of native speaker accents is used, including British, Australian, North American and New Zealand
- No spoken response. Listening is written answers only
How to spend the time
Use the preparation seconds before each part to read the questions and underline what kind of answer each gap needs. A gap that must take a number, a date or a plural noun narrows what you are listening for, and that prediction is most of the technique.
Spelling counts. A correctly heard answer spelled wrong scores nothing, so practise the spellings that recur in Part 1: street names, days, months and common surnames spelled out letter by letter.
Part 4 needs separate practice because it has no conversational pauses. Lecture extracts and podcast segments at natural speed build the stamina for it. Browse the available IELTS Academic practice papers.
Common mistakes
- Writing more words than the stated limit, which scores zero
- Waiting for a repeat that never comes, and losing the next two questions while doing so
- Reading the questions for the current part instead of the next one during transfer pauses
- Writing an answer in the wrong gap and shifting every answer after it
- Spelling the right answer wrongly
- Leaving a blank, when a guess costs nothing
Part 1 against Part 4
| Feature | Part 1 | Part 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Speakers | Two, in conversation | One, in monologue |
| Context | Everyday social | Academic |
| Typical content | Bookings, enquiries, forms | A lecture extract |
| Common question type | Form and note completion | Note completion and multiple choice |
| Natural pauses | Frequent | Few |
| Questions | 10 | 10 |
Frequently asked questions
How many questions are in IELTS Listening?
Forty, split evenly across four parts, each worth one mark.
How long is the Listening module?
About 30 minutes. Paper based tests add 10 minutes to transfer answers to the answer sheet.
Does the recording play more than once?
No. It plays once only.
Is Listening the same in Academic and General Training?
Yes. Listening and Speaking are identical in both versions.
Does spelling matter in IELTS Listening?
Yes. A misspelled answer is marked wrong even when you clearly heard it correctly.
What accents are used?
A range of native speaker accents, including British, Australian, North American and New Zealand.
Is there negative marking?
No. Nothing is deducted for a wrong answer, so every question should be attempted.
What happens if I exceed the word limit?
The answer scores zero, even if the content is correct.
Which part is hardest?
Part 4 for most candidates. It is a single speaker on an academic topic with few natural pauses and no second voice to clarify anything.
Can I write in capitals?
Yes, and many candidates do on paper to avoid handwriting being misread. It makes no difference to the mark.