This is the first section of the IELTS test. Academic and general training candidates must take the same listening test. It consists of four different parts and a total of 40 questions. Part 1 and part 2 are set in a social context. Part 3 and 4 are set in the academic context. The audio features speakers from a variety of English-speaking countries like British, Australia, New Zealand and North American. It is played ONLY ONCE. The listening section takes 30 minutes. An additional 10 minutes is given to transfer responses to the answer sheet. (The extra time is only for Paper-based tests, not for Computer-delivered.)
The candidate’s ability to understand the main ideas and detailed information, the opinions and attitudes of speakers, and the purpose of a word is usually tested. The questions carry 1 mark each and are converted to band scores. The questions are usually paraphrased (different words with similar meanings). Also, while transferring the answer, candidates need to be careful as they will lose marks for incorrect spelling and grammar.
IELTS Listening test is made to assess the listening abilities of a candidate. This module is the same for Academic as well as General IELTS.
| Time | 40 minutes |
| Questions | 40 |
| Sections | 4 |
The Listening module takes 40 minutes: 30 min for testing and 10 min for transferring the answers to the answer sheet. There are 40 questions in the Listening module having 10 questions in each section. Sections get increasingly difficult.
| Part | Audio Description |
| 1 | There is a conversation between two speakers in Part 1 (for example, finding information about travel, a club or a hostel). |
| 2 | A monologue on a general topic with a transactional purpose. (E.g. giving information about events in the community, travel guide giving instructions at a tourist place). |
| 3 | A conversation between two main speakers (for example, two students discussing a project, a student discussing a research paper with a tutor). |
| 4 | A monologue in an academic context (e.g. a lecture). |
The IELTS Listening section contains 40 questions and each correct question is valued at 1 mark (so the maximum a test taker can score here is 40).
Band scores, ranging from band 1 to band 9, are awarded based on the raw scores.
The scores are all between 0 and 9. The scores are calculated by averaging the results of the four sections mentioned above. The scores can range from .5 to 6.5 or 7.5. When a decimal number other than 5 or 0 is used, the score is rounded up or down to the nearest 0.5. For example, 6.1 is rounded down to 6 and 7.75 is rounded up to 8.
Each score has a unique description and is linked to a skill level. For example, a ‘9’ indicates an expert user, while a ‘0’ indicates no attempt. Scores ranging from 9 to 6 indicate that the individual understands the fundamentals of the language, whereas 5 to 0 indicate that the individual has little or no knowledge of the language.
Each band corresponds to a level of English competence. All parts of the test and the Overall Band Score can be reported in whole and half bands, e.g. 6.5, 7.0, 7.5, 8.0.
The IELTS Cut Off generally ranges from 7 to 8 from 9-band Scale.
| Band 9 | Expert User | Has fully operational command of the language: appropriate, accurate and fluent with complete understanding. |
| Band 8 | Very Good User | Has fully operational command of the language with only occasional unsystematic inaccuracies. Misunderstandings may occur in unfamiliar situations. Handles complex detailed argumentation well |
| Band 7 | Good User | Has operational command of the language, though with occasional inaccuracies, inappropriacies and misunderstandings in some situations. Generally handles complex language well and understands detailed reasoning. |
| Band 6 | Competent User | Has generally effective command of the language despite some inaccuracies, inappropriacies and misunderstandings. Can use and understand fairly complex language, particularly in familiar situations. |
| Band 5 | Modest User | Has partial command of the language, coping with overall meaning in most situations, though is likely to make many mistakes. Should be able to handle basic communication in own field. |
| Band 4 | Limited User | Basic competence is limited to familiar situations. Has frequent problems in understanding and expression. Is not able to use complex language. |
| Band 3 | Extremely Limited User | Conveys and understands only general meaning in very familiar situations. Frequent breakdowns in communication occur. |
| Band 2 | Intermittent User | No real communication is possible except for the most basic information using isolated words or short formulae in familiar situations and to meet immediate needs. Has great difficulty understanding spoken and written English |
| Band 1 | Non-User | Essentially has no ability to use the language beyond possibly a few isolated words. |
| Band 0 | Did not attempt the test | No accessible information provided. |
The IELTS listening tips and tricks academic includes 3 main rules of active listening which should be focused on:
IELTS listening scores for universities range from 6.5 to almost 8.5. IELTS listening band score list of top universities help candidates understand the range of score they need to aim for.
| Top Universities | IELTS Listening Score |
| Harvard University | 7.5 |
| MIT | 7.0 |
| California Institute of Technology | 7 (overall) |
| Princeton University | 7 (overall) |
| Yale University | 7 (overall) |
| University of Chicago | 6 |
| University of Pennsylvania | 6.5 minimum |
| John Hopkins University | 7 and above |
| University of Toronto | 6 |
| University of British Columbia | 6 |
| McGill University | 6.5 (overall |
| Oxford University | 7 |
| University of Edinburgh | 7 |
| University College, London | 6.5 |
| University of Cambridge | 7 |
| Imperial College, London | 6.5 |
| King’s College, London | 6.5 |
- Rajat R
- Rajat R
I greatly appreciate my teachers at Manya-The Princeton Review for their teaching methods which helped me in the most practical way. I used to listen to podcasts while commuting which helped me attain a perfect 9 in Listening. The plethora of tips I got from my teachers was of great help in acing my IELTS exam.I got to learn numerous different words that really helped me in the Writing and Speaking sections. I am so grateful to my teachers as they devoted extra time to discuss my mock tests.
- Mehak Chopra
- Mehak Chopra
Being a student at Manya-The Princeton Review has been a great privilege for me and I am really grateful for the support of the faculty members. The faculty at Manya was always there for me and mentored my success in IELTS Exam. I would like to thank my teachers for being supportive throughout and helping me to bring out the best in me!
- Anmoldeep Kaur
- Anmoldeep Kaur
I had joined Manya- The Princeton Review for my GRE and IELTS preparation. I had a great learning experience here. The environment is conducive to learning. The online portal for practice tests and drills proved to be a great help in my preparation journey. The faculty is adept and supportive and I would like to express my sincere gratitude towards them for providing me every possible aid required for my IELTS preparation.
- Esha Hooda
- Esha Hooda
I got 8.5/9 in IELTS. I owe my success to my teachers at Manya Institute and my parents. My dreams have turned into reality due to the unbeatable combo of my hard work, endless guidance, and support. They directed me to the most efficient approach for every question in every section of the test. They are very considerate and welcoming; I never felt inhibited while asking the most stupid questions. I'm extremely grateful to my teachers and my parents for helping me achieve this score.
- Achinth Babu
- Achinth Babu
"I hardly had 9 classes in hand to prepare for my IELTS exam, and I did not expect the classes to be that interactive. My diagnostic tests resulted in a 32/40 in Reading and 36/40 in Listening. With the subsequent tests during the coaching and faculty’s guidance on how to approach my point of errors, I achieved a perfect score in the actual test. Not only did I exceed the expected score of 8.5 band, but also got the exact inputs I was looking for. Thank you Manya - The Princeton Review!".
There are four sections in the IELTS listening test.
It is 30 minutes long. For paper-based test-takers additional 10 minutes is provided to transfer the answers to the answer sheet. Computer test-takers will not have extra time.
Learn the structure of the section, question types and practice using authentic resources.
Practice listening to different types of listening audios and focus on main points.
Follow the instructions carefully and practice listening to accents from a variety of English-speaking countries.
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I am glad that I connected to Manya-Bhubaneswar. They cleared my doubts regarding foreign education and whether I should pursue it or not. I am happy to have been guided from the beginning on SAT & IELTS, team helped me in various aspects whether it was sorting out the final list of universities or filling ... read more >
I am glad that I connected to Manya-Bhubaneswar. They cleared my doubts regarding foreign education and whether I should pursue it or not. I am happy to have been guided from the beginning on SAT & IELTS, team helped me in various aspects whether it was sorting out the final list of universities or filling up an application form. In the end, I got into ASU (USA) – BS Physics with a scholarship, and all this wouldn’t have been possible if my essays weren’t edited properly. They helped me with every step in US Visa processing. I am thankful to team Manya-The Princeton Review for helping me come closer to my dream. I would recommend all Study Abroad aspirants’ approach Manya-Bhubaneswar for Test Prep as well as admissions counseling and for proper guidance.
I was stuck with band 6 in IELTS after joining Manya I was able to achieve band 7. The coaching and the materials were excellent and helped me achieve the desired band.
I was stuck with band 6 in IELTS after joining Manya I was able to achieve band 7. The coaching and the materials were excellent and helped me achieve the desired band.
For IELTS, Geetha Ma'am was extremely helpful with careful analysis of each part of the test. With continuous guidance and personalized feedback, Ma'am trained me within a month and half. With her valuable coaching, I was able to score 8.5 on the IELTS Test. Would definitely recommend students to take up IELTS classes at Manya ... read more >
For IELTS, Geetha Ma’am was extremely helpful with careful analysis of each part of the test. With continuous guidance and personalized feedback, Ma’am trained me within a month and half. With her valuable coaching, I was able to score 8.5 on the IELTS Test. Would definitely recommend students to take up IELTS classes at Manya with Geetha Ma’am.
