Four recordings, forty questions, thirty minutes. The same format in both Academic and General Training.
The IELTS Listening test lasts about 30 minutes, plus 10 minutes to transfer your answers in the paper test. You listen to four recordings of native English speakers and answer 40 questions. The recordings move from everyday social contexts to academic ones, and they get progressively harder. Crucially, you hear each recording only once.
A conversation between two people in an everyday social context, such as booking accommodation or asking about an event. This is the easiest section and often involves filling in a form with names, numbers, dates, and addresses.
A single speaker talking about a non-academic topic, such as a talk about local facilities or a guided tour. You may match items, label a map, or complete sentences.
A conversation between up to four people in an educational context, such as students discussing an assignment with a tutor. The vocabulary and ideas become more complex here.
A monologue on an academic subject, like a university lecture. This is the most challenging section, delivered without breaks, so sustained concentration is essential.
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