IELTS listening

Sheik Mia, June 2026

Highlights

  • Time: IELTS listening section is a 30-minute task, divided into 4 sections.
  • Questions: You will face 40 questions in total in IELTS listening exam.
  • Preparation: IELTS listening practice includes solving sample papers and listening to podcasts regularly.
  • Band Score: The total IELTS listening scoring ranges between 0 to 9, and achieving 7.0 band or higher is considered a good score.

If you are taking IELTS general or academic exam, the listening section consists of the same. IELTS listening test is a 30-minute task to answer 40 questions divided into 4 sections. In IELTS Listening exam Part 1, you will get a conversation between two speakers, and in part 2 only one person speaks which is a monologue. Parts 3 and 4 of IELTS Listening deal with educational and training situations. Regularly taking IELTS listening practice tests will help you to understand the different types of questions. To get an 8.5 band in IELTS listening, you must answer 36 out of 40 questions correctly.

IELTS Listening Practice Test
To practice IELTS Listening, engage in regular listening exercises with diverse English accents, use authentic IELTS practice materials, and focus on improving note-taking skills to enhance your ability to comprehend spoken content. The table below provides a number of IELTS Practice Tests that candidates can use as part of their preparation for the exam. Candidates can take IELTS Listening Practice Test to assess their listening skill development for the exam and improve their proficiency in English language.

IELTS Listening Test Contents
The overview of IELTS listening comprises 4 sections that progressively increase in difficulty, covering a range of spoken materials including conversations, monologues, and academic lectures. IELTS Listening tests a candidate’s ability to understand spoken English in various contexts, including everyday conversations, discussions, lectures, and presentations. There is no difference between the syllabus of IELTS Academic listening and the IELTS General Listening section. 

IELTS Listening Band Score

IELTS listening section is scored based on the number of correct answers provided by the candidates. The section comprises a total of 40 questions and answering all of them correctly can result in a band score of 9. Consistent practice with IELTS listening practice tests can improve your chances of securing a good score. The table below provides a detailed breakdown of IELTS Scoring in detail. Scoring 30 out of 40 in IELTS Listening test reflects a commendable performance, indicating a strong ability to comprehend spoken English across various contexts.

Correct AnswersIELTS Academic band scoreCorrect AnswersIELTS General Training Band score
40-399409
38-378.5398.5
36-35837-388
34-337.5367.5
32-30734-357
29-276.532-336.5
26-23630-316
22-195.527-295.5
18-15523-265
14-134.519-224.5
12-10415-184
9-83.512-143.5
7-639-113
5-42.56-82.5

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