A detailed explanation of the IELTS Listening Section

IELTS (International English Language Testing System), a universal English proficiency test widely popular among non-native English speakers. This test is usually taken by the candidates who intended to study, work or migrate in the countries where English is used as the language of communication and this test as a sole requirement. In this article, we will give an in-depth information about the IELTS Listening Section.

Since 1989, IELTS is one of the major English language test which is only possible by the joint efforts of British Council, IDP: IELTS Australia and Cambridge English Language Assessment.

This test is accepted as an exclusive evidence of your linguistic skills by over 9000 organizations in more than 135 countries. Adding to its global acceptance and to its undeniable popularity, do you think it’s easy to crack this nut? Trust me, nothing is unchallenging until we try to make it one.

If you want to know why you should take the IELTS Exam, it’s here.

To begin this ride, it’s important for us to get familiar with our destination i.e. IELTS Exam here.

Types of IELTS test

Depending upon the purpose of interest to take this IELTS test, the exam is further categorized into IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training.

 1.IELTS Academic Test

This exam is suitable for students who want to pursue a bachelor or postgraduate degree programme or the ones who are seeking professional registration in the UK.

2. IELTS General Training

This exam is taken by ones who are either planning to study, work or train in an English native land like Australia, Canada, New Zealand or the U.K. Before considering any of the ones, you just need to find out which of the two will meet up to your personal, professional and educational goals.

IELTS: Test of four skills

Being a tasked based test, IELTS test not only analyses your reading or writing skills but listening and speaking too.

So, here we get to know about the four wheels of the cart i.e. IELTS TEST

• Listening 

• Reading

• Writing 

• Speaking

To reach the destination successfully, you should be well aware of every individual part of your cart.  Now let me introduce you with each and every detail of our first testing skill i.e.Listening IELTS Module. 

IELTS Listening Module

This is a 40 minutes evaluation in which 30 minutes are for testing and 10 minutes are for transferring the answers to an answer sheet. These life-changing 40 minutes of your life comprises of four sections. 

The first two sections of the IELTS Listening module are concerned with a usual situation at your university or at your workplace.

Whereas the third and fourth sections are going to be outlined on general interest then whatever subject you are choosing to study or the work you intend to do, hardly matters.

Sections	Context	Number of Speakers
1.	Social Needs	Conversation between two speakers
2.	Social Needs	Speech by one speaker
3.	Educational or training	Conversation between two to four speakers
4.	Academic Subject	Speech by one speaker

 Section 1: IELTS Listening Module

In this very first section of the IELTS Listening Module, there is a conversation between two speakers.

For example –

A conversation about travel arrangements, hostel accommodation or booking accommodation.

Section 2: IELTS Listening Module

In this second of the IELTS listening module, there is a monologue.

For example –

A speech about regional facilities, or a speech about students welfare in a university campus.

Section 3: IELTS Listening Module

In this third section of the IELTS Listening Module, there is a conversation between two to four people.

For example –

A conversation between two university fellows followed by a professor. A conversation between three students planning a research project.

Section 4: IELTS Listening Module

In this final and last part of the IELTS listening module, there is a monologue about an academic subject.

For example:

Lecture at the university campus.

At the beginning of each section, there is a short description which tells you about the situation and the speakers. Then some time will be given to go through the questions. Questions will be in the same consecutive order as the information is in the recording.

Fortunately, in the recording of this IELTS Listening module, the variations and dialects used are in the exact same manner as they are presented in the test material. Then there is a break in the middle of the first three sections giving you the bright opportunity to have a quick look at the remaining questions.

Coming to the completion of this IELTS listening module, you will get wholesome of 10 minutes, in the end, to transfer your answers in the answer sheet. Keep this thing crystal clear in your mind, that every incorrect spelling and grammar will make you lose your marks.

As we already came to know about the minute details of this 40 minutes IELTS listening module. We should also get familiar with the Question types. 

So come, let’s take a quick look at them.

Questions types of IELTS Listening Module

In the series of 40 questions, you will get the following type in your IELTS Listening Module. 

1. Multiple Choice Questions.
2. Short Answer Questions.
3. Sentence Completion.
4. Notes/Summary/Diagram/Flow Chart/ Table Completion.
5. Labelling a diagram which has numbered parts.
6. Classification
7. Matching

On the test papers, you will be provided with instructions on how to answer these questions.

The instructions are written in the most clear and precise way even with the examples so that it’s easy for the candidate to understand and follow the given instructions.

One of them is about the allotment of separate time to read questions and then transfer them to answer sheet. In first 30 minutes, you will have to listen to the recording and when the tape ends, 10 minutes are allotted to you to transfer your answer to an answer sheet.

As we already came to know about the question criteria and the transfer of answers of the IELTS listening module, it’s time to get familiar with the IELTS Scoring Band for listening module.

But first, let’s get to know about what IELTS Band Score in general is.

What is an IELTS Band Score?

The IELTS evaluator ensures about the accurate evaluation by applying the strict criteria that help in reflecting the exact level where your communication or writing skills stand.

It follows a 9-band scoring, though there are no set bars to be called as “failed” or “approved”.

IELTS score ranges between 0-9 (Non- user to expert level).

IELTS Band Score	Skill Level
9	Expert
8	Very Good
7	Good
6	Competent
5	Modest
4	Limited
3	Extremely Limited
2	Intermittent
1	Non User

 

Each of the four skills on which a candidate is evaluated i.e. speaking, reading, writing and listening gets an individual score band which ranges between the same.

IELTS Listening Module Band Score

Your listening module band score will be calculated on the basis of a number of correct answers you have out of 40 questions. For every correct answer, you will be awarded one mark. No negative marking for incorrect answers.

IELTS LISTENING MODULE SCORE

Correct Answers	Band Scores
39-40	09
37-38	8.5
35-36	08
32-34	7.5
30-31	07
26-29	6.5
23-25	06
18-22	5.5
16-17	05
13-15	4.5
11-12	04

 

Now being familiar with the scoring aspects of the IELTS Listening Module, we surely have an idea where we stand. Moreover, how much perfect we already are, there is always a scope to improve. 

Ways to improve your IELTS Listening Module

1. Be Familiar with the Exam

The safest part is when we are already aware of every action that is going to happen in the exam centre or during the exam. Though we love surprises but not every time, I guess. As we have already discussed the every little detail of this listening module.

Still, we can go through the quick examples:

Section	Type of Listening	Example
1	Everyday English Conversation	Want to go for a coffee?
2	Monologue (one person talking about a specific topic)	Benefits of public transports.
3	Conversation of two or four people in an academic setting	The best way to give a presentation in class.
4	Monologue on an academic topic	University Lecture

2. You only Listen Once (YOLO)

So it’s a single chance, take it or leave it. How much you love to hear the recording of each section again, but unfortunately IELTS  won’t give you any chance to hear the recording back. As we are already aware of the facts, it’s good if we make this our strength rather than a weakness.

 How? You can, by holding this saying in your mind, “Practice makes a man perfect” Start with the practice test with Teacher2Students, listen that only once. Get used to it and in a few days, it will help you to sharpen your listening skills. You can also take reference from the British Council for your doubts.

In this article, we get to know about one of the testing skills of IELTS i.e. listening module. From the exams structure to the questions criteria, from sections to the scoring bands. While making an addition in your knowledge, we have discussed everything here.

Hope it has helped you in a better way. Good wishes for your goals!