IELTS Listening Sections 1–4
The IELTS Listening test has four sections. Each section becomes more difficult. You must understand everyday English, public information and academic English.
- Section 1 – everyday conversation between two speakers
- Section 2 – everyday monologue by one speaker
- Section 3 – academic discussion with two or more speakers
- Section 4 – academic lecture by one speaker
Section 1
Section 1 usually includes a conversation in an everyday situation. This may be about booking a course, renting a room, asking for information or making arrangements.
- 2 speakers
- everyday situation
- basic facts and details
- common question types: form completion, notes, short answers
Section 2
Section 2 usually includes one speaker giving information in a general social context. This could be a museum talk, a tour guide, a public announcement or information about services.
- 1 speaker
- general public topic
- practical information
- common question types: multiple choice, map labeling, note completion
Section 3
Section 3 usually includes a discussion in an academic or training context. You may hear two students and a tutor talking about an assignment, project or course.
- 2 or more speakers
- education or training context
- opinions, discussion and planning
- common question types: matching, multiple choice, sentence completion
Section 4
Section 4 usually includes one speaker giving an academic lecture. This section is often the most difficult because the language is more formal and the ideas are more complex.
- 1 speaker
- academic topic
- detailed explanation and examples
- common question types: notes, table completion, summary completion
IELTS Listening Difficulty by Section
- Section 1 – easiest
- Section 2 – easy to medium
- Section 3 – medium to difficult
- Section 4 – most difficult
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