IELTS Test Components / Modules - Listening

Listening

Timing: Approximately 30 minutes (plus 10 minutes’ transfer time)

Questions: There are 40 questions
A variety of question types is used, chosen from the following: multiple choice, matching, plan/map/diagram labeling, form completion, note completion, table completion, flow-chart completion, summary completion, sentence completion, short-answer questions

Test Parts: There are 4 sections

Section 1 is a conversation between two people set in an everyday social context (e.g. a conversation in an accommodation agency)

Section 2 is a monologue set in an everyday social context (e.g. a speech about local facilities or a talk about the arrangements for meals during a conference)

Section 3 is a conversation between up to four people set in an educational or training context (e.g. a university tutor and a student discussing an assignment, or a group of students planning a research project)

Section 4 is a monologue on an academic subject (e.g. a university lecture)

Each section is heard once only

A variety of voices and native-speaker accents is used

Skills assessed: A wide range of listening skills is assessed, including understanding of main ideas and specific factual information; recognising opinions, attitudes and purpose of a speaker; and following the development of an argument

Marking: Each correct answer receives 1 mark

Scores out of 40 are converted to the IELTS 9-band scale

Scores are reported in whole and half bands

IELTS Test Results

The Test Report Form

After appearing in the exam, you will receive a Test Report Form which reports a score for each of the four skills (listening, reading,writing and speaking), as well as an overall band score. Half band scores may be awarded to indicate a strong performance within a particular band. You can find more information on score processing and score interpretation at www.ielts.org/researchers/score_processing_and_reporting.aspx

IELTS exam results are usually issued 13 days after the test. At some test centers candidates may collect their results on the 13th day; at others, results are mailed on the 13th day. Test centers are not permitted to give results over the phone or by fax or email. You will receive only one copy of the Test Report Form. It’s important that you keep it safe as replacement Test Report Forms cannot be issued. Test centers will send copies of the Test Report Form to up to five recognizing organisations free of charge.

Test Report Form validity 

Recognizing organisations will not usually accept a Test Report Form that is more than two years old unless you provide evidence that you have actively maintained or tried to improve your English since taking the test. The IELTS Test Partners cannot confirm the validity of test results that are more than two years old.

Re-taking IELTS

There are no restrictions on re-taking IELTS. If you do not get the result you wanted, you can register for another test as soon as you feel you are ready to do so. Please note that your score is unlikely to increase unless you make a significant effort to improve your English before re-taking the test.

Enquiries on Results

If you are unhappy with your test result, you can apply for a re-mark (Enquiry on Results) at the center where you took the test. You must make the application no later than six weeks after the test date. You can choose which test components are re-marked. There is a fee for this service which will be refunded if your score on any component is increased. Enquiries on Results take six to eight weeks to complete.

IELTS Test Format

There are two modules to choose from – Academic and General Training.

Each recognizing organisation sets its own entry requirements. In some cases both modules may be accepted. If you are in doubt as to which module to take, you should contact the organisation you are applying to in order to check their requirements.

Both modules cover all four language skills – listening, reading, writing and speaking. Everyone takes the same Listening and Speaking tests. There are different Reading and Writing tests for the Academic and General Training modules.

The Listening, Reading and Writing tests must be completed on the same day. There are no breaks between the three written tests. The Speaking test may be taken up to seven days before or after the other three tests.

What is IELTS?

• IELTS is the International English Language Testing System
• It is designed to assess the English language ability of people who intend to study, work or Immigrate where English is the language of communication.

IELTS is recognized by more than 6,000 organisations worldwide, including colleges, universities, employers, professional bodies, immigration authorities and many other government agencies. For a list of organisations that accept IELTS scores, visit http://bandscore.ielts.org

IELTS is designed to assess English language skills at all levels. There is no such thing as a pass or fail in IELTS. Results are reported as band scores on a scale from 1 (the lowest) to 9 (the highest).