The Listening section of the IELTS exam pattern is structured to evaluate a candidate’s ability to understand spoken English in various accents and settings. Here is a detailed breakdown:
Structure:
The section includes four recordings:
Recording 1: A conversation between two speakers in a social context (e.g., discussing travel arrangements).
Recording 2: A monologue set in a social setting (e.g., a speech about local facilities).
Recording 3: A conversation involving up to four speakers in an academic context (e.g., a university discussion).
Recording 4: A monologue on an academic subject (e.g., a lecture on biology).
Question Types:
Multiple-choice questions to test comprehension of key points.
Matching tasks to identify relationships between concepts.
Sentence completion, requiring an understanding of specific details.
Short-answer questions to assess the ability to extract and synthesize information.
Time Allocation:
The Listening section lasts 30 minutes, followed by 10 minutes for transferring answers to the answer sheet.
Skills Tested:
The section evaluates the ability to grasp main ideas, detailed information, and implicit meaning.
It ensures exposure to diverse accents, including British, American, and Australian English.