Both modules
IELTS listening practice test 1
Full audio, four sections, answers and a band score. The listening test is the same in both IELTS modules.
This is a complete IELTS listening practice test with the audio, the questions and the answers. The listening test is identical in the Academic and General Training modules, so this applies whichever one you are sitting.
Play the recording once and answer as you go. In the real test there is no pause and no replay, and you get ten minutes at the end on paper, or two minutes on the computer test, to transfer your answers. Every question explains itself once you answer, and the full transcript is at the bottom of the page if you want to check what you missed.
Play once, and keep going even if you miss an answer. The real test does not pause.
The questions
IELTS listening practice test 1: questions 1 to 38
Questions 1-5: Complete the notes below. Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer.
Questions 1 to 5
Eastville Community Classes
Classes offered:
Language classes, a settlement support programme, and __________
Example Answer a mentoring programme
The new programme will start 1..
The woman arrived in the country 2. ago.
The Settlement Support Programme lasts for 3. weeks.
Students need to attend the Settlement Support Programme 4. days a week.
The discounted price for the handbook is 5. ₤.
Questions 6-10: Multiple Choice Choose the correct answer (A, B, or C).
6
The correct answer is B. 15 . The question asks how many mentors there are, so listening for a number linked to staff or team members helps identify it.
7
The correct answer is B. 4. Each mentor sees 4 clients per week according to the details provided in the conversation. In the IELTS test, you should always take a guess. You don't lose points for a wrong answer.
8
The correct answer is B. 3rd October. Although there's a course on 26th September, it's already fully booked, so the next available course is 3rd October. In the IELTS test, you should always take a guess. You don't lose points for a wrong answer.
Label the map below by selecting the correct option A-D.
9
The correct answer is B - Lakeside View building
10
The answer is A - Technical college
Questions 11-14: Complete the sentences below. Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS.
Questions 11 to 14
Gorgona Island housed a maximum security prison until (11.).
The island is also known as Science Island because of the (12.) the coral environment presents.
White-sand beaches are located on the (13.) of Gorgona Island.
The vegetation around the prison buildings provides a (14.) for wildlife observation.
Questions 15-16: Choose TWO letters A-E.
15
The correct answers are B and D. Visitors must not take prohibited items to the island (such as electrical appliances, alcoholic beverages, sprays and contaminants, arms, and articles for hunting or capturing animals), and they must meet medical requirements (getting vaccinated against yellow fever, tetanus, and hepatitis B at least 10 days before arriving). In the IELTS test, you should always take a guess. You don't lose points for a wrong answer.
Questions 17-20: Choose the correct letter A, B or C. 17. On Gorgona Island there are.....
16
The correct answer is C. more types of marine species than insects. The recording states there are over 100 insect species but more than 500 species of marine fauna on Gorgona Island. In the IELTS test, you should always take a guess. You don't lose points for a wrong answer.
17
The correct answer is B. can reliably be seen during mating season. The recording states that with more than 1000 humpback whales arriving during mating and calving season, tourists need not be concerned their whale-watching trip will be unsuccessful. In the IELTS test, you should always take a guess. You don't lose points for a wrong answer.
18
The correct answer is B. 12 hours. The recording clearly states that the boat ride from Buenaventura takes 12 hours. In the IELTS test, you should always take a guess. You don't lose points for a wrong answer.
19
The correct answer is C. one tourism operator was given control. In 2009, the government decided to give a private company sole control over all tourism on Gorgona Island, which resulted in exponential price increases. In the IELTS test, you should always take a guess. You don't lose points for a wrong answer.
Questions 21-25: Answer the following questions using NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER.
Questions 20 to 24
Changes in New Zealand Family Structures21. A divorce rate of slightly below what has been recorded for couples who married in 1970 in New Zealand?
22. Types of family and what have been changing since the 1960s?
23. What has dropped significantly since the 1960s?
24. What type of household was at 23% in 2006 and is expected to reach 26% in 2021?
25. What percentage of households do not have children?
Questions 26-27: Choose the correct letter A, B or C.
25
The correct answer is B. So they can gain other life experiences first. Speaker 1 says younger people appreciate a few years of freedom with no family commitments and mentions mobility, work and travel experiences that are difficult with children. In the IELTS test, you should always take a guess. You don't lose points for a wrong answer.
26
The correct answer is C. Their families live in different places. Speaker 2 states that families are spread geographically or children work so much they aren't able to give elderly parents the time they need. In the IELTS test, you should always take a guess. You don't lose points for a wrong answer.
Choose the correct answer A–D.
27
The programme explains that the decline of the traditional family structure is mainly due to greater acceptance of alternative family forms. The correct answer is B.
28
The programme says technology may reduce sociability and the sense of community because people communicate online instead of speaking directly. The correct answer is C.
29
Speaker 2 explains that email is cheaper and much quicker than calling. The correct answer is B.
Questions 31-34: Complete the sentences below. Use NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer. Factors Affecting Elections
Questions 30 to 33
General elections in the UK are not held on (31.) but must be held within 5 years.
Voter turnout is the percentage of (32.) voters who vote in an election.
Voter turnout is usually just over 80% in (33.).
Voter turnout is getting lower in the United States, Western Europe, Japan and (34.).
Questions 35-36: Choose TWO letters A-E.
34
The correct answers are B and D. Wealth (income) is mentioned as having an independent effect - richer people are more likely to vote than poor people. Marital status is also a factor - the lecture states that single people are less likely to vote than married people. In the IELTS test, you should always take a guess. You don't lose points for a wrong answer.
Questions 37-40: Complete the table below. Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS for each answer. Voter Apathy
Questions 35 to 38
| Voter apathy (lack of caring) | ||
| Apathy increases (fewer people vote) if… | Apathy decreases (more people vote) if… | |
| Voter opinion on political parties and candidates | If there is no trust or expectation that things will change. | Candidates can inspire (37.). |
| Voter concern about election campaign issues | Outcome seems inevitable and/or election topics are not of (38.) to voters. | Topics that affect an individual’s life provide motivation to vote. |
| Voter fatigue (tiredness) | Elections are too close together. Example: Canada (2004, 2006, 2008) | Elections spaced out |
| Other practical issues | (39.) and/or complicated voting processes reduces turnout | Simple voting processes |
| Ballot fatigue | Ballot papers are too complicated and require voters to have too much patience and/or (40.) | Ballot papers are more user-friendly |
Your result
Your band score for this listening test
Answer the questions to see your score out of 38.
Your approximate band appears once you have answered everything.
Band boundaries vary slightly between test versions. A test taken at home, where you can pause the recording, also flatters, so plan for a little less on the day.
| Correct answers | Approximate band |
|---|---|
| 39+ | Band 9 |
| 37+ | Band 8.5 |
| 35+ | Band 8 |
| 32+ | Band 7.5 |
| 30+ | Band 7 |
| 26+ | Band 6.5 |
| 23+ | Band 6 |
| 18+ | Band 5.5 |
| 16+ | Band 5 |
Reading and listening convert from a raw score. Writing and speaking do not: they are judged against four criteria, which is why no calculator can estimate them.
Missed answers you could not find again?
That is what the transcript below is for. Read the part you missed and work out whether it was the vocabulary, the speed, or a paraphrase you did not recognise. Those need different fixes.
The complete IELTS course on IELTStestONLINE has lessons on every listening question type, more full tests, and a support tutor. Take a look at the complete course
Show the full transcript
Section 1
Telephone Operator: Good morning. Eastville Council. How can I help you?
Woman: Hello, I understand you offer a number of community classes to new migrants. I was wondering if it would be possible to enrol?
Telephone Operator: Yes, we do. We run language classes of course, a settlement support programme, and we also offer a new mentoring programme which we're actually trialling for three months starting next week. Can I ask, are you a permanent resident?
Woman: Yes, I am.
Telephone Operator: That's no problem then. You must be a permanent resident to enrol in any of our courses, you see. So, which course are you interested in?
Woman: Well, I am interested in the settlement support programme and the mentoring programme. I am finding it difficult to get a job interview, you see. I arrived in the country two months ago. My husband works full-time, but I am looking for work too. Just a part-time job to start with as we have two young children. I'm not sure which course would suit me best. Could you give me some more information about those, please?
Telephone Operator: Well, the Settlement Support Programme is three weeks long, and students need to attend class four days a week. The focus is on settling into work in a new country, so we provide help with searching for jobs, enrolling with employment agencies, writing a CV, and writing application letters.
Woman: That does sound interesting. I think that would be a lot of use to me. Is the course completely free? Do I need to pay for textbooks or anything like that?
Telephone Operator: For the Settlement Support Programme, we do recommend that students buy a handbook that accompanies the course. It's not compulsory to buy, but it only costs ₤10.99 if you buy direct from the bookstore, so we do recommend that you purchase your own copy if you are able to. We can place a bulk order for the book at the beginning of the course, and students only pay ₤7.95 if they order early enough to qualify for the discount.
Woman: Okay. And how about the Mentoring Programme? Could you tell me a little more about that, please?
Telephone Operator: Well, these are one-to-one sessions instead of a group class. They run for two weeks with two one-hour sessions each week. The idea is that if you are having any specific difficulties settling into your new life, be that work or social issues, your mentor can talk with you and give suggestions and advice on how to make things better.
We currently have 15 mentors on the team, and each will mentor four clients per week. The mentor programme is free, but we suggest people join the Settlement Support Programme first, then enrol on a Mentoring Programme afterwards if they still feel in need of additional support.
Woman: Okay, I understand. Thank you. So, what do I need to do about enrolling on the Settlement Support Programme? I'd like to enrol as soon as I can.
Telephone Operator: Well, you will need to come into our office and fill out an application form. Make sure that you bring your passport with you to confirm your residency, and we will also need two additional passport photographs: one for our records and one for your student ID card.
Woman: Okay. I'll come in this afternoon. So, when does the next course start?
Telephone Operator: The next course starts next Monday, on the 26th September, but that one is already fully booked. We have new courses starting each week, so the next with an available place is on the 3rd October.
Woman: Okay. Well, thanks very much for your help. It sounds like the Settlement Support Programme is ideal for me, and I'll think later about whether to apply for Mentor Support. I'll come in very soon. Can you just remind me where the office is?
Telephone Operator: Yes, we're on the 2nd floor of the Lakeside View building on St James Plaza. We are in the tall white building next to the technical college. We're very easy to find, and there are plenty of places to park in the public car park just to the left of the building. Don't use the car park at the front though, as those spaces are reserved for staff.
Woman: That's great! Thank you very much for all your help. Looking forward to meeting you when I come in later today.
Telephone Operator: You're very welcome. Glad I could help.
Section 2
Section 2 Once the home of a maximum security prison, Gorgona Island, a small 25 km² island in the Colombian Pacific, is now home to a natural paradise and has become an important centre for eco-tourism and fauna and flora research. From the 1950s and for around 30 years, this landmass in the Pacific was a maximum security prison —Colombia's Alcatraz some might say. The 56km of rough, shark-infested waters and its venomous snakes arguably making it the ideal place to house the most violent criminals of the time, as these hazards usually put an end to any hope of escape. The prison was operational until 1985 when the penal facility was closed and Gorgona Island was declared a natural national park by the Colombian Government, UNESCO having recognised the island a World Heritage Site in the previous year, 1984. Gorgona Island is known as the 'Science Island' due to its coral reef and tropical rainforest ecosystems and the research possibilities they present. The island was originally discovered in 1524 by Diego de Almagro, who gave Gorgona Island its name due to the large number of reptiles and the association with the Gorgons from Greek mythology – 'woman-demons with the hair of snakes'. Gorgona Island is home to a wealth of native plant and animal species in its rainforests. On its eastern side, the island also boasts some of the finest white-sand beaches in Colombia, while the west coast is made up of cliffs. There are also several hills on the island, the tallest being La Trinidad which peaks at 388 meters. While the prison buildings remain, they are now overgrown with dense vegetation and provide a perfect environment in which to observe all kinds of wildlife such as monkeys swinging through the vines. In order to preserve the environment, visitors who travel to Gorgona Island are strictly supervised, are limited to groups of 80 at a time, and are also prohibited from wandering too far away from the coastline. Especially during high season, it is advised that reservations are made one or two months in advance in order to avoid disappointment as visitor quotas are staunchly upheld and quickly filled. Tourists are required to strictly follow the rules of the Natural Park at all times to preserve the flora and fauna on the island. Electrical appliances such as stoves and hair dryers, alcoholic beverages, sprays and other contaminants, arms, and articles for hunting or capturing animals are banned and must not be brought to the island. No non-biodegradable rubbish must be left behind. Any organic waste should be placed in special containers found in the park for collection by rangers. Visitors are also required get vaccinated against yellow fever, tetanus, and hepatitis B at least 10 days before arriving on the island (vaccination certificates must be shown on entrance to the park). In the interests of their own safety, while not compulsory, visitors are also strongly recommended to take a first aid kit that includes multipurpose snake anti-venom and medicine for diarrhoea, along with rubber boots, a change of clothes, and sun block. Absolutely strictly forbidden is the collecting of shells, coral or other mineral material from the protected area and the taking of any seeds, plants or animals, all of which could have catastrophic effect on the island's ecosystem. The terrestrial animal population on Gorgona Island includes sloths, blue lizards, fresh water turtles, snakes, and babilla alligators. There are 147 bird species, over 100 insect species, and more than 500 species of marine fauna. There are also hundreds of species of marine and terrestrial plant life on Gorgona Island. The sea around Gorgona Island has the most developed and diverse coral bank in the Eastern Tropical Pacific Ocean, which is also the largest in the country's Pacific region. The island's surrounding waters provide tourists with a great opportunity to observe, amongst other species, dolphins, porpoises, sharks, sperm whales and humpback whales, the latter also known as the Yubarta whale. The Colombian Pacific coast is the mating and birthing area for the humpback whale, which migrates between June and October each year. Almost all humpback whales found in this region are born in Colombian waters and are faithful to their birthplace, travelling 8000Km from the poles to have their babies and feed them in the warmer waters of Gorgona Island. With more than 1000 humpback whales arriving in Gorgona Island's waters during mating and calving season, tourists need not be concerned that their whale-watching trip will be unsuccessful, rather how just many of these majestic creatures they will be able to see. Relatively few people can boast of a trip to Gorgona Island. Not only are visitor numbers restricted, but the trip is also difficult and is becoming increasingly expensive. The boat ride from Buenaventura (a coastal city of more than 300,000 people situated about 10 hours from Bogota and four hours from Cali) takes 12 hours. Alternatively it is an hour-and-40-minute boat ride from Guapi, an Afro-pacific town near the border of Ecuador, but no roads lead to Guapi. Guapi's single-runway Juan Casino Solis Airport does, however, service flights to and from the southern cities of Cali and Popyan. Until 2009, visitors could make day trips to Gorgona from Guapi or spend a night there for as little as US$12. However, in that same year the government decided to give a private company sole control over all tourism on Gorgona Island which resulted in exponential price increases. Since then a park permit, night in a basic bungalow in the remodelled prison-guard quarters, three meals and a return boat ride from Guapi can cost at least US$250, and additional nights around US$150. All activities — whale watching, snorkelling, even walking around the island — are extra. While these prices may still be in the price range for overseas visitors, they are prohibitively expensive for many locals. The people who do make it to Gorgona, however, can rest assured that they will be left blissfully alone in extraordinarily wild surroundings, and know that since such small numbers visit the island, its incredible ecosystem can continue to flourish.Section 3
Section 3
Speaker 1 Did you see that programme on TV3 last night? The one about the traditional family and how family structures are changing in New Zealand?
Speaker 2 No – I was going to watch it but forgot it was on!
Speaker 1 Oh, you should have seen it. It was really interesting. It started by talking about the divorce rate and the myth that half of marriages end in divorce. Apparently there are approximately 10,000 divorces and 20,000 marriages in New Zealand each year. That causes people to think the divorce rate is 50%. In reality though, statistics show that just under 1/3 of couples who married in 1970 had divorced by their jade wedding anniversary. Of those who married in 1980, just under 1/3 of couples had already divorced by their silver wedding anniversary. This is still well below one-half of all marriages though.
Speaker 2 Hmm. I think the divorce rate here is probably lower than a lot of other countries too. What else did they talk about?
Speaker 1 They were saying that since the 1960s there have been a lot of changes in types of family and household structures and that these continue to change. Two very significant trends since that time are that people are more likely to live with a partner before marrying now than in previous years, and birth rates are on the decrease. There has been an increase in single-parent families and an increase in blended families – when people who have been married and divorced meet a new partner and join their children to make a new family.
Speaker 2 Don't more people live by themselves these days too? I remember reading something about that in a newspaper.
Speaker 1 Yes, that's true. The programme said that single person households are a growing family form. They compared two years – 2006 when 23% of households were that type, and 2021 by which time they are expected to grow to 26%. A lot of single-person households are made up of older people who may have lost their partner. Like most countries in the developed world, New Zealand's ageing population is growing, as people continue to live longer, so this type of living situation is expected to rise.
Speaker 2 Yeah, I suppose that's true. So what else did they say?
Speaker 1 They said that currently just under 40% of households were couples with at least one dependent child and around 20% of households are made up of couples without children. Childless households are expected to increase much faster than couples with children over the next few decades. Of course, people who have children are more often deciding to have smaller families and are putting parenthood off until later in life. In 2007, the average age of women giving birth to their first child was 28 years; I think it's risen to around 30 years now.
Speaker 2 I suppose a lot of people want to get their career established, maybe buy a house, those sorts of things first, don't they?
Speaker 1 Yes, that's true. Younger people nowadays also appreciate a few years of freedom with no family commitments. People now have more mobility – with people going overseas for extended periods for work and travel. If you already have children, it's difficult to have those experiences.
Speaker 2 Wow – just think what it will be like when our generation gets old. With more people choosing not to have kids, getting married later and concentrating on their careers, there's going to be more elderly people with no one to support them. I mean, traditionally, families looked after the elderly members in their homes, but even now an increasing number of people are spending their old age in a retirement home because either the family is spread geographically or their children work so much they aren't able to give them the time they need. Did the programme suggest that relationships and families are becoming less important to people in general?
Speaker 1 No, they indicated that the decline of the traditional family structure was more about social acceptance of other forms and people taking advantage of the increasing number of choices. Although at the end of the programme they started talking about how technology has had an adverse effect on traditional families. People are becoming more materialistic, but more importantly we are becoming less sociable. The feeling of community is disappearing, because people are using texts, email and social media to interact with others rather than talking.
Speaker 2 Well, that's not really a new point of view, is it? People have been talking about that for years. Anyway, I don't agree. I visit my parents the first weekend of every month, but in-between times I keep in touch by e-mail.
Speaker 1 Why not by telephone?
Speaker 2 Well, it's cheaper to use the Internet and it's much quicker.
Speaker 1 Hmm, I don't think that's such a good idea. I prefer to be able to speak directly to people.…. (fade out)
Section 4
Section 4 In today's lecture we will look at factors that affect the election process. An election is a formal decision-making process by which a population chooses a representative to take on a specific responsibility. Elections have been operated in modern democratic societies since the 17th century. Six types of elections are held in the United Kingdom. These are: General elections to appoint National Government, European Parliament elections, local elections to appoint Local Government, Mayoral elections and Police and Crime Commissioner elections. Unlike other types, General elections do not have fixed dates; though in the UK the political party in power is required to call an election at least every five years. Anyone who lives in the UK, is aged 18 or over on polling day and who is a national of the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland, a Commonwealth country, Cyprus or a European Union member state can apply to be included in the UK Electoral Register. Convicted persons detained in prison or a mental hospital or a person who has ever been found guilty of certain illegal practices (such as corruption) are not eligible to vote. We'll now move on to 'voter turnout' - this is the percentage of eligible voters who cast a ballot in an election. One of the strongest factors affecting voter turnout is whether voting is compulsory. In Australia, for example, voter registration and attendance at a polling booth have been mandatory since the 1920s. Since Australia typically has around 10% of eligible voters who are not registered to vote and around 6% of invalid votes, actual voter turnouts in Australia are usually close to 81%. In countries where voting is not compulsory, many members of the population who are entitled to vote, do not exercise their rights and do not go to polling stations on election day. Numerous reports from various countries around the world suggest that fewer voters are turning out for elections than in the past. This falling trend has been significant in the United States, Western Europe, Japan and Latin America. For example, the percentage of Americans eligible to vote who did, in fact, vote was 63% in 1960, but this percentage has been falling ever since. Voter turnout in 2008 was 62% - the only year since the 1960s when a similar turnout was achieved. Research shows that socioeconomic factors significantly affect whether or not individuals develop the habit of voting. The most important socioeconomic factor affecting voter turnout is education. The more educated a person is, the more likely he or she is to vote. Income appears to have some independent effect too, as studies show that richer people are more likely to vote than poor people, regardless of their educational background. Young people are far less likely to vote than older generations, and single people are less likely to vote than married people. 'Voter apathy' (lack of caring) poses a huge problem for parties and individuals reliant on their supporters casting a ballot on election day. Overall, voter apathy is lower in national government elections than other types of elections, but a number of specific factors have been identified as important influences on voter apathy. These include how the voter sees the parties, the candidates, and the importance of the issues in an election. In terms of how voters see the parties and candidates up for election, lack of trust or a feeling that nothing will change regardless of who wins the election are opinions that can increase voter apathy. Why bother if all parties are corrupt and nothing gets better anyway? It is therefore important for leaders and parties to inspire confidence so that more voters will turn out to give them their backing. In theory, another factor that is likely to increase turnout is a 'close race' – where election outcome could easily go either way. In elections where it seems clear that one party or candidate will win, voter apathy may increase as people think why bother if the outcome is inevitable. This can actually be a huge concern for the favoured candidate or party, as if their supporters do not turn out on election day, their competitor can achieve an unexpected win. The perceived importance of issues in an election also influences voter turnout and increases or decreases voter apathy in the following ways. If the issues in an election are not of personal importance to a voter, their apathy may be increased. For example, an election campaign focussed on improving the circumstances of families may not be of interest to individuals without children. Conversely, if an election campaign focuses on topics that will affect an individual's life, they are more likely to vote. Voter fatigue (tiredness) is also a form of voter apathy which occurs when voters are expected to vote too often. For instance, this happened in Canada when voters were asked to vote in a federal election three times in five years (2004, 2006, 2008) and at each election voter turnout significantly decreased. Other practical issues also affect voter turnout. For example, bad weather can reduce turnouts. How easy it is to vote is also a concern. In many states in America and most Latin American nations, voters must go through separate voter registration procedures before they are allowed to vote. This two-step process quite clearly appears to decrease turnout as U.S. states with no, or easier, registration requirements consistently have larger turnouts. The final issue relating to collecting valid votes that I will discuss today is known as 'ballot fatigue'. Many people are simply very lazy when it comes to voting so they may just pick the first candidates they see on the ballot just to get it over with. In a case of ballot fatigue it would therefore follow that the farther down the candidate list a candidate is, the fewer the number of votes they will collect. The ballot fatigue principle suggests that affected voters use up all their patience and/or their knowledge as they work their way down the ballot and make an 'easy' choice to get the process over. Possible methods of improving voting processes focus on making voting easier; for example, making ballot papers more user-friendly; increasing the number of possible voting locations; lowering the average time voters have to spend waiting in line; or encouraging companies to give workers some time off on voting day.Questions about this IELTS listening practice test
Is the IELTS listening test the same in both modules?
Yes. Listening and speaking are identical in the Academic and General Training modules. Only reading and writing differ.
How many times is the recording played?
Once. There is no repeat of any section, which is why reading the questions in the pauses beforehand matters so much.
How many answers do I need for Band 7?
Around 30 out of 40, though the boundary varies slightly between test versions. Roughly 26 is Band 6.5 and 23 is Band 6.
Does spelling matter in IELTS listening?
Yes. A misspelled answer is marked wrong, which is why names and places are usually spelled out in the recording.
How much time do I get to transfer my answers?
Ten minutes on the paper test. On the computer-delivered test you get two minutes, because you type answers straight in as you go.
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