There are 4 possible different audio types during the audio part of the IELTS exam:

They are:

Section 1: conversation – 2 people

Section 2: talk – mostly 1 person

Section 3: conversation – up to 4 people

Section 4: lecture – 1 person

*NOTE:

Test-takers have 30 minutes in total to listen.

*There are 10 minutes at the end to complete the answer sheet.

*The listening part gets progressively more difficult! Part 1 is much easier than Part 2 etc.

**** There are now Computer-based IELTS exams and the Traditional paper-based IELTS exam – the computer-based allows the test-taker to choose from a ‘drop-down’ menu, which makes answers more accurate over paper-based exams because the test taker does not have to worry about spelling nor Capitalization issues ( it depends upon the test venue chosen whether they have the ability or the means to install computers).

Remember, too:

There are also 6 different question/prompt types.

1. Form completion

2. Multiple choice

3. Short Answer

4. Sentence completion

5. Matching

6. Plan/Map/Diagram labeling

These questions test the ability to understand main ideas and detail, the ability to understand the opinions and attitudes, the ability to understand the purpose of what is said, and the ability to follow the development of ideas. A variety of voices and native-speaker accents are used, and you will hear each section only once.