Free IELTS Listening Practice Test
A complete, exam-length Listening test you can take right now: four recordings, 40 questions and real exam timing. When you finish you get your score, an indicative band and the reason behind every answer, on screen and by email.
- 40 questions
- About 30 minutes
- British English voices
- Instant band score
- Free
Before you start
Four recordings · 40 questions · about 30 minutes · British English speakers · free.
Use headphones in a quiet room. Write your answers as you listen. Spelling counts, and keep to the word limit in each instruction.
Part 1
A woman phones a railway company's lost property office.
Questions 1–6
Complete the form below. Write ONE WORD AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer.
Questions 7–10
Complete the notes below. Write ONE WORD AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer.
What happens next
- Items are kept for 7 days
- Office: on platform 1, next to the 8
- Collection fee for items with electronics: £9
- Bring photo ID and your 10
Part 2
A volunteer coordinator talks to new volunteers at a city farm.
Questions 11–15
Choose the correct letter, A, B or C.
11Why was the farm first set up?
12What are volunteers asked to do?
13What does Tom say about feeding the animals?
14In very bad weather, volunteers should
15According to Tom, what did most volunteers enjoy most?
Questions 16–20
What does Tom say about each area of the farm? Choose FIVE answers from the box and write the correct letter, A–G, next to questions 16–20.
Comments
Part 3
Two students discuss their research project on food waste in the university canteen.
Questions 21–25
Choose the correct letter, A, B or C.
21Why did the students choose the university canteen for their research?
22What problem did they have with their questionnaire?
23What surprised the students about the waste data?
24What do they agree about the trial with smaller plates?
25How will they share their findings with the canteen staff?
Questions 26–30
What do the students decide to do with each section of their report? Choose FIVE answers from the box and write the correct letter, A–G, next to questions 26–30.
Decisions
Part 4
A lecture on ice houses and the trade in natural ice.
Questions 31–40
Complete the notes below. Write ONE WORD ONLY for each answer.
Ice houses and the ice trade
Ice houses
- Became fashionable on British country estates from the late 17th century
- Built on the north side of a hill, often among trees, which gave 31
- Brick walls, with a thick layer of 32 between the ice and the walls
- Chamber shaped like an upside-down 33, so meltwater ran down to a drain
- Ice cut in winter from frozen lakes and 34
- Used for cooling drinks and making desserts; in medicine, to reduce 35
The ice trade (19th century)
- First large shipments came from 36
- Later, 37 became the main supplier because it was closer
- Ice was packed in 38 for the voyage
- Ice boxes in homes were lined with 39
- Fresh fish could be sold much further 40
Decline
- Machines made ice artificially; lakes near cities became polluted
How the IELTS Listening test works
The Listening test is the same whether you take IELTS Academic or General Training. You hear four recordings and answer 40 questions in about 30 minutes. Each recording is played once only, so the skill being tested is not just understanding English but catching the exact detail while the speaker keeps talking.
- Part 1: a conversation between two people in an everyday situation, such as booking something or reporting a problem. Expect names to be spelled out, numbers, dates and prices.
- Part 2: one person talking about an everyday subject, for example a guide describing a local facility.
- Part 3: a discussion in an education setting, typically students talking about an assignment, sometimes with a tutor.
- Part 4: a short lecture on an academic topic, with no break in the middle.
This practice test uses four of the most common question types: form completion, note completion, multiple choice and matching. It follows the computer-delivered timing: time to read before each part and time to check at the end of each one. On paper you also get extra time at the end to copy your answers onto the answer sheet. If you are still choosing a format, read IELTS on computer vs paper.
From raw score to band score
Your Listening result starts as a raw score out of 40, which is then converted to a band. The conversion below is the one widely used for practice; official conversions can vary slightly from one test version to another, so treat any practice band as indicative.
| Correct answers (out of 40) | Indicative band |
|---|---|
| 39–40 | 9.0 |
| 37–38 | 8.5 |
| 35–36 | 8.0 |
| 32–34 | 7.5 |
| 30–31 | 7.0 |
| 26–29 | 6.5 |
| 23–25 | 6.0 |
| 18–22 | 5.5 |
| 16–17 | 5.0 |
| 13–15 | 4.5 |
| 10–12 | 4.0 |
Not sure which band you need? Our guide to what IELTS band score you actually need explains the scores that universities, visas and professional bodies usually ask for.
Where marks are usually lost
When you check your answers, look for these patterns. They explain most lost marks far more often than gaps in vocabulary.
- Distractors. Speakers change their minds, correct themselves or mention an option that is then ruled out (“the ten fifteen was cancelled, so…”). The first thing you hear is often not the answer.
- Spelling. A misspelt answer scores nothing, even if you clearly understood it. Names spelled aloud, including “double L”, must be exact.
- Word limits. “ONE WORD ONLY” means one word: train ticket is wrong where the answer is ticket.
- Numbers, times and money. Write 10.45 or 10:45, £8.50 or 8.50. Both forms are fine, but the figures must be exact.
- Losing your place. If you miss one answer, let it go and listen for the next. Questions follow the order of the recording.
For more strategy, read IELTS Listening tips that actually move your band score, or browse the full IELTS preparation guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is this IELTS Listening practice test really free?
Yes, completely. There is no account to create: when you finish, you just tell us your first name and email address and your result appears straight away, with a copy sent to your inbox. You can take the test as many times as you like, on a computer, tablet or phone.
Is it the same as the real IELTS Listening test?
It has the same format as the real test: four parts, 40 questions, the common question types, recordings played once and similar timing. It was written by our teachers, so it is not an official IELTS test, and the band you get is an indicative guide.
What accent do the speakers have?
All the speakers in this test use British English. The real test also includes other accents, such as Australian, North American and New Zealand English, so it is worth listening to a range of English as part of your preparation.
How is my band score worked out?
Your raw score out of 40 is converted to a band with the widely used Listening conversion shown on this page, for example 30–31 correct answers is about band 7.0. It is an indicative band, not an official IELTS score.
Can I pause the recording?
In Exam mode the recording plays once, straight through all four parts, just like the real test. If you want to pause, replay or study one part at a time, choose Practice mode before you start.
Where can I find the answers and transcripts?
Press Check answers when you finish. After you enter your name and email you see your score, your indicative band, the correct answer and the reason for every question, and the full transcripts of all four recordings.
Want feedback from a teacher?
A practice test tells you where you are. Our live online IELTS classes cover all four papers with timed practice and personalised feedback on your Writing and Speaking.
IELTS is a registered trademark of its owners. These free practice tests were written by Kensington English teachers; they are not official IELTS tests and are not endorsed by the test's owners.