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IELTS Academic practice questions

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Question 1Listening

In IELTS Listening Section 1, a candidate hears: 'The course fee is two hundred and fifteen pounds, but that includes a fifty-pound deposit.' What amount is the total fee?

  1. £50
  2. £215 Correct answer.
  3. £165
  4. £265

Explanation

Section 1 often includes a distractor figure before the final answer. Here the speaker states the total fee first, then clarifies that the deposit is contained within it, so no addition is required. The £50 is part of the £215, not an extra charge.

Question 2Listening

A speaker in Section 2 says: 'The museum closes at 5 p.m. on weekdays, but on Saturdays we stay open until 7.' A visitor plans to arrive at 6 p.m. on Saturday. What should they expect?

  1. The museum opens at 7 p.m.
  2. The museum closes at 5 p.m.
  3. The museum will be closed.
  4. The museum will be open. Correct answer.

Explanation

The recording gives two closing times, one for weekdays and one for Saturday. Because the visit is on Saturday, the relevant closing time is 7 p.m., so arriving at 6 p.m. is within opening hours. Matching the day to the correct clause is the key skill.

Question 3Listening

In IELTS Listening, what is the standard instruction for Section 1 answer completion?

  1. Write no more than a specified number of words and/or a number. Correct answer.
  2. Write your answers in capital letters only.
  3. Choose one letter from A to D for each answer.
  4. Write a full sentence for every answer.

Explanation

Completion tasks in the Listening test always state a word limit, such as 'NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER'. Answers exceeding the limit are marked wrong even if the meaning is right. Full sentences and letter choices belong to other task types.

Question 4Listening

A candidate hears: 'The library is on the ground floor, next to the café, and the IT help desk is directly above it on the first floor.' Where is the IT help desk?

  1. On the second floor
  2. On the ground floor beside the café
  3. On the first floor above the library Correct answer.
  4. Opposite the café on the ground floor

Explanation

Spatial descriptions in Listening map a sequence of positions onto a building. The library is placed on the ground floor, and 'directly above it on the first floor' locates the help desk one level up. Note that British 'first floor' is the level above the ground floor.

Question 5Listening

Which spelling is most likely to be dictated letter by letter in a Section 1 form-filling task?

  1. A common word such as 'street'
  2. A postcode or surname Correct answer.
  3. A number such as 42
  4. The word 'Monday'

Explanation

Names and postcodes are the items most often spelled out because they cannot be predicted from context. Numbers and days are usually said as whole units rather than letter by letter. Recognising when spelling begins is essential for form completion.

Question 6Listening

A speaker says: 'I'd rather you didn't park in the staff car park; visitors should use the one on Mill Road.' What does the speaker want visitors to do?

  1. Ask staff before parking
  2. Avoid parking anywhere on site
  3. Use the car park on Mill Road Correct answer.
  4. Park in the staff car park

Explanation

The polite structure 'I'd rather you didn't' signals a prohibition for the listener's group, followed by a positive instruction. Visitors are directed to the Mill Road car park instead of the staff area. Identifying the addressee and the alternative is the key step.

Question 7Listening

In the IELTS Listening test, how many recordings are played in total, and how many times is each played?

  1. Four recordings, each played twice
  2. Three recordings, each played once
  3. Four recordings, each played once Correct answer.
  4. Two recordings, each played twice

Explanation

The Listening test contains four separate recordings, each heard a single time only. There is a short pause before each section to read the questions. Candidates therefore cannot rely on a second hearing to catch missed detail.

Question 8Listening

A candidate hears: 'The talk will be held in the main hall unless the weather improves, in which case we'll move to the garden.' Which condition leads to the garden venue?

  1. If the weather gets worse
  2. If the speaker cancels
  3. If the main hall is full
  4. If the weather gets better Correct answer.

Explanation

The phrase 'unless ... in which case' sets up a reversed condition. The hall applies by default, but an improvement in the weather triggers the move to the garden. Parsing conditional connectors prevents the common error of reversing the logic.

Question 9Listening

A student is told: 'Your induction session has been moved from Tuesday morning to Thursday afternoon because the tutor is away.' What is the reason for the change?

  1. Thursday was fully booked.
  2. The student requested it.
  3. The tutor is absent. Correct answer.
  4. The room was unavailable.

Explanation

Cause is signalled by 'because', which links the rescheduling to the tutor's absence. Distractors often recycle other schedule words such as days or times. Focus on the clause introduced by the causal connector.

Question 10Listening

A speaker says: 'The survey found that most residents rarely use the community centre, although almost all of them know where it is.' What does the survey show?

  1. Residents know the centre but seldom visit it. Correct answer.
  2. Residents use the centre frequently.
  3. Residents neither know the centre nor use it.
  4. Residents are unaware of the centre's location.

Explanation

'Although' contrasts two findings: high awareness against low usage. The adverb 'rarely' marks infrequent use, while 'almost all know where it is' marks strong awareness. Combining both clauses gives the correct summary.

Question 11Listening

In a Section 3 discussion, a tutor says: 'I'm not convinced the sample size is large enough to support that conclusion.' What is the tutor's attitude?

  1. Uninterested in the topic
  2. Doubtful about the conclusion Correct answer.
  3. Fully supportive of the conclusion
  4. Confident the data are sufficient

Explanation

The phrase 'I'm not convinced' expresses scepticism rather than outright rejection. Hedged academic language in Section 3 frequently signals reservations that candidates must identify. The reason given is an insufficient sample size.

Question 12Listening

A candidate hears: 'The number of visitors rose steadily until 2019, after which it levelled off.' What happened to visitor numbers after 2019?

  1. They fell steadily.
  2. They became impossible to measure.
  3. They stopped changing significantly. Correct answer.
  4. They continued to rise sharply.

Explanation

'Levelled off' is a standard description in Listening for a trend that becomes flat after a period of growth. The first clause describes the earlier rise, so the question's time frame after 2019 matters. Recognising trend vocabulary is essential.

Question 13Listening

A speaker says: 'You'll need to bring your passport, a recent photograph, and proof of address - but the photograph can be taken here if you prefer.' What must the applicant bring?

  1. Proof of address only
  2. Only a passport and proof of address Correct answer.
  3. A passport, a photograph and proof of address
  4. A passport and a photograph only

Explanation

The word 'but' introduces a concession: the photograph is optional because it can be taken on site. The mandatory items are therefore the passport and the proof of address. Tracking which list items are negotiable is the core skill.

Question 14Listening

In a lecture, the speaker says: 'Contrary to popular belief, the scheme was not introduced to save money; its main aim was to reduce waiting times.' Why was the scheme introduced?

  1. To reduce costs
  2. To cut waiting times Correct answer.
  3. To increase staff numbers
  4. To attract more visitors

Explanation

'Contrary to popular belief' warns that the obvious assumption is wrong, and 'its main aim was' states the real purpose. Section 4 lectures often correct misconceptions in this way. The cost-saving idea is explicitly denied.

Question 15Listening

A candidate hears: 'The workshop is limited to fifteen participants, so please book early to avoid disappointment.' What does the speaker imply?

  1. Booking is not required.
  2. Places may run out quickly. Correct answer.
  3. The workshop has been cancelled.
  4. Fifteen people have already booked.

Explanation

The advice to book early, combined with a stated cap on numbers, implies that demand may exceed places. This is an inference rather than a direct statement. The number fifteen is a maximum, not a current figure.

Question 16Listening

A student says: 'I was going to write about transport, but my supervisor suggested I focus on housing instead.' What will the student write about?

  1. Neither topic
  2. Transport
  3. Both transport and housing
  4. Housing Correct answer.

Explanation

The structure 'was going to ... but ... suggested' marks an abandoned plan replaced by a new one. The supervisor's suggestion is the final decision. Distinguishing the original idea from the revised one is a frequent Section 3 trap.

Question 17Listening

A guide says: 'The path forks just past the bridge; take the left-hand branch, which climbs gently to the viewpoint.' Where does the left-hand path lead?

  1. To the car park
  2. Back to the bridge
  3. Down to the river
  4. Gently uphill to the viewpoint Correct answer.

Explanation

Direction tasks require following a route step by step and attaching the correct description to each branch. The left branch is described as climbing gently to the viewpoint. The bridge is a landmark passed before the fork.

Question 18Listening

A candidate hears: 'The centre runs free classes on weekday mornings, though there is a small charge for materials.' What is free?

  1. Neither the classes nor the materials
  2. The classes only Correct answer.
  3. The materials only
  4. Both the classes and the materials

Explanation

The concession 'though there is a small charge' applies only to materials, so the classes themselves remain free. Scope of a concession is a common source of error in Section 2. Read which noun the exception actually modifies.

Question 19Listening

In a tutorial, a student says: 'My data seem to suggest a link, but I'd be cautious about claiming causation.' What is the student doing?

  1. Confirming a causal relationship
  2. Rejecting the data entirely
  3. Changing the research topic
  4. Qualifying the strength of the claim Correct answer.

Explanation

The phrase 'I'd be cautious about claiming' hedges the interpretation without discarding the data. Academic speakers in Section 3 often distinguish correlation from causation. The student accepts a possible link but limits the conclusion.

Question 20Listening

A lecturer says: 'The initial results were promising; however, subsequent trials failed to replicate them.' What is the lecturer's point about the findings?

  1. They have been strongly confirmed.
  2. They applied only to a single patient.
  3. They were never published.
  4. They are unreliable because they could not be repeated. Correct answer.

Explanation

'However' signals a contrast, and failure to replicate undermines the credibility of initial results. In academic listening, replication is presented as the test of reliability. The promising start is explicitly undercut by later evidence.

Question 21Listening

A speaker says: 'Had the funding been approved earlier, the project would have finished on time.' What does the speaker mean?

  1. The funding was not approved early, so the project was delayed. Correct answer.
  2. The funding was approved early and the project finished on time.
  3. The project finished on time despite late funding.
  4. The funding has not yet been requested.

Explanation

This is a third conditional with inversion ('Had the funding been approved'), describing a past situation that did not happen. The implied reality is late or absent approval, which caused delay. Recognising unreal past conditionals is a high-level listening skill.

Question 22Listening

A speaker says: 'Far from reducing congestion, the new bypass has attracted more traffic to the area.' What is the speaker's view of the bypass?

  1. It has had the opposite effect to its aim. Correct answer.
  2. It has successfully reduced congestion.
  3. It has not yet opened.
  4. It has had no measurable effect.

Explanation

'Far from X' denies the expected outcome and asserts its opposite. The bypass was intended to reduce congestion but instead drew in more traffic. This rhetorical structure is common in Section 4 evaluation.

Question 23Listening

A candidate hears two speakers disagree. Speaker A says the trial should be extended; Speaker B replies: 'That may be so, but we simply don't have the resources.' What is Speaker B's position?

  1. Proposing a completely different trial
  2. Accepting the idea in principle but opposing it in practice Correct answer.
  3. Rejecting the idea as scientifically invalid
  4. Agreeing fully with Speaker A

Explanation

'That may be so, but' is a classic concession-plus-objection pattern. Speaker B grants the point's merit yet blocks it on practical grounds. Section 3 and 4 questions often test this partial agreement structure.

Question 24Listening

A speaker says: 'The figures for 2020 are best treated with caution, as the survey was conducted entirely online.' Why should the 2020 figures be treated cautiously?

  1. The year 2020 had no respondents.
  2. The figures were calculated twice.
  3. The survey was too large.
  4. The sample may be biased by the online method. Correct answer.

Explanation

The causal link 'as the survey was conducted entirely online' suggests a methodological limitation that could skew the sample. In academic listening, such caveats signal problems of representativeness. The speaker does not claim the data are absent, only limited.

Question 25Listening

In IELTS Listening, what is the best strategy during the pause before each section?

  1. Check your answers with a neighbour.
  2. Memorise the questions word for word.
  3. Read ahead and predict the type of answer needed for each gap. Correct answer.
  4. Write your answers from the previous section.

Explanation

The pause is designed for previewing upcoming questions, allowing you to anticipate whether a gap needs a number, name, or noun. Predicting answer type improves accuracy when the recording is played once. Copying answers should be done at the end of the test.

Question 26Listening

In IELTS Listening Section 1, which type of recording is most commonly heard?

  1. A news broadcast summarising the day's headlines
  2. A monologue from an academic lecture on a specialist topic
  3. A panel discussion between three or four researchers
  4. A transactional conversation between a member of the public and a service provider Correct answer.

Explanation

Section 1 is built around everyday social or transactional situations, such as booking accommodation or enrolling in a course, and normally involves two speakers. The other formats belong to later sections, which move towards training, academic and monologue contexts.

Question 27Listening

A candidate hears: 'The tour departs at a quarter to eleven, and you should be at the meeting point ten minutes beforehand.' When should the candidate arrive at the meeting point?

  1. 10:50
  2. 11:15
  3. 10:45
  4. 10:35 Correct answer.

Explanation

A quarter to eleven means 10:45, and the speaker asks for arrival ten minutes before departure. Subtracting ten minutes from 10:45 gives 10:35, so the answer requires two steps rather than copying a single number.

Question 28Listening

A speaker says: 'The library's extended opening hours apply only during term time; in the holidays we revert to nine to five.' What does the speaker mean?

  1. The library opens later every day of the year
  2. The library closes completely during the holidays
  3. The nine-to-five schedule applies only in term time
  4. The longer hours are suspended outside term time Correct answer.

Explanation

The phrase 'revert to nine to five' signals a return to the standard schedule once term ends, so the extended hours are temporary. The contrast word 'only' restricts the longer hours to term time.

Question 29Listening

A candidate reads the notes: 'Accommodation: £95 per week, deposit £150, refundable on departure.' Which detail must the candidate supply when completing the booking form?

  1. The departure date
  2. The deposit amount of £150 Correct answer.
  3. The name of the landlord
  4. The weekly rent of £95

Explanation

Note-completion tasks ask for the specific detail the form requests, and here the deposit is a distinct figure separate from the rent. Candidates must distinguish between the two sums of money rather than writing the first number they hear.

Question 30Listening

In the listening test, a candidate misses the answer to one question while the recording continues. What is the most effective action?

  1. Stop listening and try to reconstruct the missed answer from memory
  2. Ask the invigilator to replay that part of the recording
  3. Move immediately to the next question and keep following the recording Correct answer.
  4. Leave the answer blank and abandon the rest of the section

Explanation

The recording is played once only, so dwelling on a missed item causes further losses as later answers pass by. Candidates should mark a guess and refocus on the current question.

Question 31Listening

A tutor says: 'Your literature review is thorough, but it reads as a list of summaries rather than a critical synthesis.' What is the tutor's main criticism?

  1. The review omits the most recent publications
  2. The review relies on too few academic sources
  3. The review describes sources without evaluating or connecting them Correct answer.
  4. The review is written in an inappropriate academic style

Explanation

'Critical synthesis' means weighing sources against each other and building an argument, whereas a list of summaries merely reports each one. The contrast between 'thorough' and 'rather than' isolates the weakness as evaluation and linkage.

Question 32Listening

A speaker says: 'The festival was originally scheduled for the first weekend in June, but owing to the venue's refurbishment it was pushed back by three weeks.' When does the festival now take place?

  1. The third weekend in June Correct answer.
  2. The second weekend in July
  3. The first weekend in June
  4. The last weekend in May

Explanation

'Pushed back by three weeks' moves the event later, so three weeks after the first weekend in June falls in the third weekend of June. Candidates must recognise that 'pushed back' signals postponement rather than cancellation.

Question 33Listening

A guide says: 'The east wing houses the sculpture collection, while the west wing is closed for conservation work until further notice.' Which part of the building can visitors see?

  1. The west wing
  2. Neither wing
  3. Both wings
  4. The east wing Correct answer.

Explanation

'While' contrasts two clauses: the east wing is open for the sculpture collection, and the west wing is closed. The visitor can therefore only access the east wing.

Question 34Listening

A student says: 'I'd hoped to interview twenty participants, but I've only managed twelve so far, and the deadline is next Friday.' What is the student's problem?

  1. The interview questions were poorly designed
  2. The participants refused to be recorded
  3. The number of interviews completed is below the target Correct answer.
  4. The deadline has already passed

Explanation

The contrast between the hoped-for twenty and the achieved twelve identifies a shortfall in data collection. The deadline being 'next Friday' shows time remains, so the issue is quantity, not timing.

Question 35Listening

A lecturer says: 'The vaccine trials were halted not because of safety concerns, but because the manufacturer could not guarantee supply of the placebo.' What reason does the lecturer give for the halt?

  1. Unexpected side effects in participants
  2. Difficulty in obtaining the placebo Correct answer.
  3. Insufficient funding for the trials
  4. Regulatory objections to the trial design

Explanation

The construction 'not because of X, but because of Y' explicitly rejects safety as the cause and substitutes a supply problem with the placebo. Candidates must track the correction after 'but'.

Question 36Listening

A candidate hears: 'The museum's family ticket covers two adults and up to three children; additional children are charged at the standard rate.' A family of two adults and four children arrives. How many people are covered by the family ticket?

  1. Six
  2. Seven
  3. Four
  4. Five Correct answer.

Explanation

The ticket covers two adults plus a maximum of three children, giving five people. The fourth child falls outside the ticket and must pay separately, so the total party size is not the answer.

Question 37Listening

A speaker says: 'Please note that the deadline for submitting your abstract has been brought forward to 15 March.' What has happened to the deadline?

  1. It now applies only to new applicants
  2. It has been cancelled altogether
  3. It is now earlier than originally planned Correct answer.
  4. It has been extended to a later date

Explanation

'Brought forward' means moved to an earlier date, the opposite of postponed. Candidates who confuse it with 'put forward' or 'extended' will choose the wrong option.

Question 38Listening

In a Section 3 tutorial, a student says: 'My results were inconclusive, so rather than claim a definite link I've framed the conclusion as a tentative one.' How has the student handled the findings?

  1. By changing the research question after the results
  2. By presenting the conclusion cautiously rather than assertively Correct answer.
  3. By exaggerating the strength of the evidence
  4. By removing the conclusion from the report entirely

Explanation

'Tentative' means provisional or cautious, and 'rather than claim a definite link' confirms the student avoided overstating the evidence. The answer paraphrases the student's hedging language.

Question 39Listening

A speaker says: 'The council has decided to pedestrianise the high street, a move that local traders have welcomed but that some delivery firms have criticised.' What is the speaker's attitude towards the decision?

  1. Uncertain, since the decision has not yet been made
  2. Neutral, reporting both supportive and critical reactions Correct answer.
  3. Supportive, since only traders' views are mentioned
  4. Strongly opposed to the decision

Explanation

The speaker simply reports two opposing reactions without endorsing either, which signals a neutral, balanced stance. Attitude questions require attention to whose opinion is being described rather than to the speaker's own view.

Question 40Listening

A candidate hears: 'The survey was distributed online, which was cheaper but meant that older residents, who are less likely to use the internet, were underrepresented.' What limitation does the speaker identify?

  1. The questions were too difficult for respondents
  2. A section of the population was insufficiently represented Correct answer.
  3. The survey cost more than expected
  4. Too many older residents took part

Explanation

'Underrepresented' means a group appeared in the sample less than its share in the population, and the speaker attributes this to the online format. The clause beginning 'which was cheaper but...' marks a trade-off rather than a benefit.

Question 41Listening

A speaker says: 'Should you require an accessible entrance, please ring the bell at the side of the building and a member of staff will assist you.' What should a visitor needing step-free access do?

  1. Telephone the office before arriving
  2. Enter through the main front door
  3. Wait at the reception desk inside
  4. Ring the bell at the side entrance Correct answer.

Explanation

The inverted conditional 'Should you require...' is a formal way of saying 'if you need', and the instruction that follows is to ring the side bell. Candidates must connect the formal phrasing to the practical action.

Question 42Listening

A candidate hears: 'The number of cyclists using the bridge doubled between 2015 and 2020, though the total remained below the 2010 figure.' What does the speaker say about cyclist numbers in 2020?

  1. They had fallen by half since 2015
  2. They equalled the 2010 figure
  3. They were the highest ever recorded
  4. They were twice the 2015 level but lower than in 2010 Correct answer.

Explanation

'Doubled' refers to the change from 2015 to 2020, while 'below the 2010 figure' compares 2020 with a different year. Both comparisons must be held simultaneously to answer correctly.

Question 43Listening

A student says: 'I was advised to narrow my topic, as my original title was broad enough to fill three theses.' What does the student mean?

  1. The topic had already been researched by others
  2. The topic was too narrow to yield enough material
  3. The original topic was far too wide in scope Correct answer.
  4. The student had written three theses on the subject

Explanation

The exaggeration 'broad enough to fill three theses' is a humorous way of saying the scope was excessive. The advice to 'narrow' the topic confirms that breadth, not originality or depth, was the problem.

Question 44Listening

A lecturer says: 'The initial findings were widely reported, yet later work showed that the effect had been an artefact of the measuring instrument.' What does the lecturer imply about the initial findings?

  1. They were produced by a flaw in the equipment Correct answer.
  2. They were confirmed by later research
  3. They were based on too small a sample
  4. They were never published or reported

Explanation

An 'artefact' in this context is a spurious result created by the method rather than by a real phenomenon, and the measuring instrument is named as the source. The contrast with 'later work' shows the original results did not hold.

Question 45Listening

A candidate hears: 'Tickets booked online cost £12, whereas those bought at the door are £18.' How much does an online ticket cost?

  1. £30
  2. £12 Correct answer.
  3. £18
  4. £6

Explanation

This is a straightforward detail question in which two prices are given for different purchase methods. The candidate must match 'online' to the correct figure rather than writing the first number heard.

Question 46Listening

A speaker says: 'The centre is open every day except Monday, when it closes for staff training.' On which day is the centre closed?

  1. Saturday
  2. Monday Correct answer.
  3. Sunday
  4. Wednesday

Explanation

The exception clause introduced by 'except' identifies the single day of closure. Candidates should listen for exception words such as 'except', 'apart from' and 'other than' to locate the answer.

Question 47Listening

In a discussion, a tutor says: 'I'd suggest you pilot the questionnaire with a small group before distributing it widely.' What is the tutor advising?

  1. Abandoning the questionnaire altogether
  2. Testing the questionnaire on a few people first Correct answer.
  3. Sending the questionnaire to as many people as possible
  4. Shortening the questionnaire before use

Explanation

To 'pilot' a questionnaire means to trial it on a small sample to identify problems before full distribution. The contrast between 'a small group' and 'widely' is the key signal.

Question 48Listening

A speaker says: 'Although the scheme was praised in the press, its take-up among residents has been disappointingly low.' What contrast does the speaker draw?

  1. Government support versus public indifference
  2. Strong participation versus negative publicity
  3. Positive publicity versus poor actual participation Correct answer.
  4. High costs versus limited funding

Explanation

'Praised in the press' and 'disappointingly low take-up' set favourable coverage against weak uptake. Recognising concessive markers such as 'although' helps candidates anticipate the contrasting idea.

Question 49Listening

A candidate hears: 'The lecture theatre is on the second floor; take the stairs opposite the café, as the lift is out of order.' How should the candidate reach the lecture theatre?

  1. By taking the lift to the second floor
  2. By asking at the café for directions
  3. By using the stairs beside the main entrance
  4. By using the stairs opposite the café Correct answer.

Explanation

The speaker gives one viable route and explains why the alternative is unavailable: the lift is out of order. Candidates must select the instruction that remains possible, not the one that is mentioned first.

Question 50Listening

A lecturer says: 'It would be a mistake to treat these two periods as continuous; the apparent similarity is largely a matter of shared terminology.' What is the lecturer warning against?

  1. Studying the two periods in isolation
  2. Comparing the two periods at all
  3. Relying on primary sources for the period
  4. Assuming continuity because the vocabulary is similar Correct answer.

Explanation

The lecturer separates surface similarity in terminology from genuine historical continuity, so the warning is against inferring continuity from shared words. The phrase 'largely a matter of' signals that the resemblance is superficial.