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IELTS Academic Preparation Course: Listening

Untimed topic quiz: 17 questions on Listening, with an explanation after each answer. Questions and answers are shuffled every time.

  • Course
  • United Kingdom
  • 99 questions
  • Checked October 13, 2026
  • Fact-checked October 13, 2026
Start with the lessonsIELTS Academic Preparation Course: Lessons: about 300 minutes of reading. Every test question is covered in the lessons.

Topic quiz 2: Listening

  1. Question 1 of 17

    In the Listening test, can you replay a recording if you miss an answer?
    Show answer

    Answer: B. No. Each recording is played once only

    Each recording is played once only. If you miss an answer, move on, because the next answer comes later in the recording.

  2. Question 2 of 17

    Which of these is an IELTS Listening question type?
    Show answer

    Answer: C. Plan, map or diagram labelling

    Listening question types include multiple choice, matching, plan/map/diagram labelling, form/note/table/flow-chart completion, sentence completion and short answers. Matching headings is a Reading task.

  3. Question 3 of 17

    Which accents can you hear in the IELTS Listening test?
    Show answer

    Answer: C. British, Australian, New Zealand and North American

    The official format page lists British, Australian, New Zealand and North American accents, so practise listening to all of them.

  4. Question 4 of 17

    In the Listening test, in what order do the answers usually come?
    Show answer

    Answer: D. In the same order as the recording

    The questions follow the order of the information in the recording, so if you miss one answer, move on to the next question.

  5. Question 5 of 17

    In which part of the Listening test do you hear one speaker giving an academic talk?
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Part 4

    Part 1 is an everyday conversation, Part 2 is an everyday monologue, Part 3 is a conversation in an educational or training setting, and Part 4 is an academic talk by one speaker.

  6. Question 6 of 17

    The instructions say ONE WORD AND/OR A NUMBER. You hear "the twenty-third of May". Which answer follows the limit?
    Show answer

    Answer: C. 23 May

    "23 May" is one word and a number. The other answers add extra words such as "the", "of" or "on", so they break the limit and lose the mark.

  7. Question 7 of 17

    Listen. What is the caller's family name?
    Listen, then answer. The transcript is shown after you answer.
    No sound? Read the text instead

    Clerk: Good afternoon, Westgate College enrolments. How can I help?
    Caller: Hello. I'd like to enrol on the evening photography course.
    Clerk: Certainly. What's your family name?
    Caller: It's Fairbairn. That's F, A, I, R, B, A, I, R, N.
    Clerk: Thank you. The course runs on Wednesday evenings. It was going to start on the fourth of March, but the start date has moved to the eleventh.
    Caller: The eleventh is fine. What does it cost?
    Clerk: The full fee is ninety pounds, but students and people over sixty pay sixty-five.

    Show answer

    Answer: D. Fairbairn

    The caller spells the name letter by letter: F, A, I, R, B, A, I, R, N. Spelled names are common in Part 1, and a spelling mistake loses the mark.

    Transcript

    Clerk: Good afternoon, Westgate College enrolments. How can I help?
    Caller: Hello. I'd like to enrol on the evening photography course.
    Clerk: Certainly. What's your family name?
    Caller: It's Fairbairn. That's F, A, I, R, B, A, I, R, N.
    Clerk: Thank you. The course runs on Wednesday evenings. It was going to start on the fourth of March, but the start date has moved to the eleventh.
    Caller: The eleventh is fine. What does it cost?
    Clerk: The full fee is ninety pounds, but students and people over sixty pay sixty-five.

  8. Question 8 of 17

    Listen. When does the photography course start?
    Listen, then answer. The transcript is shown after you answer.
    No sound? Read the text instead

    Clerk: Good afternoon, Westgate College enrolments. How can I help?
    Caller: Hello. I'd like to enrol on the evening photography course.
    Clerk: Certainly. What's your family name?
    Caller: It's Fairbairn. That's F, A, I, R, B, A, I, R, N.
    Clerk: Thank you. The course runs on Wednesday evenings. It was going to start on the fourth of March, but the start date has moved to the eleventh.
    Caller: The eleventh is fine. What does it cost?
    Clerk: The full fee is ninety pounds, but students and people over sixty pay sixty-five.

    Show answer

    Answer: A. 11 March

    The course "was going to start on the fourth of March", but the start date "has moved to the eleventh". The answer is the new date.

    Transcript

    Clerk: Good afternoon, Westgate College enrolments. How can I help?
    Caller: Hello. I'd like to enrol on the evening photography course.
    Clerk: Certainly. What's your family name?
    Caller: It's Fairbairn. That's F, A, I, R, B, A, I, R, N.
    Clerk: Thank you. The course runs on Wednesday evenings. It was going to start on the fourth of March, but the start date has moved to the eleventh.
    Caller: The eleventh is fine. What does it cost?
    Clerk: The full fee is ninety pounds, but students and people over sixty pay sixty-five.

  9. Question 9 of 17

    Listen. How much does the course cost for a student?
    Listen, then answer. The transcript is shown after you answer.
    No sound? Read the text instead

    Clerk: Good afternoon, Westgate College enrolments. How can I help?
    Caller: Hello. I'd like to enrol on the evening photography course.
    Clerk: Certainly. What's your family name?
    Caller: It's Fairbairn. That's F, A, I, R, B, A, I, R, N.
    Clerk: Thank you. The course runs on Wednesday evenings. It was going to start on the fourth of March, but the start date has moved to the eleventh.
    Caller: The eleventh is fine. What does it cost?
    Clerk: The full fee is ninety pounds, but students and people over sixty pay sixty-five.

    Show answer

    Answer: C. £65

    The full fee is £90, but students and people over sixty pay £65. £25 is the difference between the two prices, not a fee.

    Transcript

    Clerk: Good afternoon, Westgate College enrolments. How can I help?
    Caller: Hello. I'd like to enrol on the evening photography course.
    Clerk: Certainly. What's your family name?
    Caller: It's Fairbairn. That's F, A, I, R, B, A, I, R, N.
    Clerk: Thank you. The course runs on Wednesday evenings. It was going to start on the fourth of March, but the start date has moved to the eleventh.
    Caller: The eleventh is fine. What does it cost?
    Clerk: The full fee is ninety pounds, but students and people over sixty pay sixty-five.

  10. Question 10 of 17

    Listen. Where are the computer labs now?
    Listen, then answer. The transcript is shown after you answer.
    No sound? Read the text instead

    Guide: Welcome to the new Science Building. Lecture Theatre A is on the ground floor, just past the main entrance. The computer labs, which used to be in the old library, are now on the second floor. Students can borrow a laptop from the help desk for up to four hours. During term, the building is open from eight in the morning until ten at night, but in the holidays it closes at six in the evening.

    Show answer

    Answer: D. On the second floor

    The labs "used to be in the old library" but "are now on the second floor". Lecture Theatre A is on the ground floor.

    Transcript

    Guide: Welcome to the new Science Building. Lecture Theatre A is on the ground floor, just past the main entrance. The computer labs, which used to be in the old library, are now on the second floor. Students can borrow a laptop from the help desk for up to four hours. During term, the building is open from eight in the morning until ten at night, but in the holidays it closes at six in the evening.

  11. Question 11 of 17

    Listen. For how long can students borrow a laptop?
    Listen, then answer. The transcript is shown after you answer.
    No sound? Read the text instead

    Guide: Welcome to the new Science Building. Lecture Theatre A is on the ground floor, just past the main entrance. The computer labs, which used to be in the old library, are now on the second floor. Students can borrow a laptop from the help desk for up to four hours. During term, the building is open from eight in the morning until ten at night, but in the holidays it closes at six in the evening.

    Show answer

    Answer: B. Up to four hours

    The guide says students can borrow a laptop from the help desk for up to four hours. Six and ten are about opening times.

    Transcript

    Guide: Welcome to the new Science Building. Lecture Theatre A is on the ground floor, just past the main entrance. The computer labs, which used to be in the old library, are now on the second floor. Students can borrow a laptop from the help desk for up to four hours. During term, the building is open from eight in the morning until ten at night, but in the holidays it closes at six in the evening.

  12. Question 12 of 17

    Listen. What time does the building close in the holidays?
    Listen, then answer. The transcript is shown after you answer.
    No sound? Read the text instead

    Guide: Welcome to the new Science Building. Lecture Theatre A is on the ground floor, just past the main entrance. The computer labs, which used to be in the old library, are now on the second floor. Students can borrow a laptop from the help desk for up to four hours. During term, the building is open from eight in the morning until ten at night, but in the holidays it closes at six in the evening.

    Show answer

    Answer: B. 6 pm

    During term it is open from 8 am until 10 pm, but in the holidays it closes at six in the evening. Listen for words like "but" that signal a change.

    Transcript

    Guide: Welcome to the new Science Building. Lecture Theatre A is on the ground floor, just past the main entrance. The computer labs, which used to be in the old library, are now on the second floor. Students can borrow a laptop from the help desk for up to four hours. During term, the building is open from eight in the morning until ten at night, but in the holidays it closes at six in the evening.

  13. Question 13 of 17

    Listen. How many students did the group actually interview?
    Listen, then answer. The transcript is shown after you answer.
    No sound? Read the text instead

    Tutor: So, how is your survey on campus recycling going?
    Maya: Well, we planned to interview two hundred students, but in the end we only managed a hundred and twenty.
    Leo: The main problem was timing. We did it during exam week, so most people were too busy to stop.
    Tutor: That's a fair point. And what did you find?
    Maya: Most students told us they want to recycle, but they don't know which bins to use.
    Leo: So in our report, we'll recommend clearer signs on the bins, rather than more bins.

    Show answer

    Answer: A. 120

    Maya says they planned to interview 200 students but only managed 120. The first number you hear is often not the answer.

    Transcript

    Tutor: So, how is your survey on campus recycling going?
    Maya: Well, we planned to interview two hundred students, but in the end we only managed a hundred and twenty.
    Leo: The main problem was timing. We did it during exam week, so most people were too busy to stop.
    Tutor: That's a fair point. And what did you find?
    Maya: Most students told us they want to recycle, but they don't know which bins to use.
    Leo: So in our report, we'll recommend clearer signs on the bins, rather than more bins.

  14. Question 14 of 17

    Listen. Why did fewer students take part in the survey than planned?
    Listen, then answer. The transcript is shown after you answer.
    No sound? Read the text instead

    Tutor: So, how is your survey on campus recycling going?
    Maya: Well, we planned to interview two hundred students, but in the end we only managed a hundred and twenty.
    Leo: The main problem was timing. We did it during exam week, so most people were too busy to stop.
    Tutor: That's a fair point. And what did you find?
    Maya: Most students told us they want to recycle, but they don't know which bins to use.
    Leo: So in our report, we'll recommend clearer signs on the bins, rather than more bins.

    Show answer

    Answer: C. The survey was done during exam week

    Leo says the main problem was timing: the survey was done in exam week, so people were too busy. Most students said they do want to recycle.

    Transcript

    Tutor: So, how is your survey on campus recycling going?
    Maya: Well, we planned to interview two hundred students, but in the end we only managed a hundred and twenty.
    Leo: The main problem was timing. We did it during exam week, so most people were too busy to stop.
    Tutor: That's a fair point. And what did you find?
    Maya: Most students told us they want to recycle, but they don't know which bins to use.
    Leo: So in our report, we'll recommend clearer signs on the bins, rather than more bins.

  15. Question 15 of 17

    Listen. What will the students recommend in their report?
    Listen, then answer. The transcript is shown after you answer.
    No sound? Read the text instead

    Tutor: So, how is your survey on campus recycling going?
    Maya: Well, we planned to interview two hundred students, but in the end we only managed a hundred and twenty.
    Leo: The main problem was timing. We did it during exam week, so most people were too busy to stop.
    Tutor: That's a fair point. And what did you find?
    Maya: Most students told us they want to recycle, but they don't know which bins to use.
    Leo: So in our report, we'll recommend clearer signs on the bins, rather than more bins.

    Show answer

    Answer: D. Clearer signs on the bins

    Leo says they will recommend clearer signs on the bins, "rather than more bins". The words "rather than" show which option is rejected.

    Transcript

    Tutor: So, how is your survey on campus recycling going?
    Maya: Well, we planned to interview two hundred students, but in the end we only managed a hundred and twenty.
    Leo: The main problem was timing. We did it during exam week, so most people were too busy to stop.
    Tutor: That's a fair point. And what did you find?
    Maya: Most students told us they want to recycle, but they don't know which bins to use.
    Leo: So in our report, we'll recommend clearer signs on the bins, rather than more bins.

  16. Question 16 of 17

    Listen. What is the first cause of the effect that the lecturer mentions?
    Listen, then answer. The transcript is shown after you answer.
    No sound? Read the text instead

    Lecturer: Today I want to explain why cities are often warmer than the countryside around them. This is called the urban heat island effect. The first cause is building materials: dark roads and roofs absorb heat during the day and release it slowly at night. The second cause is the lack of plants, because plants cool the air as water evaporates from their leaves. Interestingly, the difference in temperature is usually greatest at night, not in the middle of the day.

    Show answer

    Answer: C. Dark materials that absorb heat

    The lecturer says "The first cause is building materials": dark roads and roofs absorb heat. The lack of plants is the second cause.

    Transcript

    Lecturer: Today I want to explain why cities are often warmer than the countryside around them. This is called the urban heat island effect. The first cause is building materials: dark roads and roofs absorb heat during the day and release it slowly at night. The second cause is the lack of plants, because plants cool the air as water evaporates from their leaves. Interestingly, the difference in temperature is usually greatest at night, not in the middle of the day.

  17. Question 17 of 17

    Listen. When is the temperature difference usually greatest?
    Listen, then answer. The transcript is shown after you answer.
    No sound? Read the text instead

    Lecturer: Today I want to explain why cities are often warmer than the countryside around them. This is called the urban heat island effect. The first cause is building materials: dark roads and roofs absorb heat during the day and release it slowly at night. The second cause is the lack of plants, because plants cool the air as water evaporates from their leaves. Interestingly, the difference in temperature is usually greatest at night, not in the middle of the day.

    Show answer

    Answer: A. At night

    The lecturer says the difference is usually greatest at night, "not in the middle of the day". Words like "interestingly" often introduce a tested point.

    Transcript

    Lecturer: Today I want to explain why cities are often warmer than the countryside around them. This is called the urban heat island effect. The first cause is building materials: dark roads and roofs absorb heat during the day and release it slowly at night. The second cause is the lack of plants, because plants cool the air as water evaporates from their leaves. Interestingly, the difference in temperature is usually greatest at night, not in the middle of the day.

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