Listening Guide

Strategies & Resources for IELTS Listening

Determine Your Level

Figure out your English level (A1, A2, B1, etc.) to find suitable materials.

Take the Level Test (opens in new tab)

Free online CEFR (A1–C2) test by EF SET

Master Question Types

Carefully study the Listening section format:

Multiple Choice

Multiple choice

Matching

Matching information

Plan / Map / Diagram Labelling

Map / diagram labeling

Form / Note / Table Completion

Form completion

Sentence Completion

Sentence completion

Tip

Make notes with examples & strategies for each question type. Include common mistakes!

Choose Level-Appropriate Materials

Shows & YouTube

100 Shows by Level (opens in new tab)

Curated list of shows for various levels

  • BBC Learning English
  • EnglishAddict with Mr. Duncan
  • English Blogs by Interest

For A0–A1: Start with Pimsleur's 101 lessons (opens in new tab)

Structured audio lessons for absolute beginners

Learn Through Shows

Working with Subtitles

  • First, watch with English subtitles
  • Add a 2-second subtitle delay (VLC Player or ororo.tv)
  • Gradually remove subtitles

⚡ Increase difficulty

Increase difficulty: Speed up videos to 1.25x–1.5x. Move to TED Talks & documentaries.

Active Listening

Note down new words in English:

Instead of: Explore — to study Write: Explore — Travel through an unfamiliar area to learn about it

Use shadowing:

Repeat after speakers with the same intonation

Break down tough fragments:

Re-watch until you fully understand

Deep Learning Technique

Method essence:

Deep dive into one material, working with it repeatedly until you master vocabulary, grammar, intonation.

How to Practice

  1. Pick interesting content slightly above your level (i+1)
  2. First time — just listen
  3. Second time — note down new words & phrases
  4. Next — practice shadowing
  5. Try retelling the content aloud

💡 Shadowing

A technique where you hear a phrase & try to repeat it with the same intonation, accent, & rhythm — like a shadow following an object.

Practice with Tests

Do 4 Listening tests per week:

Listening Tests on Platform

50 full tests with answers — all 4 sections with audio

After the Test

  • Analyze mistakes
  • Re-listen to tricky parts
  • Note down new vocabulary

Artificial Language Environment

Create an Environment

  • Switch your phone to English
  • Watch YouTube in English
  • Read articles in English

Replace Content

  • Podcasts: BBC, NPR, The English We Speak
  • Swap Russian films for English ones

Consolidate Knowledge

  • Anki: Note new words & review daily
  • Revisit materials: This helps solidify your knowledge

Test Format

Exam Overview

4 sections, 40 questions, ~30 minutes of listening. On the paper-based exam, you get an extra 10 minutes to transfer answers. On the computer-based exam — only 2 minutes.

Difficulty

Difficulty increases from Section 1 to Section 4. Each recording is played only once.

Section 1: Conversation (social situation)

A dialogue between two people in an everyday situation.

Section 2: Monologue (social situation)

One person speaking on a general topic.

Section 3: Conversation (academic situation)

A dialogue between 2-4 people in an academic context.

Section 4: Monologue (academic topic)

An academic lecture or presentation.

Strategies by Question Type

Step-by-step strategies for each IELTS Listening question type:

Multiple Choice

  1. Read questions & options before the audio
  2. Identify keywords in questions
  3. Look for meaning, not exact words — expect synonyms
  4. Don't pick the first thing you hear — speaker might clarify or correct
  5. Eliminate clearly wrong answers

Trap: Speakers often mention several options, then correct themselves. Listen till the end.

Form / Note / Table Completion

  1. Study the form/table title & structure
  2. Find keywords near the gaps
  3. Check instructions: "ONE WORD ONLY" or "TWO WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER"
  4. Predict answer type from context (name, date, number)
  5. Watch for clarifications — speaker might correct what's said

Trap: Speaker might say one thing, then correct it. Always go with the last version.

Plan / Map / Diagram Labelling

  1. Study map/diagram before audio, find the starting point
  2. Memorize key landmarks
  3. Listen for spatial prepositions: on the left, next to, opposite, behind
  4. Follow the logical sequence of description
  5. If you miss an answer — move on

Learn prepositions: on the left, on the right, next to, opposite, behind, in front of, between, adjacent to, across from

Sentence Completion

  1. Read sentences & identify word limit
  2. Underline keywords
  3. Predict the type of missing word (time, place, adjective)
  4. Look for synonyms & paraphrases in the audio
  5. Watch for clarifications & changes

Trap: Excess info & changes in description. Pay attention to corrective phrases.

Matching

  1. Read the task & list of options
  2. Underline keywords in questions & options
  3. Use logic to pre-predict
  4. Listen for contextual words: likes, prefers, enjoys, recommends
  5. Write down the answer immediately if sure

Trap: Similar descriptions & changing preferences. Wait for the speaker's final decision.

Passive Listening — Resources

Daily background immersion in English speeds up prep:

Podcasts

Beginner

ESL Pod, BBC 6 Minute English

Intermediate+

TED Talks Daily, The Daily (NYT), IELTS Energy

Shows for Practice

Intermediate

Friends, The Office, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Planet Earth

Advanced

Sherlock, Suits, The Crown

YouTube

IELTS

IELTS Liz, E2 IELTS, Keith Speaking Academy

General

BBC News, VOA Learning English, TED-Ed

Music

Ed Sheeran, Adele, Taylor Swift, Beatles, Queen — find lyrics, sing along, start with slow songs.

Useful Tools

VLC Player (opens in new tab)

Video player with subtitle delay function

TED Talks (opens in new tab)

Academic presentations for advanced level

BBC Learning English (opens in new tab)

Quality educational content