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IELTS Academic Listening practice test

2026-2027 exam practice page

6 practice questions

Answers and rationales included. Switch between Exam and Study modes.

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IELTS
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6 questions / 75 min
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20 questions
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6 practice questions

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Try 20 free IELTS Academic Listening questions for 2026-2027 prep.

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Interactive Practice Test

IELTS Academic Listening

20 questions on this page 70% passing score 6 question bank
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Question 1 Note completion

Question 1: Note completion

A speaker says: The library is open from nine in the morning until eight in the evening on weekdays, but on Saturdays it closes early, at five. Complete the note: On Saturdays, the library closes at ____.

Question 2 Identifying specific information

Question 2: Identifying specific information

A tour guide says: Please remember that the meeting point for tomorrow's excursion is not the hotel lobby, as printed in your booklet, but the main entrance to the museum. Where should participants meet?

Question 3 Understanding numbers and details

Question 3: Understanding numbers and details

A receptionist says: The deposit for the conference room is fifty pounds, and the full daily rate is one hundred and twenty pounds. What is the deposit amount?

Question 4 Following directions

Question 4: Following directions

A speaker says: From the reception desk, walk straight ahead, then take the second door on your left. The seminar room is directly opposite the cafe. Where is the seminar room located?

Question 5 Inference

Question 5: Inference

A student says: I had planned to study marine biology, but after the introductory lecture I realized the amount of chemistry involved was far more than I expected, so I switched to environmental science. What can be inferred about why the student changed subjects?

Question 6 Note completion

Question 6: Note completion

A lecturer says: The research project will be carried out in three stages: first data collection, then analysis, and finally the writing of the report. Complete the note: The second stage of the project is ____.

Question 7 Identifying opinion

Question 7: Identifying opinion

A professor says: While many students assume the older method is outdated, I would argue it still produces more reliable results in certain conditions. What is the professor's opinion of the older method?

Question 8 Understanding sequence

Question 8: Understanding sequence

A guide says: First we will visit the botanical gardens, after which we will have lunch, and only then will we proceed to the historic castle. Which activity comes last?

Question 9 Table completion

Question 9: Table completion

A tutor says: For the group presentation, you should allow ten minutes for the introduction, twenty minutes for the main discussion, and five minutes for questions. How long should the main discussion last?

Question 10 Identifying main idea

Question 10: Identifying main idea

A speaker says: Today's session has one central aim: to help you understand how to reference your sources correctly and avoid accidental plagiarism. What is the main aim of the session?

Question 11 Note completion

Question 11: Note completion

A speaker says: To register for the workshop, students must complete the online form and pay the fee before the deadline on the fifteenth of March. Complete the note: The registration deadline is the ____ of March.

Question 12 Identifying purpose

Question 12: Identifying purpose

A caller says: I am phoning because the heating in my rented apartment has stopped working, and I would like someone to come and repair it as soon as possible. What is the main purpose of the call?

Question 13 Distinguishing similar information

Question 13: Distinguishing similar information

A speaker says: The course has two assignments. The first is an essay worth thirty percent, and the second is a presentation worth forty percent, with the remaining thirty percent from the final exam. What is the presentation worth?

Question 14 Inference

Question 14: Inference

A student says: I have read the first three chapters twice, but I still cannot follow the argument in chapter four. What can be inferred about the student?

Question 15 Sentence completion

Question 15: Sentence completion

A lecturer says: The experiment failed not because of poor equipment but because the temperature was not kept constant throughout. Complete the sentence: The experiment failed because the ____ was not constant.

Question 16 Understanding instructions

Question 16: Understanding instructions

A speaker says: When you submit your report, please do not staple the pages together; instead, use the binder clip provided. How should students keep the report pages together?

Question 17 Identifying agreement

Question 17: Identifying agreement

In a discussion, Speaker A says the field trip should be postponed due to the weather forecast. Speaker B replies: I completely agree, it would be unsafe to go ahead. What is Speaker B's view?

Question 18 Form completion

Question 18: Form completion

A speaker says: Please spell your surname for the registration form. It is B-E-N-N-E-T-T, Bennett, with two letter T's at the end. How is the surname spelled?

Question 19 Identifying reason

Question 19: Identifying reason

A speaker says: The afternoon session has been moved to a larger room because far more students enrolled than originally expected. Why was the session moved?

Question 20 Note completion

Question 20: Note completion

A speaker says: Students should bring two items to the laboratory: a lab coat and safety goggles. Notebooks will be provided. Complete the note: Students must bring a lab coat and ____.

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About this practice test

What this 2026-2027 IELTS Academic Listening Practice Test covers

Purchase access to the current 6-question practice bank, with exam mode, study mode, answers and rationales. The free sample is separate. Purchase includes the current bank only.

Practice material can include variations on the same concept. It is not an official exam or a guarantee of a passing score. Confirm important facts against current authoritative sources.

Work through up to 50 IELTS-style questions built around reading detail, listening interpretation, and the wording patterns students usually miss on the first read.
Use answer-by-answer rationales to learn why the correct option wins and why weaker distractors fail in International exam situations.
Review 3 real-world analogies, topic article cards, and source checks after each question so writing organization and speaking clarity feel easier to recognize under pressure.
Build timing, confidence, and recall with scenario-based practice that feels closer to the real IELTS Academic Listening than a generic flashcard dump.

Prepare for the IELTS Academic Listening with realistic IELTS practice questions, timed review, detailed rationales, and real-world analogies that make harder International concepts easier to remember.

This practice test is designed for students and professionals preparing for IELTS Academic Listening who want stronger exam-day confidence, better explanation quality, and more useful answer review than a generic test bank.

Focus areas include reading detail, listening interpretation, writing organization, speaking clarity, along with scenario-based judgment, careful review of why distractors are less correct, and real-world analogies that help the key ideas stick.

What you will practice on this page

  • Work through up to 50 IELTS-style questions built around reading detail, listening interpretation, and the wording patterns students usually miss on the first read.
  • Use answer-by-answer rationales to learn why the correct option wins and why weaker distractors fail in International exam situations.
  • Review 3 real-world analogies, topic article cards, and source checks after each question so writing organization and speaking clarity feel easier to recognize under pressure.
  • Build timing, confidence, and recall with scenario-based practice that feels closer to the real IELTS Academic Listening than a generic flashcard quiz.

How to use this exam to study smarter

  1. Start with the 20-question free sample to spot whether reading detail or listening interpretation is slowing you down before you buy the full exam.
  2. After each block, review every rationale and the 3 real-world analogies, topic article cards, and source checks so the tested pattern behind writing organization becomes easier to remember.
  3. Retake the full IELTS Academic Listening practice test in timed mode and focus on cleaner decision-making, not just memorizing the last answer.

Students often land on this page after searching for terms like IELTS Academic Listening practice test, IELTS Academic Listening practice questions, IELTS Academic Listening free practice test, IELTS Academic Listening study guide, IELTS Academic Listening reading detail questions, IELTS Academic Listening listening interpretation review. That is why the free sample gives you 10 questions first and the full version goes deeper into the tested patterns.

Frequently asked questions

What does this purchase include?

Purchase access to the current 6-question practice bank, with exam mode, study mode, answers and rationales. The free sample is separate. Purchase includes the current bank only.

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After successful payment, sign in with your checkout account and open the exam from your account. You can use exam mode and study mode with answer rationales.

Is this an official exam or a passing-score guarantee?

No. This is independent practice material. Use current official exam objectives and authoritative references alongside it.

Question-linked study articles

Study articles that support IELTS Academic Listening prep

These guides come from this exam's question topics. Use them after a missed question to review the concept, answer reasoning, distractors, and sources.

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