IELTS Listening Practice Test | 2026-02-10

**Narrator:** Now turn to section one. Section one, you will hear a conversation between an IELTS candidate and an IELTS administrator. Look at the questions 1 to 5. Listen to the first part of the conversation and answer questions one to five.
**Candidate:** Good afternoon. I'm applying for a master's program at the University of Exat in the UK. I'm planning to register for the IELTS exam at your center next month. I have some questions I'd like to ask you before I register if that's okay.
**Administrator:** Certainly. Would you be taking the academic module?
**Candidate:** I think so, but I'll have to contact the university just to make sure.
**Administrator:** You'll probably need the academic because most universities don't accept the general training. And anyway, the procedures to register for the exam are the same for both the general and the academic modules.
**Candidate:** Good. My first question is whether I sit all parts of the exam on the same day. I don't live here you see and for me it would be more convenient to do all the papers on the same day.
**Administrator:** Unfortunately the speaking part is scheduled for Thursdays and reading, writing and listening tests take place on Saturdays. We can't change the days I'm afraid.
**Candidate:** That's a pity. Well, never mind. What sort of documents do I need to bring in order to register?
**Administrator:** You'll have to fill in the IELTS application form and bring an ID, a copy of your ID and two passport size photos on a white background.
**Candidate:** Will any ID do?
**Administrator:** We only accept original passports and national IDs.
**Candidate:** That's good to know. Did you say that reading, writing, and listening are scheduled for Saturday?
**Administrator:** That's right.
**Candidate:** Will I get a break in between the papers?
**Administrator:** I'm afraid there aren't any breaks between the papers. Each paper takes an hour to complete, so it's 3 hours straight through. You'll first do listening and then reading followed by the writing test. This is a standard requirement from Cambridge.
**Narrator:** Now look at the questions 6 to 10. As the conversation continues, complete questions 6 to 10.
**Candidate:** Okay. And how soon after the test can I pick up my results?
**Administrator:** It takes 13 calendar days for the results to be processed.
**Candidate:** Can you let me know how much it is and the form of payment?
**Administrator:** The examination fee is $200. You can pay by credit or debit card. We also accept checks. We only accept cash as a form of payment in exceptional circumstances.
**Candidate:** And one last question, can I mail you the application documents?
**Administrator:** Certainly. You can send all the documents by registered mail to our address 47 Clover Place, New Roshelle, New York.
**Candidate:** Can you spell New Rochelle for me, please?
**Administrator:** Certainly. N-E-W R-O-C-H-E-L-L-E.
**Candidate:** Could I have the zip code as well?
**Administrator:** Sure. Our zip code is 10806.
**Candidate:** Thanks. You can also email us at inquiry at examsmail.com or phone us at 3259082.
**Candidate:** I think that's all. Thank you very much for all the information. Bye.
**Administrator:** You're welcome. Goodbye.
**Narrator:** That is the end of section one. You now have half a minute to check your answers.

**Narrator:** Now turns to part two. Part two. You will hear a tour of a newly renovated health club. First, you have some time to look at questions 11 to 15. As you listen to the first part of the talk, answer questions 11 to 15.
**Guide:** Thank you all for coming to see the new renovations to the Hartford Health Club. I know you'll be as pleased as I am to see the wonderful results of our months of hard work to improve the club and bring you the best facilities ever. We'll begin here with the swimming pool. You'll notice the new color of the adult pool, a lovely cool green. Now, walk over here and look at the children's pool. It's the same green, but as you see, with brightly colored sea creatures painted everywhere. Both of the pools needed painting, not only for maintenance, but I think the new color greatly improves the atmosphere of this part of the club. Next, let's take a look at the locker rooms. Don't worry, there's no one using them just now. Doesn't it feel roomy in here? We've expanded both the men's and women's locker rooms, so now they'll be much more comfortable to use. There are bigger lockers, a good deal more room in the dressing area, and more places to store extra towels and equipment. Be careful as you walk through here. The floor's just been polished and may be a bit slippery. Let's go up to the exercise room next. Here you'll notice a new floor. Walk on it. Doesn't that feel comfortable? It's a special material, softer than the old floor. An ideal surface for jogging and exercising. They had to move all the exercise equipment out while they were working on the floor, but don't worry, it will be brought back in before the end of today. Let's step outside now and look at the tennis courts. We haven't done a great deal here except to the equipment. We replaced all the nets and the ball throwing machine. Otherwise, everything is the same as it was before. Let's walk down this hallway. And here we are at the club store in its new location. We thought here by the entrance was a better place for it than where it used to be by the swimming pool, but it still has all the same items for sale, sports equipment and clothes in the club colors.
**Narrator:** Before you hear the rest of the talk, you have some time to look at questions 16 to 20. Now listen and answer questions 16 to 20.
**Guide:** We're excited about the upcoming activities and events to take place in our newly renovated club. Now that the pools are ready for use again, swimming lessons will begin tomorrow for both adults and children. If you haven't signed up yet, you can stop by the office before you leave today and put your name on the list. If you're a tennis player, you'll be interested to hear about the tennis competition coming up on Wednesday. Players from different clubs all over the region will be participating. If you'd like to watch the event, tickets are available in the office. Also, I want to be sure you all know you're invited to our club party coming up next weekend. We're celebrating the completion of the renovation work, and we have a lot to celebrate. The entire renovation project was finished in just 9 months. That's 3 months less than the 12 months we'd originally planned on. We're proud of that and proud that we came in under budget, too. Because we've had such good results with this project, we're already planning the next one. We already have two indoor pools and next year we plan to install an outdoor pool right next to the tennis courts. Details of these plans will be made available to all club members soon. All right, I think we've covered just about everything. Are there any questions?
**Narrator:** That is the end of part two. You now have half a minute to check your answers.

**Narrator:** Now turn to section three. You will hear a business studies student called Sam talking to his tutor about an IT project he is going to do for a local company called Turners. First, you have some time to look at questions 21 to 26. Now listen and answer questions 21 to 26.
**Tutor:** Hello Sam. Come in and sit down.
**Sam:** Thanks.
**Tutor:** You're here to discuss your company-based IT project, aren't you?
**Sam:** Yes. I've been to see the manager and he's given me a lot of ideas about projects that the company would find useful, but I wanted to ask your opinion about them before I choose one.
**Tutor:** Yes, that's fine. Now, this company is called Turners, isn't it?
**Sam:** That's right. It's a small engineering company. They make machine components for trade use. They're well established. They started in 1976, but they're a bit old-fashioned.
**Tutor:** Okay. And what kind of projects did Turners suggest you could do for the company?
**Sam:** Well, they want some improvements made to their customer database. Uh, the one that they've got at the moment isn't very useful in some ways. I had a quick look at it.
**Tutor:** That would be a very straightforward project and it would be simple enough to evaluate, but I don't think you'd get enough out of a project like that. You wouldn't learn anything new.
**Sam:** Well, another project they suggested is to do with their online sales catalog. At the moment, customers can look at their products, but they can't actually order them online, which must affect their competitiveness. But I said I thought it would take too long. It's quite a big task.
**Tutor:** You're right. It's too much for the time you've got. It's a pity though.
**Sam:** Then they want some help with their payroll system. At the moment, the way they calculate pay involves a lot of manual accounting. I suggested they could have a system where employees register electronically when they arrive and leave work. So the hours they do could be transferred automatically.
**Tutor:** I think you'd get a lot out of a project like that. It would extend your skills, but it wouldn't be too much to take on. A student did something similar a couple of years ago, but this is slightly different.
**Sam:** Well, then they need help with their stock inventory. They do everything manually.
**Tutor:** Really?
**Sam:** Yes. And it takes so much time.
**Tutor:** It's probably very inaccurate, too. An electronic inventory would probably be the biggest single benefit for the company. I'm surprised they haven't had it done before.
**Sam:** I know. Then they wanted to improve their internal security. The manager had visited other companies where the staff use swipe cards to access various areas of the building. It sounded useful, but the trouble is I'm not really sure how to do it.
**Tutor:** Well, I think you're right in that assessment. At the moment, it's probably a bit beyond your level of knowledge. Is that all?
**Sam:** Just one more. Customer service. They want to be able to collect feedback from their customers in a more systematic way. At the moment, it's a bit of a mess and they probably lose business as a result.
**Tutor:** Would that involve you going to see customers at their own premises? Because in that case you might have to do a fair amount of traveling and that would incur expenses that haven't been agreed with these companies.
**Sam:** I never thought of that.
**Tutor:** Well, it might not be a problem, but it's something that needs clarifying. Well, I hope that's been helpful in narrowing down the options.
**Sam:** Yes, it has. Thanks. I'll be able to make a decision now. But while I'm here, can I talk to you about coursework?
**Tutor:** Sure.
**Narrator:** Now you have some time to look at questions 27 to 30. Now listen and answer questions 27 to 30.
**Sam:** I'm not very happy about the way our group assignment is working. There are some problems.
**Tutor:** Oh dear. Are people just not getting on with each other? That's the worst thing.
**Sam:** Actually, we're all friends. It's not that. But when we're having a discussion about the assignment, one or two people end up doing all the talking and the rest don't say anything. It's a bit frustrating because we need plenty of debate.
**Tutor:** Well, that's a common observation. You're studying in a group with people from all over the world and you all have your own ways of participating. In some places, students are more used to listening than talking and vice versa.
**Sam:** I suppose you're right. I'll try to remember that.
**Tutor:** Does everyone pull their weight as far as sharing the workload is concerned?
**Sam:** I'd say they do. Yes. And our group elected a leader. She's very good at making sure no one's overloaded. But personally, I feel that there are just too many of us in the group. Whenever we try to arrange a meeting, there's always at least one person who can't make it. It's not anyone's fault. It's just that we've all got slightly different timetables.
**Tutor:** Well, I'm glad you've talked to me about it. Feedback is always useful. Is there anything else you're concerned about?
**Sam:** Uh, there are a couple of problems with lecturers that all the students are talking about.
**Tutor:** Last semester, we had negative feedback about the way lectures were organized. There were several occasions when the wrong room had been booked or the same room had been booked twice, that sort of thing. Is that still a problem?
**Sam:** That hasn't happened at all, as far as I know.
**Tutor:** Oh, good. It's sorted out then.
**Sam:** But I don't know the reason, but some of the staff often turn up late, so we miss 10 or 15 minutes of our lecture time. It might be because they've been copying handouts for students. I think there's a queue for the machine sometimes.
**Tutor:** Well, I'll look into that. Thank you for telling me. Anything else?
**Sam:** The other thing is that it can be very difficult to get to see a lecturer individually. They're all very supportive and friendly when you do manage to find them, but often they're not in their office, even at times when they're meant to be available for consultation.
**Tutor:** Okay, that's helpful. Now, before you leave, uh, let...
**Narrator:** That is the end of section three. You now have half a minute to check your answers.

**Narrator:** Now it turns to part four. Part four, you will hear part of a lecture about psychological testing. First, you have some time to look at questions 31 to 40. Now listen carefully and answer questions 31 to 40.
**Lecturer:** Hello, my name is Alexandra Blayby and today I'll be talking about one of the ways in which personality can be assessed, psychometric testing. Psychometric literally means measuring the mind. And there are many carefully constructed tests which attempt to carry out this process. Probably the most common use for these tests is to help people find out the careers that most suit their personality. Many employers ask new job applicants to take a psychometric or personality test as part of their selection procedure. One of the features of this type of test is that there are no right or wrong answers to the questions. For this reason, it would be more accurate to call them assessments rather than tests. There are four main types of personality test currently in use. These are questionnaires, ratings tests, projective tests, and objective tests. Let's start by