IELTS Listening Practice Test | 2026-02-11

**Narrator:** You will hear a woman asking a shop assistant about DVD players. You now have 30 seconds to read questions 1 to 4. Now listen carefully and answer questions 1 to 4.
**Woman:** Hello, I'm interested in buying a DVD player. Can you help me as I don't know very much about them?
**Assistant:** Of course. We sell quite a range. Actually, we're doing a customer survey at the moment. So, I wonder if I could fill in this form about you and that will actually help me to advise you on the best DVD player for you.
**Woman:** Oh, okay.
**Assistant:** First of all, your occupation?
**Woman:** Um, student.
**Assistant:** Okay. Then, have you already got a DVD player?
**Woman:** Uh, no. I've never had one before.
**Assistant:** Uh-huh. And how much do you think you want to spend on a player?
**Woman:** I'm not sure really, but I have got a budget. My friend said I should allow about £100, but I can't afford over £85, so that's what I'm working on.
**Assistant:** Mhm. And do you watch DVDs very often?
**Woman:** Um, depends what you mean by often. I don't know what the norm is. Is it about two a week? Uh, I suppose I watch three a month. That's enough for me.
**Assistant:** Yes. What sort of films do you like watching then? Action movies?
**Woman:** Not really. My boyfriend always insists we watch science fiction movies, but I prefer thrillers. Something to get your teeth into.
**Assistant:** Okay, just one more. Do you watch other DVDs? Ones that are not films, like music or something?
**Woman:** Not much, because I don't want to spend the money on something I can watch on TV, but I occasionally rent out comedy programs, and I fight with my boyfriend over all the sports DVDs he watches.
**Narrator:** You now have 30 seconds to read questions 5 to 10. Now listen carefully and answer questions 5 to 10.
**Assistant:** Okay, let me explain a bit to you about the DVD players that are in your price range. First, there's the DB30 which has only got basic features, but it is a bargain at £69. Now, all the DVDs come with an after-sales service that starts when the guarantee runs out. As it's so cheap, the DB30 comes with a limited after-sales service as it only includes parts. You would have to pay for most of the repair.
**Woman:** Oh, it seems okay.
**Assistant:** Then a slight grade up from that is the XL 643. This comes with an additional feature in that it has an extra button allowing you to record. That's quite useful.
**Woman:** Oh, yes. That would mean spending less on DVDs to watch.
**Assistant:** Yes. So, you'd make the extra money back on it that it costs. Let me see how much it is. Uh ah yes, that one's actually reduced at the moment from £79 to £71.99. Oh, I think it's worth the extra, myself.
**Woman:** And is that the same level of after-sales service as the other one?
**Assistant:** Well, you get a bit more for your money because what we're offering is a discount on labor. So, you don't pay the full price if you have to call an engineer out.
**Woman:** I see.
**Assistant:** Then the last one is this Trix 24. It's a very good player and you can use it to listen to your CDs as well as watch DVDs.
**Woman:** It looks nice, but I bet it's expensive.
**Assistant:** No, it's not top of the range. Let's see. Yes, it's £94, but what you have to remember is that that includes insurance, so you don't have to pay extra for that. And it comes with a guarantee that's valid for 3 years as opposed to the usual one. What do you think?
**Narrator:** That is the end of part one. You now have half a minute to check your answers.

**Narrator:** You are going to hear the director of the leadership council give his welcome address at a convention. First you have some time to look at questions 11 to 15. Now listen carefully and answer questions 11 to 15.
**Director:** Ladies and gentlemen, can I have your attention, please? Please find your seats. Snacks will be available all day long. Thank you. Allow me to first introduce myself. I am Joe Steini, director of the leadership council. On behalf of the organizing committee for the 8th annual leadership conference, I welcome you all to San Deis, California for a special session on postmodern solutions. We have people attending from as far away as Toronto, New York, and even the Bahamas. Frankly, I wish we had gone to you there, but we're very glad you're all here. Let me say further that this will be our largest conference yet. Registrations have far surpassed our expectations. For the first 3 days, we will be hosting more than 325 participants for lectures and workshops. Another 100 will be joining us for our final two days and culminating session on Friday evening. We also have a larger selection of seminars than ever, a total of 32. Because we know that you all will want to attend a few special sessions, we will repeat key seminars each day. So there will actually be 38 sessions. I'm sure you will all be pleased with the content and the quality of speakers.
**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.
**Director:** Now for those who have opted not to take part in our bag lunches, there are a number of places nearby that we can recommend. We are located here in the convention center just across the street from the Harford Shopping Mall and the place we most recommend is Vital's which is just west across Queen Street on the opposite corner. Please be careful crossing both streets however as we don't want to lose any participants. If you're not up to Vital's you can also get some Italian food at the Olive Garden which is further down Queen Street and east on Danning Avenue across from the police station. They have a great minestrone soup and excellent bread sticks. All you can eat. On the other hand, if you want some good old American food, you can head to Fuddruckers for some big hamburgers or to the cattle company for some fat juicy steak. Fuddruckers is next to the Olive Garden, but the cattle company is back closer to us in the opposite direction of Vital's. Just go east out of the convention center across King Street. It's on the same side as the convention center, so you just have one street to cross. Enjoy. But also, please make sure you are back for the afternoon sessions. These will always start at 1:30 p.m. That will give you an hour and a half for lunch each day. Sessions will be over each day at 5:30. Now, regarding the schedules we've printed out, there have been a couple of last minute changes. The session titled new leadership strategies will no longer be held in seminar room 1, but in the main ballroom. This session has garnered much praise and is highly recommended to all, hence the change to a larger room. Another session has been cancelled. That session was titled leading by serving and it was scheduled for Daniel's room. The speaker for that session, Dr. Mark Green had to return home for some urgent health situation. We wish the best to Dr. Green and that all is fine with his family. Finally, the session titled Using the Arts and Media has been changed to the second lounge room, lounge 2. Please show up promptly for sessions and sit towards the front of each room so that all seats can be utilized. Also, turn off all pagers, beepers, and cell phones. Drinks and snacks will be provided outside each room, but please be careful at your tables. Enjoy the conference.
**Narrator:** That is the end of part two. You now have half a minute to check your answers.

**Narrator:** You will hear a student, Penny, talking to two friends, Ray and Louise, about a television competition Ray has entered called Travel Documentary. Before you hear the conversation, you have some time to look at questions 21 to 26. Now listen carefully and answer questions 21 to 26.
**Penny:** Hi. Haven't seen you two in ages. What have you been up to?
**Louise:** Hi Penny. Ray is really excited. He's just been shortlisted for travel documentary. He could be off traveling around the world for 3 months.
**Penny:** Travel documentary. What's that?
**Ray:** You've never heard of it? Don't you watch TV?
**Penny:** Well, actually, no. Hardly ever. Especially since I've started working on my thesis. I don't have time to breathe, let alone watch TV. So, what's this all about, Ray?
**Ray:** Well, actually, it's it's a competition run by public TV. It involves my two great loves, travel and film making.
**Penny:** Is it that program where people are sent around the world making documentary videos? I have heard of it. Fantastic. So, you've been chosen.
**Ray:** Not yet. I'm one of 34 selected for an interview next week. So, I've made it through the first cut.
**Louise:** Yeah, there were over 200 applicants from around the country. Pretty amazing, huh?
**Ray:** Well, I've been lucky so far.
**Penny:** What's the next stage?
**Ray:** 13 are chosen from the interview to do a 4-week training course in documentary film making. Then the eight finalists get sent off with a video camera to travel around the world.
**Penny:** Sounds incredible. What's the catch?
**Ray:** The catch is that every 2 weeks you have to send in a 10-minute video from a different part of the world. It's broadcast on TV along with the work of three of the other competitors and judged by a panel of experts and the TV audience. So, you're under a lot of pressure.
**Penny:** Wow. I guess so. You mean you're on television every 2 weeks?
**Ray:** Yep. That's right. But first, I have to be selected.
**Penny:** Do you have to have any film making experience to apply?
**Ray:** Some background in photography or video making helps, but you're not supposed to be an expert. In fact, you can't apply if you've already worked in film making. We all get the same 4-week course. So, we start with the same skills.
**Penny:** Can you go anywhere in the world you want?
**Ray:** Each competitor makes up his or her own travel plans and has to get them approved.
**Narrator:** Before the conversation continues, you have some time to look at questions 27 to 30. Now, as the conversation continues, answer questions 27 to 30.
**Penny:** Have you talked with anyone else who has done it?
**Ray:** As a matter of fact, just last week, I met Sarah Price, a girl from here who did it last year.
**Penny:** What did she have to say about it?
**Ray:** She said it was the most amazing experience of her life. But it was really tough at times.
**Louise:** I think you'd have to be really brave to take off like that alone with so much responsibility. It's not like going on a holiday, is it?
**Ray:** No. Two weeks in a country, often where you can't speak the language to find a story, film it, organize all the editing, then you're off to a completely different part of the world to start all over again. Pretty exhausting, but exciting, too.
**Penny:** What a way to see the world. What about Sarah Price? Did she have any bad experiences?
**Ray:** She said the worst part was when she got some mysterious fever in Mongolia and thought she might have to be sent home. Fortunately, it got better. But she said it was scary to feel really ill when you're alone so far away.
**Penny:** So, what made you want to apply?
**Ray:** When I saw the program on TV a while ago, I thought this is for me. I've always wanted to travel, but needed to work for a year before I could even think about it. Then a new series started up. I thought, now's my chance.
**Louise:** Don't you think you'll be lonely?
**Ray:** I don't think I'll have time to be homesick. I'm more worried about having too much to do and not enough time to get things organized.
**Penny:** So, we might be watching you on television in the next few months.
**Ray:** I hope so, if I'm lucky.
**Penny:** When will you know for sure?
**Ray:** They choose the final eight in March. A month later, you're on your way.
**Penny:** So, do you have to pay anything?
**Ray:** Nothing. It's all paid for. Course, camera, flights, accommodation, and in-country travel. The budget is pretty tight, though. No extras.
**Louise:** I sure hope you get it. Then I'll be finding time to watch at least one program on television every week.
**Narrator:** That is the end of part three. You now have half a minute to check your answers.

**Narrator:** Part four. You'll hear a teacher talking about several British art galleries. First, you have some time to look at questions 31 to 33. Now listen carefully and answer questions 31 to 33.
**Teacher:** Good afternoon. Welcome to the first class of V 100 art and history. The objectives of the course, as you will have seen if you've taken a look at the syllabus, include familiarizing yourselves with the vocabulary and language of art, learning about the basic elements of art and design, and finally discussing historical periods as they pertain to art. The course will also give you the opportunity to visit some of the many galleries and museums that Britain has to offer. So, having said that, I'd like to spend the rest of today's class talking about four of the more important galleries that we will be visiting in the coming year. As most of you already know, or at least I hope most of you know, there are four Tate galleries in all. To begin, I'd like to tell you a little bit about the Tate Modern. Tate Modern is located in a very busy part of London called the South Bank. It's close to two world-renowned tourist attractions, St. Paul's Cathedral and Shakespeare's Globe Theater. Now, interestingly enough, Tate Modern is housed in what was a power station built in several stages between 1947 and 1963. It was closed down in 1981 and reopened as a gallery in the year 2000. Tate Modern consists of five levels with the Tate collection being shown on the third and fifth levels. On level two, the works of contemporary artists are exhibited, while level four is used for holding large temporary exhibitions. Since this museum opened, it has become a popular spot for both Londoners and tourists alike. And believe it or not, it doesn't cost anything to get in to see the collection displays.
**Narrator:** Before you hear the rest of the talk, you have some time to look at questions 34 to 40. Now listen and answer questions 34 to 40.
**Teacher:** Now the second gallery I'd like to talk about is Tate St. Ives which is in Cornwall. It was built on the site of a gas works and it overlooks Porthmeor Beach. Tate St. Ives is housed in a three-story building that was designed by the architects Evans and Shaliff. It was established in 1993, 7 years before Tate Modern was opened and the gallery exhibits the works of modern British artists, including members of the St. Ives School, a group of artists living and working in the area from the 30s onwards. In later lectures, we'll be looking at the work of some of the artists who belong to that group and the ways in which they influenced each other. Okay. Am I going too fast for any of you? No. Good. Next, I want to talk about Tate Britain, which is a gorgeous gallery situated right in the heart of Westminster. Tate Britain was the first of the four Tate Galleries to open, and it was established in 1897. It was built on the site of an old prison, and when it first opened its doors, it was called the National Gallery of British Art. Later it became known as the Tate Gallery after the man who founded it, Sir Henry Tate. During its lifetime, Tate Britain has been damaged twice, once by floodwaters from the river Thames and once by bombings during World War II. This gallery has an interesting range of exhibitions of historic and modern art from 1500 up to the present day. Now, the last gallery I'd like to tell you about is called Tate Liverpool. It's not hard to figure out where this gallery is located, is it? It was opened in 1988 to exhibit displays from the Tate Collection, and it also has a program of temporary exhibitions. Tate Liverpool is housed in what was once a warehouse and for some years it was one of the biggest galleries of modern and contemporary art in the UK. Well, that's a brief overview of just a few of the galleries we'll be visiting. I'd like now to look in a little more detail at what you can expect to see in each of these galleries. Starting with Tate Britain.
**Narrator:** That is the end of part four. You now have half a minute to check your answers.