Building level · British accent · Free
IELTS Listening Academic Test 1
A full 4-part, 40-question listening test at band 5.5 difficulty, recorded with British accent audio, taken under the real 30-minute computer-delivered timing and graded the moment you finish.
What is in this test?
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Band 5.5 (Building) |
| Accent | British accent audio |
| Format | 4 parts · 40 questions · audio plays once |
| Timing | 30 minutes, computer-delivered interface |
| Grading | Instant, with standard raw-score-to-band conversion |
| Review | Per-question transcript locations after submission |
Like the real exam, the four sections climb from everyday conversation to an academic lecture, and the audio never repeats. Band 5.5 calibration means a candidate targeting band 5.5 should score about 18/40 here on a good day (the official conversion for band 5.5), and is ready for the next test at 23/40.
What do you hear in each part of Test 1?
| Part | What you hear | Questions |
|---|---|---|
| 1 · Conversation | A call to a sports club about becoming a member | Note completion |
| 2 · Talk | The centre manager’s welcome talk at a community centre open day | Map labelling, multiple choice |
| 3 · Discussion | Students agree how to run an urban planning project | Matching, multiple choice |
| 4 · Lecture | A lecture on urban heat islands and sustainable architecture | Note completion |
Parts 1 and 2 are set in everyday life and Parts 3 and 4 in education, as in the real test. Each part has ten questions, so the question types above tell you what to practise before you start.
How should you approach a band-5.5 listening test?
Band-5.5 tests introduce light paraphrase: the recording says "twice a week" while the question asks how often. Train yourself to hold the question meaning in mind rather than waiting for its exact words. Target 18+/40 here before stepping up. That is the accuracy floor that becomes band 6.5 on harder material.
Why practice with a British accent?
Standard southern-British pronunciation drops the "r" after vowels ("car" ≈ "cah") and reduces unstressed syllables heavily. Numbers like "thirty" vs "thirteen" are distinguished by stress position: first syllable for tens, second for teens. This is the accent most official IELTS recordings favour, so comfort here pays off directly.
Try a sample question first
Form completion. Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER.
Audio: “Receptionist: "Could I take your name?" — Caller: "It's Anna Whitfield — that's W-H-I-T-F-I-E-L-D." — Receptionist: "And the best number to reach you?" — Caller: "My mobile — 0774 double-two nine, oh eight one five."”
Question: Surname: ____
Answer: Whitfield. Section 1 tests transcription of spelled-out names. The speaker spells it letter by letter, so every letter must be right, and this is where "easy" marks are lost.
This sample was written for this page; the 40 questions in the actual test are different.
How do I take this test?
- Create a free account (no card): the Free plan includes unlimited listening practice
- Open Listening and choose Academic Test 1
- Sit the full 30 minutes in one block, exactly as on test day
- Review every lost mark against the transcript, then drill that question type
When you clear 23/40 here, step up to Test 2 (band 6.0).
More tests at band 5.5: Test 4, Test 10, Test 15. More British recordings: Test 7, Test 11, Test 15, Test 19.
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