Expert level · Indian accent · Free
IELTS Listening Academic Test 13
A full 4-part, 40-question listening test at band 8.0 difficulty, recorded with Indian 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 8.0 (Expert) |
| Accent | Indian 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 8.0 calibration means a candidate targeting band 8.0 should score about 35/40 here on a good day (the official conversion for band 8.0), and is ready for the next test at 37/40.
What do you hear in each part of Test 13?
| Part | What you hear | Questions |
|---|---|---|
| 1 · Conversation | A caller arranges an urgent visit from a plumber | Note and table completion |
| 2 · Talk | A volunteer coordinator’s induction at a community food bank | Matching, multiple choice |
| 3 · Discussion | A tutor and students compare water purification methods | Matching, multiple choice |
| 4 · Lecture | A lecture on the history of writing | 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-8.0 listening test?
Band-8.0 tests are calibrated so even strong candidates drop marks on inference-flavoured multiple choice and dense matching sets. Perfect the mechanics first (you should be losing zero marks to spelling or limits), then drill the two question types that remain: MCQs whose wrong options all appear in the audio, and matching tasks that reward noting speaker attitude, not just facts.
Why practice with a Indian accent?
The official IELTS test uses native-speaker accents (mainly British and Australian), so you will not hear Indian English on exam day. We include it in practice because it is one of the most widely spoken world Englishes. Training on syllable-timed rhythm, retroflex consonants and different stress placement builds the general listening flexibility you will need at university and at work abroad.
Try a sample question first
Flow-chart completion. Write ONE WORD ONLY.
Audio: “Lecturer: "Once the samples are collected, they're not analysed immediately — first they're filtered to remove sediment, then frozen for transport, and only then analysed in the lab."”
Question: Collect samples → ____ → freeze → analyse
Answer: filter / filtered. The audio inserts "not analysed immediately" precisely to bait candidates into skipping ahead. Flow-charts score the sequence, and the marker to listen for is "first".
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 13
- 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
Warm up one level down with Test 12 (band 7.5). When you clear 37/40 here, step up to Test 14 (band 5.0).
More tests at band 8.0: Test 8, Test 19. More Indian recordings: Test 3, Test 6, Test 10, Test 17.
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