Building level · British accent · Free
IELTS Listening Academic Test 15
A full 4-section, 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 sections · 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 30/40 here on a good day.
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 28+/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
Table completion. Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS.
Audio: “Organiser: "Monday's session covers CV writing. Wednesday we do interview technique, and Friday's slot — that's the popular one — is salary negotiation."”
Question: Friday session topic: ____
Answer: salary negotiation. Day-to-topic binding under time pressure. The aside ("that's the popular one") is inserted between the day and its topic to break your tracking, so hold the row until its value lands.
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 15
- 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 14 (band 5.0). When you clear 32/40 here, step up to Test 16 (band 6.5).
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