Building level · American accent · Free
IELTS Listening Academic Test 4
A full 4-part, 40-question listening test at band 5.5 difficulty, recorded with American 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 | American 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 4?
| Part | What you hear | Questions |
|---|---|---|
| 1 · Conversation | A customer books a car service and MOT test | Note completion |
| 2 · Talk | A head librarian’s orientation for new library members | Multiple choice |
| 3 · Discussion | A tutor and a student discuss a sustainable housing design | Matching, multiple choice |
| 4 · Lecture | A lecture on the science of sleep | 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 American accent?
American speakers pronounce the "r" everywhere, flap the "t" between vowels ("water" ≈ "wadder"), and use different everyday vocabulary such as apartment, vacation and semester. IELTS accepts both spelling systems, but be consistent within one answer sheet.
Try a sample question first
Sentence completion. Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS.
Audio: “Coordinator: "Volunteers don't need experience, but everyone must attend a safety briefing before their first shift — no exceptions, I'm afraid."”
Question: Before starting, all volunteers must attend a ____.
Answer: safety briefing. The answer is a two-word noun phrase heard directly, but the question paraphrases "before their first shift" as "before starting". A small paraphrase, band-5.5 style.
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 4
- 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 3 (band 6.5). When you clear 23/40 here, step up to Test 5 (band 6.0).
More tests at band 5.5: Test 1, Test 10, Test 15. More American recordings: Test 8.
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