IELTS Listening Practice Test 103
4 parts · 40 questions · about 30 minutes of audio. Below are all the questions. Take the test in your free dashboard to play the recordings, answer as you listen, and get your band score with the transcript of every answer.
Part 1: Questions 1–10
You will hear a conversation about the importance of preserving historical records and data.
Questions 1–10
Complete the form below.
Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer.
Preservation of Historical Records
Organizational Aspects
- Staff demonstrate strong to the work.
- The work is described as extremely .
- A tour will be given to a where the work is done.
- When handling a of film, staff feel they are holding history.
- A discovered film revealed the initial of a building.
- Staff take considerable in their tasks.
- It is special to be the to touch a particular piece of film.
Archival Criteria
- Specific determine what must be saved.
- Examples of records include .
- Records constitute a .
Part 2: Questions 11–20
You will hear a language programme about how English speakers describe birthdays.
Questions 11–15
Complete the summary below.
Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer.
Birthday references
The speaker explains that a birthday can be given broadly by naming the , such as winter, more precisely by naming the , such as August, or by naming the , whereas a birthdate denotes the . By way of illustration, a relative’s birthdate is given as .
Questions 16–20
Choose the correct letter, A–H.
- A It uses a favourable adjective to assess a past celebration.
- B It uses a courteous expression of a celebration preference.
- C It uses a past-tense account of an excursion.
- D It uses a modal auxiliary for an age not yet reached.
- E It contrasts a present request with an on-the-day experience.
- F It uses a current-tense form for an age reached on the day.
- G It uses a structure showing a celebration already arranged.
- H It uses a past-tense form for an age already attained.
Part 3: Questions 21–30
You will hear a professional conversation about managing cargo and supporting scientific investigations.
Questions 21–26
Choose the correct letter, A, B or C.
Questions 27–28
Choose TWO letters, A–E.
Questions 29–30
Choose TWO letters, A–E.
Part 4: Questions 31–40
You will hear a talk about the history and practical uses of nautical charts.
Questions 31–40
Complete the notes below.
Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer.
Nautical Charting: Progress and Priorities
Mapping progress
- Many existing depth measurements are old .
- Only a small fraction of global seas has been surveyed to contemporary .
- Certain waters, including the Arctic, remain , with no depth readings.
Security and trade
- Precise charts are vital for safeguarding a country’s .
- Specialist can clear a harbour faster after a suspected threat.
- The economy’s approach means ports must reopen rapidly.
Historical and commercial significance
- The predecessor agency was founded in .
- The share of American merchandise moved by water is largest when assessed by .
- The marine network is often described as an unseen .
- A large vessel’s submerged section may equal the height of a .
About this listening test
| Part | Recording | Questions | Question types |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Preserving Historical Media | 1–10 | Form completion |
| 2 | Talking About Birthdays | 11–20 | Summary completion, Matching features |
| 3 | Coordinating Cargo and Research | 21–30 | Multiple choice, Multiple choice (choose more than one) |
| 4 | Charting Coastal Waters | 31–40 | Note completion |
How to use it
- Open the test in your dashboard. Each part has its own track with the spoken instructions and the time to read the questions, as in the real exam.
- For exam practice, play each part once at 1× speed. To train your ear, slow it down or replay sections.
- Select words in a question to highlight the keywords you are listening for.
- After submitting, use “Show in transcript” to see exactly where each answer was said.
Audio sources
The recordings are real, copyright-free audio. The questions are written by Sprechify, and the spoken instructions use a synthetic voice.
- Part 1: Digital Space (NASA Houston We Have a Podcast). NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston We Have a Podcast (NASA audio is generally not subject to copyright in the US)
- Part 2: Describing Your Birthday. VOA Learning English (learningenglish.voanews.com), public domain
- Part 3: Space Cargo (NASA Houston We Have a Podcast). NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston We Have a Podcast (NASA audio is generally not subject to copyright in the US)
- Part 4: World Maritime Day 2009 (NOAA Making Waves podcast). NOAA National Ocean Service, Making Waves podcast (work of the US federal government, public domain)