IELTS Listening Practice Test 116
4 parts · 40 questions · about 32 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 between a host and an experienced project leader about his professional background and a new transport craft.
Questions 1–10
Complete the notes below.
Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer.
Notes on Professional Background and Vehicle Design
Background and expertise
- Originally trained as an rather than an engineer.
- Describes his approach to problems as highly .
- Joined the Command and Data Handling group in .
- Moved to a different team before becoming a flight director.
- Working with European partners encouraged him to consider approaches.
Vehicle design and operation
- The crew module has capacity for up to occupants.
- After landing, the company is responsible for the vehicle.
- Can serve as an emergency if the station must be evacuated.
- Unlike the shuttle, it lacks a large .
- Agency required the craft to be .
Part 2: Questions 11–20
You will hear a radio programme about several English idioms.
Questions 11–15
Complete the sentences below.
Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS for each answer.
Questions 16–20
Choose FIVE answers from the box and write the correct letter, A–G, next to Questions 16–20.
- A The speaker considers the other person cruel.
- B It could lead to an unfavourable impression of the speaker.
- C The speaker requests a temporary place to rest.
- D It generates considerable noise at an unsuitable time.
- E The speaker plans to raise the issue at a later stage.
- F It has caused a prolonged absence of rest.
- G The speaker has already requested that the behaviour cease.
Part 3: Questions 21–30
You will hear a podcast about how changing ocean chemistry affects marine species and the people who depend on them.
Questions 21–25
Choose the correct letter, A, B or C.
Questions 26–30
Complete the summary below.
Write ONE WORD AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer.
Coastal Monitoring Efforts
The ocean has become approximately more acidic since the pre-industrial era, a change attributed to atmospheric carbon dioxide from fossil fuel use and land conversion. If emissions remain unchecked, surface acidity could rise by by the century's end, producing conditions not seen for over million years. To track these shifts, residents of more than twenty coastal communities—largely indigenous groups—are gathering water samples to establish reference points. Additional monitoring is conducted through at-sea moorings, underwater gliders, and even a that operates between two Alaskan ports.
Part 4: Questions 31–40
You will hear a podcast interview with a scientist who studies sand.
Questions 31–35
Complete the table below.
Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS for each answer.
Sand Colour and Composition
| Colour | Origin or distinguishing feature | Location cited |
|---|---|---|
White | produced from the remains of | — |
Pink | formed from the shells of | Bahamas |
Black | derived from rock of the type | volcanic regions |
Tan | composed chiefly of quartz and | east coast of the United States |
Various | appears mixed when viewed through a | — |
Questions 36–40
Choose the correct letter, A, B or C.
About this listening test
| Part | Recording | Questions | Question types |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Leading a Technical Team | 1–10 | Note completion |
| 2 | Interpreting Common English Idioms | 11–20 | Sentence completion, Matching features |
| 3 | Marine Chemistry and Fisheries | 21–30 | Multiple choice, Summary completion |
| 4 | Investigating the Value of Sand | 31–40 | Table completion, Multiple choice |
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: Go Starliner! (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: It's Time to 'See the Light'. VOA Learning English (learningenglish.voanews.com), public domain
- Part 3: Future Ocean Podcast Series (NOAA Ocean Podcast). NOAA National Ocean Service, NOAA Ocean Podcast (work of the US federal government, public domain)
- Part 4: Digging into the Science of Sand (NOAA Ocean Podcast). NOAA National Ocean Service, NOAA Ocean Podcast (work of the US federal government, public domain)