IELTS Listening Practice Test 157
4 parts · 40 questions · about 33 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 an interview about the management of complex engineering projects.
Questions 1–4
Answer the questions below.
Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer.
Questions 5–10
Complete the table below.
Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS for each answer.
Project planning stages
| Planning element | Specific detail |
|---|---|
Preparatory endpoint | Formal before operations commence |
Core activity | applying recognised system to a purpose |
Initial test | flight test |
Ultimate goal | return humans to the |
Planning unit | separate |
Handover | operations team is given the when it is time to fly |
Part 2: Questions 11–20
You will hear a radio programme about expressions related to revenge and getting even.
Questions 11–15
Choose the correct letter, A, B or C.
Questions 16–20
Complete the summary below.
Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS for each answer.
Two friends are discussing a recent incident. Tom's car had its slashed, which cost him a considerable sum to replace. He suspects his was behind it. In return, Tom had earlier damaged the of her vehicle. Footage from a captured the act, and she had to pay to the vehicle. The friends agree that the two are now even.
Part 3: Questions 21–30
You will hear a science interview about a study of preserved animal specimens.
Questions 21–25
Complete the sentences below.
Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer.
Questions 26–30
Choose the correct letter, A–H, next to Questions 26–30.
- A It was anticipated to harbour the greatest bacterial concentration.
- B It proved unexpectedly suitable for detecting the pathogen.
- C It was sought but never identified in the material.
- D It was the sole species yielding confirmed positive results.
- E It is recognised as an additional possible reservoir.
- F It relied on amplifying genetic material to detect the organism.
- G It was derived from a portion of the animals examined.
- H It involved borrowing material from a range of collections.
Part 4: Questions 31–40
You will hear a science podcast interview about how respiratory viruses affect one another.
Questions 31–40
Complete the notes below.
Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS for each answer.
Notes on Viral Interference Research
Recognising the phenomenon
- In animal experiments, record whether the rises or falls
- Enteroviruses are able to attack the
Early vaccine research
- The vaccine also guarded against dangerous enteroviruses such as
- The concept was then neglected for a number of
Direction and scope
- A prior influenza infection lowered the of the coronavirus
- Gut viruses including noroviruses and remain under-researched
Mechanism
- Infected cells release substances called
- Secretion also begins in cells of the
Interactions and triggers
- Positive (additive or ) interactions boost viral growth and worsen the outcome
- The between the two infections is one relevant factor
About this listening test
| Part | Recording | Questions | Question types |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coordinating High-Risk Engineering Operations | 1–10 | Short-answer questions, Table completion |
| 2 | The Language of Payback | 11–20 | Multiple choice, Summary completion |
| 3 | Leprosy in Armadillo Specimens | 21–30 | Sentence completion, Matching features |
| 4 | How Viruses Interfere with Each Other | 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: Artemis Mission Management (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: An Eye for an Eye. VOA Learning English (learningenglish.voanews.com), public domain
- Part 3: Mycobacterium leprae in Armadillo Tissues from Museum Collections, United States (CDC, Emerging Infectious Diseases podcast). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Emerging Infectious Diseases podcast (work of the US federal government, public domain)
- Part 4: Viral Interference between Respiratory Viruses (CDC, Emerging Infectious Diseases podcast). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Emerging Infectious Diseases podcast (work of the US federal government, public domain)