IELTS Listening Practice Test 181
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 researcher discussing a fieldwork project carried out in urban parks.
Questions 1–10
Complete the table below.
Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer.
Urban Tick Survey
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
Main question | how the affects the risk of Lyme disease |
Equipment for collecting ticks | a |
Cloth checked every | |
Ticks kept in | |
Footwear | |
Trousers tucked into | |
Time to collect young ticks | about |
Time for testing and analysis | about |
Animal that carries adult ticks far | |
Highest infection rate in parks | up to |
Part 2: Questions 11–20
You will hear a scientist discuss the history of influenza research and a stained-glass artwork inspired by it.
Questions 11–15
Choose the correct letter, A, B or C.
Questions 16–20
Complete the notes below.
Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer.
Stained-Glass Window Project
The trip
- Trip date:
- Lunch venue: a
The artwork
- Animal depicted: a
Working with the artist
- Academic experience: lacked any in scientific work
- Materials supplied: scientific reviews and
Part 3: Questions 21–30
You will hear a podcast interview about foodborne disease outbreaks.
Questions 21–25
Complete the summary using the list of words, A–I, below. Write the correct letter in each gap.
Early findings on foodborne disease
Researchers have identified approximately Drop or choose answer distinct foodborne diseases, most of which are infections. Salmonella is responsible for an estimated Drop or choose answer infections annually in the United States. Although scientists have described over 2,500 serotypes of Salmonella, only a small minority are known to cause Drop or choose answer; a foodborne outbreak is generally defined as an incident in which Drop or choose answer people contract the same illness after consuming contaminated food or drink. Cases of Salmonella Typhimurium have shown a Drop or choose answer trend since the mid-1980s, yet it remains a commonly reported serotype.
- A 420
- B infections in humans
- C 26,500
- D 250
- E downward
- F 2,500
- G two or more
- H 1.35 million
- I fewer than 100
Questions 26–30
Choose the correct letter, A, B or C.
Part 4: Questions 31–40
You will hear a podcast in which a researcher explains how she designed a simple fabric face covering.
Questions 31–35
Complete the summary below.
Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS for each answer.
Although no breathable mask can fully block the smallest droplets, the speaker maintains that the of virus taken in matters, since a reduced amount affords the body time to mount an response. She adds that individuals who are may release fewer particles when masked. Turning to her design, she boiled the fabric to achieve and otherwise used only a and scissors, as these items are obtainable worldwide.
Questions 36–40
Complete the sentences below.
Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS for each answer.
About this listening test
| Part | Recording | Questions | Question types |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Surveying Ticks in Urban Parks | 1–10 | Table completion |
| 2 | Influenza Research and Stained Glass | 11–20 | Multiple choice, Note completion |
| 3 | Investigating Foodborne Outbreaks | 21–30 | Summary completion (word list), Multiple choice |
| 4 | Designing a Fabric Face Covering | 31–40 | Summary completion, Sentence 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: Lyme Disease and Connected Landscapes, New York City (CDC, Emerging Infectious Diseases podcast). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Emerging Infectious Diseases podcast (work of the US federal government, public domain)
- Part 2: Stained Glass & Flu (CDC, Emerging Infectious Diseases podcast). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Emerging Infectious Diseases podcast (work of the US federal government, public domain)
- Part 3: Response to Multistate Salmonella Typhimurium Outbreak from Prepackaged Chicken Salad, United States, 2018 (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: Making a Simple Respiratory Mask (CDC, Emerging Infectious Diseases podcast). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Emerging Infectious Diseases podcast (work of the US federal government, public domain)