IELTS Listening Practice Test 36
4 parts · 40 questions · about 36 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 radio interview with a musician and then a conversation about superheroes.
Questions 1–5
Complete the form below.
Write ONE WORD AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer.
Emma G's summer plans
Performances: early , at several venues in Austin, Texas
Anna says that week is her week
Music camp in Chicago: mid-
Emma's role at the camp:
Anna's mother lives about hours from Chicago
Questions 6–10
Complete the table below.
Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS for each answer.
Anna's Superhero Attempts
| Topic | Detail |
|---|---|
Young man's preference | would rather have been |
Anna's preference | gain powers through |
First power attempted | |
Second power attempted | |
Third power attempted |
Part 2: Questions 11–20
You will hear a radio report about Memorial Day in the United States.
Questions 11–15
Complete the sentences below.
Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer.
Questions 16–20
Choose the correct letter, A, B or C.
Part 3: Questions 21–30
You will hear a host talking to two NASA engineers about how they became interested in their fields and the programmes they joined.
Questions 21–25
Choose the correct letter, A, B or C.
Questions 26–30
Choose FIVE answers from the box and write the correct letter, A–G, next to Questions 26–30.
- A It involved studying the effects of radiation on living organisms.
- B It offered experience of independent and team-based biology work.
- C It was a team project with other university students.
- D It came after taking part in a university team challenge.
- E It was based at the Johnson Space Center.
- F It was recommended by a postgraduate researcher.
- G It provided her first introduction to human spaceflight.
Part 4: Questions 31–40
You will hear a talk about research into children reading books that deal with difficult subjects.
Questions 31–35
Complete the summary using the list of words, A–I, below.
Summary of book-banning and reading research
PEN America, a free-speech organisation, recorded over 1,500 titles removed by US schools in 2022–2023, a rise of Drop or choose answer per cent on the previous year. A Florida-based parents’ group argues that some library materials are unsuitable and Drop or choose answer. Researchers Ivey and Johnston found that so-called disturbing fiction aided pupils’ academic and emotional growth, and that Drop or choose answer reported improvements in their children. In a year-long middle-school study, eighth-graders selected their own books and read them in class without Drop or choose answer to finish or complete assignments. Later, the researchers interviewed 71 pupils; the researchers also spoke to the pupils' parents and Drop or choose answer.
- A 33
- B harmful
- C parents
- D pressure
- E teachers
- F policymakers
- G internet
- H movies
- I schoolwork
Questions 36–40
Complete the notes below.
Write ONE WORD AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer.
Effects of challenging fiction
- Pupils grew towards fictional characters.
- Their reflections on characters’ motives extended to the characters’ .
- The researchers observed improved moods and, for some, an opportunity to after sadness or depression.
- The books made pupils willing to the topics with adults and peers.
- Students described titles that throw them , prompting a wish to talk to someone else.
About this listening test
| Part | Recording | Questions | Question types |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | A musician's summer | 1–10 | Form completion, Table completion |
| 2 | Memorial Day | 11–20 | Sentence completion, Multiple choice |
| 3 | How two engineers found their careers | 21–30 | Multiple choice, Matching features |
| 4 | Why difficult books help young readers | 31–40 | Summary completion (word list), 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: Let's Learn English, Lesson 23: Rock Star / Let's Learn English, Lesson 24: I Feel Super!. VOA Learning English (learningenglish.voanews.com), public domain
- Part 2: Americans Observe Memorial Day. VOA Learning English (learningenglish.voanews.com), public domain
- Part 3: The Path to Success (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: Researchers: Books about Difficult, Adult Subjects Make Kids Better Readers. VOA Learning English (learningenglish.voanews.com), public domain