IELTS Listening Practice Test 41
4 parts · 40 questions · about 34 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 podcast interview with two NASA managers about their careers and their work on the Gateway program.
Questions 1–6
Complete the form below.
Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer.
NASA Career Details
Jon Olansen
- First position at Johnson Space Center:
- Role in the crew office:
- Program worked on:
- Award received in 2022: NASA Medal
Holly Ridings
- Year of first Dragon mission:
- Years as chief flight director:
Questions 7–10
Choose the correct letter, A, B or C.
Part 2: Questions 11–20
You will hear a report about the job prospects facing international students who study in the United States.
Questions 11–15
Choose the correct letter, A, B or C.
Questions 16–20
Complete the summary below.
Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer.
ACE has alerted government officials that talented students are turning to Canada and the UK, where they find better . Meanwhile, the yearly quota of new H-1B visas remains fixed at and is unlikely to be altered. Merely obeying the rules — for example, never revealing an to settle during the visa interview — is not enough: candidates must be exceptional and also somewhat . Bhatt now regrets his decision, since firms are increasingly work to Mexico, Vietnam and India.
Part 3: Questions 21–30
You will hear a podcast conversation involving astronauts and space agency staff.
Questions 21–24
Answer the questions below.
Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer.
Questions 25–30
Choose SIX answers from the box and write the correct letter, A–G, next to Questions 25–30.
- A was in charge of Expedition 53
- B was a flight engineer from the European Space Agency
- C was a flight engineer for Expeditions 53 and 54
- D formed part of the crew already on the station
- E delivered scientific material for a month
- F welcomed a replacement crew
- G co-hosted the programme
Part 4: Questions 31–40
You will hear a scientist recounting how a NASA mission proposal developed and how she received the final decision.
Questions 31–35
Complete the summary using the list of words, A–I, below.
Summary of the mission proposal
Her involvement began after a co-authored scientific Drop or choose answer attracted both interest and criticism. Two JPL scientists then invited her to propose a mission testing ideas about core formation. Preparation had to start well before NASA’s formal call because the notice period was too short. By 2014, a large volunteer team had helped produce a detailed first-stage Drop or choose answer. After competing against many rivals, the team was shortlisted for a second Drop or choose answer. A professional Drop or choose answer then questioned them intensively during a site visit. In the end, Psyche and Lucy were both chosen for Drop or choose answer.
- A article
- B application
- C contest
- D expert panel
- E space mission
- F electronic message
- G formal notice
- H vehicle
- I orbiting relay
Questions 36–40
Complete the notes below.
Write ONE WORD AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer.
The decision call
Decision call
- The official notification was expected in early .
- Lindy was staying in a small Massachusetts house during the Christmas holiday.
- Her husband had travelled to a .
- The call arrived at approximately .
- It came on her phone rather than the landline.
- The person ringing was from NASA and was about three hours early.
About this listening test
| Part | Recording | Questions | Question types |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Leading the Gateway project | 1–10 | Form completion, Multiple choice |
| 2 | International students and jobs | 11–20 | Multiple choice, Summary completion |
| 3 | Photographing Earth from space | 21–30 | Short-answer questions, Matching features |
| 4 | Winning a mission to an asteroid | 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: Their Paths to Gateway (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: International Students Face Uncertain Job Market at Home, in US. VOA Learning English (learningenglish.voanews.com), public domain
- Part 3: Live from Space: Astronaut Photography (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: Psyche (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)