IELTS Listening Practice Test 87
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 an interview with a training official about her engineering career and professional development.
Questions 1–5
Complete the form below.
Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS for each answer.
Professional Background
Area of childhood fascination:
Mother's occupation:
Subject taught by an influential secondary-school teacher:
University degree subject:
Original intended area of technical design:
Questions 6–10
Choose the correct letter, A, B or C.
Part 2: Questions 11–20
You will hear an educational talk about methods for learning and remembering vocabulary.
Questions 11–14
Answer the questions below.
Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer.
Questions 15–20
Complete the notes below.
Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer.
Vocabulary Learning Notes
Building a visual lexicon
- Galvão recommends compiling visual dictionaries using illustrations sourced from .
- When the aim is to reinforce familiar vocabulary, entries should be listed in .
- Furthermore, the entries ought to be arranged into .
Keyword mnemonic strategy
- The technique generates a mental visualization linking two items.
- In the case of 'bald', the image should be held for approximately .
Memory expert
- Alex Mullen's professional background is that of a .
Part 3: Questions 21–30
You will hear a host interviewing a researcher about the use of electronic devices to study ocean animals.
Questions 21–25
Complete the table below.
Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer.
Uses and Design of Animal Tags
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
Ocean models | Tag data reduces errors in ocean |
Joint project | tag tracks shared with Navy and NOAA modellers |
Commercial fishing | helps fishermen to cut their |
Appearance of a tag | like a small chip or a |
Smallest tags | about the size of a |
Questions 26–30
Choose the correct letter, A, B or C.
Part 4: Questions 31–40
You will hear a podcast discussion about sea-level rise and how it is measured.
Questions 31–35
Complete the summary below.
Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS for each answer.
Regional Sea-Level Patterns
On the eastern seaboard of the United States, recent sea-level increases have exceeded the average, reaching roughly 20–25 centimetres over several months. This has been linked to shifts in circulation connected with cyclical ocean–atmosphere patterns, which are systems that alter the usual westerly winds and raise water levels, particularly in winter when can strike the coast. Elevated sea levels mean that storm-driven may reach unusually high elevations, causing in many New England towns. By contrast, on the West Coast the rise has over the past 15–20 years because of wind and ocean circulation.
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 | Preparing Operational Teams | 1–10 | Form completion, Multiple choice |
| 2 | Retaining Vocabulary Through Mental Imagery | 11–20 | Short-answer questions, Note completion |
| 3 | Studying Ocean Animals with Tags | 21–30 | Table completion, Multiple choice |
| 4 | Measuring Coastal Sea-Level Change | 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: Developing Artemis II Training (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: Images Can Help You Retain Vocabulary. VOA Learning English (learningenglish.voanews.com), public domain
- Part 3: Animal Tagging (NOAA Diving Deeper podcast). NOAA National Ocean Service, Diving Deeper podcast (work of the US federal government, public domain)
- Part 4: Sea Level Rise (NOAA Diving Deeper podcast). NOAA National Ocean Service, Diving Deeper podcast (work of the US federal government, public domain)