Highlights 

• The number of questions: You need to answer 40 questions from 4 audio recordings. 
• Exam duration and the passing mark: The exam duration is 30 minutes and there is no standard passing mark. However, the test responses are scored in the areas of Task Achievement, Coherence and cohesion, Lexical resource, Grammatical range and accuracy
• Listening band score: You will get the listening band score on a range of band 0 to band 9. 
• Marking criteria: Out of 40 questions, the number of correct answers converted to a 0-9 band scale. 
• Standard cut-off of the top Universities: Above 6.5 listening band score is desired by most of the Universities. Top universities like MIT, and Harvard set the standard cut-off for IELTS listening scores from 7.0 to 7.
• Availability of the test result: After 3–5 days of the test completion, you will get your result. 

IELTS listening score is divided into 4 parts, where you need to answer 40 questions. In IELTS exam, instead of the raw score, you get to know about the IELTS listening band score. The listening band score is the converted raw score on a scale of 0-9. For example, if your raw score is 35 out of 40, then you will obtain band 8 as your IELTS listening score. You need to answer those questions based on 4 audio recordings within 30 mins. The test is the same for both the General Training Test and the Academic test.  The cut-off for top Universities like Harvard, Cambridge, and MIT ranges between 7.0 to 7.5. To obtain the highest IELTS listening mark, you need to consider all questions like multiple choice, sentence completion, summary completion, matching, and many more. After 3–5 days of your IELTS test, you will get the IELTS listening score.

IELTS Listening Score Calculation

IELTS listening score and band are calculated from the raw scores obtained by candidates. IELTS band score in listening is determined based on 40 questions. Candidates are given 1 mark for each correct answer, and scores out of 40 are converted to the IELTS 9-band scale. The raw score for listening IELTS between 17 and 30 is considered as an intermediate category. Candidates are allotted 40 questions in the listening exam. The number of correct answers represents the raw scores.

IELTS Listening Score Descriptors

IELTS listening score and band show the candidate’s English language understanding abilities. Candidates need a better understanding of IELTS listening topics to get their desired score. IELTS listening points evaluate the listening, understanding, and retaining skills of a candidate. IELTS listening results of 8.0 band show that the aspirants have a good proficiency level in English. IELTS listening band score signifies your proficiency level in terms of expert, very good, good, competent and other levels. Here’s a table that shows the candidate’s proficiency level according to their achieved IELTS band:

IELTS Listening Cutoff for Top Universities

IELTS score is accepted by the top universities worldwide. IELTS listening cut off varies and depends on the university's requirements. Most universities like Oxford, Cambridge, and Stanford accept a 7.0 IELTS listening band score academic. Candidates must be prepared before the IELTS exam dates, to achieve a good listening band score.

Preparation Tips on Listening IELTS

The listening section of IELTS syllabus is the same for both general and academic exams. Candidates can improve their listening for IELTS by practicing different accents, improving vocabulary skills, and regularly practicing with sample papers. Students need an effective IELTS preparation strategy to achieve a good listening band score academic. Here are some preparation tips, that help candidates achieve a good band for IELTS listening:

• Before starting the recording, must read all the questions carefully.
• There will be an options list to pick a question. It is not necessary to answer accordingly as the candidates hear.
• Candidates can go through some of the best IELTS books, to understand the exam pattern and syllabus.
• Note down the word limits for every section. If the instruction says; ‘write no more than three words”, then stick to it.
• Be Always attentive and look out for keywords and synonyms.
• If a candidate finds it difficult to answer any question, it is suggested to leave it and move on.
• The candidates who are taking IELTS on paper, are given an extra 10 minutes to transfer their answers.
• Practice regularly with IELTS sample papers, which helps to understand the exam pattern.

The score for listening IELTS shows the candidate's listening, understanding, and retaining abilities. The minimum IELTS score to get admission into top universities worldwide is 7.0 band. Candidates need good time management skills and effective preparation for the listening section