IELTS Listening Practice: Short Answer Questions. These questions can appear in any section of the IELTS listening test. You are required to listen to the recording and spot the answer to the question given.
Read through the questions before you listen to the audio. Predict the type of answer you need to listen for and underline any key words that might help you find the answer. Also prepare paraphrases as this is the key to IELTS.
IELTS Listening Short Answer Question Tips
- Check the title of the listening because they will tell you the type of language you are likely to hear.
- Note keywords in the question that:
- tell you the type of word you need to listening for, such as a noun, verb, adjective or number
- indicates the answer is coming in the recording
- Words given in the question are likely to be paraphrased.
- Pay attention to the word count for the answer.
- Get the answer from the recording – you need the precise word or words.
- The answers come in order.
IELTS Listening Short Answer Questions Practice
Listening Practice 1
Dashwood Sports Center
Questions 1-5: Write no more than two words and/or a number.
1. What time does the center open?
2. What kind of sports equipment does it sell?
3. How long do you have to return faulty items?
4. Who can give advice?
5. What time does it close on Tuesdays?
RECORDING:
Audio Player.
TRANSCRIPT & ANSWERS
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TranscriptAnswers.
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Listening Practice 2
Superbugs
Questions 1-8: Answers should be no more than two words and/or a number.
- Which mammals are often considered to be the strongest?
- How much weight in comparison to their body’s weight can a leaf-cutter ant pull?
- What animal was present on Earth when ants emerged?
- What are ant societies called?
- How much of the Earth’s biomass do ants make up?
- A dung beetle can pull the equivalent to what as a human being?
- What type of sound do dung beetles mostly use as communication?
- How much cattle dung are dung beetles thought to bury in some areas of Texas?
RECORDING:
Audio Player.
Vocabulary Focus Questions
Questions 9-13
Listening again to spot the paraphrases in the recording for the following words. Your answer should be one word only. These types of questions do NOT come in IELTS listening, but they are a great practice exercise for you.
- 9. impressive
- 10. pieces
- 11. lorry
- 12. audial
- 13. waste
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TRANSCRIPT & ANSWERS
Click below:
Transcript Answers.
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ALL LISTENING PRACTICE LESSONS & KEY TIPS
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Hi Liz! Your content is amazing, thank you so much.
One question: could it be possible to answer “large animals” instead of elephant rhino? it looks weird to me to answer that without adding an “and” between them (I know we can’t since it is two words and/or a number)
Don’t get confused between short answer questions, which require individual words with no grammar contexts, and sentence completion questions, where the sentence must be grammatically correct when completed. Anything that is an answer in note form does not require any grammar analysis. Short answers questions are answers in note form so not having an “and” in the answer is completely irrelevant.
The question number 6) answer is 6 Double Decker Buses. This is 3 words but question says not more than 2 words. Then how can this be the correct answer? Could you please explain
Thank!
As you can see, the word “double-decker” has a hyphen which makes it one word.
what does it mean when we have and/or a number in the question?
the number here is not counted like a word!
It means you can have a word with a number OR you can have a number only = and a number / or a number.
is it acceptable to write 9:00am instead of 9am?
We usually write only 9am. We don’t use the zeros.
Hey Liz,
In question no. 4 of practice 2, I wrote ‘colony’ instead of ‘colonies’ is this correct?
Part of an English language test is being able to recognise plurals. If the answer is plural but you write a singular noun, your answer would be marked wrong.
Hi liz…this practice lessons have been very helpful. thank you so much.
For question 7, I wrote Acoustic vibration…is there a penalty for not putting the acoustic in a bracket?
If you go to the bottom of this page: https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-listening/, you’ll find some useful tips which includes a link to learn about brackets.
Hi Liz, The practice have been helpful.
At SUPERBUGS, the answer to No. 6. is “6 DOUBLE-DECKER BUSES” But the instruction says “No more than two words and/or a number”
is “6 DOUBLE-DECKER BUSES” not more than two words?
The instructions are: “No More Than Two Words and/or A Number.
This means you can have:
two words and a number
one word and a number
or just a single number
As you see, the answer is two words and a number. The first word is a compound noun joined by a hyphen which is one word.
Hello, Liz
I wrote 9.00am daily, against just 9.00am.
Please, does that mean I got it wrong?
It would be marked wrong. The answer only requires a time.
Thank you for your response
Does “ex-pro” mean “expert”?
It means someone who was once a professional in their field but isn’t any more. “ex” means previously. If you look at people who were once professional sports players, they are sometimes referred to as ex-pros when they retire.
Thanks a lot 😄
Dear Liz,
Just to validate, I know you said that you recommend capital letters all through but in places where I see capital letters not needed, does it mean that I can still go ahead with the capital letters but it’s not compulsory?
The recommendation for capital letters is for handwriting so that the person marking your answer sheet doesn’t struggle with poor handwriting which could cause you to lose marks. Otherwise, it doesn’t matter if you use capital letters or not, unless the speaker in the recording specifically mentioned them.
I wrote Ex pro instead of the name John Roberts. That did throw me off.
Same here. I even spelt mine as X-pro
Dear Liz! Could I also write the answer of no.5″until 9pm” instead just “9pm”
No. With short answer questions you don’t need unnecessary words.
Hi Liz! Is it okay I write the time 9AM as 9:00 AM?
Sure. It’s fine.
Thanks for the quick reply Liz!
I forget to put “s” after John Roberts, did i get it wrong
The answer is either 100% correct or it is marked wrong. IELTS will test your ability to get the spelling right.
Is it wrong to write AT 9 AM or AT 9 PM ?
For first and last question?
You don’t need prepositions in your answers for short answer questions.
Hi Liz. My name is priya. I noticed in this pratice lessons, spelling of the names are not specified. For ex. in real IELTS, they spell names of people. Here John Roberts name was used however the audio was not very clear of name
Usually common names are not spelled. The spelling is only required in certain circumstances – difficult names, different spelling, to ensure clarity.
LIZ can i ask u ? if i write : 3 day ( lack of S ) is it wrong ?
It would be wrong if an “s” is required. Your answer is either 100% correct or it is wrong. You are being tested on your ability to listening for plurals.
at last I got 5/5 =)
The first time I score 5/5. I’m so happy. Thanks Liz
very useful thanks
For question 4, i wrote, “an expert ” and in bracket ( John Roberts) . Is that wrong?
Thanks Liz
You can’t use brackets in your answers for IELTS listening.
Hi Liz
if we plan to write all the answers in capital letters and write JOHN ROBERTS, will it be considered as correct or incorrect. Please advise
thank you
Correct.
this is easy one. I can tell. I even got 5/5 .
I got 5/5 Thanx Liz☺
Got 5/5
Thanks, Liz.
Hi Liz,
Thanks for this.
Is the answer “professional equipments” wrong? ..i thought ‘s’ plural is required as the shop would sell more than one equipment.
“equipment” is uncountable which means there is never an “s” and it has no plural.
But appliances are plural with “s” added at end. Can we kindly get a list of noun words who doesn’t have plural form ?
My Vocabulary page contains a link to a list of uncountable nouns: https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-writing-task-2/. Always check the main pages for information.
yeah…got 5/5
thnx Liz
Well done 🙂
Hey Liz, Why they chose “Professional equipment over “sports equipment” in second answer ?
Because the question asks “What kind of sports equipment does it sell?”
I wrote “John Robert” instead of “John Roberts”, is it correct?
It would be marked wrong.
Hello ma’am!
Firstly thank you for all your efforts! Really helpful to me. Ma’am could you tell me whether all the questions of all the 4 sections follow a chronological order? If no, what are the question types where I can expect jumbled questions? A ton of thanks, your tips and tricks are stunning! Thank you very much!
In listnening, the answers come in the order of the questions.
Hello mam, mam can i also use 9:00 am instead of 9am..
https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-help-faq/
thank you so much for your efforts with us.
And I have a question, if I wrote Roberts without John it will be wrong or right.
thanks advance
You need the full name for one point.
Liz
Hi please explain me the concept of , not more than 2 words/or number.
Please watch the video on this page of 25 essential tips: https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-listening/. It is all explained clearly.
All the best
Liz
I wrote ‘three days’ to question 3 would that be fine ? or does this has to be ‘3 days’ instead ?
It’s fine.
Liz
Thanks mam.
Hi mam,thank you so much.I got all answers correct except no.4,because I wrote an expert instead of name.
My answer in Question 1 was 9.00 am. Which is correct or wrong?
It is right. 9.00am is the same as 9am.
Liz
is it ok 9PM? capitals?
Sure
Hi Liz,
Can i say 9- 6pm instead for answer no 1?
No, it does not ask for “opening times” which is both opening and closing times. It asks specifically for the time it opens which means only 9am. So your answer would be marked wrong.
All the best
Liz
Hi Liz
I wrote robbert is it wrong??!!
Yes, it would be wrong. All words must be spelled correctly.
Liz
For q num 1 n 5, i m little confuse abt the quesion related to time:-..if used 9.00am instead of 9am. ?is it wrong…??
Yes, you can write 9am or 9.00am.
Liz
Wow!!!!!!!all corrects.am really happy.its building my confidence levels.
Hello mam,,,for question numb 4 instead of writing the name John Robert ,,if I write experts will the answer b wrong ??? Please clarify my doubt n Thanq so much…….
If there is a name given, that will be the answer. The answer “an expert” would only be acceptable if no name was given.
All the best
Liz
Thanq mam…..