Table completion questions in IELTS listening are quite common and can appear in any section of the listening test. Spend time preparing the headings and the predict the missing content of the table. Pay attention to the number of words possible for the answers. This listening exercise is a similar level to section 4 of the listening IELTS test.

Essential Tips for IELTS Listening Table Questions

Read the points below to learn how to tackle Table Questions in IELTS Listening. These questions are known as “Table Completion” questions.

1. Tables can appear in any section of the IELTS Listening Test.
   • However, they are most common in section 2 and section 4.
     • Section 2 is based on social situations and is one person talking about a place, a service – something specific.
     • Section 4 is based on an educational lecture. This is one person speaking who is giving a lecture. All lectures have introduction, middle (with main points and examples) and a conclusion.
     • Both of these sections are often very structured in content which is why table questions are so suitable.
   • However, tables can appear in Section 1 and 3 – but they are less common in those sections.
2. The table will usually have a title.
   1. 1. This is useful because you will know what the table questions relate to.
      2. Table questions do not cover all questions for one single listening section. They will only cover about 5 questions out of 10 for that section.
      3. This means during the recording you might have to listen carefully to the information to know when to move to the table questions. The title will help you with this because it will tell you what the questions relate to.
3. Tables are organised logically and labelled with either rows, columns or both.
   1. You must read those headings carefully because they tell you the content of each question.
4. The questions will come in order in the recording.
5. Notice which direction the question take in the table – do the questions follow the rows or the columns? Notice this quickly so that you do not get lost during the listening.
6. The recording will follow the organisation that exists within the table.
7. Notice how the other answers are given already in the table. It shows you the type of answers you will need to write down. Often the answers do not require “a” or “the”. You can usually see this by the examples of information already given in the table. 
8. Always pay attention to how many words you can have for the answer. If it asks for no more than two words, it means you can have one word, two words but not three words.
9. Spelling counts. You’ll lose marks if you spell the word incorrectly.

Practice Lessons for IELTS Listening Table

These practice lessons are at various levels of difficulty so that you have realistic practice for the difficult in different sections of the listening test. You can only listening once in the real test and you can’t pause the recording in your actual test. You will always have a short amount of time to read through questions and get familiar with the table before the recording starts.

Listening Table:  Practice Lesson 1 

The level of this listening table practice lesson is similar to a section 4  of the IELTS listening test.

Introduced species of the British Isles

Questions 1-5: Write no more than three words for each answer.

RECORDING:

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TABLE ANSWERS & TRANSCRIPT

Click below to read the transcript and see the answers.

The transcript is to be used for checking your answers and also reviewing the recording word for word after you complete the lesson to see precise why you got an answer right or wrong.

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Listening Table: Practice Lesson 2

The level of this table listening lesson is similar to a section 2 of the IELTS Listening Test.

London Attractions

Questions 6-10: Write no more than two words and / or numbers for your answer.

RECORDING

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TRANSCRIPT & ANSWERS

Click below to reveal the transcript and answers.

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RECOMMENDED

• Listening Map Completion Practice
• IELTS Listening: Multiple Choice Practice with Tips

• ALL LISTENING PRACTICE LESSONS & TIPS

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