Most or all of the options are mentioned in the recording, so hearing a word is not enough. Listen for the option that actually answers the question, and wait for the speaker to finish, because they often reject one idea before giving the real answer.
At a glance
- Where
- Listening Parts 2 and 3 especially
- Options
- A–C for multiple choice; a longer list for matching
- Order
- Answers usually follow the order of the questions
- Marking
- One mark per question
How to answer, step by step
- Read the question stem and underline what it asks: the main reason, the biggest problem, what surprised the speaker.
- Paraphrase the options in your head so you recognise them in other words.
- As you listen, cross out options as speakers reject them ("we thought it would be price, but…").
- Choose only when the speaker confirms, then move straight to the next question.
Common mistakes
- Choosing the first option you hear. It is often the one that gets rejected.
- Two speakers who disagree; the answer may depend on who has the last word.
- In matching, options that fit the topic but describe a different item.
Worked example
From Skillora IELTS Academic Mock Test 1 · Listening Part 2, Question 11
Choose the correct letter, A, B or C.
What was the main aim of the renovation?
- to increase the floor space
- to make people want to stay longer
- to reduce the cost of running the building
Answer: to make people want to stay longer
The aim was "to make it a place people would want to spend a whole day in", which means making people stay longer. The option about floor space is wrong because the speaker says the space is "almost the same".
“the main aim wasn't to make it bigger — in fact the floor space is almost the same — but to make it a place people would want to spend a whole day in.”
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