All You Need to Know About IELTS Listening | The Ultimate Guide By A Tutor

IELTS Listening Section 1 is typically a straightforward conversation between two speakers about a familiar, everyday situation. The task type in this section is almost always form completion, requiring answers in one word only or one word and/or a number. This means you may need to write down a single word, such as a place or item, or a combination like a name and a number (e.g., “Oxford Street” or “5 tickets”).

The topics covered in Section 1 are usually related to common situations such as booking travel through a travel agency, purchasing tickets for a concert or event, or arranging something through a job agency. The conversations will often involve providing or requesting specific details, so you’ll need to listen for information such as dates, prices, addresses, or phone numbers.

One key feature of this section is that when a conversation involves a proper noun—such as the name of a person, company, or a less common location—these names will usually be spelled out letter by letter. For example, if the speaker mentions a street name like “Greenwood Avenue,” and it’s an unusual name, it may be spelled out: “G-R-E-E-N-W-O-O-D.” However, more common English words like “station” or “bank” typically won’t be spelled. You’ll need to be prepared to identify and write them quickly and correctly.

Additionally, pay close attention to how information is presented. Dates and numbers can be tricky. A speaker might say a price in different ways, such as “ten dollars” or “twenty-five pounds,” or mention dates as “the fifth of May” or “May 5th.” You must be able to recognize these variations and ensure you write them in the correct format as required by the instructions.

Another useful tip is to anticipate common questions. This section frequently includes references to booking details (how many, what time, what date) or personal information (such as phone numbers and addresses), so practicing listening for these specific details is important. The language and vocabulary used in Section 1 are often relatively simple compared to later sections, but careful listening is essential to avoid mistakes like adding unnecessary words, using plurals where they’re not needed, or mishearing numbers.

Finally, remember that Section 1 serves as an introduction to the listening test, so take advantage of its relatively easier nature to build confidence. It’s important to familiarize yourself with the common formats and scenarios so you can navigate this section smoothly and start your IELTS listening test on the right foot.