From 4 January 2020, some small changes are being introduced to the instructions and layout of the paper-based IELTS Listening test.
- We will be changing the word ‘Sections’ to ‘Parts’ – The paper-based test will now be divided into Part 1, 2, 3, 4.
- We will be removing the Part 1 example
- We are also removing the page number references.
A table showing the changes with examples is below:
| Change | Before January 2020 | After January 2020 |
| ‘Sections’ changes to ‘Parts’ | The paper is divided into Section 1, 2, 3, 4 | The paper will be divided into Part 1, 2, 3, 4 |
| No Section 1 example | Section 1 includes an example | Part 1 will not include an example |
| No page number references | Candidates are instructed to look at, e.g. questions 1 – 4 on page 3 | Candidates will be instructed to look at, e.g. questions 1 – 4 |
These changes are being introduced to ensure that paper-based and computer-delivered versions are aligned.
Please note that the test structure, question types and level of difficulty remain the same and not affected by these changes.
For more details about IELTS Listening test, please visit https://www.ielts.org/about-the-test/test-format
