IELTS Listening Multiple Choice Questions – Tips, Strategies & Practice

Haniya Yashfeen

6 min read

Updated On Jan 30, 2025

Find IELTS Listening multiple-choice questions tricky? Read the blog to find out expert tips, detailed examples, and proven strategies to tackle these questions and boost your band score!

What Are IELTS Listening Multiple-Choice Questions?
Types of IELTS Listening Multiple-Choice Questions
Tips to Solve IELTS Listening Multiple Choice Questions
Practice Test for IELTS Listening Multiple-Choice Questions
Final Tips to Ace IELTS Listening Test

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IELTS Listening multiple-choice questions, commonly found in the IELTS Listening Parts 2, 3, and 4 of the test, can be challenging for candidates who are not well-prepared. These questions assess your ability to understand details, grasp main ideas, and identify specific information from the audio.

To excel in this question type, regular practice with IELTS Listening practice tests is essential. In this guide, let’s explore the types of multiple-choice questions, essential tips, and practical examples to help you succeed.

What Are IELTS Listening Multiple-Choice Questions?

IELTS Listening multiple-choice questions present candidates with either one or multiple correct answers. These questions challenge your listening skills by testing your ability to:

Understand detailed information.
Identify the main idea.
Interpret paraphrased content and synonyms.

Multiple-choice questions often appear in the more complex parts of the test, requiring focused attention and strategic preparation.

Types of IELTS Listening Multiple-Choice Questions

There are two primary types of multiple-choice questions in the IELTS Listening tests:

1. Single-Answer Questions: These include a question statement with three, and occasionally four, options. You need to select the one correct option.

Example: What were the first commercial LEDs used for?

Laboratory equipment
TVs and telephones
Interior lighting

Answer: A (The paragraph clearly states, “The first commercial LEDs were used in laboratory equipment.”)

2. Multiple Answer Questions: The question provides several options, and you must select two or more correct answers. The number of correct answers is specified in the instructions.

Below are examples of these two types, commonly found in actual IELTS Listening tests.

In addition to these, IELTS Listening multiple-choice questions can also appear as sentence completion tasks or include options presented as images or small diagrams. While they may seem straightforward, they can be tricky. To avoid mistakes, you must focus entirely on the audio and the questions. Learning effective tips can greatly enhance your ability to identify the correct answers.

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Tips to Solve IELTS Listening Multiple Choice Questions

Follow these proven IELTS Listening tips and strategies to excel in IELTS Listening multiple-choice questions:

1. Listen for All Options

You’ll often hear all the options mentioned in the audio. Pay attention to how they are discussed to identify the correct answer.

Example:
Audio: “The library is open from 9 AM to 5 PM during weekdays. On Saturdays, we open at 9 AM and close at 2 PM… Sorry, 3 PM.”
Question: What time does the library close on Saturdays?

A) 2 PM
B) 3 PM
C) 5 PM

Answer: B (The speaker corrected the time from 2 PM to 3 PM.)

2. Watch for Distractors

Speakers may give incorrect information and later correct themselves. Words like “but,” “however,” and “sorry” often signal corrections.

3. Recognize Paraphrasing

The words in the audio may differ from those in the question. Focus on synonyms, common words in IELTS Listening, and paraphrased phrases to identify the correct option.

Example: Audio: “Students were randomly chosen for the interview.”
Question: How were students selected for the interview?

A) Arbitrarily selected
B) Hand-picked by professors
C) Chosen in a particular pattern

Answer: A (“Randomly chosen” is synonymous with “arbitrarily selected.”)

4. Pay Attention to Order

The information in the audio may not follow the order of the options. Skim the questions beforehand to anticipate key details.

5. Improve Vocabulary

Enhance your ability to recognize synonyms, collocations, and paraphrased sentences by practicing vocabulary regularly.

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Practice Test for IELTS Listening Multiple-Choice Questions

Now it is time to take a test and check how the above IELTS exam preparation tips for listening can come in handy during the actual test.

IELTS Listening Multiple-Choice Questions Transcript:

Mrs. Grey: “No, it’s perfect. I’ve just got back from taking the dogs for a walk and put the kettle on. What time is it where you are, Yuki?”
Yuki: “It is 3 o’clock in the morning, Mrs. Grey.”
Mrs. Grey: “Oh dear! You waited up to call me?”
Yuki: “It is 7 PM in London, I think.”
Mrs. Grey: “Exactly! My English teacher told me this is a good time to call English people.”

IELTS Listening Multiple-Choice Questions:

What time was it in Tokyo when Yuki called Mrs. Grey?
- A) 3:00 PM
- B) 3:00 AM
- C) 7:00 AM
- D) 7:00 PM
Who told Yuki about the best time to call English people?
- A) Math teacher
- B) Science teacher
- C) Homestay officer
- D) English teacher
What do people in London usually eat?
- A) Sushi
- B) Fish and chips
- C) Both A & B
- D) None of the above

IELTS Listening Multiple-Choice Questions Answers:

B (3:00 AM in Tokyo)
D (English teacher)
B (Fish and chips)

IELTS Listening Multiple-Choice Questions Answers with Explanation

Here’s an answer explanation for the above practice test for yoru reference:

For the first question, it is clear from the conversation which goes thus :

Mrs.Grey: No, it’s perfect. I’ve just got back from taking the dogs for a walk and put the kettle on, for a cup of tea. What time is it where you are Yuki?

Yuki: It is 3 o’clock in the morning. Mrs. Grey.

So the answer is 3 o’clock in the morning which is 3:00 AM . So “B” is the right answer

For the second question, it is clear from the conversation which goes thus :

Yuki: It is 7 p.m. in London, I think.

Mrs.Grey: Exactly!

So the answer is 7 p.m. So “D” which is 7 o’clock at night is the right answer.

For the third question, it is clear from the conversation which goes thus :

Yuki: My English teacher told me this is a good time to call English people. They have just had their dinner and then watch television or go to the pub.

So the answer is English teacher which is “D”

For the fourth and fifth question, it is clear from the conversation which goes thus :

Mrs.Grey: Ha Ha.Well Fred, that’s my husband. He’s working a bit late tonight. So we’ll go out for dinner when he gets back. Probably in an hour or so. Now you’ve called, and will have to have Japanese food to celebrate.

Yuki: Oh, you’re too kind Mrs. Grey. So, I should go out for a fish and chips. Yes?

Mrs.Grey: So lovely! us eating sushi in London and you eating fish and chips in Tokyo. I don’t know what Richard and Ann will have?

So it is clear that Mrs. Grey will have Japanese food “Sushi in London and Yuki will have English food “ Fish & chips” in Tokyo

So the answer for the fourth question is “Fish and chips” which is “B” and the answer for the fifth question is “Sushi” which is “A”.

Final Tips to Ace IELTS Listening Test

Practice listening to a variety of accents (e.g., British, American, Australian).
Take regular mock tests under timed conditions.
Review and analyze your mistakes to avoid repeating them.
Develop strong note-taking skills during the test.

Overall, mastering IELTS Listening multiple-choice questions requires focused preparation and consistent practice. By applying these tips—such as identifying distractors, recognizing paraphrased information, and anticipating synonyms—you can significantly improve your performance. Practice regularly, stay calm, and trust your preparation to ace this challenging section of the test.