Real IELTS listening hides wrong answers in plain sight. These short original transcripts train you to hear self-corrections, distractors, signposts, changed plans and number traps before you commit to an option.
Self-correction
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Assistant: The meeting is at half past ten.
Manager: No, wait - I moved it. Make that a quarter to eleven, and we'll keep it short.
What time is the meeting?
Self-correction
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Student: I'm renting the flat on Ashford Road for 500 a month.
Flatmate: Actually, it's 550, remember? You split it with two others but the total is 550.
What is the monthly rent for the flat?
Self-correction
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Reporter: The new station opens on the fourteenth.
Official: Sorry, my mistake - the opening has been brought forward to the seventh.
When does the new station open?
Distractor
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Rep: The full membership is 120 a year, which includes the gym.
Customer: I only want the pool. Is that cheaper?
Rep: The pool-only pass is 70. But honestly, if you swim more than twice a week, the full one is better value.
How much is the pool-only membership?
Distractor
Practice mode - replay allowed
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Guide: The castle dates back to the fifteenth century.
Visitor: And it was rebuilt later?
Guide: Correct, a major rebuild happened in 1750. The towers you see now are from that period.
When were the current towers built?
Signposting
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Lecturer: The report covers costs, timelines and staffing. However, the main point we need to act on is the supply delay.
What is the main point the report is asking them to act on?
Signposting
Practice mode - replay allowed
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Guest: The hotel advertises a pool, parking and a rooftop bar.
Receptionist: That's mostly right. Actually, the pool is at the sister hotel next door - we don't have one here.
Which facility is NOT at this hotel?
Signposting
Practice mode - replay allowed
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Tutor: The draft has strong evidence, and the structure holds up. But the real weakness is the introduction - it never states the thesis clearly.
In the tutor's view, what is the real weakness?
Changed-plans
Practice mode - replay allowed
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Organiser: We'll hold the workshop on Friday in Room 12.
Colleague: Actually, we've swapped it to Thursday, and moved it to Room 4. The Friday slot goes to the IT team.
When and where will the workshop now take place?
Changed-plans
Practice mode - replay allowed
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Mum: Dinner's at seven, then we'll see the film at eight.
Son: I can't make eight - can we move the film to nine?
Mum: Fine, nine it is. But your grandmother's coming at seven thirty, so be back by then.
At what time will the family watch the film?
Changed-plans
Practice mode - replay allowed
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Coach: Training is at six on Tuesday.
Player: Coach, several of us have a lecture then. Could we go to five?
Coach: Make it five thirty - same Tuesday, but five thirty.
What is the final start time of Tuesday's training?
Number-spelling
Practice mode - replay allowed
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Receptionist: Can I take your booking reference, please?
Caller: It's B-4-9-1-7.
Receptionist: Did you say B-4-9-1-7?
Caller: No, sorry - it's B-4-9-7-1. I always mix up the last two.
What is the correct booking reference?
Number-spelling
Practice mode - replay allowed
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Agent: Your flight departs at 14:40.
Traveller: Sorry, is that four forty?
Agent: It departs at 14:40 - that's twenty to three in the afternoon. And you check in two hours before.
What time does the flight depart?
Number-spelling
Practice mode - replay allowed
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Student: Is the course fee 200?
Office: 200's the deposit. The full fee is 1,150, payable by the end of the month.
What is the full course fee?
Distractor
Practice mode - replay allowed
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Tour: The museum's opening hours are ten to six.
Visitor: And on Sundays?
Tour: Eleven to five on Sundays. Note the cafe closes an hour earlier than the museum every day.
When does the museum open on Sundays?
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