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IELTS General Training · Listening · L2

IELTS General Listening Part 2: Everyday Monologue

IELTS General Training Listening Part 2 is a monologue: one speaker gives information in an everyday social context, for example a talk for new residents or an announcement about a local service. You hear it once and answer 10 questions, often multiple choice, sentence completion or labelling a map or plan.

Questions
10 of the 40 Listening questions
Speakers
One speaker, everyday social context
Audio
Played once only
Typical tasks
Multiple choice, map or plan labelling, sentence completion

How it works

  1. 1Read the Part 2 questions and look at any map or plan before the talk begins.
  2. 2One speaker talks while you answer; questions follow the order of the talk.
  3. 3For a map or plan, follow the directions from the stated starting point and pick the matching letter.
  4. 4Part 3 starts once the talk ends.

Sample question

Original sample · not from an official test

Multiple choice. Choose the correct letter, A, B or C. Audio excerpt (welcome talk for new tenants): "The laundry room used to open at seven, but since the new machines arrived it opens at eight. It still closes at ten every night, and on Sundays it's shut all afternoon for cleaning." The laundry room now opens at

  1. AA 7 a.m.
  2. BB 8 a.m.
  3. CC 10 a.m.
Show answer

Answer: B 8 a.m.

Seven is the old opening time ('used to open at seven'), and ten is the closing time. The word 'now' in the question points to the changed time, eight.

Tips that work

  • Underline words like now, used to, instead and no longer in the options; Part 2 often tests a change from an old arrangement.
  • On a map, find the starting point and the north arrow before the talk begins so you can follow left, right and opposite.
  • Expect every option to be mentioned; listen for the one that matches the exact question, not just a word you recognise.
  • Read one question ahead so you notice when the speaker has moved on.

Common mistakes

  • Choosing an option because its word was heard, even though the speaker rejected it.
  • Turning the map in your head instead of tracking directions from the speaker's position.

Questions candidates ask

Why does Part 2 feel harder than Part 1?

There is only one speaker, so there are no questions or confirmations from a second person to slow the information down. Details arrive continuously, which is why reading the questions in advance matters more here.

Will I always get a map in Part 2?

Not always. Map or plan labelling is common in Part 2, but a test can use multiple choice or completion tasks instead. Practise both so a map does not surprise you.

Are the topics related to moving to a new country?

Part 2 uses everyday social situations, such as local facilities, services or events. Those overlap with daily life after a move, but the test does not assume any particular country or background knowledge.

Other IELTS General Training Listening tasks

IELTS General Training overviewIELTS General Training Listening: all partsIELTS General Training full mock testsIELTS General Training articles on the blog