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IELTS General Training · Listening · L3

IELTS General Listening Part 3: Training Discussion

IELTS General Training Listening Part 3 is a conversation between two or more speakers, up to four, set in an education or training context, such as trainees talking with a supervisor about a course. You hear it once and answer 10 questions, often matching, multiple choice or completion tasks about opinions and plans.

Questions
10 of the 40 Listening questions
Speakers
Up to four, education or training context
Audio
Played once only
Typical tasks
Matching, multiple choice, note or table completion
Focus
Who thinks what, agreement and disagreement, decisions

How it works

  1. 1Read the questions and the list of options (for matching, usually lettered A to F or similar).
  2. 2The discussion plays once; speakers react to each other, change their minds and agree.
  3. 3Select or type answers as the conversation reaches each point.
  4. 4Part 4 follows when the discussion ends.

Sample question

Original sample · not from an official test

Matching. What does each trainee say about the first-aid course? Choose the correct letter, A, B or C. Audio excerpt: Manager: "How did you find the course?" Lina: "The practical sessions were useful, though I'd have liked more time on them." Omar: "Honestly, the online quiz felt pointless. I'd drop it." Omar A wanted longer practical sessions B thought one part was unnecessary C found the course too easy

  1. AA wanted longer practical sessions
  2. BB thought one part was unnecessary
  3. CC found the course too easy
Show answer

Answer: B thought one part was unnecessary

Omar calls the online quiz pointless and would drop it, which is a paraphrase of 'unnecessary'. Wanting more practical time is Lina's view, not Omar's, and nobody says the course was easy.

Tips that work

  • Before the audio, write the speakers' names next to the questions so you can track who is talking.
  • Listen for the final decision after a disagreement; the first suggestion is often rejected.
  • Matching options are paraphrased, so match meaning, not identical words.
  • If two speakers agree, check whether the question asks about one of them or both.

Common mistakes

  • Giving one speaker's opinion to another because the voices sound similar.
  • Answering from the first idea mentioned rather than the conclusion the group reaches.

Questions candidates ask

Part 3 is described as academic. Is that a problem for General Training candidates?

The setting is education or training, but you do not need subject knowledge. The questions test whether you follow opinions and decisions. Workplace training and course discussions are typical, and the Listening test is the same for both IELTS versions.

How do I tell the voices apart?

Use the names and roles introduced at the start, and notice who is asked each question. Speakers often address each other by name, which tells you whose view comes next.

Can an option in a matching task be used twice?

It depends on the instructions for that question group. Some groups say you may use any letter more than once and some do not, so read the instruction line before the audio starts.

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