As IELTS is an international test, a range of native-speaker English accents is used.

No. Both tests are the same.

Each correct answer receives 1 mark. Scores out of 40 are converted to the IELTS 9-band scale. Scores are reported in whole and half bands.

Yes. At the beginning, you hear instructions and a sample question. Then there is a pause to give you time to read the questions in Section 1. Then you listen to Section 1 and answer the questions. The same procedure follows for Sections 2, 3 and 4.

Yes. You get an additional 10 minutes to transfer your answers onto the answer sheet.

You only hear each recording once.

Yes, you can make notes on the question paper.

No. You must do it in pencil. The answer sheet is scanned by a computer which cannot read pen.

Yes. You will lose marks for spelling and grammar mistakes.

Yes. You can write your answers in lower or upper case.