IELTS Listening Matching Questions

1. Introduction to IELTS Listening Matching Questions

IELTS Listening Matching Questions are typically presented in two different sets of information including a list of items from the recording and another list of possible options. While listening to the detailed information, you need to puzzle out the connections among the elements in both sets and match appropriate couples depending on the audio. 

Appearing mostly in section 1 or 3 of the IELTS Listening test, Matching Questions have different forms, such as:

• Questions: usually a list of items from the audio (such as courses, people, events, or places).
• Options: features, characteristics, or pieces of information that must be matched with the questions.

You may encounter:

• Matching items to features (e.g., courses to student opinions).

• Matching topics to details (e.g., historical events to involved figures).

• Matching opinions to speakers (e.g., who agrees/disagrees with an idea).

Besides, IELTS Listening Matching Questions sometimes do not share the same requirements. To be specific, for most of the questions, it requires you to match ONE option with ONE question. 

On the other hand, you can choose any option MORE THAN ONCE.

These questions often appear in Section 1 (everyday conversations) or Section 3 (academic discussions). In 2025, test-takers report that Section 3 increasingly uses Matching to assess higher-level listening comprehension.

Also, remember:

• Most questions require you to match one option to one question.

• Some options may be used more than once.

• You must write the letter (A, B, C…), not the word itself.

2. IELTS Listening Matching Questions Strategies

2.1. Read the instructions carefully

Even though you thoroughly understand what each option and question mean, you may easily lose your points without taking notice of the requirements in the first place. There are two notes you need to take into consideration:

• Your answer must be in the form of A LETTER, not a word or phrase
• There may be any letter that can be used MORE THAN ONCE

Underline or highlight the requirements so that you can keep track while listening.

>>> Practice now: IELTS Listening Practice Test

2.2. Analyse the items and questions and Identify keywords

In order to fully understand the IELTS Listening Matching Questions, you should follow these steps:

• Step 1: Discern the relationship or connection between the list of options and questions by highlighting or underlining the keywords of the question sentences as well as the options

• Step 2: Figure out how options are related to each other and how they are different

(As in the picture above, options A, B, and C will decide whether Jack will do the courses or not, whereas items 21 to 25 are different courses that he will have a decision about.)

Don’t forget to think of the synonyms or paraphrases for changeable keywords.

2025 trend: IELTS recordings now contain more distractors – where speakers correct themselves or change opinions midway. Pay close attention to contrast words like however, but, instead.

2.3. Predict the answers

You can make predictions based on the information in both items and options, which may help you cross out some unmatched answers. However, don’t take those for granted or else you will lose your point regretfully.

2.4. Listen and fill in the blanks

When the recording starts, stay focused and try to: 

• Track the flow of the conversation carefully.

• Expect changes of mind (“I first thought I’d do Media Studies, but now I’m leaning toward Culture & Society”).

• Watch for plural forms, pronouns, and signal words that guide matching

2.5. Double-check answers

Check the answers carefully is inevitable in a test, especially for the IELTS Listening test in which you have to transfer your answer to the answer sheet. 

>>> Read more:  IELTS Listening Note/Form Completion

3. Tips for IELTS Listening Matching Questions

• Despite the questions being mentioned in order in the recording, the answer options won’t.
  For instance, with Media Studies, Women & Power, Culture & Society, Identity & Popular Culture, and Introduction to Cultural Theory, the decision of Jack will not be in order of “definitely do”, “may or may not do”, and “won’t do”. Instead, these options will be randomly chosen according to the speaker.
  
• Do the multitask: reading, answering while listening, and vice versa. Don’t just read or just listen or just answer
  
• Make a guess whenever you can to eliminate the impossible options and give the possible answers in advance
• Utilize the time given for checking the previous section to scan and analyse the information in the IELTS Listening Matching Questions first
• Take time to enhance your vocabulary with synonyms and paraphrases. The wider range of vocabulary you have gained, the more chances you can understand the audio in detail
  
• Read the instructions in the first place. Remember, it requires you to write the LETTER for your answers. Also, be careful with YOU CAN USE ANY LETTER MORE THAN ONCE, which means a letter may be the answer for more than one item.
• Use the actual words/phrases in the recording when answering the questions instead of applying your background knowledge or logic
• Several linking words of contrast may change the decision of the speaker so take those into consideration and listen carefully
  (e.g. “I discounted Culture and Society. However, a friend took it last year and loved it, so I’m seriously considering it as an option.”)
• Take notice of the words appearing before and after the gap so that you can identify the time when the information you are waiting for is mentioned.

IELTS Listening Matching Questions remain one of the trickiest parts of the test in 2025. The key changes this year are increased use of paraphrasing and more distractors in recordings. With careful preparation, smart strategies, and consistent practice, you can master this question type.

Start practicing with our free IELTS online tests and apply these updated strategies to boost your score.