IELTS Listening Preparation: The Difference Between TOEIC Listening and IELTS Listening

There are many kinds of English exams, but the best known in Japan are TOEIC and IELTS. TOEIC is mostly used in business settings such as job hunting and promotion, while IELTS is often required for studying abroad, emigration and visa applications.

At first glance both seem to be "tests of listening ability", but in reality they differ greatly in question format, content and the skills required. It is not unusual for people who score highly on TOEIC to struggle with IELTS Listening.

This article compares TOEIC Listening and IELTS Listening in detail and explains what preparation people taking IELTS should do.

TOEIC Listening and IELTS Listening are both tests where you "listen and answer", but they differ greatly in structure and answer methods.

TOEIC Listening

• Time: about 45 minutes, 100 questions.
• Structure: Photograph description questions Response questions (short replies) Conversation questions (conversations between two or three people) Short talk questions (announcements and narration)
• Answer format: all multiple choice (mark sheet).
• Features: you listen to relatively short conversations and sentences and answer the questions.

IELTS Listening

• Time: about 30 minutes plus 10 minutes to transfer answers, 40 questions.
• Structure: four sections Everyday conversation (e.g. booking accommodation, shopping) Everyday monologue (e.g. guide to local facilities) Academic conversation (e.g. discussion between students or with a professor) Academic lecture or presentation
• Answer format: varied, including gap-fill, short answer, map questions and multiple choice.
• Features: content that assumes real university life and studying abroad, with writing down answers at the center.

In summary, TOEIC is a test where you "choose" after short conversations, while IELTS is a test where you "listen and write" after long conversations and lectures.

TOEIC Listening

• Accent: mainly American English. In recent years some British, Canadian and Australian English has been introduced, but the American style is still the mainstream.
• Speed: relatively slow and easy to catch. It is often clearly pronounced for the test.
• Impression: easy to get used to even for Listening beginners, with a steady rhythm.

IELTS Listening

• Accent: diverse, including British English as well as Australian, New Zealand and Canadian. If you normally only listen to American English, it is easy to be confused by the differences in pronunciation.
• Speed: natural conversation speed, with many fast-talking moments. In lectures and discussions, a large amount of information flows at once.
• Impression: it feels like listening to real conversations and classes as they are.

Key difference: TOEIC is "easy-to-hear test English", while IELTS is "real-life and academic English". With IELTS in particular, you need to get used to the variety of accents and the sense of speed.

TOEIC Listening

• Scope: centered on business and everyday situations. Meetings, phone calls and conversations in the office Guidance at airports and hotels In-house announcements and explanations
• Difficulty: the questions are relatively simple. Because there are many questions, concentration is required.
• Features: it assumes workplace scenes, and many set phrases and fixed expressions are tested.

IELTS Listening

• Scope: wide, from everyday life to academic situations. Accommodation bookings and consultations about daily life University seminars and research presentations Explanations of fieldwork and discussions
• Difficulty: you need to catch detailed information accurately from audio played only once. The questions are varied, such as gap-fill and map questions, and the content is both practical and academic.
• Features: it tests not only simple listening but also the ability to organize the key points and answer.

In summary: TOEIC "handles business workplace situations", while IELTS requires "all-round listening ability for life abroad and university life", so IELTS is somewhat more difficult.

TOEIC Listening

• Method: all multiple choice (mark sheet).
• Features: After listening to the audio, you choose the correct answer from four options. Even if you miss some parts, you can sometimes guess by elimination. Accuracy of spelling and grammar is not tested.

IELTS Listening

• Method: mainly written answers. Varied formats such as gap-fill, short answer, map questions and table completion.
• Features: You need to write down the words and phrases you hear as they are. Spelling mistakes and errors in plurals are marked wrong. The audio plays only once, so accurate listening and quick writing ability are essential.

Big difference: TOEIC is a "test where you choose and answer", while IELTS is a "test where you write and answer". That is why IELTS tests not only listening ability but also spelling, note-taking and concentration.

TOEIC Listening preparation

• Focus on pattern practice: repeatedly practicing frequently heard phrases and set expressions tends to stabilize your score.
• Get used to short conversations: practicing listening closely to conversations of a few dozen seconds and grasping the key points is effective.
• Get used to answer options: the ability to guess the correct answer by elimination and grammatical hints is also useful.

IELTS Listening Preparation

• Expose yourself to diverse accents: it is important to get used to pronunciations that are rare in TOEIC, such as British, Australian and New Zealand.
• Practice note-taking and simultaneous processing: you need training in jotting down keywords while listening and quickly linking them to the answers.
• Spelling practice: to be able to write the words you hear correctly, learn frequently tested words including their spelling.
• Practice in the real format: because the audio plays only once, solving mock tests and past papers in the same format as the real exam is most effective.

Key point: TOEIC centers on "memorizing patterns and getting used to multiple choice questions", while IELTS requires "the practical ability to listen to varied English and write it down".

TOEIC Listening and IELTS Listening both measure English ability, but the skills required and their direction are very different.

• TOEIC Listening Centered on business and everyday conversation Mostly American English, relatively easy to hear All multiple choice, so guessing is possible
• IELTS Listening Content that assumes life abroad and university lectures Diverse accents such as British and Australian Mainly written answers, so accuracy of spelling and grammar is essential

Even people who score highly on TOEIC may face a new wall in IELTS Listening. In IELTS preparation, it is important to build not only the "ability to listen" but also the "ability to write down", "familiarity with diverse accents" and "practical concentration".