📝 IELTS · Listening

IELTS Listening: Short Answer (Practice with Answers)

Short Answer is a listening task in the IELTS exam. The worked examples below come straight from our practice bank: the full task, the correct answers, and a teacher-reviewed explanation of why each answer is right.

⏱ 10s introduction 🎯 Listening Comprehension 📊 40 questions in bank
A worked example · an answer · a teacher's reasoning

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Worked examples with answers

Example 01 Short Answer

Listen to the talk and answer the questions below. Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer.

How much is the standard maintenance bursary per year?
Answer: £1,200
By when will bursary results appear in the student portal?
Answer: end of October
How quickly can an emergency loan be advanced?
Answer: 48 hours
How is the emergency loan repaid?
Answer: by deduction
What is the recommended maximum weekly term-time work?
Answer: twelve hours
Example 02 Short Answer

Listen to the talk and answer the questions below. Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer.

How many cars does the club keep in this district?
Answer: nine
What is the minimum booking length?
Answer: half hour
How much fuel must the car have when returned?
Answer: a quarter tank
How many miles per day are included?
Answer: thirty
What is the reduced excess for experienced drivers?
Answer: £150
Example 03 Short Answer

Listen to the telephone call and answer the questions below. Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer.

What time did the caller's train arrive?
Answer: 8:05
What material is the jacket made of?
Answer: waxed cotton
Where is the lost property office?
Answer: platform two
Until what time is the office open on Saturdays?
Answer: noon
After how many days do items go to charity?
Answer: 30

Strategy · how to approach Short Answer

  1. Read the task instructions carefully; formats that look similar often score differently.
  2. Answer everything: blank responses earn zero in every scoring model.
  3. Review your mistakes against the explanation, not just the answer key. The reasoning is what transfers to the exam.
  4. Practise under timed conditions; pacing is a trained skill, not a personality trait.

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About this task type

Are these IELTS Short Answer questions like the real exam?

Yes. They follow the official task format and difficulty range, and each one is scored by the same rules the platform uses in full mock tests.

Can I practise more of these questions?

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