Listening · Unit 5: Practice and exam day
L47: Full test, mark it with me
Target all levels
This lesson is a guided marking session. You do a full Listening test from an official Cambridge IELTS book on your own. Then you follow along as we mark it the strict way, change the score to a band, and turn your mistakes into a two-week study plan. I won't print the test here, because it belongs to Cambridge. You'll use your own book.
Why this matters
Many students mark too kindly and get a fake score (L44). Others mark correctly but learn nothing from it. This lesson does both properly: honest marking, then smart diagnosis.
Part A: Do the test (35 minutes)
- Choose a test you've never done.
- Headphones on, phone away, no pausing.
- Type your answers on a laptop if you can.
Part B: Mark it strictly (10 minutes)
Use these rules for every answer:
| Situation | Mark |
|---|---|
| Correct word, correct spelling | Right |
| Correct word, one letter wrong | Wrong |
| Missing plural s when it's needed | Wrong |
| Over the word limit | Wrong |
| Answer is in the answer key's brackets as optional | Right either way |
| A synonym, not the word from the audio | Wrong |
| British or American spelling | Right |
Be honest. Nobody is watching except you.
Part C: Find your band (2 minutes)
Use the score table in the same Cambridge book. Write your band next to your raw score.
Part D: Diagnose (15 minutes)
For every wrong answer, open the transcript and give it one label (from L34 and L35):
Spelling, Plural, Word limit, Number, Distractor, Paraphrase, Lost place, Vocabulary, Didn't hear.
Then fill in this sheet:
| Part | Score out of 10 | Most common mistake type |
|---|---|---|
| Part 1 | ||
| Part 2 | ||
| Part 3 | ||
| Part 4 |
An example: Nabila's test
Here's how a real-looking result might come out. Nabila needs 7.0.
| Part | Score | Main mistake type |
|---|---|---|
| Part 1 | 8 | Spelling (2) |
| Part 2 | 7 | Lost place (2), Distractor (1) |
| Part 3 | 6 | Distractor (3), Paraphrase (1) |
| Part 4 | 6 | Vocabulary (2), Spelling (2) |
| Total | 27 |
At 27, Nabila is around 6.5. She needs about 3 more marks for 7.0.
Her diagnosis:
- 4 spelling mistakes in total. That's the easiest fix. (L09)
- 4 distractor mistakes, mostly Part 3. (L15, L23, L41)
- 2 lost place mistakes in Part 2. (L16)
Part E: Make a two-week plan (5 minutes)
Pick your top two mistake types. Plan the next two weeks around them only.
Nabila's plan:
| Days | Focus |
|---|---|
| 1 to 7 | Spelling list every day (L09), plus one Part 1 and Part 4 with strict spelling checks |
| 8 to 14 | Part 3 transcripts, marking every rejected option (L23, L41) |
| Day 15 | New full test, same strict marking |
If she fixes just her spelling, she gains about 4 marks. That alone could take her to 7.0.
Honest note
One test isn't enough to know your real level. Do this full process with at least three tests before you trust your average.
Your task today
Do Parts A to E with a fresh Cambridge test. Keep the sheet.