Listening Test: Labelling Questions (IELTS Academic: Listening): Study Material
Plan labelling in the listening test
This question type tests your ability to follow directions (e.g. go straight on past the shop) or to understand, for example, a description of a place and how it relates to a visual, such as a plan of a building
There are usually two types of questions:
You select your answer from a list of options
You select words from the recording and fit them into gaps
For the second type, you do not need to change the word, but you do need to spell it correctly or you will lose the mark
Read the instructions and check the word limit for the answer carefully (e.g. NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS) – you will lose the mark if you go over this limit
At the beginning of the recording, listen for where on the plan to start looking
How to answer plan labelling questions
Use your preparation time to read the title and note any labels already provided on the plan
Use the labelled locations as reference points for the questions
Look for the starting point, often labelled “Entrance” or marked with an X.
If you cannot see the start point, pay attention to the speaker’s first words to find the location (e.g. "We are standing at the...")
Plans use prepositions of place, so try to predict phrases based on the layout such as "on the right," "opposite" or "at the far end"
The answers always come in the same order as the numbered questions, so as you listen, follow the speaker’s path through the plan
If you miss a label, move on to the next one to rejoin the speaker’s path
Be aware of distractors – the speaker may mention locations that are not part of the numbered questions to confuse you
Examiner Tips and Tricks
Use the already-labelled features on the plan as anchor points so you can follow along the speaker’s route
Useful location vocabulary
The vocabulary below is useful for answering both map and plan labelling questions
Adjoining / next to
Opposite / across from
Beyond / past:
In the top right / top left corner
Bottom left / right
On the left / right hand side
Worked Example
Listening Part 2: Sports Centre Plan Labelling
Questions 1–4
Where is each facility located on the plan? Label the plan below.
Write the correct letter, A–E, next to Questions 1–4.
Questions
Gym: _______
Changing rooms: _______
Main sports hall: _______
Badminton courts: _______
Answers
Gym: C
Changing rooms: A
Main sports hall: B
Badminton courts: F
Explaining the distractors:
Changing rooms (A): "Some people assume they're further inside the building, perhaps near the pool area" — misdirects toward a different location before confirming A
Main sports hall (B): Straightforward identification; the list of activities reinforces this is a multi-use hall, not a specialist space
Gym (C): "You might think it's on the left-hand side near the changing rooms" — suggests the wrong side of the building before correcting to right/C
Badminton courts (F): "these aren't in the main sports hall" — rules out B; mentions E (swimming pool) nearby as a potential confusion point
Map labelling in the listening test
This question type tests your ability to understand, for example, a description of a place and how it relates to a visual
There are usually two types of questions:
You select your answer from a list
You select words from the recording and fit them into gaps
For the second type, you do not need to change the word, but you do need to spell it correctly or you will lose the mark
Read the instructions and check the word limit for the answer carefully (e.g. NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS) – you will lose the mark if you go over this limit
How to answer map labelling questions
Quickly read the title and note any labels already provided on the plan
Use the labelled locations as reference points for the questions
Look for the starting point, often labelled “Entrance” or marked with an X
If you cannot see the starting point, pay attention to the speaker’s first words to find the location (e.g. "We are standing at the...")
Plans use prepositions of place, so predict phrases based on the layout such as "on the right," "opposite" or "at the far end"
The answers always come in the same order as the numbered questions, so as you listen, follow the speaker’s path through the map
If you miss a label, move on to the next one to rejoin the speaker’s route
Be aware of distractors – the speaker may mention locations that are not part of the numbered questions to confuse you
Examiner Tips and Tricks
Map questions often refer to the points of the compass, so make sure you know the compass points (North / South / East / West)
Useful location vocabulary
The vocabulary below is useful for answering both map and plan labelling questions
Adjoining / next to
Opposite / across from
Beyond / past:
In the top right / top left corner
Bottom left / right
On the left / right hand side
Worked Example
Listening Part 2: University Campus Map Labelling
Questions 1–5
Where is each facility located on the campus? Label the map below
Context: You will hear a student guide explain the map of a university campus to a group of new students.
Label the map below. Write the correct letter, A–H, next to Questions 1–5.
Student Union __________
Medical Centre __________
Main Library __________
Sports Complex __________
International Office __________
Answers
E (Student Union)
C (Medical Centre)
D (Main Library)
B (Sports Complex)
H (International Office)
Explaining the distractors:
Student Union (E): "Some people confuse it with the building next to it, which is the administration block" — nearby building as red herring
Medical Centre (C): "not at the edge of campus as you might expect" + "building at position A nearby is the languages department" — expectation misdirect and neighbouring letter
Main Library (D): "Some people think it's the building at F, which is actually the science block". F offered as distractor
Sports Complex (B): "You might assume it's further out towards the edge" — challenges expectation about location
International Office (H): "A lot of international students end up going to the building at G first, which is the careers service" — G as strong distractor
Diagram labelling in the listening test
This question type tests your ability to follow a description and listen for detailed information
You listen to a description and fill in labels on a diagram
There are usually two types of questions:
You select your answer from a list of options
You select words from the recording and fit them into gaps
For the second type, you do not need to change the word, but you do need to spell it correctly or you will lose the mark
Read the instructions and check the word limit for the answer carefully (e.g. NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS) – you will lose the mark if you go over this limit
How to answer diagram labelling questions
Quickly read the title to help you understand the diagram
There are usually some key words labelled on the diagram – use these to understand the topic and keep your place
Try to keep your place and follow the recording – be ready to move on to the next question if you cannot answer
Examiner Tips and Tricks
Remember to try to follow the speaker's description of each labelled part - they will describe the diagram systematically and in order
Useful language to help locate elements in the diagram
The vocabulary below is useful for answering diagram labelling questions
At the centre / near the edge / by the side
Above / below / on top of / beneath
To the right / to the left / inside / outside
Behind / next to / in front of / opposite
Worked Example
Listening Part 4: Volcanic Eruption Diagram Labelling
Questions 1-4
What is each part of the volcano called?
Label the diagram below. Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS for each answer
Distractor notes:
Magma chamber (A): "you might hear this referred to as a magma reservoir" — alternative term offered before the correct one
Main vent (B): "sometimes smaller channels, known as side vents" — side vents introduced before main vent is identified
Lava flow (C): "don't confuse this with a pyroclastic flow" — similar-sounding technical term as red herring
Ash cloud (D): "You might be tempted to call this a gas cloud or even smoke" — two common-sense alternatives dismissed before the correct term
Answers
A Magma chamber
B Main vent
C Lava flow
D Ash cloud
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