Understanding Section 1
Section 1 of the IELTS Listening test usually includes a conversation between two people in an everyday situation — for example, booking a hotel room, registering for a course, or asking for directions on a map. This section tests your ability to follow basic information, spell words, and identify numbers or locations accurately.
1. What to Expect
- Usually a dialogue between two speakers
- Common topics: forms, maps, bookings, addresses
- You must write names, numbers, or short answers
- Information often comes in the same order as the questions
Tip: Always listen for spelling, numbers, and directions — these are the main traps.
2. Completing Forms
- Write clearly and avoid extra words
- Listen carefully to spelling (especially names and streets)
- Numbers may be repeated — double-check!
- Common trick: similar-sounding words like “fifty” and “fifteen”
Example: “The address is 15A River Street — not 50A!”
3. Map Labeling Tricks
- Focus on directional words like “next to”, “opposite”, “behind”, “across from”
- Before listening, study the map — notice landmarks and directions (N, S, E, W)
- Draw a small arrow or line to follow the speaker’s movement
- Don’t panic if you get lost — reorient yourself by finding the next landmark
Tip: Most answers appear in the order of the recording — just follow the flow.
Mini Challenge 🗺️
When labeling a map, which of the following phrases means “across from”?
🎧 You Did It!
You’ve completed Lesson 5: Section 1 — Forms & Maps!
You now know how to handle dialogues, spellings, and tricky map labeling questions.
Next up: Lesson 6: Section 2 — Monologues & Note Completion