IELTS Listening choose TWO questions (Parts 2 and 3): separate evidence, distractors and speakers’ opinions

What choose TWO questions look like

A typical instruction reads: “Questions 21 and 22. Choose TWO letters, A–E.” These questions come most often in Part 2, a talk by one speaker, and Part 3, a discussion between two to four people in a study or training setting.

Each correct letter scores one mark, in either order, and wrong answers lose nothing.

Prepare two evidence slots before you listen

In the reading time, underline what makes each option different, then write two slots: “Choice 1: ___ because ___” and “Choice 2: ___ because ___”. Each slot needs its own spoken fact; if your two reasons are really one, a letter is probably wrong.

Keep listening after the first answer: the second often comes after a rejected idea.

Practice: which two ideas survive?

Two researchers discuss how to help volunteers join a community study.

• A evening childcare
• B travel vouchers
• C online-only meetings
• D paid research training
• E weekend sports

Three ways a mentioned option is rejected

All three wrong options are mentioned, and each fails differently. Ask what happens to an option, not whether you heard it:

• Considered, then rejected: “I considered online-only meetings, but …” (C). The reason follows “but”.
• Possible, but beside the point: “Weekend sports might attract families, although …” (E). The limit after “although” rules it out.
• Important, but already in place: “Childcare matters, but the library already provides it …” (A).

Matching speakers to opinions: listen for the priority

In matching tasks you choose each speaker’s view from a list, for example A longer opening hours, B more quiet rooms, C lower fees. A single keyword is not enough: “Cheaper membership would be nice, but what students really lack is somewhere quiet to work” matches B, not C.

Questions about who does which task use responsibility patterns:

• “be in charge of” (control) and “be responsible for” (a duty): “She is in charge of the volunteer schedule.”
• “deal with” a problem or task: “The support team deals with technical questions.”
• “work for” means employed by; “work with” means collaborate with.

Agreement, doubt and disagreement

Part 3 questions often ask what a speaker thinks of an idea. Place each turn on this scale:

• Agreement: “I agree that access improved.”
• Qualified agreement: “The venue is quieter, although it is harder to reach.” Part is accepted, then a limit is added.
• Doubt: “I am not convinced that the sample is large enough.” Uncertain, but not yet a rejection.
• Disagreement: “I dispute the conclusion because the dates do not match.” In this sense “dispute” takes a direct object: “dispute the claim”.

Mistakes that cost marks, and how to repair them

Name the cause of each wrong answer, then retry only the step that failed:

• Distractor: you chose a rejected option. Listen through to the final decision.
• Same reason twice: one fact cannot support two letters. Find a second fact.
• Paraphrase: you did not link “quite a few” with “several”, or “a small charge” with “a fee”. Compare meanings, not words.
• Keyword matching: you matched a repeated noun, not the whole claim.
• Lost place: skip the missed item and reset at the next numbered question.

A 20-minute exam routine

With one task from a practice test:

• Read for 30 seconds and draw two evidence slots.
• Listen once without pausing and write both letters.
• Replay with the transcript and copy the words that support each answer and reject each wrong option.
• Write your own five-option question: two supported options, one tempting rejected one.

What comes next

Next, take this evidence habit into Reading, where True, False and Not Given questions reward exact proof. If names and corrections still cost you marks, revisit Part 1 form completion.