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How to Answer IELTS Listening Note/Table Completion Questions

Ron Ross October 12th, 2021

In your IELTS preparation, you'll need to practice a total of 6 IELTS listening question types. In this post, we'll look at the Note/Table Completion IELTS listening question type in detail and provide you with 99 IELTS listening Note/Table Completion practice questions.

First, join IELTS Instructor Tina below to learn how to approach an IELTS listening Note/Table Completion question.


Table Of Contents

IELTS Listening Note/Table Completion Question Introduction

Note/Table completion questions can be found in all sections of listening (1 - 4) and all they ask you to do is to complete the note/table by filling in the gaps with the correct answers from the listening passage. The note/table is usually about the main points discussed in the conversations or monologues. In section 3 and 4, the main points are often important academic concepts and details.

Below is a sample practice. Give it a try!



Questions 1-6
Complete the notes below.

Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer.

Well known for

The National Arts Centre complex consists of:

- Concert rooms

- Theaters

- Cinemas

- Art galleries

- A Public library

- Restaurants

-

Historical background:

- 1940 - area destroyed by bombs

- 1960s - Centre was

- In - opened to public

Managed by

Open: days per year


  • spellcheck Answers
    1. classical music/classical music concerts
    2. a bookshop/a bookstore
    3. planned
    4. 1983/1980s / the 1980s
    5. City Council/The City Council
    6. 363
Listening Script

(Section 2: You will hear a radio broadcast called Focus on the Arts. First, you will have some time to look at questions 11 to 16 [20 seconds]. Listen carefully and answer questions 11 to 16.)

Hello, and welcome to Focus on the Arts. I'm your host – Dave Green- and this is your very own local radio programme. Every Friday evening we put the spotlight  on different arts and culture facilities, and look at the shows and events that are on offer in the coming weeks.

And today the focus is on The National Arts Centre. Now, if you don't already know it yourself , I'm sure you're all heard of it. It's famous throughout the word as one of the major venues for classical music (Q11).

But did you know that it is actually much more than just a place to hear concerts? The Centre itself is a huge complex that caters for a great range of arts. Under a single roof  it houses concert rooms, theatres, cinemas, art galleries and a wonderful public library, as well as service facilities including three restaurants and a bookshop (Q12). So at any one time, the choice of entertainment there is simply enormous.

So, how did they manage to build  such a big arts complex right in the heart of the city? Well, the area was completely destroyed by bombs during  the war in 1940. So the opportunity was taken to create a cultural centre that would be, what they called: 'THE City's gift to the Nation'. Of course it took a while for such a big project to get started, but it was planned (Q13) in the 60s, built in the 70s and eventually opened to the public in 1983 (Q14) . Ever since then it has proved to be a great to be a great success. It is not privately owned, like many arts centres, but is still in public hands – it's run by the City Council (Q15). Both our National Symphony Orchestra and National Theater Company were involved in the planning of the project, and they are now based there – giving regular performances every week  – and as the Centre is open 363 (Q16) days of the year, there are plenty of  performances to choose from.

(Before you hear the rest of the broadcast, you have some time to look at questions 17 to 20. Now listen and answer questions 17 to 20.)

So, to give you some idea of what's on, and to help you choose from the many possibilities, we're b made a selection of the star attractions.

If you're interested in classical music, then we recommend you go along to the National on either Monday or Tuesday evening at 7.30 for a spectacular production of 'The Magic Flute'  – probably the most popular of all Mozart's operas. It's in the Garden Hall (Q17) and tickets start at only £8.00, but you'll have to be early if you want to get them that cheap! And remember, it's only on for those two evenings.

For those more interested in the cinema, you might like to see the new Canadian film which is showing on Wednesday evening at 8pm in Cinema 2. And that's called 'Three Lives' (Q18). It had fantastic reviews and tickets cost just £4.50 (Q19), which is a reduction on the usual price of  £5.50 . So, it's really good value, especially for such a great movie.

But you can see the centre's main attraction at the weekend, because on Saturday and Sunday, 11 am to 10 pm, they're showing a wonderful new exhibition that hasn't been seen anywhere else in Europe yet. It's a collection of Chinese Art called 'Faces of China' (Q20) – that's in Gallery 1 – and some really fascinating paintings and sculptures by leading artists from all over China – and the good news is that it is completely free, so don't miss it!

So why not go along to the National Art Centre next week for one – or all –  of these great events – and you can always pick up a programme and check out all the other performances and exhibitions on offer, or coming soon, on almost every day of the year.

Next week we'll be looking at the Museum of Science.

Practice this sample practice on our IELTS App

Now that you're familiar with the Note/Table Completion question type, it's time to teach you some IELTS Listening tips & strategies for successfully answering a Note/Table Completion question.

How to Answer Note/Table Completion Questions

1. First, Read the Information - Reading the information will always be the first step in any listening prompt. Why? You do not want to listen blindly and hear key words for the first time. Instead, you should be preparing yourself and reading the points in the form or table given to you before the listening prompt is played. Generally, you will have about 20 seconds to do this. Reading the information will also allow you to become familiar with the topic, which is particularly helpful for the more abstract and educational topics (Sections 3 and 4).

2. Underline Key Words - With time and practice, you can combine Steps 1 and 2. Thus, this step can be done while you are reading the sentences or afterwards. We suggest trying to combine the first two steps, as you will only have around 20 seconds to read the information prior to listening to the prompts. For the Note/Form/Table Completion activity, you will most likely only need to underline one or two key words at a time. Is it still worth it to underline one word at a time? Definitely--count it as reading it twice and understanding it twice as well!

3. Take Notes on Key Information - Now, it’s time to listen to the listening prompt. Use your test booklet and questions to your advantage. No one will judge your score based on the notes you take, so make sure it is understandable to you. Using proper grammar and correct spelling is not necessary in this case.

4. Be Accurate - Last of all, be sure to be accurate. While this may seem like common sense, many candidates make silly errors that cost them valuable points in the scoring process. It is extremely important to be accurate when writing out your answers, and especially when transferring them to the answer sheet (for paper-based candidates). Remember that someone else will be reading (and judging) your written answers. For this reason, it is best to write in all CAPITAL LETTERS in order to ensure neatness and legibility, especially in this question type. The directions will always tell you up to how many words you can write, so make sure to pay attention to this.

Recap

Here are some brief tips to remember when approaching this question type:

Do:

  • Utilize the 20 seconds you will have prior to hearing the listening prompt and read the information first, underline your key words, and think about the types of words that could be missing from the gaps.
  • Remember that the answers will come in order during the this question type’s prompt. This means that you should utilize the note, form, or table visual aid to your advantage and keep notes directly next to your gaps. Doing so will help you pick up where you left off if you miss something, and it will help you understand the information.
  • Understand the question type in relation to the Sections. You will almost always have to listen for specific information, rather than listening for each speaker’s thoughts.
  • As always, you should write the words clearly in capital letters and pay close attention to how many words you can write.

Don’t:

  • Waste your time before and after the listening prompt is played. Think of these 30 minutes of the listening exam as ‘game time’, and actively listen or read the questions as much as you can! 
  • Waste time keeping a separate outline or chart for this question type. Use visual aids to your advantage. 
  • Focus on only one aspect of the process. In other words, don’t just listen, don’t just read, and don’t just answer. You will need to combine these three tasks in order to have enough time in this section. In other words: make sure to multitask. 
  • Leave anything blank! Even if the exam is difficult, choose your best guess in order to maximize your chances of scoring high. 

IELTS Listening Note/Table Completion Practice List

Now it is time to practice! Check out the following Note/Table Completion practice questions.

IELTS Listening - Note/Table Completion Questions Practice List

49 IELTS Listening note completion Questions
Section 1
IELTS Listening Practice 21
Registration for art classes
(multiple choice/note completion/short answer)
IELTS Listening Practice 57
New Municipal Library
(note completion)
IELTS Listening Practice 69
Rail Tour
(note completion)
IELTS Listening Practice 81
Getting a library card
(multiple choice/note completion/multiple selection)
IELTS Listening Practice 85
Election to the Youth Commission
(note completion)
IELTS Listening Practice 117
Job posting for a bike tour guide
(note completion)
IELTS Listening Practice 137
Painting and fixing in the flat
(note completion/table completion)
Section 2
IELTS Listening Practice 42
Garden ponds
(note completion)
IELTS Listening Practice 58
Types of cheese
(note completion)
IELTS Listening Practice 74
The English Academy info session
(note completion/matching)
IELTS Listening Practice 123
Memorial Oak Park
(note completion/diagram labelling/table completion)
IELTS Listening Practice 130
Focus on the Arts
(note completion/table completion)
Section 3
IELTS Listening Practice 19
School presentation 
(multiple choice/note completion/multiple selection)
IELTS Listening Practice 23
Logistics
(multiple choice/multiple selection/note completion)
IELTS Listening Practice 35
Potholing
(multiple choice/note completion/multiple selection)
IELTS Listening Practice 39
Cashless payments
(multiple choice/note completion)
IELTS Listening Practice 43
Mason's presentation topic 
(multiple choice/note completion/multiple selection)
IELTS Listening Practice 47
Management styles
(note completion/multiple choice/sentence completion)
IELTS Listening Practice 51
Working patterns 
(note completion/multiple choice/sentence completion)
IELTS Listening Practice 55
Career planning strategies
(note completion/multiple choice/sentence completion)
IELTS Listening Practice 71
Orienteering
(multiple choice/note completion)
IELTS Listening Practice 75
Autonomous cars
(note completion/multiple choice/sentence completion)
IELTS Listening Practice 99
Photography presentation: pinhole camera
(multiple choice/note completion/multiple selection)
IELTS Listening Practice 103
Ethical Fashion
(note completion/multiple choice)
IELTS Listening Practice 107
Marketing technology & social media
(note completion)
IELTS Listening Practice 111
Ethical hacking
(note completion)
IELTS Listening Practice 115
Language learning and genetics
(multiple choice/note completion)
Section 4
IELTS Listening Practice 4
Health and wellbeing
(multiple choice/note completion)
IELTS Listening Practice 20
How to do research in the university library
(multiple choice/note completion/table completion)
IELTS Listening Practice 36
Domestic cats
(multiple choice/note completion)
IELTS Listening Practice 44
Product placement
(multiple choice/note completion)
IELTS Listening Practice 48
Ecotourism
(note completion/sentence completion)
IELTS Listening Practice 52
Evergreening
(note completion/sentence completion)
IELTS Listening Practice 56
Data mining
(note completion/sentence completion)
IELTS Listening Practice 64
Airline ticket pricing strategies
(note completion)
IELTS Listening Practice 72
History of tea
(multiple choice/note completion)
IELTS Listening Practice 76
The Evolution of Desert Animals
(note completion/table completion)
IELTS Listening Practice 80
Branding and marketing: yoghurt 
(note completion/table completion)
IELTS Listening Practice 84
Migration patterns of birds
(note completion)
IELTS Listening Practice 88
The history of cameras
(note completion/table completion)
IELTS Listening Practice 96
Introductory Lecture on Archaeology
(note completion/sentence completion)
IELTS Listening Practice 100
Zoology: domestic dogs
(note completion)
IELTS Listening Practice 104
Marketing Lecture: Marketing Mix
(note completion)
IELTS Listening Practice 112
Glaciers and ice sheets
(note completion/multiple choice)
IELTS Listening Practice 116
Food science: avocados
(note completion)
IELTS Listening Practice 120
How to Take Effective Notes
(note completion)
IELTS Listening Practice 136
Nanotechnology
(multiple choice/note completion)
IELTS Listening Practice 140
The spirit bear
(note completion)
IELTS Listening Practice 144
Ocean Biodiversity
(note completion)
50 IELTS Listening table completion Questions
Section 1
IELTS Listening Practice 13
UK tours
(table completion)
IELTS Listening Practice 29
Trip to the Lake District
(table completion)
IELTS Listening Practice 33
Holiday camp
(table completion)
IELTS Listening Practice 41
Cafe menu
(table completion)
IELTS Listening Practice 45
Airport transport
(table completion/form completion)
IELTS Listening Practice 65
Booking a trip
(table completion)
IELTS Listening Practice 93
Booking a Trip to Brighton Beach
(table completion)
IELTS Listening Practice 97
Collecting feedback on training courses
(table completion)
IELTS Listening Practice 101
Blue Lagoon Resort information centre
(table completion/form completion)
IELTS Listening Practice 105
Hayling Island Tourist Information Office
(table completion)
IELTS Listening Practice 109
Dunlop Bay Tourist Information Office
(table completion)
IELTS Listening Practice 137
Painting and fixing in the flat
(note completion/table completion)
IELTS Listening Practice 141
Stretton Festival Box Office
(table completion/matching)
Section 2
IELTS Listening Practice 2
Guitars
(table completion/multiple selection/multiple choice)
IELTS Listening Practice 6
Thurston Aquarium
(table completion)
IELTS Listening Practice 10
Expedition to the Lake District
(table completion/multiple choice/multiple selection)
IELTS Listening Practice 18
Caravans
(sentence completion/table completion)
IELTS Listening Practice 22
Hoxton Science Centre
(table completion)
IELTS Listening Practice 26
Desert camping
(table completion/multiple choice/multiple selection)
IELTS Listening Practice 34
Jazz
(table completion)
IELTS Listening Practice 38
Edinburgh Castle
(table completion)
IELTS Listening Practice 62
Ski Centre
(table completion)
IELTS Listening Practice 70
Different types of fish
(table completion)
IELTS Listening Practice 78
APT Travel - Holiday Options
(multiple selection/multiple choice/table completion)
IELTS Listening Practice 90
Hill walking
(table completion/multiple choice/multiple selection)
IELTS Listening Practice 98
Interior design: sofas
(sentence completion/table completion)
IELTS Listening Practice 118
Everything You Need to Know About Dogs
(table completion)
IELTS Listening Practice 121
Liberty Theater House
(table completion/diagram labelling)
IELTS Listening Practice 122
Windsor Museum
(table completion/diagram labelling)
IELTS Listening Practice 123
Memorial Oak Park
(note completion/diagram labelling/table completion)
IELTS Listening Practice 125
Lithia Nature Park
(multiple choice/diagram labelling/table completion)
IELTS Listening Practice 130
Focus on the Arts
(note completion/table completion)
Section 3
IELTS Listening Practice 11
New semester
(table completion/short answer)
IELTS Listening Practice 27
Tips for reading articles
(table completion)
IELTS Listening Practice 83
Plastic recycling
(multiple choice/table completion)
IELTS Listening Practice 87
Campus life
(table completion)
IELTS Listening Practice 91
Taking skills courses
(table completion)
IELTS Listening Practice 143
Subject of Drawing
(table completion/matching)
Section 4
IELTS Listening Practice 8
Training session on Space Management
(table completion/sentence completion)
IELTS Listening Practice 12
Physical Education faculty's session
(table completion/multiple selection/matching)
IELTS Listening Practice 20
How to do research in the university library
(multiple choice/note completion/table completion)
IELTS Listening Practice 24
Psychology and advertising
(table completion/diagram labelling)
IELTS Listening Practice 28
Humble bicycle
(table completion)
IELTS Listening Practice 40
Chewing gum
(table completion/sentence completion)
IELTS Listening Practice 76
The Evolution of Desert Animals
(note completion/table completion)
IELTS Listening Practice 80
Branding and marketing: yoghurt 
(note completion/table completion)
IELTS Listening Practice 88
The history of cameras
(note completion/table completion)
IELTS Listening Practice 92
The history of computers
(table completion)
IELTS Listening Practice 108
A lecture on red squirrel conservation in the UK
(sentence completion/table completion)
IELTS Listening Practice 127
Time Perspective (Video Explanation Included)
(table completion/multiple choice)


 
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