Listening Section 2 | IELTS with Jake

IELTS Listening Section 2

In this section, you will learn how Section 2 works and how to answer different question types confidently

What to Expect in Section 2

Understand how Section 2 works

Learn about common situations and topics

See what skills you need to succeed

How to Answer Map Questions

Discover how map questions work

Learn how to follow directions step by step

Understand what you need to listen for

Common Mistakes

Learn why mistakes happen

See the most common errors students make

Understand how to avoid losing easy marks

What to Expect in Section 2

Section 2 is a talk by one speaker in a social or everyday situation.

You will hear practical information, such as directions, public announcements, or details about events and facilities.

This section tests your ability to follow instructions and understand specific details.

Types of Public Talks

In Section 2, you will hear one person speaking in a public or everyday situation.
This is not a conversation.

You may hear different types of information, such as directions, details about places, or announcements.

Here are the most common situations you will hear in Section 2:

Guided Tours & Public Talks

Information given to a group of people.

Museum tours
Park tours
Visitor information

Public Facilities Information

Details about services and places

Libraries
Sports centres
Community centres

Maps & Directions

Explaining where things are and how to get there

Buildings and rooms
Park layouts
Campus maps

Events & Announcements

Information about events and schedules

Activities and events
Opening hours
Safety information

These situations test how well you can follow instructions and understand important details.

How to Answer Map Questions

In Section 2, it is very common to have a map or plan. You will hear one speaker giving directions or describing locations. You must follow carefully and label the correct places.

Common Map Formats

Inside a building (gym, museum, school)

Floor Plan

Streets, parks, public buildings

Town or Area Map

b9a5e5_9d95df01474a45de984492e5a39ea2eb~mv2.avif

Rooms are marked with letters, and you must match them to the correct numbers. You usually write a LETTER, not the full name.

Places are marked with numbers, and you must match them to the correct letters.

Click each step to see how it works on the map.

Key Tips for Map Questions

How do answers appear?

In map and plan questions, the answers usually come in order of the questions (for example, 14, 15, 16…).

The speaker will move step by step around the map or describe locations in sequence, often using words like first, next, and then.

Example

“First, let’s look at the café. Next, we move to the library,

and after that, the reception area.”

The answers follow the question numbers, so you should move from one location to the next as you listen.

Remember

Answers come in order of the question numbers (e.g. 14 → 20)
Listen for sequencers like first, next, then, and after that
Don’t jump ahead on the map

What is the starting point?

The starting point is where the speaker begins.
Sometimes it is clearly shown (for example, “You are here”), but sometimes you need to listen carefully to find it.

If it is not shown, think about where the speaker is most likely to begin.

Example

Remember

Listen for phrases like “start at”, “begin at”, or “if you’re standing at…”
Find this place before you follow the directions

“Let’s begin at the main entrance.”

“We’ll start from the bus stop on High Street.”

“If you’re standing at reception, you’ll see…”

What should you listen for?

The speaker uses direction and location language to describe where places are, so it's important to understand words like left, right, and how places are connected.

If you miss the directions, don’t panic — the speaker often finishes by telling you the final position.

Example

Remember

Listen for location phrases like next to, opposite, and behind
Follow the speaker step by step but don't panic if you miss a step
Be careful with left and right — it depends on the direction you are moving

“Go along the road and turn right at the corner. The building is on your left, opposite the park.”

What are landmarks?

Landmarks are named places on the map, such as buildings or areas.
They help you understand where you are and make it easier to follow the speaker.

Before listening, look at the map and make a mental note of where things are.

Example

Remember

Pay attention to the landmarks before listening
Make a mental note of where things are
Use them to check your position as you listen

The hospital is next to the park
The café is opposite the bus stop

The police station is on the corner of Market street.

What is a distractor?

A distractor is information that sounds correct at first, but is not the final answer. The speaker may change or correct the information using words like “but” or “however.”

For Example:

“The changing area used to be next to the showers, but it has

now moved to the back of the building.”

Many listeners hear “next to the showers” and choose that answer too quickly. However, the correct answer comes after “but…”

Remember:

Don’t write down the first thing you hear — listen carefully to the full sentence.

Language for Maps

Focus on these key words — you will hear them often in the test

Location Language

Movement Language

Example Office Plan and Directions

Click each step to learn what to do.

Example Directions

Begin at the entrance and go straight on past the reception and meeting room on your left.

The conference room is at the end of the corridor, on your left, beside the exit.

Mini Practice

Try it yourself

Find your Answers

1.

Come out of the railway station and turn left.

Then walk along Station Road and turn right into Hill Road.

Continue straight on, past the café on your right, and cross the bridge.

It is on the corner where the footpath meets the road.

Where are you?

1. E 2. C 3. D 4. H Answer: D

Walk up Oak Lane and take the first right into School Lane.

Continue along the road until the end, then turn right into Hill Road.

Go up Hill Road and take the first right onto the footpath.

Follow it towards the lake.

It is on your left, next to the water.

2. Where are you?

1. E 2. C 3. D 4. H Answer: D

3.

Start at the café.

Walk along Hill Road and ignore the first left into School Lane.

Take the second left into Station Road.

Go past the railway station and the toilets.

It is in front of you, on the corner of Oak Lane

Where are you?

1. E 2. C 3. D 4. H Answer: D

Fill in the missing words

Railway Station → E

Start at the railway station. come out of the station and 1.________ left onto Station Road. 2.________ along the road and 3.________ right into Hill Road. Continue straight ahead until you reach the junction. The place is 4. ________ your right, just before School Lane. 1. turn 2. Walk (or Go) 3. turn 4. on

Supermarket → D

Start at the supermarket. Go along School Lane and 1. ________ left into Hill Road. 2. ________ straight on and 3. ________ the bridge. The place is 4. ________ after the bridge, on your right. 1. turn 2. Go 3. cross 4. just

Café → B

Start at the café. 1.________ along Hill Road and 2.________ the first left into School Lane. Then 3.________ the second left into Station Road. 4.________ past the railway station and the toilets. The place is 5.________ you, 6.________ the road. 1. Walk (or Go) 2. ignore 3. take 4. Go 5. in front of 6. opposite

b9a5e5_81201305ab0a4199920d3e99f857d841~mv2.avif

Practice Section 2

Practise understanding public information, directions and local services before completing real IELTS-style Section 2 questions.

Common Mistakes

Many students lose marks in Section 2 because they miss small but important details.Here are some of the most common mistakes and how to avoid them.

b9a5e5_ce1be4f4ef724193be775e3c46379f17~mv2.avif

b9a5e5_1411cb52036145e1ad899f3228157219~mv2.avif

Go to Section 3:

Practise understanding public information, directions and local services before completing real IELTS-style Section 2 questions.

University Discussion

IELTS Listening Section 2

What to Expect in Section 2

How to Answer Map Questions

Common Mistakes

What to Expect in Section 2

Types of Public Talks

Guided Tours & Public Talks

Public Facilities Information

Maps & Directions

Events & Announcements

How to Answer Map Questions

Common Map Formats

Floor Plan

Town or Area Map

Key Tips for Map Questions

What is the starting point?

Example

Remember

​

Language for Maps

Location Language

Movement Language

Example Office Plan and Directions

Mini Practice

1.

Where are you?

2.

Where are you?

3.

Where are you?

Practice Section 2

Common Mistakes

Go to Section 3:

Subscribe to our newsletter