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IELTS Listening Sentence Completion: Practice and Answers

The sentence around a blank often paraphrases the speaker. Predict the missing word’s part of speech, then listen for the information rather than identical wording.

Original LingoLeap mini-exercise with synthesized English audio. It is shorter than an IELTS section and is not an official exam item or full practice test. Updated 4 October 2026.

Sentence Completion listening practice exercise

Read the questions first. Listen once without opening the transcript, write your answers, then check the explanations. Replay afterwards to identify what you missed. In the real IELTS test you hear each recording once.

Download this original MP3

Write ONE WORD ONLY for each answer.

Enter answers here as you listen. Your entries stay in this tab and are not saved or submitted. For letter questions, enter the letter only. The checker ignores case and extra spaces, but not extra words or different spellings.

After listening, check your answers and review the evidence. Without JavaScript, use the answer key below.

Answers and distractors explained

Show answers after listening
  1. 1. gravel

    Gravel describes the surface; railway describes its earlier use.

  2. 2. horses

    Cyclists are allowed but horses are not.

  3. 3. water

    There is no café, and the speaker explicitly recommends carrying water.

Count correct answers to this drill only. Do not convert this short exercise into an IELTS band: an exam Listening result uses all 40 questions. See the IELTS band score calculator for full-test score guidance.

How to answer IELTS Listening sentence completion questions

  1. Predict a noun, verb or adjective from the printed sentence.
  2. Identify negative statements before accepting a nearby keyword.
  3. Read the completed sentence for both meaning and grammar.

Review the evidence, not just your score

For each mistake, locate the exact phrase in the transcript and decide whether you lost the answer through vocabulary, a changed decision, spelling or the instructions. Replay that phrase with the transcript, then listen again without it. Repeating an answer you now remember is not the same as understanding a new recording; use a different question type next.

Practice audio transcript

Open the transcript for review or accessible reading

The new walking route follows the old railway. Most of the surface is gravel, so comfortable shoes are essential. Cyclists may also use the route, but horses are not allowed because they can damage the narrow sections. The route is especially popular in spring, when flowers cover the banks. There is no café along the path. Visitors should carry water, even on cool days. The nearest bus stop is beside the station at the eastern end.

Make the next attempt count

  1. Write down the words that support each missed answer, not just the correct answer itself.
  2. Replay the recording while reading the transcript. Notice the correction or paraphrase you missed.
  3. Close the transcript and replay once. Check whether you can now hear the evidence.
  4. Try a different exercise to test the skill on unfamiliar content. This recording alone cannot establish exam readiness.

For a full Listening test, use the official preparation materials below. LingoLeap’s app practice focuses on Speaking and Writing; these Listening drills are completed here.

Related IELTS Listening question types

Format reference: official IELTS Listening task types. For authentic full-length preparation materials, use official IELTS sample questions. Our scripts, questions and explanations are original; no Cambridge passages or recordings are reproduced.