IELTS Listening Part 3: Mastering the Academic Discussion

Welcome!

Welcome to IELTS Listening Part 3! In this part of the Listening Test, you will experience a slightly more complex setup — a conversation with two to four speakers. The topic will usually be academic, such as a group of students discussing a research project, a seminar discussion, or a conversation between students and a teacher.

Key Point: The recording will be played only once, so listening carefully is crucial. You will need to catch main ideas as well as specific details like facts, opinions, and how ideas develop. Don’t worry — I’ll guide you step-by-step through strategies to succeed!

Summary and Structure

🎯 Tip: In Part 3, listen carefully to who is speaking and what opinion they express. Different speakers might have different views or suggestions — tracking that is key!

Listening Task: Discussion Questions 21–24

Instructions:
You will hear a conversation between a teacher and two students discussing electoral systems. Read the questions carefully before the audio begins — this helps you predict what kind of information you are listening for.

Questions 21–24

Complete the notes below. Write no more than three words for each answer.

21. FPTP and PR differ in how __________ are allocated.
22. FPTP allows a party to win a majority of __________ without most votes.
23. PR ensures every vote __________ in the result.
24. PR might create more __________ parliaments.

🎧 Listen to the Audio:

Listening Task: Discussion Questions 25–30

Instructions:
Now listen to the second part of the discussion where the teacher and students compare systems further. Complete the notes carefully.

Questions 25–30

Complete the notes below. Write no more than three words for each answer.

25. FPTP leads to more __________ governments.
26. PR is more __________ due to smaller parties.
27. PR may cause __________ governments.
28. FPTP creates __________ governments but less fairness.
29. FPTP is used in the __________ system.
30. A mixed system is used in __________.

🎧 Listen to the Audio:

Solutions and Detailed Walkthrough

Solution Walkthrough: Questions 21–24

Let’s break down the first set of questions together. In the IELTS Listening test, it’s crucial to read the questions during the preparation time before the recording starts. For note completion questions like these, you should focus on the keywords in the sentence and predict what kind of word is missing — is it a noun, a verb, or a phrase?

For Question 21, the key is the word “differ” — what is different between FPTP and PR? As you listen, the teacher explains that FPTP is a “winner-takes-all” system, while PR distributes seats based on the vote share. The key difference is in how “seats in parliament” are allocated — that’s your answer.

In Question 22, you are asked what FPTP allows a party to win without most votes. Liam mentions that a party can win the “majority of seats” without a majority of votes — so your answer is “majority of seats”.

Question 23 focuses on what PR ensures about every vote. Emma explains that in PR, every vote “contributes to” the result. Thus, the missing phrase is “contributes to” or simply “counts in” the result, depending on the test version.

Finally, for Question 24, the teacher raises a concern: PR could lead to more “fragmented parliaments” — meaning lots of small parties in parliament. So “fragmented parliaments” is your answer.

🎯 Teacher Tip: Always pay attention to cause-and-effect language like “lead to,” “result in,” or “ensure” — these often signal the exact answer you’re looking for in note completion questions.

Solution Walkthrough: Questions 25–30

Let’s move on to the second set. Again, you must carefully match the question’s wording with what the speakers actually say. The questions are designed to follow the order of the conversation — so if you miss one, just stay calm and listen for the next answer!

Question 25 asks about what type of government FPTP leads to. Liam mentions that FPTP tends to create more “decisive” governments because larger parties are favored, allowing quicker decisions. So the answer is “decisive”.

In Question 26, Emma notes that PR is more “democratic” because it allows smaller parties to be represented, reflecting a broader range of views. Thus, the answer is “democratic”.

For Question 27, we’re looking for what PR may cause. The teacher discusses how PR may lead to “unstable” governments, with many small parties struggling to form coalitions. Therefore, “unstable” is the answer.

Question 28 asks for the kind of governments FPTP creates. The discussion points out that FPTP creates “stable” governments but with less fairness, meaning fewer parties get a voice even if they have popular support. Hence, the answer is “stable”.

For Question 29, the system where FPTP is used is discussed — they specifically mention the “UK” system.

Finally, Question 30 asks about where a mixed system is used. Liam points out that Germany uses a mixed electoral system, combining FPTP and PR methods. The answer is “Germany”.

🎯 Teacher Tip: When you hear a country mentioned, pay extra attention — IELTS loves to test these “place” facts in Part 3 and Part 4.

🪞 Reflection Prompt

Now reflect: Which strategy helped you the most today? Was it predicting answers during the 30-second reading time? Was it following the logical flow of the discussion? Think about what worked well for you, and focus on improving that skill for next time!