Hoe bereid ik me voor op de IELTS-luistertoets?
Bij de IELTS-luistertoets hoor je elke opname maar één keer en komen er verschillende Engelse accenten voorbij. De meeste mensen mikken op band 6 tot 7.
De beste gratis manier om je voor te bereiden is veel luisteren naar echt Engels op jouw niveau. Het gratis pakket hieronder is ingedeeld van makkelijk naar moeilijker, zodat je op je eigen niveau kunt beginnen en verder kunt komen.
Geselecteerd en beoordeeld door een expert

Oprichter van FasTrack IELTS · 2 mln+ YouTube-abonnees
Deze pagina is samengesteld en beoordeeld door Asiya, oprichter van FasTrack IELTS. Ze komt oorspronkelijk uit Kazachstan en deed zelf IELTS om in het VK te kunnen studeren. Nu leidt ze een wereldwijd team van IELTS-experts en oud-examinatoren. Hun gestructureerde, praktische aanpak helpt kandidaten band 7 of hoger te halen zonder maandenlang proberen. Ze heeft het videopakket hieronder zelf handgekozen.
Van een IELTS-coach
Hoe oefen ik IELTS-luisteren met korte video’s?
Het meeste advies voor IELTS-luisteren is hetzelfde: maak oude Cambridge-toetsen, luister podcasts, kijk Engelstalige films. Nuttig, maar lastig vol te houden. Een volledige toets kost veel tijd. Podcasts zijn vaak lang en te moeilijk. Veel mensen beginnen enthousiast, maar haken na een paar dagen af.
Korte video’s zijn makkelijker bij te houden. Je kijkt waarschijnlijk al dagelijks naar TikToks, Reels of YouTube Shorts. De vraag is alleen of je gewoon scrollt, of ook echt je luistervaardigheid traint.
Met korte clips hoor je echt Engels in kleine stukjes. Dat is goede oefening voor IELTS, want de toets gebruikt zelden precies dezelfde woorden als in de vraag. Je moet de betekenis snappen.
Met korte clips kun je gericht luisteren naar dingen die vaak terugkomen in de toets:
het hoofdidee
de mening van de spreker
redenen en voorbeelden
contrast, waarbij de spreker eerst een idee noemt en het dan omdraait
kleine correcties in natuurlijke spraak, zoals "eigenlijk" of "sorry, ik bedoel"
hetzelfde idee in andere woorden
snel spreken en verbonden klanken
Zo klinkt dat in de praktijk, in clips die ik hieronder voor je heb uitgekozen:
Mening
“One of my favorite things is just walking the aisles and seeing all the options.”
Het antwoord zit in haar houding, niet in één woord. Je moet horen dat ze het leuk vindt.
Kijk: Why We Love Malaysian Grocery Stores
Contrast
“Everything is so expensive here, but this $5 chorizo cone was amazing value.”
Ze noemt een prijs die je verwacht, maar draait het dan om. Het echte punt komt in de tweede helft.
Kijk: Everything I Ate At The Sydney Easter Show
Hetzelfde in andere woorden
“She was the longest resident at the shelter, so she had been there for eight years and nine months.”
Een vraag zou zijn “hoe lang?” De audio zegt “longest resident”, gevolgd door het getal. Hetzelfde feit, twee formuleringen.
Kijk: Adopting The Longest-Resident Senior Dog From A Shelter
Kleine correctie
“When I was 20, when I... a bit older than that, when I'd left university...”
Echte sprekers corrigeren zichzelf terwijl ze praten. Volg de verbeterde versie, niet wat ze eerst zeiden.
Kijk: Quentin Blake On Becoming An Illustrator
Bekijk elke video in een paar stappen:
Kijk één keer zonder ondertiteling. Wat is het hoofdidee?
Kijk nog eens. Wat vindt de spreker ervan?
Kijk opnieuw en luister naar redenen, voorbeelden en correcties.
Zoek de nieuwe woorden of uitdrukkingen op.
Zeg één nuttige zin hardop.
Je kunt beter één korte video goed bestuderen dan twintig video’s één keer bekijken. Kies video’s die je bijna kunt volgen. Te makkelijk levert weinig op. Te moeilijk en je gokt maar wat. De video’s hieronder zijn gegroepeerd op band, niveau en snelheid, dus begin dicht bij je eigen niveau en bouw op.
Korte video’s vervangen geen volledige IELTS-toetsen. Je hebt nog steeds echte oefentoetsen nodig voor dingen die alleen het examen je leert: vragen lezen voor elk deel, antwoorden correct spellen en binnen de woordlimiet blijven. Maar deze clips zijn een eenvoudige manier om dagelijks je luistervaardigheid te trainen. Ik heb ze zelf uitgekozen om je echt Engels te geven op het juiste niveau en tempo.
Waarom dit niveau
Waarom doen mensen IELTS?
Mensen doen IELTS vaak voor:
Toelating tot een universiteit (veel opleidingen accepteren band 5.5; de meest competitieve vragen veel meer)
Werk- of migratievisa voor enkele Engelstalige landen, waar de eisen sterk verschillen
Beroepsregistratie, bijvoorbeeld voor verpleegkundigen en artsen
Welke band heb ik nodig?
Band-eisen in de praktijk
Hoe hoog je moet scoren hangt volledig af van waarom je IELTS doet. In tegenstelling tot diploma’s die mensen aan de muur hangen, verliest een IELTS-score na twee jaar zijn geldigheid, dus doe je het voor een concreet doel. De meeste universitaire programma’s accepteren rond band 5.5 tot 6.5, maar het werkelijke bereik is groot:
Visum voor vakmensen (Canada)
bijv. vrachtwagenchauffeurs lange afstand (CLB 5)
Geschoolde migratie (Australië)
Competent / Proficient / Superior English
Eisen veranderen vaak en verschillen per programma en visumcategorie. Check altijd het exacte aantal op de officiële pagina voordat je erop vertrouwt.
Gratis · 100 video’s · 6 uur 48 minuten
Jouw gratis IELTS-luisterpakket
Hier zijn 100 korte video’s van echte moedertaalsprekers, gesorteerd van makkelijk naar moeilijker, zodat je op je eigen niveau kunt beginnen en verder kunt komen. Ze worden gesproken op een snelheid die dicht bij de toets ligt (ongeveer 190 woorden/min). De stemmen gebruiken verschillende Engelse accenten, net als in de toets. De meeste woorden vallen binnen de 96% meest gebruikte gesproken woorden in het English, dus ze sluiten aan bij de taal die de toets gebruikt. Bij elkaar zijn ze goed voor ongeveer 6 uur 48 minuten luisteroefening voor IELTS. Ze zijn allemaal gratis te bekijken hieronder.
Inhoud van het pakket · 100 video’s in 3 bands
Build your base
35 video’s
Most university targets
34 video’s
Stretch for top scores
31 video’s
Alle 100 video’s staan hieronder, gegroepeerd per band van Band 5-6 tot Band 7+, zodat je op je eigen niveau kunt beginnen en verder kunt komen.
Build your base
Everything I Ate At Queen Victoria Market Melbourne
biteswithlily
Wat je gaat oefenen
This is a fast Australian food vlog where someone describes each thing they ate using lots of taste and texture words. You will practice everyday food vocabulary, past-tense storytelling, and a few phrasal verbs and set phrases like "last but not least" at a quick speaking pace.
Wat je hoort
“hot jam doughnuts, which were 5 for $10” - non-defining relative clause · band 5.5
“crispy, and sugary on the outside, and fluffy and springy on the inside” - sensory adjective chain · band 5
Korean Street Food Tour At Gwangjang Market
biteswithlily
Wat je gaat oefenen
A fast, chatty Korean street-food vlog where you practice everyday food and texture words (chewy, fluffy, crispy, greasy) and short opinion sentences, like an IELTS Part 2 talk about food you enjoy.
Wat je hoort
“It has the perfect amount of fermentation” - semi-technical abstract noun · band 6.5
“It's very gelatinous” - less-common descriptive adjective · band 6.5
Why Some People Feel The Cold More
BBC Learning English
Wat je gaat oefenen
This is a BBC science explainer about why people feel cold differently. You will hear clear British speech at a normal pace that teaches useful phrases like "first and foremost" and "yes and no", plus words about coping with cold. It feels like an IELTS Part 3 study discussion.
Wat je hoort
“first and foremost, I would say” - fixed phrase / linker for emphasis · band 6
“more tolerant perhaps than females” - less-common adjective + comparative · band 6
Making Squeaky-Fresh Cheese Curds At Clock Shadow Creamery
TMJ4 News
Wat je gaat oefenen
A fast North American news piece about how cheese curds are made. You will practice listening to a process being described, including passive forms like "have been milled, salted, and bagged" and some food-trade words at a quick 190-words-a-minute pace.
Wat je hoort
“the cheese curds have been milled, salted, and bagged” - present perfect passive (chained verbs) · band 6
“the flexibility to accommodate different styles” - semi-abstract noun phrase · band 6.5
Grizzly bears hunting salmon at the waterfall
BBC Earth
Wat je gaat oefenen
This BBC nature clip is spoken at a normal pace in a clear British voice about a real, easy-to-picture scene (bears catching fish). The topic is concrete, but the narrator uses idioms like "the end of the road" and "go for it" and longer sentences with words like "the longer... the weaker," so it is good practice for everyday storytelling language, similar to a talk in IELTS Listening Part 2.
Wat je hoort
“The longer the salmon take over their journey upstream, the weaker they become” - correlative comparative structure (the more... the more...) · band 6.5
“This mother bear has been waiting months for this moment” - present perfect continuous for duration · band 6
King And Queen Experience Irish Culture In Belfast
7NEWS Australia
Wat je gaat oefenen
This is a short, fast Australian news clip about a royal visit. You can practice news-style sentences that leave out words and pack ideas into -ing phrases, plus the idiom "the luck of the Irish" and some less-common words like "festivities" and "distillers".
Wat je hoort
“it must be the luck of the Irish” - idiom + modal of deduction · band 6.5
“the pair joining in on the festivities” - participial phrase + phrasal verb 'join in' · band 6
Living Full-Time In A New Zealand Bus Home
Tiny Home Tours
Wat je gaat oefenen
A fast, everyday New Zealand monologue about the cost and size of a bus home. You will practice numbers and prices, one passive ("has to be done by a certified engineer"), and the idiom "I never say never", useful for IELTS Part 1 style personal-experience listening at a quick pace.
Wat je hoort
“which has to be done by a certified engineer” - passive with obligation modal · band 6
“coming up on one year” - idiomatic time phrase · band 5.5
Asking Strangers In York What They’re Doing Today
Easy Languages
Wat je gaat oefenen
This is a fast street interview where people say what they are doing today, so you practice the present continuous (\"I'm delivering parcels\") and everyday phrases at a quick British speaking pace, much like IELTS Listening Part 1.
Wat je hoort
“I'm just trying to build up my clientele” - phrasal verb + less-common noun · band 6
“I've been on placement for ten weeks on York Hospital” - present perfect for duration · band 6
How To Become A Formula 1 Mechanic
WIRED
Wat je gaat oefenen
A British mechanic explains, very fast, how to get a job in Formula 1. The words are everyday but he uses lots of informal phrasal verbs like "get yourself seen" and "drop them some emails", so it is good practice for catching casual career advice spoken at high speed.
Wat je hoort
“Get yourself noticed out there” - reflexive phrasal expression / informal idiom · band 6
“You've dabbled with bicycles when you were a kid” - less-common verb 'dabble' + present perfect · band 6.5
Exploring a classic car junkyard taken over by nature
AP Archive
Wat je gaat oefenen
This clip is a relaxed real-life interview where a man talks about an old car junkyard and his memories. You will practice everyday spoken English at a natural speed, with phrasal verbs like "took over" and casual, non-standard grammar you hear in real conversation. It feels like an IELTS Part 2 personal story.
Wat je hoort
“nature took over it” - phrasal verb · band 6
“the trees come through the hoods and doors” - connected fast speech / non-standard grammar · band 6
Rescued Dog Gets His First Toy Shopping Spree
The Dodo
Wat je gaat oefenen
This is an everyday animal-rescue story told at a fairly quick natural speed, like an IELTS Part 2 talk. It is good for practising natural phrasal verbs and idioms such as "in really bad shape" and "his personality started to come out", plus following a clear story that builds to a bigger point.
Wat je hoort
“in really bad shape” - idiom · band 6
“his personality started to come out” - phrasal verb · band 5.5
Why We Love Malaysian Grocery Stores
TRAVELiving: Noelle and Jonathan's Life Adventures
Wat je gaat oefenen
A fast, friendly travel vlog about grocery shopping in Malaysia. You practice everyday food and shopping words plus some phrasal verbs like "get rid of" and "checking out," and you hear quick natural speech at near-190 words a minute.
Wat je hoort
“if you got rid of all your stuff and traveled” - phrasal verb + conditional · band 6
“The grocery stores are conveniently located” - passive voice · band 6
Dads Learn Daughters’ Hairstyles Over Pints At The Pub
7NEWS Australia
Wat je gaat oefenen
This is a fast Australian news clip about dads learning to do their daughters' hair at a pub. The topic is everyday, but it is spoken quickly with idioms like "take the load off" and "giving it a good go," so it is good practice for catching natural, informal speech at speed.
Wat je hoort
“wanting their partners to take the load off of them” - idiom / phrasal expression · band 6
“they are giving it a really good go” - informal idiom (connected speech) · band 5.5
Rescuing A Deer Trapped In A Roadside Fence
The Dodo
Wat je gaat oefenen
This is a fast-spoken animal-rescue story where you practice everyday narration plus a few less-common words like 'sedate', 'superficial' and 'fractures', and phrasal verbs like 'trot off' and 'wiggle through'. It feels like an IELTS Part 2/3 talk, and the quick British speech is good training for catching connected speech.
Wat je hoort
“we were really left with no alternative” - fixed expression / near-passive idiom · band 6
“The wounding was only superficial” - less-common precise adjective · band 6.5
Overcoming Fear Of Mistakes When Speaking English
BBC Learning English
Wat je gaat oefenen
This BBC clip talks about the fear of making mistakes in English, using clear everyday language plus a few feeling and personality words like 'judgment', 'perfectionism' and 'anxious'. It is spoken at a normal pace with simple if-sentences and advice, much like an IELTS Part 3 discussion on learning.
Wat je hoort
“It can come from the fear of judgment” - abstract noun phrase · band 6
“aspects of your personality, particularly perfectionism” - lower-frequency abstract vocabulary · band 6.5
Weight Loss Drugs Explained In Six Minutes
BBC Learning English
Wat je gaat oefenen
This clip lets you practise health and science words like hormones, side effect and self-esteem, plus a useful idiom ('an angel on one shoulder'). The speakers talk at a normal-to-fast British pace and explain each new word, so it is like an IELTS Part 3 discussion that also teaches vocabulary.
Wat je hoort
“modified versions of natural hormones which make us feel full when released into the body” - relative clause + passive ('when released') · band 6.5
“an angel on one shoulder and a devil on the other” - idiom for a personal dilemma · band 6
Korean beef brisket feast in Seoul
biteswithlily
Wat je gaat oefenen
A fast Australian food vlog about a Korean beef dinner. The topic is easy (eating out), but the speaker talks very quickly and uses lots of food and cooking words, plus phrases like "on fire" and "pick and choose," so you get good practice following fast, descriptive everyday speech.
Wat je hoort
“This dinner was on fire” - idiom (figurative) · band 6
“were flame torched, and then the beef fat was used to saute” - passive voice chain · band 6
Everything I Ate At The Sydney Easter Show
biteswithlily
Wat je gaat oefenen
A fast Australian food vlog where the speaker describes and rates lots of dishes. Great for practising food adjectives (tender, plump, bland, fluffy) and casual idioms like "strap in" and "a pick me up" at natural, quick speaking speed.
Wat je hoort
“Strap in because there's a lot of food” - idiom / phrasal verb · band 6
“It was topped with pulled barbecue brisket” - passive voice + low-frequency food noun · band 6
American Idol homecoming for Pensacola singer Keyla Richardson
WEAR Channel 3 News
Wat je gaat oefenen
This is a fast local TV news report, so you practice following natural, quick American speech and picking out facts about a person and an event. It is good for catching everyday idioms and phrasal verbs like "took off" and "keeps her grounded".
Wat je hoort
“it's not just her faith that keeps her grounded” - idiom · band 6.5
“it took off from there and she's been singing ever since” - phrasal verb + present perfect · band 6
Last-Minute Mother’s Day Tech Gift Ideas
9NEWS
Wat je gaat oefenen
This is a fairly quick American news clip about gift ideas, so you practice everyday shopping words, useful phrasal verbs like "step away" and "work out", and common idioms like "stress buster" and "quality time". It feels like an IELTS Part 2 talk at a natural speaking speed.
Wat je hoort
“the strong women who've navigated so many challenges” - present perfect + relative clause · band 6
“a great stress buster for mom” - idiom/collocation · band 6
Adopting The Longest-Resident Senior Dog From A Shelter
GeoBeats Animals
Wat je gaat oefenen
A fast, emotional interview about adopting an old shelter dog, good for practising everyday phrasal verbs and idioms (like "our hearts melted" or "getting passed over") inside quick, natural connected speech, similar to the spoken discussions in IELTS Listening Parts 2-3.
Wat je hoort
“our hearts kind of melted” - idiom (emotional) · band 6
“she just got getting passed over” - phrasal verb (passive sense) · band 6
Young Aussie climber reaches the summit of Mount Everest
7NEWS Australia
Wat je gaat oefenen
This is a short news report about a teenager climbing Mount Everest. You will practise everyday news English at normal speed, including useful idioms like "on top of the world" and "get a tear in your eye," plus phrasal verbs like "turn back." It feels like IELTS Listening Part 2, a short talk on a real-life event.
Wat je hoort
“right now on top of the world” - idiom (literal + figurative pun) · band 6
“having become the youngest Australian to summit” - perfect participle clause (subordination) · band 6.5
Why We Built A Tiny House In New Zealand
Tiny Home Tours
Wat je gaat oefenen
This is a fast, real-life monologue about why someone built a tiny house. You practise everyday housing words plus a few bigger ideas like 'financial freedom' and 'justify', and you train your ear on quick New Zealand speech with false starts, a bit like an IELTS Part 2 talk.
Wat je hoort
“I cannot find a way to justify to put myself in so much debt” - semi-abstract reasoning + the verb 'justify' · band 6
“The main reason that we did that is financial freedom” - abstract noun phrase 'financial freedom' · band 6
Asian Festival Chaos: Overpriced, Overcrowded, And Frustrating
WMAR-2 News
Wat je gaat oefenen
This is a local news report about a chaotic food festival, spoken at a normal pace in a familiar North American accent. You will practice everyday opinion language plus useful idioms like "bumper to bumper" and "shift the blame," and a more formal apology from the organizers, much like an IELTS Part 2 or 3 talk.
Wat je hoort
“the all out bumper to bumper traffic on 70” - idiom (bumper to bumper) · band 6
“trying to shift the blame off of themselves and not taking accountability” - abstract nouns + idiom (shift the blame) · band 6.5
Quentin Blake On Becoming An Illustrator
Teacher Gina
Wat je gaat oefenen
This is a real British interview where the artist talks about his career and creative choices, so you practice following natural fast speech with phrasal verbs like "work out" and "go back to", conditionals, and lots of false starts and self-corrections. It feels like an IELTS Part 2-3 spoken section.
Wat je hoort
“those are two overlapping categories” - semi-abstract noun phrase · band 6.5
“if it's not working out, then I'll go back to teaching” - conditional + phrasal verbs · band 6
How Van Life Helped Me Find My True Self
Tiny Home Tours
Wat je gaat oefenen
A fast personal story about how living in a van helped someone understand themselves. You will practice everyday speech plus reflective words about feelings and identity, like the idiom "tied down" and the verb "pivoted". It is spoken quickly, like an IELTS Part 2 talk.
Wat je hoort
“I don't wanna be tied down to a piece of land” - idiom (phrasal/figurative) · band 6
“there was this deep inquiry of why were parts of my life not feeling peaceful” - semi-abstract noun phrase + embedded question · band 6.5
King and Queen Celebrate Irish Culture in Northern Ireland
7NEWS Australia
Wat je gaat oefenen
This is a short Australian news report about a royal visit to a music festival, so you can practice news vocabulary like "festivities," "the royal pair," and the idiom "a tipple or two," plus longer phrases describing a place and an event.
Wat je hoort
“joining in on the festivities of the upcoming festival” - phrasal verb + less-common noun · band 6
“the senior royals enjoyed a tibble or two” - idiom / informal expression · band 6.5
How Journalists Find And Gather News Today
BBC My World
Wat je gaat oefenen
This BBC explainer walks you through how journalists gather news at a normal speaking speed. You will practice topic words about media (sources, correspondents, eyewitnesses) and useful phrasal verbs like "dig deeper" and "find out", plus sentences that explain a process and how things have changed over time. It feels like an IELTS Part 4 short talk but at an easier, everyday level.
Wat je hoort
“the thing that fuels many journalists is a sense of curiosity” - abstract noun + metaphorical verb · band 6.5
“That's what drives them to dig deeper and uncover critical details” - phrasal verb / collocation · band 6
Working From Home Trends Across Australia
7NEWS Australia
Wat je gaat oefenen
This Australian news clip lets you practise work and office vocabulary, trend words like "on the rise" and "come down", and useful phrasal verbs such as "flocking to" and "slacking off", all at a normal news speed.
Wat je hoort
“job hunters are flocking to remote roles” - idiomatic phrasal/collocation · band 6.5
“we saw a massive peak in work from home offerings, and it has since come down” - trend language + present perfect · band 6
Cycling a sewing machine to stitch street portraits
BBC
Wat je gaat oefenen
A fast British interview where an artist talks about her work and feelings. You will practice everyday idioms and phrasal verbs like "a bad rep" and "pick yourself up", plus some thoughtful talk about art and self-doubt, all spoken very quickly like an IELTS Part 3 discussion.
Wat je hoort
“Social media's got quite a bad rep these days” - idiom + connected speech · band 6.5
“a perfect way to pick yourself up” - phrasal verb · band 6
Tiny home problems fixed after news investigation
KFOR Oklahoma's News 4
Wat je gaat oefenen
A fast local TV news story about home repairs, full of everyday phrasal verbs and idioms like "made it right" and "up and running", good for practising natural, quick spoken English about a real-life problem.
Wat je hoort
“the home was riddled with problems” - idiom / less-common collocation · band 6.5
“Now up and running after months” - phrasal/idiomatic expression · band 6
Teen Aussie Becomes Youngest To Conquer Mount Everest
7NEWS Australia
Wat je gaat oefenen
This is a fast Australian TV news story about a teen climbing Everest. The topic is easy to follow, but it is packed with everyday idioms like "over the moon", "out of the woods" and "third time's the charm", so it is great for practising natural figurative English at news speed.
Wat je hoort
“she was over the moon” - idiom (very happy) · band 6
“she's not out of the woods yet” - idiom (still in danger) · band 6.5
Police Officer Catches Baby Thrown From Burning House
7NEWS Australia
Wat je gaat oefenen
This is a short TV news story about a dramatic rescue. You will practise news-style language like the passive ("has been caught on camera", "was forced to") and useful expressions such as "caught alight" and "hailed a hero", spoken at a normal pace in an Australian accent.
Wat je hoort
“has been caught on camera” - present perfect passive · band 6.5
“the mother was forced to throw her infant” - passive + abstract verb 'forced' · band 6
Make Your Cat Happier With Play And Puzzle Feeders
TEDx Talks
Wat je gaat oefenen
This is a TED-style talk about playing with cats, spoken at a lively British pace. It is great for practising everyday idioms and phrasal verbs and following a longer, well-organised talk that mixes simple ideas with a few more advanced "expert" words.
Wat je hoort
“the world is your oyster” - idiom · band 6.5
“shed those extra pounds” - phrasal/idiomatic verb · band 6
COVID-19 Vaccine Hashtags And Social Media Reactions
NewsNation
Wat je gaat oefenen
This is a fast US news report about people sharing their COVID vaccine experiences online. You practice news English with idioms like "keen on" and "ring in the New Year," reported speech, and passive forms like "is being administered", similar to an IELTS Part 2 or 3 talk, but spoken quickly.
Wat je hoort
“not everyone is keen on how the vaccine is being administered” - phrasal/prepositional adjective + passive · band 6.5
“it could serve as a call to action for others” - set phrase / collocation · band 6.5
Most university targets
Living Inside A Real English Castle
DW Euromaxx
Wat je gaat oefenen
A fast British interview about life in a real castle. Good practice for everyday talk that turns thoughtful, full of phrasal verbs and idioms like "tucked away" and "keeping a handle on", plus relaxed natural speech with fillers and unfinished sentences.
Wat je hoort
“Castle Howard is tucked away in the northern English county” - phrasal verb · band 6.5
“these tapestries, which had been woven for the room when the house was built” - past perfect passive · band 7
Exploring Derry Girls murals and the city’s history
BBC Select
Wat je gaat oefenen
A fast, real British interview about a city's murals and culture. You practise catching idioms like "come flooding back" and "across the water," plus if-then sentences, all spoken quickly with a regional accent, good for a talk or discussion (IELTS Parts 2-3).
Wat je hoort
“has that schooling come flooding back into your head” - idiomatic phrasal expression · band 6.5
“translate so well across the water” - figurative phrase · band 7
Deer Rescued From Spiked Fence Just In Time
The Dodo
Wat je gaat oefenen
This clip is a fast spoken animal-rescue story where you practice phrasal verbs like "reach out" and "spooked", vivid words like "mangled" and "wedged", and one explained science term, "capture myopathy". It feels like an IELTS Part 2-3 talk told at a quick British pace.
Wat je hoort
“capture myopathy, which means that when they're trapped” - technical term defined by a relative clause · band 7
“had likely been spooked by a car” - past perfect passive · band 6.5
Why Deep Squats Matter For Your Long-Term Health
BBC News Mundo
Wat je gaat oefenen
A fast health explainer that mixes everyday words with a few less-common ones; you practice following longer "before X, before Y, you had to..." sentences and catching idioms about daily life at a quick speaking pace.
Wat je hoort
“before the advent of chairs” - semi-formal abstract noun ("advent") · band 7
“doing your business” - idiom / euphemism · band 6.5
How A Wild Robin Changed This Man’s Life
The Dodo
Wat je gaat oefenen
This is a fast British storyteller talking about his friendship with a wild bird. It is great for practising phrasal verbs like "get away from" and "turn up", past-tense storytelling, and a few feeling words like "legacy" and "grateful". Because he speaks quickly, it is good training for understanding natural, connected speech, much like an IELTS Part 2 talk.
Wat je hoort
“I just couldn't get away from him” - phrasal verb · band 6
“if it dropped below zero, I used to go in” - conditional + 'used to' for past habit · band 6
Why We Left The US For Life In Spain
DW Euromaxx
Wat je gaat oefenen
This is a fast interview about moving abroad, with real-life expat topics like visas, taxes, and politics. You will practice useful idioms ("pan out", "getting by") and follow longer opinion sentences spoken at quick, natural speed, much like an IELTS Part 3 discussion.
Wat je hoort
“hopefully this is going to pan out” - idiom / phrasal verb · band 6.5
“The way the administration has been treating immigrants is very concerning” - present perfect continuous + abstract topic · band 7
Oklahoma Mentoring Program Urgently Needs More Volunteers
KOCO 5 News
Wat je gaat oefenen
This is a fast TV news report where you practice phrasal verbs like "step up" and "help out" and figurative phrases like "a pillar of support" and "dire need," plus a few more formal words such as "socioeconomic." It sounds like an IELTS Part 2-3 talk delivered at quick news speed.
Wat je hoort
“dire need of some role models” - less-common collocation (abstract noun) · band 7
“an extra pillar of support” - metaphorical/idiomatic noun phrase · band 6.5
Longwood Debates Building New Tiny Home Communities
WESH 2 News
Wat je gaat oefenen
This is a fast American TV news report about housing and city zoning rules. You will practise civic words like "ordinance", "zoning" and "annexed", plus everyday idioms like "priced out" and "get on board", all spoken quickly like a real news Part 4 talk.
Wat je hoort
“Zoning rules in many places don't work for tiny home communities” - civic/policy vocabulary · band 6.5
“Land that gets annexed into the city could also be considered” - passive + conditional modal · band 7
The Changing Role Of Pubs In British Society
DW Food
Wat je gaat oefenen
A British explainer about pubs and how their role in society is changing, with cultural ideas and useful expressions like "bucks trends," "time capsule," and "melting pot." It feels like an IELTS Part 4 talk: clear but with abstract vocabulary and idioms you need to catch.
Wat je hoort
“83 year old landlord Alf Barrett bucks trends” - idiom · band 7
“a time capsule where nothing much has changed” - figurative/abstract phrase · band 6.5
Fuel Crisis Threatens Australian Food Supply
7NEWS Australia
Wat je gaat oefenen
This is a fast Australian news report about a fuel and food crisis, so you practice semi-serious topic words like "rationing", "conserve", and "city dwellers", plus useful phrases such as "ditch the car" and "empty shelves". It also gives you lots of "if... could" predictions and passive sentences like "people are being asked", which is the kind of language you hear in IELTS Part 2 and 3.
Wat je hoort
“ditch the car for the train or risk empty shelves” - informal phrasal/idiom · band 6.5
“If they can't get petrol and diesel... entire crops could be lost” - conditional + modal speculation · band 6.5
Modular Homes And Australia’s Tradie Shortage Explained
7NEWS Australia
Wat je gaat oefenen
This is a clear Australian news report about the housing shortage, with real-world idioms like 'housing crunch' and 'red tape', plus passive sentences and some business words (lenders, financing, industry). Good practice for following a fact-filled report at normal speed, like IELTS Listening Part 2 or 3.
Wat je hoort
“Australia's housing crunch is heading headfirst into a tradey shortage” - idiomatic vocabulary · band 7
“Traditionally, lenders have required proof of progress” - present perfect + abstract finance noun phrase · band 6.5
World Cup referee denied US entry and dropped
Sky Sports News
Wat je gaat oefenen
This is a clear British news report at a steady speed about a sports and travel-ban story. You will practice news-style passive sentences (like "he was turned back") and a formal quote full of abstract words such as "fairness," "merit," and "commitment."
Wat je hoort
“has been denied the chance to ref at the World Cup” - present perfect passive · band 6
“he was turned back when he landed” - phrasal verb (turn back) in past passive · band 6
Little Havana Reacts To Raul Castro Indictment
WPBF 25 News
Wat je gaat oefenen
This is a fast TV news report about people reacting to a court case, so you will practice news and legal words like "indictment", "murder charges" and "held responsible", plus useful idioms like "it's about time". It is spoken quickly, much like the talks in IELTS Listening Parts 2-3.
Wat je hoort
“someone gets held responsible” - passive voice (accountability) · band 6.5
“will face murder charges in connection with” - news/legal collocation · band 7
Overcoming Fear And Giving Better Presentations With RADA
Teacher Gina
Wat je gaat oefenen
A fast British explainer about beating fear of public speaking. You will practice everyday speech plus useful idioms and phrasal verbs like "got the hang of it" and "draw in your audience", and follow if/then advice, similar to an IELTS Part 2-3 talk, but spoken quickly.
Wat je hoort
“got the hang of that” - idiom · band 6.5
“you will draw in your audience” - phrasal verb · band 6
Memphis police warn drivers after deadly pedestrian crashes
WREG News Channel 3
Wat je gaat oefenen
This is a fast TV news report about road safety, so you practice following a quick news reporter, picking out facts and numbers, and understanding idioms like "a wake-up call" and phrasal verbs like "roll out".
Wat je hoort
“serve as a wake up call for both drivers and walkers” - idiom · band 6.5
“two pedestrians have been killed on busy city streets” - present perfect passive · band 6
Housing, smart glasses and choosing pets over kids
7NEWS Australia
Wat je gaat oefenen
This is a fast Australian TV chat show where three people debate housing costs, privacy and lifestyle choices. You will practise everyday opinion language, phrasal verbs and idioms like "jump the gun", spoken very quickly with lots of contractions.
Wat je hoort
“which is then being passed on to home buyers” - passive voice + phrasal verb · band 6.5
“we jump the gun to just assume that they're selfish” - idiom (jump the gun) · band 6.5
How Small Joys Build Real Happiness Over Time
Dr Julie
Wat je gaat oefenen
This British psychologist talks about happiness and low mood at a normal speed. You will hear everyday words mixed with feeling-related ideas, plus useful figurative phrases like "a drop in the ocean" and "if... then" sentences. Like an IELTS Part 2 talk on a familiar but slightly abstract topic.
Wat je hoort
“the joy gets zapped out of everything” - idiom / informal phrasal expression · band 6.5
“If you've ever experienced low mood or depression, then you'll know” - conditional + present perfect · band 6
Allowing Emotions To Flow Through You
Dr Julie
Wat je gaat oefenen
This clip is a fast psychology talk that uses a picture (water and ink) to explain emotions. You will practice phrasal verbs like "block it out", an "if" sentence about an imagined situation, and a few less-common words at quick speaking speed, much like an IELTS Part 3 discussion.
Wat je hoort
“infiltrates everything in your day” - lower-frequency verb (collocation) · band 7
“what if I told you that the best way” - second conditional / rhetorical structure · band 6.5
How To Handle Painful Emotions Like A Psychologist
Dr Julie
Wat je gaat oefenen
This clip lets you practise listening to an extended comparison (emotions are like ink in water) at a fairly fast British pace, with phrasal verbs like "block out", "what if" hypotheticals, and abstract feelings words. It feels like a short talk you might hear in IELTS Part 2 or 3.
Wat je hoort
“infiltrates everything in your day” - less-common verb / abstract collocation · band 7
“what if I told you that the best way” - hypothetical conditional · band 6.5
Easter Food Traditions In Italy And Slovenia
Rick Steves' Europe
Wat je gaat oefenen
This is a calm travel documentary about Easter food traditions in Italy and Slovenia. You will practise descriptive culture words and many "is/are blessed" passive sentences, plus some picture-painting phrases like "weave together" and "cradle" used in a non-literal way. It feels like an IELTS Part 4 talk but spoken slowly and clearly.
Wat je hoort
“special foods weave together religious and folk traditions” - metaphorical verb + abstract collocation · band 7
“to be blessed by their priest” - passive infinitive · band 6.5
Trump And Xi Discuss Trade, Iran, And Relations
Forbes Breaking News
Wat je gaat oefenen
This is a real news clip of two world leaders talking about trade, Iran, and their relationship, so you practise political and diplomatic words like 'reciprocate' and 'reciprocal'. The speech is a bit fast and full of strong opinions, like a Part 3 or Part 4 discussion.
Wat je hoort
“I've chosen this place especially to reciprocate the hospitality” - lower-frequency verb (reciprocate) + abstract noun · band 7
“we will be reciprocal like reciprocal trade. The visit will be reciprocal” - abstract policy term repeated as adjective/noun · band 7
Exploring An Ancient Egyptian Sun Temple To Ra
BBC Timestamp
Wat je gaat oefenen
This clip mixes friendly chat (\"Look at this\", \"My goodness\") with documentary narration about an ancient temple, so you practice passive sentences like \"the offerings were redistributed\" and abstract history words like worldview, pilgrimage, and obelisk. It is spoken fast in a British accent, much like an IELTS Part 4 talk on culture and history.
Wat je hoort
“The offerings were redistributed to the thousands” - passive voice · band 7
“That pilgrimage culminated in offerings” - lower-frequency verb + abstract noun · band 7
San Damiano Park Renovations And Community Fundraiser
Channel 3000 / News 3 Now
Wat je gaat oefenen
This is a fast local news report about a community park project, so you can practise civic words like 'renovations', 'steering committee' and 'unanimously approved', plus passive sentences and an interview, much like IELTS Listening Part 2 and 3.
Wat je hoort
“has been unanimously approved by the Monona City Council” - passive voice + low-frequency adverb · band 7
“a plan made in collaboration with the San Damiano project steering committee” - reduced relative clause + institutional collocation · band 7
Why Denver’s Nighttime Stoplights Are Changing
Next 9NEWS
Wat je gaat oefenen
This is a US news report about why Denver is changing its night-time traffic lights. It mixes everyday road talk with some bigger, more abstract ideas and a few news-style phrases like "early returns" and "outliers", spoken at a normal-to-quick pace. It is good practice for following a Part 3 or Part 4 style talk where the speaker explains a problem, gives reasons, and shares numbers.
Wat je hoort
“a thin veneer of rules and our mutual adherence to those rules” - abstract metaphor + low-frequency noun (veneer, adherence) · band 7.5
“forcing drivers to come to a stop more often” - non-finite -ing clause showing cause/result · band 7
Preparing For The Next Pandemic After COVID-19
TEDx Talks
Wat je gaat oefenen
This is a TED-style talk about preparing for future pandemics, so you practice academic health words like "zoonotic," "endemic," and "lethal," plus following statistics and "if" sentences in a real lecture, much like IELTS Listening Part 4.
Wat je hoort
“the zoonotic disease, which is a fancy name for an animal disease transferred to a human” - low-frequency academic term, defined via relative clause + passive · band 7
“modeling work based on historical data shows that this is not necessarily the case” - abstract academic noun phrase + hedged conclusion · band 7
How Pop Culture Is Redefining Modern Motherhood
NBC News
Wat je gaat oefenen
This is a fast NBC news feature on motherhood, so you practise abstract social vocabulary (like "postpartum depression" and "overdue dialogue") and idioms such as "sugar coating", "highlight reeling" and "mom shamed", all spoken quickly in a North American accent.
Wat je hoort
“a long overdue dialogue” - abstract noun phrase / collocation · band 7
“Sugar coating or highlight reeling is passe” - idiom + loan-word adjective (passe) · band 7.5
Filmmaker Plans Bionic Eye To Film Surveillance Society
KSBW Action News 8
Wat je gaat oefenen
This is a fast TV news report about a bionic eye camera and surveillance. You will practise news-style language with abstract ideas, idioms like "an eye for an eye", and phrasal verbs like "roll out", all spoken quickly at about 195 words a minute.
Wat je hoort
“fast becoming an Orwellian surveillance society” - abstract noun phrase + cultural allusion · band 7.5
“It's an eye for an eye” - idiom (pun) · band 7
How Deeper Conversations Can Make You Happier
TED
Wat je gaat oefenen
This is a TED-style talk about happiness and human connection, spoken at a normal pace in a familiar American accent. You will practice following an argument with cause-and-effect links, plus everyday idioms like "it dawned on me" and figures of speech like "your highlight reel", similar to an IELTS Part 3 or Part 4 talk.
Wat je hoort
“it dawned on me that almost all of the interventions” - idiom + abstract noun · band 7
“they work precisely because they help us feel more connected” - causal subordination with adverb · band 6.5
New Marine Species And The Vast Unknown Ocean
BBC News Mundo
Wat je gaat oefenen
This clip lets you practise listening to a science interview about the ocean, with the idiom "a drop in the ocean," a hedging passive ("there are thought to be"), and the contrast word "whilst" all packed into long spoken sentences. It feels like an IELTS Part 3 or 4 discussion at a normal speaking speed.
Wat je hoort
“Are they a drop in the ocean?” - idiom · band 7
“there are thought to be up to 2,000,000 species” - passive voice · band 6.5
Taking Risks, Embarrassment, And The Power Of Stories
TEDx Talks
Wat je gaat oefenen
This is a fast, funny personal story from a TEDx talk, packed with idioms and Australian slang like "didn't have the guts" and "out of my league." The topic is everyday (a crush at work), but the very quick speech and casual local expressions make it hard to follow, so it is good practice for understanding natural, joke-filled storytelling at speed.
Wat je hoort
“I didn't have the guts” - idiom (informal) · band 6.5
“way, way out of my leg” - Australian slang / idiom (out of my league) · band 7
Three Signs You’re Gaslighting Yourself
Dr Julie
Wat je gaat oefenen
This is a fast British psychology talk about how we talk to ourselves. You will practise abstract feeling-words like "gaslighting," "credible," and "invalidate," plus "if/because" sentences spoken quickly, much like a Part 3 discussion.
Wat je hoort
“you're gaslighting yourself” - psychology idiom / lower-frequency abstract verb · band 7
“it says something fundamental about who you are as a person” - abstract noun phrase + relative clause · band 7
Understanding Highly Sensitive People And Their Strengths
Dr Julie
Wat je gaat oefenen
This is a fast British psychology talk about highly sensitive people. You practice abstract topic words like "depth of processing" and "emotional responsiveness", useful phrasal verbs like "pick up on" and "take it on board", and following long explaining sentences at a quick speaking speed, similar to an IELTS Part 4 lecture.
Wat je hoort
“depth of processing” - abstract noun phrase / technical term · band 7
“they take it on board and spend a lot of time processing it” - phrasal verb 'take on board' · band 6.5
Why Airplane Turbulence Is Getting Worse
WIRED
Wat je gaat oefenen
This is a fast science explainer about why plane turbulence is getting worse. You will practice technical science words (jet stream, wind shear, clear air turbulence), passive sentences, and cause-and-effect explanations, much like an IELTS Part 4 lecture.
Wat je hoort
“increasing the north to south temperature difference across the jet stream” - abstract causal chain with technical noun phrase · band 7.5
“It cannot be detected by radar before a plane is in it” - passive voice · band 7
How Trump-China Tensions Affect Apple And The Bay Area
KPIX | CBS NEWS BAY AREA
Wat je gaat oefenen
This is a fast TV news report about US-China trade tensions, so you can practice business and economy words like tariffs, stocks, and GDP, plus useful idioms like "in a holding pattern" and "if" sentences about what might happen. It sounds like the talks in IELTS Listening Parts 3 and 4.
Wat je hoort
“if Trump raises taxes on China, they would fight back” - first/second conditional · band 6.5
“trade with China is in a holding pattern” - idiom · band 7
Stretch for top scores
Jury Dismisses Elon Musk Lawsuit Against OpenAI
ABC News
Wat je gaat oefenen
This is a fast TV news report about a court case, so you practise legal and business words like "statute of limitations", "damages" and "no legal standing", plus passive sentences ("claims are now dismissed") spoken at quick news speed, close to an IELTS Part 4 talk.
Wat je hoort
“the three year statute of limitations had passed” - legal collocation + past perfect · band 7.5
“he has no legal standing for this lawsuit” - abstract legal idiom · band 7
Why Daylight Saving Time Still Exists
Hannah Fry
Wat je gaat oefenen
A fast, witty British history explainer that mixes real idioms ("get the ball rolling"), casual humour, and precise words like "circadian rhythms" and "entitlement", great for practising quick listening for idioms and abstract vocabulary at natural high speed.
Wat je hoort
“get the ball rolling” - idiom · band 7
“it messes up everybody's circadian rhythms” - lower-frequency / academic noun phrase · band 7.5
Talking About Roman History And Modern Society
Teacher Gina
Wat je gaat oefenen
This clip is a fast, abstract talk about Roman history and big ideas like security versus civil rights, with academic words and idioms like "a small antidote" and "deadly serious" - good practice for the lecture style of IELTS Listening Part 4.
Wat je hoort
“how far should homeland security be more important than civil rights” - abstract political nouns + comparative debate framing · band 7
“are actually formed by the Romans” - passive voice · band 6.5
Legal battle delays Victoria corruption report release
7NEWS Australia
Wat je gaat oefenen
This is an Australian TV news report about a government corruption case and hospital waiting lists. You will practice formal news words and idioms like "eleventh hour" and "corruption watchdog," plus long sentences with passive verbs. It feels like the academic lecture part of IELTS, spoken at a normal news speed.
Wat je hoort
“launched eleventh hour legal action” - idiom (last-minute) · band 7.5
“Victoria's independent corruption watchdog” - low-frequency metaphor noun · band 7
What Spirit Airlines’ Collapse Means For Cheap Flights
GBH News
Wat je gaat oefenen
This clip is a fast opinion explainer about an airline shutting down, mixing money-and-business words (like prices, competition, merger) with lots of slang and idioms (like "set the floor" and "dragged"). It's good for practising informal speech and economic ideas at the same time, a bit like a Part 3 discussion that gets emotional and quick.
Wat je hoort
“Spirit set the floor when it came to prices” - economic idiom (figurative "set the floor") · band 7
“the Biden administration sued to block the deal, and a federal judge ruled that the merger would eliminate competition” - legal/regulatory register with reported clause · band 7.5
Astronaut Explains The Stories Behind Iconic Space Photos
WIRED
Wat je gaat oefenen
This is a fast, lecture-style talk about space history, full of science words, passive sentences, and tricky idioms like "got wind of" and "pipped at the post", great for practicing a Part 4 academic lecture spoken at a quick British pace.
Wat je hoort
“got wind of a woman in space program” - idiom (informal) · band 7.5
“we're not gonna get pipped at the post” - idiom + connected speech · band 8
Why Birth Rates Are Falling And What It Means
BBC News
Wat je gaat oefenen
This is a fast BBC explainer about why birth rates are falling. You will practice abstract society and economics words (like "fertility rate", "replacement rate", "demographic"), passive verbs, and long sentences where ideas build on each other, close to a Part 4 academic talk.
Wat je hoort
“I want to discover what's driving the discussion, debate, and discourse” - abstract noun cluster · band 7.5
“population aging accelerates” - academic/demographic verb + abstract subject · band 7
Why Plankton And Bioluminescence Matter For Our Oceans
TEDx Talks
Wat je gaat oefenen
This is an academic TED-style talk about plankton, oceans and climate, so you can practise science words like 'chlorophyll', 'sequester' and 'bioluminescence' and notice how the speaker often re-explains a hard word with an easier one, just like a Part 4 lecture.
Wat je hoort
“sequester it or draw it down into the ocean” - low-frequency academic verb with self-gloss · band 8
“This process helps mitigate or lessen the effects” - academic verb 'mitigate' paraphrased · band 7.5
Why Dragonflies Are Such Incredible Flyers
PBS Terra
Wat je gaat oefenen
This is a fast science talk about how dragonflies fly and evolved, full of academic biology words like phylogenetics and wing venation mixed with casual idioms. It is like an IELTS Part 4 lecture, so it is good practice for following abstract science ideas at a quick speaking speed.
Wat je hoort
“I study dragonfly phylogenetics” - low-frequency academic noun · band 8
“they both face the same kind of selection pressure” - abstract academic concept · band 7.5
The Six Eras Of NBA Fashion And Power
TED
Wat je gaat oefenen
This is a TED talk about how NBA players' clothing connects to Black history and politics in America. It is fast-moving and full of advanced cultural words, slang, and long sentences, so it is good for practising a real lecture where you must follow abstract ideas, not just facts.
Wat je hoort
“a reflection of the times and a catalyst for changing them” - abstract academic vocabulary · band 8
“players of the dress code era turned structural limitations into a showcase” - abstract noun phrase / academic register · band 7.5
Gunshots Near White House And Tense US-Iran Talks
7NEWS Australia
Wat je gaat oefenen
This is a fast Australian live news report about a White House shooting and US-Iran talks. You will practise listening to formal news language, abstract words like "rhetoric" and "extrapolate", and idioms such as "on the verge of" spoken very quickly, much like a hard IELTS Part 4 talk.
Wat je hoort
“gunshots were heard near the White House” - passive voice · band 6.5
“the kind of rhetoric that's been thrown around” - idiom + present perfect passive · band 7.5
Minnesota Sues Nonprofit Leaders Over Misused Millions
KSTP 5 Eyewitness News
Wat je gaat oefenen
This is a TV news report about a lawsuit, so you will hear formal legal and money words like "siphoning", "commingled" and "solicitations", plus the idiom "ran the nonprofit into the ground", good practice for following an abstract Part 4 style report at normal speed.
Wat je hoort
“siphoning more than 6 and a half million dollars away” - low-frequency precise verb · band 7.5
“extensively commingled her personal income” - formal/legal vocabulary · band 8
ICE Detention Stalls Louisville Carjacking Case
WLKY News Louisville
Wat je gaat oefenen
This is a TV news report about an immigration and crime case, so you practise legal and government words (like "witness", "custody", "testify", "prosecute") and long sentences where one idea is buried inside another, spoken at a fairly fast news pace.
Wat je hoort
“writ of habeas corpus claims presents an extraordinary abuse” - low-frequency legal/Latin terminology · band 8
“his testimony is irreplaceable to the Commonwealth's ability to prosecute” - abstract noun phrase + formal register · band 7.5
Why Alex Murdaugh’s Murder Conviction Was Overturned
PBS NewsHour
Wat je gaat oefenen
This is a fast news interview about a court case, so you practise legal words like conviction and overturned, plus tricky idioms like finger on the scales of justice and tossed out, all spoken quickly. It feels like the academic talk in IELTS Listening Part 4.
Wat je hoort
“places their finger on the scales of justice” - idiom (figurative legal expression) · band 8
“his double murder conviction” - abstract legal/academic vocabulary · band 7
Royal Commission Probes Bondi Counterterrorism Funding Decisions
7NEWS Australia
Wat je gaat oefenen
This is a fast Australian news report about a government inquiry into counterterrorism funding. You will practise formal political and legal words like "public interest immunity" and "Royal Commission", plus idioms like "taken a huge hit" and "under the guise of anonymity", all spoken at a quick pace, similar to a hard IELTS Part 4 lecture.
Wat je hoort
“public interest immunity as to whether” - legal/institutional collocation · band 8
“funding has actually increased ... proportionately ... it has taken a huge hit” - idiom + abstract quantifier contrast · band 7.5
CTU-Backed Candidate Runs For Chicago School Board President
WGN News
Wat je gaat oefenen
This is a fast TV news interview about school funding and politics, with policy words like "deficit," "enrollment," and "austerity," plus idioms like "worked to the bone." It is great for practising news and discussion listening at a high level.
Wat je hoort
“we're in a time of austerity” - abstract economic noun · band 8
“both parents who worked to the bone” - idiom · band 7
Chicago Summer Safety, Youth Programs, And Bears Stadium Politics
WGN News
Wat je gaat oefenen
This is a fast Chicago TV news debate about crime policy and a stadium deal, with several politicians speaking. You will practice abstract topic words like 'accountability' and 'incentives', plus idioms like 'come to fruition' and 'spike the football', all spoken quickly, similar to a hard IELTS Part 4 talk.
Wat je hoort
“removing accountability on a part of these young people” - abstract policy noun (accountability) · band 7
“have not come to fruition” - idiom · band 7.5
Experts Answer Big Questions About AI And The Future
WIRED
Wat je gaat oefenen
This clip is like an IELTS Part 4 lecture: several experts explain hard science and tech ideas (space, light, AI, the brain, evolution) using precise, subject-specific words and long sentences, spoken at a fairly quick pace.
Wat je hoort
“a process called neuroplasticity” - academic/technical noun · band 8
“to engineer spider silk outside of spiders to make it in a recombinant way” - abstract technical vocabulary + purpose clause · band 8
Why Australia’s Major Parties Are Losing Voters
7NEWS Australia
Wat je gaat oefenen
This is a fast Australian political interview where an expert analyses opinion polls using abstract words like 'outliers', 'in totality', and 'electoral universe'. It is good practice for understanding an academic-style talk about society, similar to IELTS Listening Part 4.
Wat je hoort
“outliers that aren't truly representative” - low-frequency academic vocabulary · band 7.5
“look at the polling in totality” - abstract noun / formal idiom · band 7
The Problem With Billionaires And True Net Worth
TED
Wat je gaat oefenen
This is a TED-style talk about billionaires, money and charity. You will practice abstract economic words (like wealth disparity, stagnation, philanthropic) mixed with everyday idioms (fast forward, here's the deal, no strings attached) spoken at a normal, clear pace.
Wat je hoort
“incentive creates personal wealth and societal wealth” - abstract economic noun phrases · band 7.5
“that correlate with repression and stagnation” - low-frequency academic vocabulary · band 8
Doctors Discuss Hantavirus, Ebola And Mental Health
WGN News
Wat je gaat oefenen
This is a fast medical news interview where two doctors talk about viruses and mental health. You will practice low-frequency health words, idioms, and long sentences spoken at a quick pace, much like an IELTS lecture or expert discussion.
Wat je hoort
“have actually been dismembered, disengaged” - passive voice + low-frequency verbs · band 7.5
“it's kinda like canary in the coal mine” - idiom (early-warning metaphor) · band 7
Mary Beard On Rome, Celebrity Culture And Ordinary Lives
Teacher Gina
Wat je gaat oefenen
This is a fast, natural British interview where a historian talks about big abstract ideas like fame, history, and what ordinary life was really like. You will practise advanced words ("antidote", "obstetrics", "the advent of"), phrasal verbs ("puts people off"), and "if... would" sentences, much like an IELTS Part 3 or Part 4 lecture.
Wat je hoort
“before the advent of modern obstetrics” - low-frequency abstract noun phrase · band 8
“if it was a small antidote to modern celebrity culture” - figurative/idiomatic abstract noun · band 7.5
Connecting Roman history to modern politics and rights
Teacher Gina
Wat je gaat oefenen
This is an expert talking about how ancient Roman politics connects to modern debates on terrorism and civil rights. You will practice abstract history and politics words like "conspirators", "homeland security", and "the liberty of the citizen", spoken at a normal British pace, much like an IELTS lecture.
Wat je hoort
“where does the boundary come between the safety of the state and the liberty of the citizen” - abstract political nouns + balanced comparison · band 8
“how far should homeland security be more important than civil rights” - topical academic collocations · band 7.5
How Survival Became My Cage And How I Escaped
TED
Wat je gaat oefenen
This is a TED talk where the speaker uses many figurative ideas and abstract words to talk about psychology and identity, plus lots of idioms like "hamming it up" and "took stock", great for practising a fast, emotional lecture full of less common vocabulary.
Wat je hoort
“it turns into compulsion, productivity without presence” - abstract academic nouns · band 8
“hamming it up became my pastime” - idiom · band 7.5
US-Iran Standoff And The Strait Of Hormuz Blockade
Fox News
Wat je gaat oefenen
This is fast cable-news talk about war and diplomacy, full of political idioms like "hanging by a thread" and "shuttle diplomacy" plus passive sentences about blockades and ceasefires. It is great practice for understanding quick, opinion-heavy news and academic-style discussion, similar to IELTS Part 3 and Part 4.
Wat je hoort
“the ceasefire with that Islamic regime is now hanging by a thread” - idiom · band 7.5
“US forces have redirected now 94 commercial vessels and disabled four others while enforcing The US blockade” - passive + low-frequency vocabulary · band 7
Australian Budget Fallout And Calls For Early Election
7NEWS Australia
Wat je gaat oefenen
This is fast Australian news about the government budget and tax reform, packed with politics and economics words like "negative gearing," "capital gains tax," and "repeal," plus news idioms like "blowback" and "political death wish." Like an IELTS Part 4 lecture, you have to follow abstract argument and opinion, not just simple facts.
Wat je hoort
“budget blowback includes some friendly fire” - political idiom / metaphor · band 8
“repeal the negative gearing and capital gains tax changes” - low-frequency policy vocabulary · band 7.5
Marianne Williamson on environmental justice and reparations
Guardian News
Wat je gaat oefenen
This is a fast, heated political interview about environmental justice and reparations. You will practice abstract topic words, idioms, and "if... then" sentences, the kind of debate language IELTS uses in the hardest listening part.
Wat je hoort
“Flint is just the tip of the iceberg” - idiom · band 7
“dark psychic force of the collectivized hatred” - abstract noun phrase · band 8
U.S.-China Trade, Taiwan Tensions And Iran Nuclear Concerns
NBC News
Wat je gaat oefenen
This is a fast news interview about trade, military, and energy politics. You will practise abstract topic words and long, packed sentences, like a hard IELTS listening Part 4 talk plus a Part 3 discussion.
Wat je hoort
“use them as one time leverage” - abstract noun / collocation · band 7.5
“needs to be held accountable when they act outside of international” - passive + formal phrase · band 7
US Midterms, Economy And Party Poll Numbers Explained
Fox News Clips
Wat je gaat oefenen
This is a fast US TV political debate about elections, polls and the economy. You will practise listening to two experts argue quickly, using abstract words and idioms, much like the discussion and lecture parts of the IELTS listening test.
Wat je hoort
“is this election going to be a referendum on the Republicans” - abstract political noun (referendum) · band 7.5
“is not borne out by the data yet” - idiom / passive ('borne out') · band 7.5
Iran Regime, Blockades And Verification After U.S. Strikes
Fox News Clips
Wat je gaat oefenen
This is a fast, expert news interview about Middle East politics, packed with specialist words (theocratic, brinkmanship, vanguard) and idioms like "calling all the shots" and "rise from the ashes." It is great practice for following a quick discussion of abstract, real-world topics, like IELTS Part 3 or 4.
Wat je hoort
“They're calling all the shots with the IRGC” - idiom (informal, high-level) · band 7.5
“use brinkmanship to move the region forward” - low-frequency abstract noun · band 8
Brooks And Capehart On U.S.-Iran Deal And Trump
PBS NewsHour
Wat je gaat oefenen
This is a fast political talk show where two experts debate U.S. foreign policy. You will hear lots of abstract political words and idioms like "keeping their powder dry" and "claws back," so it is great for practising opinion discussion at a high level, similar to IELTS Part 4.
Wat je hoort
“keeping their powder dry” - idiom · band 8
“claws back some congressional authority as a co equal branch” - phrasal verb + abstract political noun · band 8
Het examen
Hoe ziet de IELTS-luistertoets eruit?
De luistertoets bestaat uit vier delen met in totaal 40 vragen en duurt ongeveer 30 minuten. Bij de papieren toets krijg je nog 10 minuten extra om je antwoorden over te schrijven. Dit hoor je per onderdeel:
Deel 1
Een alledaags gesprek tussen twee mensen, bijvoorbeeld om iets te boeken of informatie te vragen.
Eén keer
Deel 2
Een praatje van één persoon over een dagelijks onderwerp, zoals plekken in de buurt of een evenement.
Eén keer
Deel 3
Een gesprek over studie of training, met maximaal vier personen.
Eén keer
Deel 4
Een betoog over een academisch onderwerp, zoals een korte universiteitslezing.
Eén keer
Elke opname wordt maar één keer afgespeeld. Je kunt niets terugluisteren, dus je moet natuurlijke spraak de eerste keer direct kunnen bijhouden.
De stemmen gebruiken verschillende Engelse accenten: Brits, Australisch, Nieuw-Zeelands en Noord-Amerikaans. De onderdelen worden steeds moeilijker, van dagelijks taalgebruik tot een academische lezing.
Niveau en woorden
Welk niveau en hoeveel woorden heb ik nodig?
Voor luisteren heb je veel minder woorden nodig dan voor lezen. Onderzoek toont aan dat ongeveer 3.000 veelvoorkomende woorden zo’n 95% van normale spraak dekken, en dat de eerste 1.000 woorden het grootste deel van wat mensen zeggen beslaan.
Video is de makkelijkste manier om iets te begrijpen, omdat de beelden je helpen de betekenis te raden. Je hebt dus geen enorme woordenschat nodig. Wel heb je de basiswoorden nodig, plus specifieke termen voor de academische delen, en veel luisteroefening op jouw niveau.
Kijk video’s met visuele aanwijzingen, op YouTube of hier op Reelang.
Volgens onderzoek
Nation (2006) About 3,000 common word families cover roughly 95% of everyday spoken English; reading needs far more.
Webb (2021) The most frequent 1,000 words alone cover most of what people say in speech.
Durbahn et al. (2024) Video is easier to understand at a given vocabulary size, because the pictures help you guess.
Manieren om te oefenen
Hoe anderen meestal oefenen
Er is niet één juiste manier. Je kunt deze aanpakken combineren, en het gratis pakket hierboven past bij allemaal.
Een cursus of docent
Engelstalig nieuws, zoals de BBC of lokaal Engels nieuws
Praatjes en korte documentaires waarin mensen ideeën uitleggen
Echte Engelstalige video’s op jouw niveau kijken
Nu kijken, geen e-mail nodig
Ontdek video’s in het Engels per accent: British, Australian, New Zealand and North American
Goed om te weten
Veelgestelde vragen
Hoe is dit IELTS-pakket samengesteld?
Wij hebben het zoekwerk voor je gedaan. We controleren duizenden video’s in het Engels en meten van elke video het niveau, de spreeksnelheid in woorden/min en hoeveel woorden ervan veelvoorkomend zijn. Voor dit pakket hebben we duidelijke video’s met British, Australian, New Zealand and North American accenten geselecteerd, met een snelheid die dicht bij de toets ligt (ongeveer 190 woorden/min), waarvan ongeveer 96% van de woorden tot de meest gebruikte in gesproken Engels behoort. We hebben ze ingedeeld van makkelijk naar moeilijker, zodat je op je eigen niveau kunt beginnen en verder kunt komen. Daarna hebben we de transcripties handmatig gelezen om de alledaagse en academische onderwerpen die de toets gebruikt te behouden, en we hebben de duidelijkste en meest visuele video’s vooraan gezet. Ongeveer 3.000 veelvoorkomende woorden dekken al zo’n 95% van normale spraak (Nation 2006), dus dit soort materiaal sluit goed aan op de toets.
Met welke video’s kan ik het beste oefenen voor het luisterdeel van IELTS?
Gebruik echt Engels dat op een normaal, natuurlijk tempo wordt gesproken, met een mix van accenten zoals de toets die gebruikt. Kies de alledaagse en academische onderwerpen die de toets gebruikt, zoals maatschappij en actualiteit, geschiedenis en cultuur, wetenschap en natuur, gezondheid, eten and wonen. Je hebt geen zeldzame woorden nodig. Ongeveer 3.000 veelvoorkomende woorden dekken het grootste deel van normale spraak (Nation 2006), dus materiaal dat is opgebouwd uit de meest gebruikte gesproken woorden sluit goed aan bij de toets. Een goede mix bestaat uit alledaagse gesprekken, korte praatjes en een duidelijke lezing, want de toets loopt op van sociale onderwerpen naar een academisch betoog. Zo is ook het gratis pakket van 100 video’s hierboven samengesteld.
Wordt de IELTS-luisteraudio één of twee keer afgespeeld?
Maar één keer. Elke opname wordt slechts één keer afgespeeld, dus de toets beloont je als je natuurlijke spraak de eerste keer direct kunt bijhouden. Daarom helpt oefenen met echte video op natuurlijk tempo zo goed.
Welke bandscore heb ik nodig?
Dat hangt volledig af van je doel, en de eisen lopen sterk uiteen. Veel universitaire opleidingen accepteren band 5,5 tot 6,5, terwijl de meest competitieve veel meer vragen: de journalistiekschool van Columbia vereist 8,0. Voor migratie varieert de lat van rond band 5 voor bepaalde vakmensen in Canada tot band 7 of 8 om kans te maken in Australië of via Canadian Express Entry. De tabel hierboven geeft echte voorbeelden met bronnen. Check altijd het exacte aantal bij de instantie waar je je aanmeldt, want eisen veranderen.
Welke accenten komen voor in de IELTS-luistertoets?
De toets gebruikt verschillende moedertaalaccenten, waaronder Brits, Australisch, Nieuw-Zeelands en Noord-Amerikaans. Het gratis pakket hierboven bevat al deze accenten, zodat je aan meer dan één variant went.
Hoe weten jullie het bandniveau van elke video?
We lezen de transcriptie van elk fragment en bekijken de gebruikte taal: hoe gebruikelijk de woorden zijn, of er idiomen, phrasal verbs, passieven of complexe zinnen in staan, en hoe academisch het onderwerp is. Vervolgens koppelen we dat aan het soort taal dat IELTS per band gebruikt. Zo krijgt elke video een label met het bandbereik dat bij die taal past, en is het pakket ingedeeld van makkelijk naar moeilijker zodat je dicht bij je eigen niveau kunt beginnen en naar je streefband kunt groeien.
Kan ik me gratis voorbereiden?
Ja. Een goede gratis start zijn de officiële IELTS-oefentoetsen op ielts.org, waar je de echte luisteropdrachten kunt proberen. Daarna is het beste wat je gratis kunt doen veel luisteren naar echt Engels op jouw niveau. Begin met de 100 video’s hierboven, of kijk meer op YouTube of hier op Reelang.
Is video beter dan audio uit leerboeken?
Voor luisteren wel. Audio uit leerboeken is vaak langzaam en heel duidelijk. Echte video gebruikt een normaal tempo en natuurlijke accenten, wat dichter bij de toets ligt, en de beelden helpen je woorden te raden die je nog niet kent.
Welk CEFR-niveau hoort bij welke IELTS-band?
Grofweg: band 4 tot 5 is ongeveer B1 (gemiddeld), band 5,5 tot 6,5 is ongeveer B2 (bovengemiddeld), band 7 tot 8 is ongeveer C1 (gevorderd), en band 8,5 tot 9 is ongeveer C2 (vaardig). De band 6 tot 7 waar de meeste mensen op mikken komt dus neer op B2 tot C1. Dit zijn schattingen: IELTS heeft een eigen bandschaal en de CEFR-niveaus dienen slechts als richtlijn.
Can I practice IELTS listening with short videos like Reels or YouTube Shorts?
Yes. The test rewards understanding real speech the first time you hear it, and short clips let you train that a little every day. Watch a clip once for the main idea, again for the speaker's opinion and reasons, then check the new words. Do this with full practice tests as well, so you also get used to the exam format and timing.
What level of video should I start with?
Start with one you can almost follow, not one you understand perfectly. If it is too easy you learn little, and if it is too hard you just guess. The videos above are grouped from band 5 to band 7 and up, so begin near your level and work up.