Hi everyone, I’m Emily Carter, IELTS Listening instructor here at IELTS Zone. One of the most frequent questions I get from students is: “What if I can’t understand the accent in the recording?”
In the Listening with Different Accents guide, I’ll explain why IELTS includes various English accents — British, Australian, New Zealand, Canadian, and American — and how you can train your ear to recognise and adapt to them without stress.
If you’re new to the test, start with our IELTS Listening Test Overview first to understand the overall format.
IELTS is an international exam, so it reflects real-world English usage — not just British English. You might hear a university lecture from an Australian speaker in Section 4 or a telephone conversation in a North American accent in Section 1.
Each recording tests how well you understand different speech patterns, vowel sounds, and intonations. The goal is not to confuse you but to see if you can follow spoken English in any international context — just like you would at work or university.
In my classes, students who regularly practise with mixed accents improve faster than those who limit themselves to British audio. Exposure equals confidence
5. Canadian Accent – Less common but included in some recordings. It blends British and American features — neutral and easy to follow for most students.
Practice source: CBC Radio or Canadian TED Talks
Here’s a simple three-step plan I give my students:
Step 1 – Daily Listening Variety
Listen to five minutes each day from different countries. Mix news, YouTube lectures, and podcasts. Exposure builds recognition without memorising sound differences.
Step 2 – Shadowing Technique
Repeat after the speaker word-for-word. This helps your brain catch accent rhythms and link sounds that might otherwise seem unclear. It’s especially effective with Australian and New Zealand voices.
Step 3 – Transcription Practice
Play a one-minute clip, pause, and write what you hear. Check with the transcript. This method sharpens listening accuracy and spelling simultaneously — a powerful combo for Band 8+ targets.
If you want authentic audio to try this with, the British Council IELTS site offers free practice samples from various accents.
Some accents can hide “tricky words” for non-native ears. For example:
Accent | Word | How It Sounds | Meaning |
British | can’t | caahnt | may sound like can |
Australian | here | hee-uh | softened r sound |
US | water | waw-der | “t” as a soft “d” |
NZ | pen | pin | vowel shift confusion |
If you’re not familiar with these variations, you might choose the wrong answer — especially in form completion or dictation-style tasks.
My tip: Create a personal “accent dictionary.” Every time you mishear a word in practice, write the phonetic version you heard and the correct spelling. After two weeks, you’ll notice huge improvement in recognition accuracy.
Different accents mean different speeds and rhythms. Australian speakers often run words together, while British lecturers pause more often. If you try to understand every word, you’ll fall behind.
Instead, train yourself to focus on meaning. Ask yourself:
When you connect meaning rather than individual sounds, accent differences no longer block understanding. It’s one of the core skills I focus on with advanced IELTS candidates.
Many students panic when they hear an unfamiliar accent in Section 1 and lose focus. The key is to stay calm and remind yourself that the questions always follow the order of the recording.
If you miss a word, keep listening — the next answer is coming soon. The IELTS test never jumps back or hides information.
Practising with mixed accent audio before the exam reduces stress significantly. Within two weeks of consistent exposure, you’ll find you recognise patterns instantly — even if you don’t understand every syllable
The Listening with Different Accents guide shows you how to prepare for the variety of English voices used in IELTS Listening:
By training your ear systematically, you turn accent variety from a challenge into an advantage.
Next, read Predicting Answers in IELTS Listening to learn how to anticipate correct responses before you hear them — a key skill for Band 7 and above.
Get the latest IELTS grammar tips and practice materials directly to your inbox.
Your dedicated path to Band 7+ IELTS success. Master every skill with expert guidance and tailored…
