IELTS Academic Listening Forecast — Q3 2026 (September–December)
These are our Academic Listening forecast tests for Q3 2026 (September–December).
We use advanced AI technology to search where test takers share the topics they saw — forums, exam reports and recall threads. From those reports we predict the topics most likely to come up. We then search our own test database for passages and tasks on those predicted topics, and build each forecast test from that existing material. Nothing here is newly written. That is a deliberate choice. We could have AI generate new tests, but generated material can stop matching the real exam format. Reusing real material keeps the format accurate. IELTS draws on a limited bank of material, and topics rotate, so recent reports are genuinely useful. Still, a forecast is not a guarantee — we cannot tell you which topics your exam will have. What you get is a feel for current trends, and vocabulary that may come up.
Predicted Topics
- the history and process of beverage production
- university student work placement and internship reviews
- community sports clubs and local recreational facilities
- temporary and part-time job application processes
- modern technological tools used in archaeological exploration
- academic studies on cognitive benefits of word puzzles
- social service coordination and travel insurance inquiries
- consumer services and domestic furniture rental trends
- academic research on museum curation and artifact preservation
- the shifting trends in public entertainment and media
- recreational sports registration and local community events
- career counseling and university student employment services
- pest control methods and urban insect management
- rehabilitative education programs within correctional facility settings
- student union representation and administrative campus services
- theater production challenges and community drama groups
- demographic data analysis and public birth statistics
- the social impact of portable digital gaming devices
- regional tourism development and environmental conservation efforts
- customer service interactions for flight reservation adjustments
- collaborative art projects and community creative initiatives
- debates on the primary purpose of higher education
- environmental management of municipal waste and recycling programs
- customer complaints handling in antique and retail shops
- academic conferences on modern sustainable architecture designs
- psychological studies on human sleep and dreams
- the environmental impact of motor vehicle transport systems
- residential property descriptions and local neighborhood amenities
- historical evolution and modern development of glassmaking
- the development and application of autonomous robotics systems
- public debate surrounding safety in extreme sports
- local car rental bookings and customer information gathering