Listening is one of the significant roles in the educational process of English language learning. Despite its importance in our daily communication, it is a skill where most EFL students complain about during online listening comprehension practice. This study examines the listening difficulties the International students faced (in this context of the study is called Intensive English students) in preparing for the IELTS listening test. In this paper, the researchers reviewed the terms listening and online learning, including their significance, process of listening comprehension, students’ difficulties based on the content of the listening text, failure to concentrate, listener, speaker, and environment, as well as strategies to overcome the issue. The participants were 40 international students undertaking an Intensive English Course in Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM). A questionnaire was employed to elicit the participants’ listening difficulties and strategies used in the intensive English classes. The data were analysed and reported using the descriptive quantitative method (mean value, standard deviation, and percentage). The results of this study on students’ difficulties and the strategies to overcome the problems in listening in the intensive English classes are also discussed. Findings on understanding students’ issues would enable the English instructors to help them develop effective learning strategies and ultimately improve their listening comprehension abilities.

Keywords: IELTS Listening Test, Intensive English Students, Listening Difficulties, Listening Strategies, Online Learning