Although some might find the IELTS Listening test to be hard, don’t sweat it! With proven strategies and proper guidelines, you can improve your performance in no time. Whether you are aiming for a higher band score or just trying to pass the threshold, these top 10 listening strategies will help you to nail it. Let’s dive in!
1. Get Familiarized with the Test Format
Very first thing you need to know is- what you’re stepping into. IELTS Listening test has four sections-
- Section 1: A dialogue/conversation between two people in social or everyday context, for example, booking a tour guide/hotel, taking admission in a college/university, asking for directions etc.
- Section 2: A monologue giving general information, such as a guided tour or instructions. A monologue (a long speech delivered by one person) providing general information such as, giving instructions, guided tour, announcement etc.
- Section 3: A discussion, typically between two to four people, in an academic or educational setting. Such as, group project discussion, teacher and students debating a topic etc.
- Section 4: A monologue, typically a lecture on an academic topic such as history, science etc.
CAUTION!!!
Each section of the listening test gets progressively harder. Vocabulary as well as the subject/topic of audio clips gets advanced with each section, transitioning from everyday or general discussion to educational or scientific discussion. Latter sections of the listening test require critical thinking and the understanding of different and unfamiliar accents.
2. Practice Active Listening Daily
If you want to ace the test, you have to make a habit of active listening. Give your full attention to what is being said rather than just listening to the words. Here’s how you can do it-
- Build a habit of listening to podcasts like BBC Learning English, All Ears English, The Daily etc.
- Watch news channels like BBC, CNN, FOX News Channel or whichever you find most suitable. Get used to different accents.
- Listening to TED Talks to get easy exposure to different types of familiar and unfamiliar accents.
The trick is to make it a habit. If you can’t follow every word, don’t beat yourself up—just focus on the gist and key points. Rome wasn’t built in a day, right?
3. Improve Prediction Skill
Here’s the deal: IELTS is all about staying one step ahead. Before the audio starts, you’ll have 30 seconds to read the questions. Use this time to:
- Highlight and mark out the keywords.
- Predict what kind of words the answer might include (e.g., a number, a name, or a date).
- Look for synonyms or paraphrased words that the speaker might use.
For example, if the question has the word “Transportation”, you might wanna look out for words such as, bus, train, car etc. If you predict the answer beforehand, it will make finding the answer easier.
4. Practice Note-Taking
Taking notes while listening to the audio might seem hard, however, it’s a game changer. Here’s how you can do it-
- You may use abbreviations or short forms of words to save your time while taking notes, e.g., “scl” for school, “dpt” for department, “inf” for information etc.
- Jot down the key words instead of writing down full sentences, such as, date, name, numbers etc.
- Build a habit of listening to audio at different speeds.
Not taking is important because even if you miss any word or do not understand a word after listening, having partial notes can help you to connect the dots later when you get the time to check your answers.
5. Focus on Keywords and Synonyms
Let me share a little secret with you. IELTS loves to trick you with synonyms and paraphrasing. For example:
- Question: The lecture starts at 10 a.m.
- Audio: The session is scheduled to begin at ten in the morning.
To stay ahead of the game:
- Highlight keywords in the questions.
- Train your ear to pick up on synonyms and alternative expressions.
6. Avoid Distractions
In all honesty, it is very easy to get distracted during the test. You may miss an answer or get stuck on a tricky question. Don’t let it shake your confidence. Here’s how to deal with it:
- If you miss an answer, let it go and move on to the next question. If you let the missed answer distract you from the rest of the audio, you might lose more than just 1 mark.
- Filter out unnecessary and unimportant details from the audio clip. Not all the information provided in the audio clip is important or usable.
7. Enhance Vocabulary
Enriched vocabulary knowledge is important in IELTS listening. The more enhanced your knowledge is, the easier it will be for you to follow the audio clip.
- Try to build ideas on topics like health, education, travel, science, everyday life etc.
- Keep your eye on spellings as misspelled words will result in losing marks.
Consider vocabulary building as adding tools to your toolbox. The more you will have, the better you will be prepared to deal with different situations.
8. Practice Time Management
Time management can either be your best friend or your worst enemy in the Listening Test. In order to stay on top of it:
- Make the best use of the 30 seconds given in between each section of the listening test to read the questions and make notes if necessary.
- Use the 10-minute transfer time to check your spelling and grammar if needed.
- Don’t linger too much on just one question. When you get stuck in one question, take a guess and move on.
Remember, time flies when you’re under pressure—so practice, practice, practice.
9. Simulate Test Conditions
Give as many mock tests as possible to simulate real test conditions. Practice giving mock tests in authentic exam venues.
- Use headphones to mimic the actual setup of the IELTS exam.
- Work on the feedback provided by the examiner.
- Try giving the test in a quiet place so that you can fully focus.
10. Review and Analyze Mistakes
No one is perfect, however, going through your mistakes will help you to avoid those mistakes in the future. After every test, ask yourself these questions:
- Did I miss any questions/keywords/synonyms?
- Did I misunderstand the question type?
- Did I misspell any words?
- Was I distracted by unnecessary details?
Conclusion
Don’t worry about the IELTS Listening test, even if some people may find it challenging. With the right strategies, you can quickly boost your performance. Remember, with a little bit of dedication and perseverance, it will be easy for you to get to the finish line.