IELTS listening test Tips
There is no difference in content, format or level of difficulty and scoring between the IELTS General Training and the academic exam. The IELTS listening test remains the same for both training types. Here are let’s know all about IELTS listening test tips and advice for students.
Duration of the test: 30 minutes
Tips for Qualify IELTS Listening Test
What Is The IELTS listening test Format?
You will have to listen to four recordings (conversations and monologues) then answer the questions asked. The recordings are from native English speakers and a variety of accents are used. Keep in mind that you can only listen to each IELTS listening test recording once.
IELTS listening test Recording 1: You will listen to a dialogue placed in daily life and its context.
- IELTS listening test Recording 2: You will listen to a monologue about daily life or social context. For example, a conference on the condition of streets in a neighborhood.
- IELTS listening test Recording 3: You will listen to a conversation between more than two people placed in a training or education context. For example, a teacher discussing an assignment with students.
- IELTS listening test Recording 4: You will listen to a monologue on any academic topic. For example, a college gives lectures.
Helpful Tips for IELTS Listening Test
Before registration begins for any section, read all questions carefully. This will allow recordings to be tracked and responses to be easily identified.
Once a section is complete, you can continue and read the questions in the next section.
Sometimes you will get a list of various option so you can choose from it. The answers don’t have to be in the order you hear them, they can also be listed alphabetically.
Note the word boundaries for each section. If training says, “Do not put in writing more than two words,” follow it. If you write more than the specified limit, you may not get points for the attempted answer.
Pay attention and look for keywords or synonyms (words with the same or nearly the same meaning as another word) in the question. This may help identify the answer. For example, if you hear in the recording: “She likes going to the gym and playing tennis”; this might be reflected on your answer sheet/screen (in computer-delivered IELTS) as “She is an active person”.
In questions where you have to write spelled words in the recording, you must be familiar with the English alphabets and their pronunciation. For example, the alphabet ‘W’ is pronounced like ‘double-u’).
Listen carefully to the words indicating the stage of the recording you are listening to, e.g. ‘firstly’, ‘my next point’, ‘to sum up’. These words help to identify the question you have come to.
IELTS Test Recording Listening
While listening to a recording, you can continue to cross out options that don’t match. This makes it easier to find the right option.
If you must mention dates in an answer, remember that there are several correct ways to do so (eg April 24, April 24, and April 24 – all are correct).
If you’re having trouble answering a question, leave it and move on. Don’t waste time on it and end up scare. If you have time left at the end, come back to it later.
IELTS Listening Booklet and Study Material
If you are taking the paper-based IELTS, you have 10 minutes to transfer your answers from the Listening Booklet to your answer sheet after the last recording is complete. It is best to wait for the end of the recordings to transfer the answers to the answer sheet (and not between sections) because you may miss important information on the next section of the test.
Note that you do not have an extra 10 minute transfer time in case of computer-based IELTS.
To be better prepared, you can also download best IELTS coaching in Lucknow study material of other important official IELTS preparation material and tips that we have made available to you. You can also get help of the overseas education consultants, ask them about very doubts.
Also read: How to Achieve 7+ IELTS Score in First Attempt?
