Do you need help with an IELTS Listening?
IELTS Listening test is designed to test your listening skills. Basically, what examiners want to know is that are you able to understand, by listening, what native speakers talk? Therefore, Listening test uses varieties of accents such as American, British, Australian, etc.
What is a Listening test?
You will be given a sheet containing questions
You will be asked to find answers to the questions by LISTENING to the data (recording/ audio clip)
Recording will be played only once
You cannot the control recording/ audio clip
Types of questions
Multiple choice
Labelling a map/diagram
Flow chart completion
Form/Notes completion
Sentence completion
Sentence completion
Summary completion
Table completion
Short answer
Matching features/information
General Topic: Conversation between two people (Over a telephone)
General Topic: One person given out the information.
Academic Topic: Conversation between 2 or more but up to 4 people
Academic Topic: One person giving out information.
Format
4 Parts
Each part contains 10 questions
30 minutes
Additional 10 minutes to transfer your answer sheet (only for paper based)
Test gets tougher as the test progresses
Out of the above types of questions, MCQs and Labelling a Map/Diagram questions are the most challenging for the test takers.
These questions are designed for a Band 8 or 9 candidate. So, you need to have an excellent command over your listening skills as well as vocabulary.
Labelling a Map/Diagram
Key Information
Appears in section 2
One of the toughest questions
Designed for Band 8 and 9 candidates
You need to have a good directions-vocabulary
Needs an effective, adequate and continuous practice
Strategy
Read the instruction words and note down the limit
Look at the diagram or map carefully and understand it
identify where the questions are and what is being asked
Identify the beginning point
Think of synonyms and paraphrasing
Listen carefully and write the correct answer
Specific Vocabulary
At the top
At the bottom
In the centre
Go past/just past
Adjoining
Northeast/ southeast/ southwest/ northwest
In front of
Beside
Roundabout
Intersection
Next to
Enter via
Left-hand side/ Right-hand side
Before you get to
Inside/outside
On the far side
Clockwise/ anticlockwise
Straight ahead
Same side
Junction
Leads off
Dead end
Across the road
Carry straight on
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
Key Information
Generally, appears in section 2 or 3
One of the toughest questions
Not enough time to read all the questions and its options carefully before the recording gets played
Recording talks about all the options
Generally, appears in section 2 or 3
Options look the same, but they aren’t
Needs an effective, adequate, and continuous practice
Designed for a Band 8 or Band 9 candidates
High level of vocabulary
Good awareness about paraphrasing
Great concentration
Enough and effective practice
Strategy
When you get time to check the answers of previous questions, use it for reading the first few questions
Understand the question
Underline the keywords
Read all the options carefully and understand them
Identify the differences between them
Think of synonyms and paraphrasing
Listen the recording carefully and pick the correct answer
Be aware that answer might be changed to confuse the candidates