Section 1
The first section of the IELTS listening test has an audio file of a casual conversation between the two native English speakers.
It is not necessary as the accent can differ, however, it is up to the person taking the test to recognize the words and answer the following question.
In this section, the audio consists of a conversation between two people over a phone call. The situation could be anything as it depends on which the professional checkers. For example; pre-ordering or making a reservation at the hotel, or calling in for making arrangements for an event etc.
What is tested in this section is the ability of the person who is taking the test to catch the names, addresses, places, numbers and time.
Section 2
This second section of the IELTS listening test consists of an audio file with only one speaker who will be directly talking or reading out something to the person who is taking the test. This audio is usually from a guide or a tour book.
Things like buildings, charity, a resort etc, is mentioned and you have to successfully gather all the information correctly so you can later answer the rest of the questions for IELTS Listening module.
Section 3
The third section of the IELTS listening test gets a little difficult to keep up with as it consists of three to four speakers who are indulged in a conversation, argument or discussion.
It is mostly an academic discussion so the situations are most likely of a group of students discussing something with their teacher or students giving a class presentation.
Followed by ten questions, you will have to answer at the time. Pay attention to the dialogues and who said them so you can later easily catch the answers.
Section 4
The last section of the IELTS listening test is a little difficult to keep up with as it is all about an academic lecture.
Since the listening and speaking tests remain the same for both the categories, the last section is a must for the academic test takers as well as the ones who take IELTS test for general testing.
You must gather all the information you hear through an audio file of only one speaker who talks about an academic subject.
As the test progresses, the sections start getting more difficult by the time it is section four. Thus, making section 1 the easiest and section 4 the hardest.
Tips For IELTS Listening Test
As these sections are quite composed and you already have a choice to start practicing beforehand, it is not difficult to pass at all.
However, it requires practicing and hard work. But if you want to score more than the average band scoring, you will need a few tips.
Following are the 30 tips you can follow and practice to score an incredible band in your IELTS listening test.
Tip 1: Pay Extra Attention To Instruction
The most major mistake people make during the IELTS listening test is that they forget to pay any or all attention to the instructions given to them before they start the test.
So you need to follow exactly what the instructions say and then proceed with your test accordingly.
Tip 2: British Englis
If you want to clear the IELTS test as a whole, fluency in British English just might be your one-way ticket out to a great band score.
If you are not used to the British accent, you can strengthen your listening power by watching British movies and watching BBC news.
Tip 3: Vocabular
Since it is for certain that most of the IELTS listening consists of British speakers, you should practice British vocabulary.
For this, you can read books written by British writers or you can follow movies, perhaps do a little research on the British vocabulary.
Tip 4: Use Correct Spelling
This is entirely your choice to use the spellings you like, however, since it is known that most of the IELTS listening has mostly British and Australian speakers, try using the British spellings and the right rules as compared to the American spellings. Spellings will ensure a good band score.
Tip 5: Plurals VS. Singular
This is a major thing to pay attention to. Your answers will be marked incorrect if the person in the audio is talking about singulars but you write them as plurals.
Since some words are the same whether singular or plural such as fish, you must listen carefully what is mentioned.
Tip 6: Predict The Answer
This tip is to save your time. You get to use a pencil in this test so, during the fill in the blanks question, you can fill in the blanks with your predicted answers and later listen to the audio if your answer is correct, good. If not, then you can always correct it.
At the very least, if not the correct answer, you can definitely guess the correct part of speech that will fill the blank.
Tip 7: Practice Multitaskin
You must practice multitasking when it comes to IELTS listening.
By now you must be certain that it is not only your listening power that is getting tested but also your skills of reading and writing.
So you will be required to write the answer while you hear the audio. You can practice multitasking beforehand.
Tip 8: Change
In the audio file, the speaker actually makes an incorrect statement, apologizes for it and then later says the correct statement.
You must pay attention to the changes made so you can score better.
Tip 9: Number
In order to get the figures right, practice listening to the numbers.
It is possible for the speaker to mention contact numbers twice or thrice so you must practice listening to a group of numbers and writing them down correctly in one go.
Tip 10: Teen VS. T
This is a small tip but very important. While you listen to the numbers, do not get confused between the teens and tys.
This will only be easy for you to listen to and write correctly if you practice listening to numbers and focus on whether the speaker said fourteen or forty.
Tip 11: Hand Writin
Your handwriting matters a lot. Your correct answers do not count if your checker is unable to read what you have written.
This means that you need to clean your handwriting by practicing so your checker can read your answers easily.
Tip 12: Transferring Your Answer
Once you are done with writing the draft of answers on your question paper, you will be given an extra sheet to transfer the answers you wrote, practice quickly copying stuff before you take the test.
You will only have 10 minutes for it.
Tip 13: Time Managemen
In all four of the audio files you listen to, there will be short breaks in between.
Be quick to use those breaks to thoroughly check your spellings and answers.
Tip 14: Two Question
You must pay attention to both the questions that are together and listen to the audio carefully so you do not miss the answer of the next question while you were focused on the answer for the first.
It is very important to stay quick.
Tip 15: Gues
If you miss an answer while listening to the audio then try guessing the answer following the context of the section you are on.
If you are wrong, there are no penalties and your guess might be correct.
Tip 16: Pencil
You must use a pencil instead of a pen. In case of making a mistake, you can easily erase it and then write the correct answer with the pencil but if you use a pen, it will be difficult for you to get the answer right.
Tip 17: The Letter
It is fine to use all lower case letters if you like but the capital letters make it easier, faster and quicker for your checker to understand what you have written so it is essential to use all capital letters.
Tip 18: Word Coun
The amount of numbers and words you write s counted follows;
a) Compound words are counted separately. Example; dining room.
b) Words with a hyphen in between are counted as one. Example; chat-room.
c) The date is one word. Example; 2018.
d) A big number is considered one word. Example; 10,000.
Tip 19: Letters In MCQ
Use the given letter for the correct answer in your answer sheet instead of the actual answer.
Tip 20: Extra Informatio
There will be extra information in the audio files. Make sure to keep an ear for the answers you need.
Tip 21: Quick Answer
In section 4, you might get three of your answers in one statement. Or there could be a gap. Patiently listen first and then try catching the answers quickly.
Tip 22: The Plural
They matter as the listeners can have a problem with the plurals.
This is where your ultimate listening ability is tested. Pay attention to the āsā mentioned.
Tip 23: Waste of Tim
You must keep going when you miss an answer in the recording.
Do not panic. You can guess the answer later.
Tip 24: Concentratio
Concentrate on your audio files and stay active during the IELTS Listening test.
You cannot miss the answers during the entire 30 minutes. Practice before you take the final test.
Tip 25: Marks Your Answer
You can mark your answers on the question paper as you are allowed to do that.
Use crosses and tick in case you have doubts or find an answer certain.
Tip 26: The Accent
While you listen to the audio, do not fall into guessing whether the speaker sounds British or Australian. Focus on what they are saying to pick your answers.
Tip 27: Take Note
It is easy to jot down the key points when you take notes while listening to the audio. Remember to not write entire sentences as they take up more time.
Tip 28: Section
The easiest yet the one that counts the most.
Make sure you have the least amount of errors in section 1 as many students taking the test mess it up due to anxiety and confusion.
Tip 29: Listen Instead of Hearin
Do not just hear the audio playing in your ears but listen to it.
Pay full attention to what it says as it will not be repeated again.
Tip 30: Practic
All of these tips will work only when you practice for each section a lot.
Perform the sample IELTS tests and prepare yourself beforehand for the IELTS listening test as well as the rest.
