6 Tips that can improve your IELTS Listening Score
IELTS Listening is the module that demands you to do many tasks at the same time. This thing makes it challenging and many students are afraid of this module. Besides there are some other factors that make this module more challenging like-
1. Multitasking: As already mentioned multitasking is the thing that make this module very difficult. In this module you have to listen to the audio, read the questions and writing the answers all at the same time so it becomes difficult to manage all these things.
2. Focus: In listening you should be focused towards the content said by the narrator as if you lost focus for even a second you may lose the grip over the track and the chances of losing useful information may lose.
3. Speedy: In the listening test questions are closely linked with each other so if you want to get the answer of every question you should maintain your speed with the narrator with concentration.
4. Strict time limits: The audio clip lasts for 30 minutes and then 10 additional minutes are given to transfer your answers to the sheet. If you practice well than this time limit is good enough to complete the task but if you are not well prepared than surely you will leave the answers.
5. Audio is played only once: In IELTS Listening the audio is played only once that means you can hear the information one time only. So it is situation of “do or die” and you have to listen each and every word of the clip very carefully as the clip will not be paused or resumed. Hence, you have to be alert all through 40 minutes as there is no second chance available.
6. Concentration: Another thing that makes this module challenging is that you have to concentrate on the single track for 40 minutes. This thing is quite difficult to be concentrated on the same thing for a long time.
However, we can overcome the above said problems with a little practice and guidance The following tips can be of great help:
1. Read before listening : At the beginning of every part of the listening test you get some time to read the questions. Make sure that you utilize this time in reading the questions and underlining the keywords.
2. Don’t be selective: In listening you should try to listen and understand each and every word from the audio clip as every word is important and you can lose some important information by missing a single word. You should also read every word in the question paper as even a single word change the meaning of the question.
3. Be quick to write: Many students don’t write the answers s they think that this may distract them form the audio clip. They try to remember all the answers to write them at the end but till the end they forget most of them and don’t have anything to write. So you should be quick enough to write the answers as soon as you listen it. In the end of the test also you should transfer your answers in the answer sheet fast.
4. Practice short forms: Sometimes during listening you don’t have time to write the big words so you should practice short forms like for “information” you can write “info”. This will save some of your time but keep in mind that you should not use short forms in the answer sheets if you do so your number will be deducted
5. Spell check: It is very important that you get the spellings right since in part 1, you are required to spell names and figures in the answers.
6. Internet source of practice: You can practice a lot through internet as there are number of platforms that provide free practice material to improve your listening skills.
