SIX TIPS TO BOOST LISTENING SCORES
1. Know the test!
– What are the question types? (Each question type requires a separate strategy.)
– What is the format?
– What is expected from me for each part of the test?
– What skills do I need?
2. Practice, practice, practice
Improve your listening skills by becoming an active listener. Films and TV series may be fun to watch, but going further will make a big difference. Listen to a variety of English language resources, such as podcasts, news reports and Ted talks, which will expose you to new vocabulary and different accents (you may not just hear British accents during the IELTS test recordings).
SIX TIPS TO BOOST LISTENING SCORES
The aim is to make listening a part of your daily life. You can find a variety of interesting and fun content online. Start with topics you are most interested in, before moving onto more academic material.
Being used to hearing English will also give you the confidence you need to manage your stress during the test.
3. It’s all about the keywords
During the test, the recording will be played just once, and you will be given time to read the instructions and questions before the recording starts. Again, as you read the questions, underline the keywords, and try to predict the context of the recordings – who will be speaking, what the speech will be about.
SIX TIPS TO BOOST LISTENING SCORES
Think of other words that could replace them, particularly, for the multiple-choice questions, as you may not hear those exact words in the recording.
Concentrate on the question or statement and try to predict what kind of information is needed. Is it a noun? Is it a verb? Make sure the sentence you produce is grammatically accurate, and you use the right form of the word.
4. Beware of distractors
What you hear first may not be the right answer, so watch out for distractors. For example, the speaker may say one thing, but then reverse their answer. You may also find that the speaker mentions all the options with slight differences in meaning. Pay attention to the details.
SIX TIPS TO BOOST LISTENING SCORES
5. Don’t wait too long to hear the answer
If you feel like you’ve waited too long to hear the answer, the chances are you’ve already missed it. A big advantage of the IELTS listening test is that you don’t need to go back and forth to answer the questions; they are all in order, so just relax!
6. Transfer your answers carefully
At the end of the paper-based test, you get an extra ten minutes to transfer your answers to the answer sheet. Take care with spelling and capitalisation. If you’re unsure about the correct capitalisation, you can write your answers in all capitals. Take one last look at your answers to ensure they are grammatically accurate and you’ve followed all instructions.
Remember, you aren’t given any extra time to transfer your answers for the computer-delivered test, where you need to type in your answers as you go.
SIX TIPS TO BOOST LISTENING SCORES
SIX TIPS TO BOOST LISTENING SCORES