A number of aspirants dread the listening section because of poor listening skills. Let us tell you in IELTS Exam listening, an individual’s listening abilities and grasping power. First, have a quick review of the IELTS listening section and the time allocation. In the listening section, you will hear 4 recordings in 4 different parts. There will be a total of 40 questions, each part consisting of 10 questions. The time restriction is just 40 minutes and you need to attempt all the questions within this time limit. It is the highest scoring section and one can easily score 8+ bands in this section by following the right approach. In this article, we have jotted down some incredible ways to achieve the targeted score in the IELTS listening.
One needs to be conscious and focused while listening to recordings. Unfaltering concentration can help you comprehend what the person is saying so that you can easily mark the exact answers. By scoring well in this section, you can increase your overall band scores. Doesn’t it sound good? Obviously yes! So, read this article gingerly to achieve a high band score in the IELTS listening. However, check the latest IELTS exam date from the official website of the exam conducting body and set a target to improve your listening skills till that date.
Here are a few tips that can help you score well in the IELTS listening if followed perfectly:
- Know the test
Same as the competitive exams and academic exams, the IELTS exam also has a unique pattern. So, before planning your exam preparation, know all the crucial information about the IELTS exam. This will help you strategize your exam preparation in a way that can bring positive results. Here we have mentioned some important things you need to consider before starting your IELTS exam preparation:
- Time duration of the test
- Test format
- Skills required to ace the section
- Types of questions
- Any additional time to transfer questions to your answer sheet
Consider these points and gather all the exact details. Well, if you are unable to answer questions, you can ask for help. Whether you are going to appear for the IELTS exam or PTE exam, make sure to get answers to all these questions and plan a foolproof study plan before the IELTS/PTE exam date.
- Do as much practice as you can
Not everyone is an active listener, one builds up this skill with the passage of time. So, don’t lose hope if you are not able to understand what your friend is saying in English for the first time. Yes, it might be awkward to say your friend for repeating the sentence in English again. However, recordings are played only once and you can’t tell the examiner to replay them. So, upgrade your listening skills by making a habit of listening everyday. There are a number of portals that provide English podcasts, conversation audios and all other materials to upgrade your listening skills.
Apart from this, these portals also offer free mock tests in which you will hear recordings and get questions based on those recordings. Thus, you can easily simulate the experience of the exam and you can check which type of questions need more energy. Basically, students find MCQs as the most arduous part of the listening section. However, with constant practice, you can effortlessly solve these questions without any confusion.
- Beware of distractors
Never attempt questions in a hurry. If you start rushing, you may fall into the trap of distractors. In the listening section, students usually listen to the first sentence said by the speaker and mark the answer. While marking/writing the answer, they skip the part where the speaker reverses the answer and says the actual one. This negligence lowers their IELTS listening scores. So, be careful while attempting questions and keep a close check on distractors. However, be fully attentive while solving MCQs, because this is the most strenuous part of the IELTS listening with an ample number of distractors. In MCQs, you will generally get 4 options and the speaker will mention all these options with just little differences in the meaning to create confusion. So, pay full attention to what the speaker is saying, comprehend it, analyze it and then mark an answer.
Well, your sheer efforts are required to save yourself from falling prey to these distractors. So, try to solve 2-3 listening tasks everyday till the actual IELTS exam date.
- Broaden your vocabulary
A myriad of aspirants think that vocabulary is just required to ace the speaking and writing section. No, this is not true! Vocabulary plays a vital role in all the sections of the IELTS exam. In the listening section, it can help you understand some hard words and thus the meaning of the whole sentence. Sometimes, speakers use synonyms of the words and candidates with poor vocabulary fail to answer them perfectly. Therefore, if you work upon your vocabulary, it will be easy for you to comprehend the audio and answer the question appropriately.
- Carefully transfer your answers to the answer sheet
Candidates get an additional 10 minutes in the end to transfer their answers to the sheet. This is the time when you need to be conscious and take care of the spelling and capitalization. Well, if you are not sure about where to use small letters and where to use capital, you can write everything in capital letters. Afterward, scrutinize your sheet and check whether you have transferred all the questions or something is left. If you find any answer unanswered, ensure to answer it. Moreover, follow all the rules while writing your answer. If you have been asked to write a one-word answer, just write your answer in one word and avoid making sentences. If you breach any rule, the examiner can penalize you which in turn will impact your IELTS listening scores.
Have you burnt the midnight oil to prepare perfectly for the IELTS or PTE exam? If so, then what are you waiting for? Enroll yourself for the upcoming IELTS/PTE exam date and show your proficiency in English.
Wrapping up:
To wrap up, while preparing for the IELTS exam don’t forget to follow these tips to boost your IELTS listening scores. These tips will not only help you ace the listening section, but also improve your scores in other modules as well. For instance, familiarization with the pattern of the exam, vocabulary and practice is all that is required to score well in other modules.
