Because of their poor listening skills, many aspirants fear the listening section. The IELTS listening section measures an individual’s listening skills and comprehension capacity. First, review the IELTS listening section and the allocated amount of time. You will hear four different recordings in the listening section. There will be a total of 40 questions, with 10 questions per section. The time limit is only 40 minutes, and you must answer all questions within this time frame. It is the section with the highest score, and one can easily earn eight or more bands in this section if they take the proper approach. In this article, we list a number of remarkable strategies for achieving the desired IELTS listening score.
One must be aware and attentive when listening to recordings. Concentration that is unwavering can help you understand what the speaker is saying so that you can easily mark the correct answers. You can improve your overall band score by performing well in this section. Doesn’t it sound pleasant? Clearly, yes! Therefore, read this article carefully to achieve a high IELTS listening band score. However, check the most recent IELTS exam date on the exam conducting body’s official website and set a goal to improve your listening skills by that date.
Here are a few tips that, if followed precisely, can help you achieve a high listening score on the IELTS:
-
Know the test
The IELTS examination follows the same format as competitive and academic examinations. As a result, before you begin planning your exam preparation, you should be well-versed in the IELTS exam. This will assist you in strategizing your exam preparation in a manner that will yield positive outcomes. Before beginning your IELTS exam preparation, you should consider a variety of factors.
- The test’s duration in time
- Format of the examination
- Competencies required to pass the section
- Types of questions
- Any additional time you need to copy the questions from the quiz onto the answer sheet
Consider these points and collect all pertinent information. If you cannot answer questions, you can ask for assistance. Whether you intend to take the IELTS or PTE exam, ensure that you have the answers to these questions and have a foolproof study plan in place prior to the IELTS/PTE exam date.
-
You should get in as much practice as you can
It takes practice to become an active listener, which is a skill that not everyone possesses. Do not give up on trying to understand your friend’s first English sentence if you find that you are unable to do so. Yes, it could be awkward to ask a friend to repeat the sentence in English. However, recordings are only played once, and you cannot request that the examiner play them again. Therefore, improve your listening skills by making it a daily habit to listen. You can find English podcasts, conversation audios, and other materials to help you improve your listening skills on a variety of websites.
In addition to this, these portals also provide free practice tests that include recordings and questions based on those recordings. Thus, you can easily simulate the exam experience and determine which types of questions require more energy. Students often find that the multiple-choice questions (MCQs) are the most difficult part of the listening section. However, with consistent practice, you can effortlessly and without confusion answer these questions.
-
Beware of distractors
Never answer questions quickly. If you begin to rush, you may fall victim to distractions. In the listening section, students typically mark the correct response after hearing the first sentence spoken by the speaker. They skip the section where the speaker inverts the answer and states the correct one while marking/writing the answer. This carelessness decreases their IELTS listening scores. Therefore, exercise caution when answering questions and keep an eye out for potential distractions. However, pay close attention while answering MCQs, as this is the most difficult part of the IELTS listening test due to the abundance of potential distractions. In MCQs, you will typically be given four options, and the speaker will mention each option with slight variations in meaning to cause confusion. As a result, pay close attention to what the speaker says, comprehend it, evaluate it, and circle the correct response.
To avoid becoming a victim of these distractions, you must make a concerted effort. Therefore, try to complete two to three listening tasks per day until the actual IELTS exam date.
-
Broaden your vocabulary
Many test-takers believe that vocabulary alone is sufficient to pass the speaking and writing sections. No, that is not the case! In each section of the IELTS exam, vocabulary plays an integral role. It has the potential to assist you in comprehending challenging words and, consequently, the significance of the listening passage as a whole. Speakers will occasionally use synonyms for the words, and candidates with a limited vocabulary will be unable to respond perfectly. If you improve your vocabulary, it will be simple to comprehend the audio and respond appropriately to the question.
-
Carefully record your responses on the corresponding answer sheet
The participants are allowed an additional ten minutes at the end of the exam to transfer their answers to the sheet. At this point, it is important to exercise caution and pay close attention to the correct use of spelling and capitalization. Simply write everything in capital letters if you are unsure of where to use small letters and where to use capital letters. After that, go over your sheet to see if you’ve transferred all of the questions or if something is missing. If you find an unanswered question, make sure to respond to it. Furthermore, when writing your response, adhere to all of the rules. If you are required to write a response using only one word, then you should refrain from using any sentences in your response. If you break a rule, the examiner may penalize you, lowering your IELTS listening score.
Have you spent countless late nights preparing for the IELTS or PTE? Consequently, what are you waiting for? Register for the upcoming IELTS/PTE exam date and demonstrate your English proficiency.
Wrapping up:
In conclusion, when preparing for the IELTS exam, be sure to follow these suggestions to improve your IELTS listening scores. Not only will these tips enhance your performance on the listening section, but also on other modules. To score well on other modules, familiarity with the exam’s format, vocabulary, and practice are sufficient.
