5 Key Aspects to get success in IELTS Listening
So, you have been dreaming about getting a high band score in your upcoming IELTS exam, but the Listening section is stressing you out.
Don’t worry; you are not alone!! IELTS listening is challenging for everyone. After all, English is not just your first language. But it doesn’t mean you can’t master it!
This Article will reveal Top 5 keys to acquire success in IELTS Listening that if you hold, a perfect score is guaranteed.
1) Be familiar with the test format
IELTS listening test format is the same for academic and general types, but it is slightly different in paper -based tests compared to computer-delivered tests.
For both types of tests, 4 recordings are played for 30 minutes, each having 10 questions. You have time to read the questions before each recording. Make yourself familiar with what is being asked and look for the answers when the recording is played. Keep in mind that recording will be played just once!!
There are the headings throughout the Answer sheet that will assist you to recognise the next question’s topic to match what you hear with the text in front of you.
2) Sharpen your focus
Sharp focus is always a great skill, but when trying to listen to a recording in order to answer some questions, you need to hear selectively.
Underline the main keywords which will help you to understand the whole context.
If you lose your focus ever for a moment, you will miss questions that will lower your score.
To prevent further loss, immediately bring back your attention to the recording and move on with the next question. You will be given time at the end of recording to answer questions you skipped. If you don’t know the correct answer select the most favourable option considering the context.
3) Become familiar with different English accents
IELTS is the accepted test in many countries, so the test recordings are often in various accents such as British, American, Canadian, Australian and New Zealand. Listen to audio files as much as possible from different countries to recognise the difference and become familiar with subtitles. In addition, online talks, podcasts, news, TV shows and documentaries are good sources to familiarise yourself with different English accents.
4) Boost your Vocabulary
Vocabularies are the building blocks of every language, and there are many complexities, such as synonyms and opposites. Without having a good understanding of these subtle differences, you might not be able to recognise what the question is asking. There are always some questions to test your knowledge of synonyms words as well as plurals and singulars.
Choose new word to learn in various subjects and review them regularly so you can permanently memorize them. It is often easier to learn new words if you love the subject!! Make it fun and create your own “hacks” to memorise words.
5) Master “Skimming and Scanning”
Yes, you heard it right. Even in the Listening section, you need your reading skills, because you are given the questions first to read. You need to skim questions for general context and scan them to underline or highlight keywords. Then use the same skimming and scanning skills while listening to the recordings to find those keywords.
Pay close attention to verbs, tenses and noun forms, specifically negative verbs, synonyms words, units of measurement and word count.
Any errors in spellings, grammar will turn your correct into a wrong one!
In the test, you need to hear and recognise the words and understand the concept while quickly answering the questions. This requires your maximum attention and multiple skills such as skimming and scanning along with an expanded knowledge of vocabularies and accents.
Holding the key that we disclosed in this article, you will be one step closer to get decent band scores and providing yourself an “expert user” of the English Language.
THANK YOU 🙂
5 Key Aspects to get success in IELTS Listening
5 Key Aspects to get success in IELTS Listening