Top 10 IELTS Listening Tips

Top 10 IELTS Listening Tips

Is it possible to get a band 9 in IELTS Listening?

Yes, the answer is yes! There are some things you should do before the exam and some things you should focus on throughout the exam. You may significantly increase your score and perhaps earn a band 9 by following these recommendations! Here are the top ten IELTS Listening recommendations for getting the target score on the IELTS Listening test:

You are preparing for the IELTS listening test. Here are some tips that might help you:

Before the test

• Practice listening to different accents. The IELTS test may include speakers from various English-speaking countries, such as the UK, the US, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, etc. You can find podcasts, videos, radio programs, etc., online that feature different accents and listen to them regularly.

• Improve your vocabulary. The IELTS test may include topics from different fields and domains, such as education, health, environment, culture, etc. It would help if you learned some common words and phrases related to these topics and how to use them in context. You can also use a dictionary or a thesaurus to expand your vocabulary and learn synonyms and antonyms.

• Develop your note-taking skills. You must listen to a tape and answer questions based on it in the IELTS listening test. You will only hear the recording once, so you need to take notes while listening. It would help if you practiced taking notes using symbols, abbreviations, keywords, etc., that can help you remember the main points and details of the recording.

• Make yourself familiar with the test format and question types. The IELTS listening test is divided into four sections, each of which contains 10 questions. The sections vary in difficulty and topic. The questions may include multiple choice, matching, map/diagram labelling, form completion, summary completion, sentence completion, short answer questions, etc. You should know what to expect in each section and how to answer different questions.

On the test

• Read the instructions and questions carefully. Before each test section, you will have time to read the instructions and the questions. You should pay attention to the word limit, the spelling, the grammar, and the type of answer required for each question. Based on the questions, you should also predict what kind of information you need to listen for.

• Use the example at the beginning of each section. Each section of the test starts with an example question and answer. You should listen to the sample carefully and understand how the recording derives the answer. This can help you get familiar with the speaker’s accent, the section’s topic, and the difficulty level.

• Follow the recording closely, and stay focused. It would help if you tried to focus on the recording and not let your mind wander or get stuck on a difficult word or question. You should also avoid looking at other sections or inquiries unrelated to the current recording. If you miss something, don’t panic and try to catch up with the next part of the recording.

• Check your answers. After each test section, you will have time to check your answers. It would help if you used this time to ensure your responses are complete, correct, and legible. You should also carefully transfer your solutions from the question paper to the answer sheet and avoid any mistakes.