The format of papers IELTS Listening answers

In the IELTS Listening test, recordings are only played once. But there is no need to worry because today we will look atcommon mistakesmade in the IELTS Listening test and tips on how to prepare for your IELTS Listening test.

The Listening test consists of 4 parts with each part containing one or more sets of question types.Instructionsforeach part of theListeningtest are given to you before and after each audio recording.And youwill have some time to prepare foreachset of questions.

It is difficult to concentrate on what you hear while trying to read the questions at the same time, somake sure you:

• Read the questionsfirstbefore you listen to the recording

• Checkthe type ofanswer youhave towrite[e.g.,a letter, an option from the box,etc.]

• Use a pencil to underlineor circlekey words in the instructions and questionsto helpyoufocus on what to listen out forin the recordings

• Check your answers after the audio clip is playedand use this time to prepare for the next part of the test.

Sometimes it is difficult to determine exactly which information you should use to answer the question.For certain question types like form-filling, you must listen carefully to fillinparticular informationsuch asaname, date, timeor other details.

To help understand the question, make sure you:

• Read the question carefully, so you know whatinformation you are listening for

• Spend some timestudyingthe information given to you and then listen to the instructions.

• Think of synonyms for your keywords [words with similar meaning]as the recording will use different words or phrasestothe wordingin your question booklet.

Part 2 of the Listening test involves tasks like labelling a map, plan, or diagram. Youwillneed to figure out where things are, whatsomething ismade up of, or how it works. You might have a taskwhere you will need toidentify places, buildings, parts, or stages of a process.

There will be some keywords in therecordingtohelpguide you.These keywordsmay be:

• Verbs, adjectives [size, shape, quality]

• Directions[north,south,east,west]

• Prepositions ofposition or place [in front of, next to, behind]

If you are unsure of which side is left or right or where north or south is, a simple hint is to write L and Randdrawthe compass pointson your question booklet.This will make it easier to follow directions.

In Part 3of IELTS Listening,you will have to follow adiscussionwith up tofour speakers talking about a study-related topic. Youwill be askedto listenforimportantfacts, ideas, reasons, views, or opinions.

Itcan behardto identify who is talking and what they are saying, so always:

• Read the text before you startlisteningtothe recordings

• Note downinformation about the speakers, their relationships, andhow it relates tothe situation.

This canhelp you anticipate whichspeakerisabout totalkand what the speakers are going to talk about.

Because the level of difficulty increases as the Listening test progresses, Part 4 is often regarded as the most challengingin the Listening test. In Part 4, you will listen to a talk oralecture on an academic subject[e.g. a university lecture].

Make sure you listen forsignpost wordsthat thespeaker usesto indicate thedifferentstages of the talk. These signpost words, for example,caninclude:

• Firstly

• On the other hand

• Although

• Because

• To name a few

• Finally.

These words signal what information is coming next andcanhelp you to follow what thespeaker is talking about.

And make sure you also pay attention to stress and intonationasthe speakerwill useitto highlight important information.

TheListening testinstructionswill tell youhow many words are in the answer. For example, no more than ONE word, no more than TWO words and/or a number.

Read the word-count instructions very carefully to avoid adding in extrawordsand remember:

• If the instructionsays ONE word and you write the bus, the answer will be marked as incorrect, even though bus is the correct word.

• Ifyou write anumberin words and not numerals, that is acceptable. For example,three hundred and twenty is320 and counts as a number.

Correct spelling is essential in theListeningtest. If the spellingisincorrect, then it will be marked as wrong.Make sure you can spell commonly used words correctly,likelibrary, environment, street, avenue, professor, and so on.

If you are planning to take the paper-based test, you will be given 10 minutes totransferyour answersfrom the question booklet tothe answer sheet. Remember to check the spelling, listen carefully to the instructions, and make sure you put the right answers in the right place.

As with all tests, the key to success is to be prepared and to practice. With practice and preparation, you can put yourself in the best possible position to succeed.