IELTS listening 10 tips

1. Read before you listen predict the answer

One difficulty in the exam is that you are not just listening, but reading the question and writing the answer all at the same time. One simple tip is to read the questions before you listen so that you know what you are listening for. It is a difficult skill to master, but it can sometimes help to try and predict the type of answer you are looking for: is it a name for instance or a number?

2. Read as you listen focus on the whole question

A huge proportion of mistakes are made not because you havent listened well, but because you you do not focus on the question. As you are listening focus on the precise wording of the question. See this video tutorial for more on this.

3. Look at 2 questions at once

One difficulty is that the answers to 2 questions often come quickly one after the other. Can you get both answers? Maybe, maybe not: but the only way you can is if you are ready for the next question. Id add that its no problem getting one question wrong, the real problem is if you lose track of where you are in the listening and you are still listening for question 13 when the cassette has moved onto question 15.

4. Dont leave the writing to the end

Sometimes candidates leave the writing part to the end, thinking that they will remember what they heard. In my experience, this almost never works: theres a lot of information, youre under stress and, most importantly, after each listening you should be moving onto the next set of questions to read them.

5. Practice your shorthand

You do not have to write everything that you down: you have 10 minutes at the end to copy your answers onto the answer sheet. So what you need to do is to learn how to write down enough for you to recognise as you are listening so that you can write it out in full later. The one exception to this is in part 1 with numbers and names where you have to write everything out in full as you are listening that is the challenge.

6. Dont write the answer too quickly

Sometimes you hear what you think is the answer, but the speaker goes on to correct themselves or give slightly different information: So Ill see you on Wednesday afternoon Sorry, Im busy then. How about Thursday evening? Fine, Thursday at 7 0clock

7.Numbers and names check your spelling

In part 1, you are almost invariably required to spell names and/or write down numbers. This looks easy, but in my experience can often go wrong and the problem is that if you get any spelling wrong, you lose the mark Of course you know the alphabet, but some letters can cause problems even for advanced learners, in particular: J&G Y A&E&I My tip is to make an association that you can remember: these are mine, but I suggest you make your own: J is for Jesus, but G is for God How do you spell why? W-H-Y A is for apple E is for elephant I is for I

8. Dont leave any blank answers

There are 2 reasons for this. Firstly, your guess may well be correct, particularly if it is a multiple choice style question. Secondly, there is a danger if you leave a blank that you write the answers in the wrong boxes on the answer sheet and that can be a disaster.

9. Listen for repeated information

This doesnt always work, but sometimes the words that are the answer are repeated: if you need to make a guess choose the words you hear repeated, they could well the be answer.

10. Look for clues in the question

A frequent question type is completing a table; in this type of question you will often find clues to the answer by looking at the other information in the table. In particular, look at the headings of the rows and columns: if, for example, the heading says equipment and some of the completed boxes say paperclips and cardboard you have a good clue as to what you should be listening for.

Listening test advice

Follow this Listening test advice, and make sure you understand how to respond to 'completion' type questions. You will be given time to read through the questions before you listen. You will hear each recording of the Listening test only once. As you listen, write your answers on the question paper. At the end of the test, you will have 10 minutes to transfer your answers to the answer sheet in pencil. You may write your answers in lower case or capital letters. It is essential that you transfer your answers to the answer sheet. Nothing you write on the question paper will be marked.

Make the most of your Listening test:

if you cannot hear the audio clearly, let a member of staff know straightaway listen for the specific information you want follow the instructions carefully; they may be different to practice or previous tests if you do not know the answer to a question, attempt it but do not waste time; move quickly onto the next one try and anticipate what the speaker will say; this will require concentration

do not worry if there is a word you do not understand; you may not need to use it check your answers

be careful with your spelling and grammar

do not panic if you think the topic is too difficult or the speaker is too fast; relax and tune in

focus precisely on what you are asked to do in completion type questions

if the question asks you to complete the note in the and the correct answer is morning, note that in the morning would be incorrect; the correct answer is 'morning' attempt all questions; there are no penalties for incorrect answers pay attention to the word limit; for example, if you are asked to complete a sentence using no more than two words, if the correct answer is leather coat, the answer coat made of leather would be incorrect

read, write and listen at the same time

1. In the exam listen to and answer the question

IELTS speaking 10 top tips

The best advice for IELTS speaking is very simply to listen to the question and answer it. The reason for this is that it is the one time you are face to face with the examiner and nerves are a sigificant problem. If you are trying to remember complex advice, you are likely to become more nervous and not perform to your best. Keep it simple. One example here is in part 1. If you hear a question in the past tense: Eg What sports did you play as a child? A good answer will use the past tense the examiner will be listening for this.

2. Before the exam practice

Following on from the previous advice, you need to practice before the exam to make sure that the appropriate skills are automatic. This will only happen if you practice sufficiently. However, you also need to practise the right skills each part of the speaking paper tests a different skill.

3. Immediately before the exam speak English

The problem for many people is not speaking English, rather it is moving from their own language into English. The advice here is plain: make certain that you are already speaking English before you go into the exam.

4. Key advice extend your answer appropriately

If there is one key piece of advice, it is to extend your answer appropriately. For example, this is inappropriate: Question: How many languages do you speak? Answer: Two. Chinese and English. Better would be: Answer: I speak two languages. My first language is Chinese and I speak English too. Ive been learning English since I was 10. I started learning it when I was in primary school. Be aware, however, that very long answers are not always a good idea. It is possible that you will go off topic and lose coherence.

5. Make eye contact

A large part of communication is non-verbal. You are marked by the examiner in the room and you should do everything you can to show that person that you are a good communicator. If you do not make eye contact with the examiner, s/he is probably going to be less impressed with your performance.

6. Do not learn answers

One temptation is to learn answers before the exam. Do not. The examiner will notice and your score will be badly affected.

7. If you dont understand the question ask

This is a speaking test and not a listening test. If you dont understand the question, ask the examiner to repeat or explain it you should not be penalised for this. If you try to answer a question you do not understand, you will almost certainly become incoherent.

8. Give yourself time to think repeat/reformulate the question

In parts 1 and 3 you are not given any thinking time: you are supposed to start speaking immediately. This does not mean, however, that you need to start answering the question straight away. What you can do is start by repeating/reformulating or commenting on the question: What did I enjoy doing as a child? Let me see Thats not something Ive thought about before. Its an interesting question. This has several benefits. It is good communication. It allows you a little time to think. It should also make you answer the question and not the general topic.

9. Correct yourself if you can do it immediately

If you make a mistake and you can correct it immediately, do so. This will show the examiner that you have control over the language. If, however, you are unsure how to correct yourself, move on: the examiner may not have noticed the mistake in the first place and if you try unsuccessfully to correct it, a small mistake may become a much bigger one.

10. Do not relax too much its not a conversation

This is an exam and you need to show the best side of your spoken English. If you relax too much and become too conversational, your English may suffer. You need to recognise that this is not a true dialogue between two people: it is more of an interview with one person speaking and the other listening. In a conversation the speaking conventions are quite different: you expect the other person to share 50% of the talk time and to react to your comments, typically one person will not speak for any length of time.

Speaking test advice

Follow this Speaking test advice and try to talk fluently. The Speaking test is a face-to-face conversation with a certified examiner. It is as close to a real-life situation as a test can get. The examiner will ask you about familiar topics such as home, work or studies in part 1. This should help you feel comfortable when speaking. Try and relax so that you can speak as naturally as possible. Take time before the test to practise speaking with a partner, friend or teacher.

Make the most of your Speaking test:

try to talk as much as you can talk as fluently as possible and be spontaneous the examiners questions tend to be fairly predictable; practise at home and record yourself do not learn prepared answers; the examiner is trained to spot this and will change the question

express your opinions; you will be assessed on your ability to communicate

ask for clarification if necessary develop your answers

relax, be confident and enjoy using your English

speak more than the examiner