IELTS Listening Test Tips

The IELTS listening test can be very difficult for all levels of English language learners. The best way to prepare for this test is to develop your overall listening skills and practice the test as much as you can before doing it. However, there are a number of things you should know about the test that might help you get through the test more comfortably and achieve higher score. In this blog post, we will go through some key points about the IELTS listening test that you should know, and give you some tips to help you be aware of where you could be making small mistakes.

The first thing you should be aware of in the listening IELTS test is that you will only hear each listening once. Therefore, it is extremely important while you practice for the test, that you learn to move along with the listening and the questions. If you miss an answer, stop thinking about it when you hear the speaker continuing onto the next part and the next question, or you'll miss the next question too.

Another thing you should know before going into the exam, is that the IELTS listening test is long. The test is around 30 minutes. For an English language learner, who has to listen actively for this amount of time, it can be very difficult and very tiresome. Therefore when you are preparing for an IELTS listening test, it is important that you develop your overall listening skills.

As listeners in any language, there are two types of listening that we do: active listening and passive listening. Active listening is when we are focused on the listening for specific information. For example, when we do a listening test, or when we when we listen to take notes. Passive listening is when there is something on in the background, and we are listening to it, but not paying too much attention. For example, listening to music while cooking the dinner. 

When we are learning a language, it is very important that we tune our ear into the language. Passive listening is a great way to do this. By listening to music or podcasts while cooking or cleaning, we are giving our ears and our brain the opportunity to "tune into" the  language and allow us to become familiar with the sounds and the patterns of the language. This helps us even more when we want to develop our active listening skills.

Active listening skills can be developed by practicing activities, such as gap-fills and multiple choice questions. We can also practice our active listening by taking notes and writing specific information down. 

When developing listening skills in another language, it is very important that you are patient. It is also very important that you do not become stressed or annoyed. When we get stressed, we block things out, and this can happen a lot in listening. Staying calm and allowing the information in is key to good listening in any language. For more information about this, I recommend you read up on Stephen Krashen's Affective Filters theory.

So let's look at the IELTS test and some of the types of questions you will find in the test.

Listening strategies

In parts 1 and 3 of the listening test, you will hear a dialogue.

Some of the tasks you may have to do are completing sentences.

Before you listen, make sure you read the task carefully to get a general idea of what sort of information is required. You must spell correctly and make sure you don't write more words than you are told to.

You will only hear the recording once.

In parts 2 and 4 of the listening test, you will hear one person talking about something of general interest.

There is usually more than one type of question.

You will often need to listen for specific information – that is dates, times, names important words.

You will hear a lot of information, but you don't need to hear all of it.

You should always look ahead to the next question so that you don't miss hearing the answer to a question.

Write the exact words that you hear, but don't write more than the maximum number of words.

Type of Questions and Strategies

Matching

Read the task before you listen

If you miss an answer, stop thinking about it when you hear the speaker going on to talk about the next question, or you'll miss that one too.

Multiple Choice

First read the questions and the options.

As you listen, consider all the options. Only one is right, unless you are asked to pick more than one answer.

Diagrams

There are different types of diagrams in the listening test. There may be a map, a plan, a process, a chart or a picture of an object. Study the diagram very carefully before you listen.

Read the instructions carefully.

Study the drawing and the heading, if it has one.

Try to work out what the drawing shows.

If parts of the drawing have question numbers, find the first number and notice where the numbers continue.

Look carefully at the drawing and notice the words that are given.

Think about the words that might be used; for example, for a map you might hear words for giving directions – left, right, on the corner, before, after, and so on.

Listen for information relevant to the first question

Think about the meaning of the words in the questions and the box, if there is one. The words may be exactly what you hear or you may hear different words that mean the same.

When you hear the relevant information, listen carefully for the answer. If you miss an answer, go onto the next question or you may miss that too.

Sentence and note completion

You will be given time to read the sentences or note before you listen.

Think about what information is likely to fit each space (e.g. amount of money, address, time etc).

Think about both the meaning and the grammar.

Listen for each answer in turn.

If you miss one, go onto the next question or you may miss that one too.

Part 4 - Lecture Style Listening Task
Part 4 of the listening is a short talk or lecture related to academic work or study. There will be a mixture of task types and you will be told which questions to read, and be given time to read then before you hear the recording.

Before listening read the instructions carefully. Check how many answers you should write, and the maximum number of words for each answer.

Try to write your answers in the same order that you hear them, but it doesn't matter if you change the order.

You should write the words exactly as you hear them

Summary

You will be given the time to read the summary before you listen.

Think about what information is likely to fit each space, and think about the meaning and the grammar.

Listen for each answer in turn. If you miss one, continue onto the next or you may miss that one too.

It is important to listen for what is relevant to the questions. You will not understand everything.

Pay attention to specific information such as times, dates, addresses. Often one or more of these specific pieces of information will be close to each other to try to confuse you. Remember what the question is asking for.

Classification

Use the time you are given to read the instructions carefully and think about the meaning of the three options.

Check what letters you should use for your answers: they may be A, B, C or three other letters

Listen for each answer in turn and consider all three options before choosing your answer.

Always give an answer – you will never lose a mark for guessing but might get it right!

Remember - if you want to prepare for the IELTS listening test, it's important that you practice listening skills regularly. This does not mean that you should only practice IELTS listening tests. Listening to talks online, watching TV in English, listening to radio and Podcasts are all great ways to develop your overall listening skills, and will benefit your performance in the IELTS listening test.

Cambridge English Objective IELTS Intermediate Student Book, 2016 (16th ed.), Cambridge University Press: UK

The Official Cambridge Guide to IELTS, Cambridge University Press

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