Southwards ILTES

Facebook Instagram Twitter Youtube

Listening

HOME / LISTENING

DO YOU NEED HELP WITH LISTENING?

IELTS Listening test is designed to test your listening skills. Basically, what examiners want to know is that are you able to understand, by listening, what native speakers talk? Therefore, Listening test uses varieties of accents such as American, British, Australian, etc.

 What is a listening test?

  • You will be given a sheet containing questions
  • You will be asked to find answer to the questions by LISTENING to the data (recording/audio clip)
  • Recording will be played only once
  • You cannot control recording
Types of questions
  • Multiple choice
  • Labelling a map/diagram
  • Flow chart completion
  • Form/Notes completion
  • Sentence completion
  • Summary completion
  • Table completion
  • Short answer
  • Matching features/information
Types of questions

Format

  • 4 Parts
  • Each part contains 10 questions
  • 30 minutes
  • Additional 10 minutes to transfer your answer sheet (only for paper based)
  • Test gets tought and tought as the test progresses

Out of the above types of questions, MCQs and Labelling a Map/Diagram questions are the most challenging for the test takers. These questions are designed for a Band 8 or 9 candidate. So, you need to have an excellent command over your listening skills as well as vocabulary.

MCQs

Key Information

  • Generally, appears in section 2 or 3
  • One of the toughest questions
  • Not enough time to read all the questions and its options carefully before the recording gets played
  • Recording talks about all the options
  • Options look the same, but they aren’t
  • Needs an effective, adequate, and continuous practice
  • Designed for a Band 8 or Band 9 candidates
  • High level of vocabulary
  • Good awareness about paraphrasing
  • Great concentration
  • Enough and effective practice

Strategy

  • When you get time to check the answers of previous questions, use it for reading the first few questions
  • Understand the question
  • Underline the keywords
  • Read all the options carefully and understand them
  • Underline the keywords
  • Identify the differences between them
  • Think of synonyms and paraphrasing
  • Listen the recording carefully and pick the correct answer
  • Be aware that answer might be changed to confuse the candidates

LABELLING A MAP/DIAGRAM

Key Information

  • Appears in section 2
  • One of the toughest questions
  • Designed for Band 8 and 9 candidates
  • You need to have a good directions-vocabulary
  • You should know that there might be distractors
  • Needs an effective, adequate and continuous practice

Strategy

  • Read the instruction words and note down the limit
  • Look at the diagram or map carefully and understand it
  • identify where the questions are and what is being asked
  • Identify the beginning point
  • Think of synonyms and paraphrasing
  • Listen carefully and write the correct answer

Specific Vocabulary

  • At the top
  • At the bottom
  • In the centre
  • Go past/just past
  • Adjoining
  • Northeast/southeast/southwest/northwest
  • In front of
  • Beside
  • Roundabout
  • Intersection
  • Next to
  • Enter via
  • Left-hand side/Right-hand side
  • Before you get to
  • Inside/outside
  • On the far side
  • Clockwise/anticlockwise
  • Straight ahead
  • Same side
  • Junction
  • Leads off
  • Dead end
  • Across the road
  • Carry straight on