The listening section in IELTS can be one of the toughest sections you face. It requires a lot of focus, analysis and interpretation of data with limited information that is available for a limited amount of time.
So, in this article we will discuss all that you need to know about the listening test and look at some of the tips and tricks that will help you to prepare for this section. Read the article till the end to find out how to prepare for IELTS to ace the test in the first go!
Overview of the IELTS Listening Section
The Listening Test in IELTS is divided into 4 parts with 10 questions in each part, that is 40 questions in total. This test section assesses your ability to follow conversations, to understand monologues, retain and find information. Another important thing is the ability to draw conclusions from the provided information.
The first and second parts of the test assess listening in everyday situations. You’ll listen to the conversation between two speakers. The third and fourth parts of the test are listening to conversations in a more formal setting like education and training. The fourth part only has one person speaking on an academic subject. The test is 30 minutes long plus 10 minutes to write the answers.
5 Tips to Prepare you for Listening Test
-
Analyse the Content
After listening to the content, it is important to analyse it such that you can extract the answer from what you have listened. This is absolutely essential for the test as the recordings are only played once.
-
Look for Keywords
When listening, it is important to figure out the topic of conversation quickly to look for potential keywords. This will help you to look for potential answers to questions and making a mental note will help you to connect the dots and find the answers. This is an important tip for test preparation for IELTS as it applies to not only this but also to sections like reading and writing.
-
Listen for Synonyms and Similar Sentences
While practising listening, try to look for similar sentences. The listening tests often use synonyms of certain words in questions. This might cause confusion but if you look for those synonyms you can easily figure out the context and answer the question accordingly.
-
Pay attention to the Accent
While preparing for the listening test, accents are one thing to keep in mind. that test will have speakers from various countries like the USA, UK, New Zealand and so on. Try to listen to as many accents as you can and figure out which ones are harder to understand so you can work on them for the test. You can do this by listening to content in the form of audiobooks or podcasts.
-
Solve Mock Test in Test Conditions
While preparing for the test it is important to know as much as you can about the test and what to expect. This can be done by replicating test conditions and solving tests within the time limit, so you know your capabilities and improve your time management skills before the real test. This will prepare you for your IELTS exam well and boost your confidence before the test.
In this article, we looked at the listening section. Many individuals prepare for IELTS for study or work purposes. The test is essential for you if you aspire to study or work abroad. It consists of 4 parts out of which we have discussed one in this article.
If you want to prepare for IELTS, then you can start studying on your own. There are many applications available on the phone as well as other free resources that you can refer. If you want some structured guidance on preparation, then look for coaching. You can find coaching online as well as offline to suit your needs.
