How to learn the IELTS Listening part and get the highest scores?
The academic version of the IELTS listening test is designed to assess the test-taker’s ability to understand main ideas, specific details, and inferences from a variety of spoken texts such as lectures, seminars, and tutorials. Here are some tips for learning IELTS listening and getting the highest scores:
Familiarize yourself with the format of the IELTS listening test: The IELTS listening test consists of four sections, each containing a recording and a set of questions. The first section assesses the test-taker’s ability to understand the general meaning of a conversation or monologue, the second assesses the test-taker’s ability to understand specific information, the third assesses the test-taker’s ability to understand the attitude or opinion of the speaker and the fourth assesses the test-taker’s ability to understand detailed information from an academic lecture or talk. Understanding the format and the types of tasks you can expect will help you prepare and manage your time effectively.
Review the scoring criteria: Familiarize yourself with the scoring criteria for the IELTS listening test. This will help you understand what the examiners are looking for in your listening and allow you to focus on the key areas that are most important for scoring.
Practice listening: Practice listening to a variety of materials, including lectures, news broadcasts, and conversations. This will help you improve your overall listening skills and become more comfortable with the listening test.
Take notes: Taking notes can help you focus and retain important information while listening. Practice taking notes while listening to recordings to improve your ability to do so under time pressure.
Pay attention to context: Pay attention to the context of the conversation or lecture to help you understand the meaning of words and phrases. Consider the speaker’s tone, the setting, and the topic of the conversation.
Practice predicting: Practice predicting what the speaker will say next based on the information you’ve already heard. This can help you stay focused and anticipate key points.
Check your work: After completing the listening test, review your answers and make sure you’ve chosen the most accurate response for each question. If you’re not sure of an answer, try to eliminate any choices that are clearly wrong.
Here are some additional tips for mastering IELTS listening:
Understand different accents: The IELTS listening test includes speakers with a variety of accents, so it’s important to practice listening to a range of accents to improve your ability to understand them.
Take breaks and manage your time effectively: It’s important to take breaks and manage your time effectively while preparing for the IELTS listening test. Set aside dedicated time each day to practice, and be sure to give yourself sufficient time to rest and recharge.
Improve your overall listening skills: Improving your overall listening skills can help you perform better on the IELTS listening test. This can include things like paying attention to nonverbal cues, such as facial expressions and gestures and actively trying to understand the speaker’s perspective.
Practice with authentic materials: Practice listening to authentic materials, such as lectures, news broadcasts, and conversations, to get a sense of the types of listening tasks you can expect on the IELTS test.
Stay motivated and focused: Finally, it’s important to stay motivated and focused while preparing for the IELTS listening test. Set achievable goals, celebrate your progress, and remind yourself of your motivation for taking the test.
The academic IELTS listening test is an important measure of a test taker’s ability to understand spoken English in an academic setting. It is particularly relevant for test-takers who plan to study at a university or college where English is the medium of instruction.