IELTS evaluates your ability to read, write, speak and listen in English. But unlike other modules, there is no second chance of listening. You have to crack the IELTS listening exam module by listening to four recordings played only once.
Answering can become a risky gamble if you aren’t prepared for what IELTS listening exam has in store for you. Check out these 8 ways that will help you tackle the listening section smoothly.
1. Know what to expect
You don’t want to surprise yourself with a unique pattern of the listening section. Know the pattern and expected topics that might appear in the real examination.
| Section | Type of Listening | Example |
| A day-to-day conversation in English | What are your plans for today? | |
| Monologue | Economy and Covid-19 pandemic | |
| Conversation withing 2-4 people in an educational setting | How a debate should be? | |
| Monologue in on educational matter | Future of emerging biological technologies |
2. Practice hearing once
When you practice the listening section, listen only once as in real examination. Simulating a real exam environment will get you familiar with the pattern.
When you read questions, find the apparent keywords and underline them. This will help you hunt for the exact words or their synonyms while listening.
3. Listen what you love
Listen to the podcasts or audio books that address your favorite topics. You are eventually preparing for IELTS, while all you are doing is listening to your favorite writer’s success story. Keep it simple.
4. Use Audio Scripts
Audio scripts are written text of a particular audio clip. You can use these audio scripts in the following ways.
• Read the script along with the audio. This will help you notice how important words are pronounced more loudly and sharply.
• Read the script aloud, and listen to audio. Check whether you pronounced words correctly. Did you sound accurate?
• Listen to the audio, write what you understood, and cross-check with a script. Were you able to get all the important points? Did you write correct spellings?
5. Game of equivalent words
IELTS could play this game with you. Be ready for it. What they do is say a sentence and ask a question that has not the exact keyword, but its synonym. To not fall into this trap, understanding the audio thoroughly is important.
For example, the unique creature was definitely meat-eating.
What was the creature found to be?
a. a. Omnivorous b. Carnivorous c. Herbivorous
Here knowing carnivorous and meat-eating are synonyms carried significance.
6. Practice through different sources
Don’t restrict your sources to listening electronically. When you go out, listen. And listen like you are listening to an IELTS audio clip.
Nothing else can give you the real gist of IELTS one-time listening than real-life experiences. Don’t miss out on them.
7. Avoid minor mistakes
You should keep no room for mistakes. Here, the exact answer is incorrect if you make a spelling/writing mistake.
Double-check your answers before submitting them.
8. Accept English Like Your First Language
A unique thing about our first language is we not just speak, but respond in it. Our thoughts come to us wrapped around that language.
You have to start thinking in English if you already don’t. Translating is much more difficult and time-consuming than processing information in the same language. Many times, when you think in your native language and try to translate in English, it doesn’t deliver meaning effectively. Test yourself.
With in-house experts, we prepare you to go through multiple mock tests for the listening section. Our training starts from the basics to make you perfect. Connect with our PTE experts today, to improvise your listening skills and score highest in the IELTS listening test.