IELTS – Listening

In this post, we will talk about the first part of the IELTS Exam, which is listening. It will take you 30 minutes to complete this part, and 10 minutes, at the end of the exam, to transfer your answers. So, don’t worry about writing on the answer sheet while you are listening. You will have to answer a total of 40 questions.

The listening test is composed by four sections:

Section 1
A conversation between two people, which happens in an everyday social context.
Section 2
A monologue in an everyday social context e.g. a speech about college facilities.
Section 3

A conversation between up to four people which takes place in an educational or training context, e.g. a professor and student discussing about a topic.
Section 4
A monologue on an academic subject e.g. a university lecture.

TYPES OF QUESTIONS

1. Multiple choice

In this type of question, you have to choose one correct answer. It tests detailed or general understanding of the passage.

2. Matching

In this type of question, you have to match a list of items from the recording to a list of options. It tests your ability to listen to detailed information.

3. Plan/map/diagram labelling

In this type of question, you have to complete labels on a visual. Check the grammar, spelling and the number of words in your answer and always read the table from left to right, not down each column. Keep in mind that hyphenated words such as ‘check-in’ count as single words.

4. Form/table/note completition

In this type of question, you have to fill in gaps which focus on the main ideas of the recording. Check the grammar, spelling and the number of words in your answer. Keep in mind that hyphenated words such as ‘check-in’ count as single words.

5. Sentence completition

In this type of question, you have to fill in gaps which focus on the main ideas of the recording. Check the grammar, spelling and the number of words in your answer. Keep in mind that hyphenated words such as ‘check-in’ count as single words.

6. Short-answer questions

In this type of question, you have to read a question and write a short answer using information from the recording. Check the grammar, spelling and the number of words in your answer. Keep in mind that hyphenated words such as ‘check-in’ count as single words. This type of question focuses on your ability to listen for facts, such as places, prices or times.

Some tips:

• Read the instructions to each task very carefully. Only do what the instructions say.
• You will have time to read the questions before listening to the extracts. Read the questions, underline the key information and try to imagine from reading all of them what the listening will be about.
• Pay close attention to what you are listening, because the recording will be played just once.
• Some candidates worry so much about the answer to one question that they don’t pay attention to the information to the next question.  Don’t do this! Move on!
• Write your (rough) answers on your question paper. You will be given half a minute to check your answers at the end of each question.
• At the end of the test, transfer your rough answers from the question paper to the answer sheet. You will be given 10 minutes.

–  Answer all the questions. If you don’t know one more questions, just guess.

– Be careful about spelling. If you misspell a word, your answer is considered wrong. Check       out some spelling hints which might help you:

1. Here are some words often spelled wrongly in IELTS. Be sure to know how to spell each of them:

ACCOMMODATION

GOVERNMENT

BEAUTIFUL

NIGHT

RESTAURANT

ADVERTISEMENT

WHICH

DIFFERENT

PASSENGERS

2. Words ending in –y, we usually change the –y to –i

Worry – worried

Baby – babies

Unhappy – unhappily

Early – earlier

3. Before adding an ending (e.g. – er/-ed/-est/-y/-able/-ing)

Sit – sitting

Sun – sunny

Mad – madder

Drop – dropping

Big – biggest

Slim – slimming

Rob – robbed

Did you like our hints? Don’t miss our next post, which will be about Reading!

Stay tuned!