IELTS Listening Test- Things to Know

Listening is an art, and if one is a good listener, one might just be able to learn a whole lot of new things. If someone is thinking of mastering the IELTS, they would need to pass the IELTS Listening course too, and they need to be good at understanding what people are saying.

While one might be good at grammar and know the English language well when it comes to writing it, they may not be that well versed when it comes to understanding an English accent that is not their own. And that's where one would need the right amount of preparation, to pass the IELTS listening test.

A student is required to take the International English Language Testing System popularly known as an IELTS, before the procurement of the student visa. By choosing IELTS, the student will be able to prove their English language skills, gain worldwide recognition for study, immigration, or work, and can choose from a range of test dates and locations across the world. The IELTS Listening test has four segments and each section bears ten questions. The questions will be in the same sequence as the information in the recording, which means the answer to the first question will be recorded before the second question.

Types of Recording

The first two sections, sections one and two will deal with "everyday, social situations." in the first section, there will be a conversation between two speakers (maybe a conversation dealing with travel arrangements). However, in the second section, only one person will speak (which could be about any random social topic). In section 3 and section 4, the listening test will deal with educational and training situations. For example, in section 3, there might be a conversation between two university students in a discussion, maybe, be guided by a tutor. In the fourth section, however, only one person will speak about the topic of an academic subject.

In the listening test, the candidate will hear the recordings only once. There will be British, North American, New Zealand, and Australian accents and the candidate needs to answer the questions based on those recordings.

The candidate can write answers on the question paper as they are listening to the recordings. They will be given 10 more minutes at the end of the test to transfer the answers to an answer sheet. Incorrect spelling and grammar will deduct marks from the answers.

In a nutshell

• Examination time: approximately 30 minutes along with 10 more minutes to write answers on the answer sheet.
• Number of sections: 4
• Number of questions: 40 - 10 from each recording
• Marking scheme: with each correct answer get credited with 1 mark. The final score is out of 40 and is converted into an IELTS 9-point band scale.

Types of Questions

Multiple choice questions are followed by three options and the candidate is required to choose the correct options. The question will indicate how many options to choose from. The questions are based on a detailed understanding of the specific points and the main idea of the recording.

Matching a list of text to a set of options. The most important thing here is to recognize how facts in the recording are connected. The candidate needs to follow the conversation closely.

Plan/map/diagram labeling requires the candidate to visually represent the information from the recording. There will be a diagram that will need to be completed usually with the help of a list that is provided along with the question.

Form/note/table/flow chart/summary completion will require the candidate to fill in the blanks, like complete a form, create notes to summarize the information, fill up a table, or complete a flow chart. Attention to the instructions is important because the candidate might be asked to use only a certain number of words as the answer. Do NOT use contracted words as they are not recognized, for example, use 'do not' instead of 'don't'. Hyphenated words will be treated as a single word.

Sentence completion is a basic fill-in-the-blank type of question with the information from the recording. Care has to be given to the instructions. The candidate might be asked to use only a certain number of words as the answer. Do NOT use contracted words as they are not recognized, for example, use 'is not' instead of 'isn't'. Hyphenated words will be treated as a single word.

Short-answer questions require short to-the-point answers. Usually, a word count will be given, and the candidate cannot go over that count. Again, do not use contracted words, and hyphenated words are considered a single word.

ILETS Listening Section Scoring

The ability of a candidate to understand spoken English is gauged by their IELTS listening score. It assesses how well they can understand English-language talks, lectures, and other audio recordings. There are 40 questions in the IELTS Listening section. Every right response receives one mark. The IELTS 9-band scale is applied to scores out of 40. Whole and half-band scores are given.

How to Ace IELTS Listening Test?

• Candidates can better prepare for the test day by regularly listening to a variety of English conversation points, such as podcasts, talk shows, news channels, and movies.
• Acquainting themselves with diverse English accents can aid the candidate in comprehending the pronunciation of various speakers.
• Increasing their vocabulary can aid test-takers in comprehending a variety of subjects they encounter.
• As they must read the questions, listen to the audio, and write the answers from the audio simultaneously on the real test, taking practice exams can help candidates become more adept at multitasking.
• During the listening test preparation process, candidates should assess their ability to retain information by listening to the audio file all at once and adjust their practice sessions accordingly.
• Even if candidates are unsure of the answer, they should still guess. Speculating boosts the likelihood of receiving the correct response.
• Candidates should give their full attention because they will only hear the audio once. They shouldn't linger too long on a question for which they are unsure of the answer.
• It is necessary for candidates to closely read and pay attention to the instructions. Due to unclear instructions, test takers occasionally make major mistakes that cost them a lot of points.
• Candidates must adhere to each question's word limit.
• After finishing the exam, candidates should carefully review their responses to ensure proper grammar and spelling.