The listening test for IELTS is same for Academic and General test aspirants. The listening section has four sections and each section has 10 questions. The entire test lasts for about 30 minutes. At the end of the test, you will get 10 minutes to transfer your answers from the question paper to the answer sheet.
The difficulty level of the sections increases as one proceeds from one section to the other. This implies that the first part is the easiest and the last part is the toughest. The topic for each part is different. In the first section, the student hears a conversation between two persons. In the second section, you will hear a monologue about a non-academic subject (Eg. TV anchor or radio presenter). In the third section, an academic issue is discussed by more than one person. The academic issue can be an academic paper or an assignment. In the fourth section, an academic lecture is presented by a lecturer or a professor who talks for a specific period of time. Now the question arises, is it possible to get a 9 band score in IELTS listening test. The answer is definitely yes. So, how can you achieve this goal. By following simple tips mentioned below, you can achieve this goal.
Firstly, the main objective of IELTS listening test is to test your listening skills. In order to meet this objective, students try to do more and more practise tests in order to get a high band. However, this is not what you are supposed to do in the beginning. The practise tests will help you to get acquainted with the test but the tests are not meant to hone your listening abilities. So, what should you do to improve your listening abilities? You should listen to general listening materials available on the radio or television shows like documentary programmes and comedy shows and thereafter try to attempt IELTS listening practise tests.
Secondly, try to enhance your vocabulary. The third section is usually about education. For instance, a student and a teacher are discussing about an assignment. You can easily comprehend the conversation if you know all the terms and words about studying at a university. In this manner, you will be able to comprehend the third section easily.
Thirdly, skim through the questions while the speaker is giving examples and quickly decide whether which part of speech will fit in the blanks. So, try to figure out whether it’s a noun, verb, adjective, adverb etc. In this way, you will be able to concentrate better on the particular word forms while listening.
Fourthly, try to get a hold on the situation. At the beginning of each section, the speaker introduces the section by saying, ‘Now, you will hear a dialogue between… or a lecture on…. Since, this information is missing on the question paper, you will have to pay 100 per cent attention on the topic of discussion. You will have to take note of who the speakers are, where are they present and what are they going to discuss about. In this way, the rest of the recording can easily be comprehended
The fifth point is you have to pay 100 per cent attention as you will hear the audio only once. In case, you didn’t hear something and you skipped some questions, no worries! You can leave them blank and focus on the rest.You will get an opportunity o review those questions at the end of the section. If you crib over what you have missed, you will end up missing more questions and get lost in the recording. Remember, you will have to read, write and listen simultaneously.
The sixth point is be careful about the transition words. Words like however, but, then, finally etc help you to predict what the speaker is about to say.
The seventh point is don’t be in a hurry to write answers. Many students fall into this trap. The moment they hear the required information, they immediately assume it for the right answer. But at times, such information is repeated or in fact corrected as one listens further in the section.
The eighth point is don’t forget to check your answers at the end of each section. You will get 30 seconds to do the same. It is necessary to check spellings, grammar and word forms. Always remember that only the right answers will gain you high band.
The ninth point is try to implement some listening practise tests under exam conditions.
And finally, the last point is always analyse your mistakes and try to overcome the weak points.
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