Category: IELTS Listening

IELTS Listening: Essential Skills and Strategies

Listening is probably the easiest section of IELTS to make a rapid improvement in if you master a few basic strategies. Before taking the IELTS test, be aware of the skills and strategies below and give yourself opportunities to practice them.

Important: The article assumes you are familiar with the IELTS Listening test format. If you aren’t, read IELTS Listening: Introduction first.

Predicting

Use the short time before the listening passage begins to scan the questions. What type of information does each one ask for? Pay special attention to questions that require numbers or difficult spellings such as names. Predicting – coming up with a possible answer – is not the same as guessing. When you predict, you consider the type of information that COULD complete the answer. This helps you to focus on all the important information contained in the question.

Identifying keywords

The questions will contain two types of word: those likely to be used by the speaker and those likely to be paraphrased. Improve your chances of following the listening passage by identifying the ‘anchor’ words (names and technical terms) and predicting possible paraphrases of the rest.

Identifying paraphrase

It’s highly unlikely that the speakers will repeat the language in the questions, except for the keywords mentioned above. You will need to both anticipate and recognise when the speaker uses a paraphrase – a phrase with same meaning as the question but using different words. English speakers paraphrase more often than speakers of most other languages. Practice this essential skill every opportunity you get.

Targetted listening

Targetted listening means focussing your attention on the ten items of information required to answer the ten questions in each section of the IELTS Listening test. It is perfectly possible to hear these ten items without understanding everything that is said. The opposite is open listening – listening for any information that helps you understand what’s going on. Open listening may be important when having a conversation with a friend, but use targetted listening for success in IELTS.

Spelling

Since the majority of questions in IELTS Listening are NOT multiple-choice, you will need to write down the answers in words. And, if you don’t spell it right, you don’t get the point. No amount of good listening will be effective if you can’t spell. Certain words like names of people and addresses may have more than one accepted spelling, and these will be spelled out for you by the speaker. For the rest, use our guide to Common Spelling Mistakes in IELTS and learn how to avoid them.

Grammar

In sentence and summary completion tasks you will have to write an answer that is not only spelled correctly but that also fits grammatically. Knowing the rules is therefore a great advantage. You may not always hear the plural ‘s’ at the end of a word, for example, but, with a good knowledge of English grammar, you should be able to identify when a noun must take the plural form. Another common example is the ‘ed’ adjectival suffix. Recognising that an answer should be an adjective can help you to give the correct answer even when you don’t hear the ‘ed’. Not only in IELTS Listening but in all modules of IELTS, practical application of skills and techniques must be backed up by ongoing study of the rules of the language.

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IELTS Listening: TED x IELTS: Why Is ‘X’ the Unknown?

Questions 1-5 (Summary completion) Write no more than one word for each answer.

The Arabic language is extremely 1. _________________________. Because each part of a sentence is very precise and informative, constructing a sentence in Arabic is bit like writing an 2. _________________________. This partly explains many so-called Western sciences such as mathematics and 3. _________________________ actually have their origins in the Middle East. For example, the English word ‘algebra’ has Arabic roots. Many kinds of Middle-Eastern wisdom arrived in Europe via 4. _________________________, where they were first translated. However, certain Arabic sounds can’t be pronounced by Europeans without a great deal of practice. They also can’t easily be written using existing European 5. _________________________.

Questions 6-10 (Matching)

Match the following statements with the letter or symbol they refer to.

6. It was familiar to Spanish mathematicians. _____

7. It was eventually replaced by another letter. _____

8. It was known throughout Europe. _____

9. It has been in use for nearly six centuries. _____

10. It is unpronounceable in Spanish. _____

  • A. The mathematical symbol X
  • B. The Arabic letter SHeen
  • C. The Greek letter Kai
  • D. The Latin letter X

 

IELTS Listening: TED x IELTS: The World’s English Mania

Questions 1-4 (Short-answer questions) Write no more than three words and/or a number for each answer.

1. What can be positive, worrying or life-threatening? ___________________________

2. How do Chinese students practice English? ___________________________

3. How many English learners are there in the world? ___________________________

4. Which country will have most speakers of English? ___________________________

Questions 5-7 (Multiple choice, multiple answer)

What THREE reasons for learning English in China are given by the lecturer?

  • A. To belong in a single world
  • B. To have a better career
  • C. To pay for education
  • D. To support children in the future
  • E. To order food in restaurants
  • F. To perform well in a test
  • G. To live in another country

Questions 8-10 (Multiple choice, single answer)

8. What does the lecturer consider to be the main effect of the world learning English?

  • A. Other languages will become extinct.
  • B. Discussions are possible at the global level.
  • C. Global problems can easily be solved.

9. What does the lecturer say English will become?

  • A. One of the world’s common languages
  • B. The world’s universal language
  • C. As important as mathematics or music

10. Why is the spread of English a positive development?

  • A. It will help spread technological advances.
  • B. It will help unite countries and cultures.
  • C. It will help people resolve their disputes.

 

IELTS Listening: TED x IELTS: Why videos go viral

QUESTIONS 1-2 (Sentence completion) Write no more than three words for each answer.

Web video now means that anyone can become famous very quickly.

Over 48 hours of video appear on YouTube 1. ________________________.

Only a tiny percentage of videos goes viral and becomes a cultural moment.

The key factors in creating a viral are tastemakers, 2. ________________________ and unexpectedness.

QUESTIONS 3-10 (Note completion) Write no more than three words for each answer.

BEAR VASQUEZ

“Double rainbow” video viewed 3. ________________________ during 2010.

Video first became popular during the summer.

Creator didn’t intend to make a viral; he just wanted to 4. ________________________ a rainbow.

Video had actually been uploaded in 5. ________________________ but only became popular after tastemaker Jimmy Kimmel posted a link on Twitter.

REBECCA BLACK

Song “Friday” has been viewed almost 200 million times.

Viewing peaks all occurred on 6. ________________________.

Its popularity may have begun with a joke about the video on Twitter.

7. ________________________ of “Friday” have been uploaded to YouTube.

Viral videos are born when online communities spread or do something new with content.

“NYAN CAT”

Looped animation has been viewed nearly 50 million times.

YouTube users began creating different versions of the video.

Whole 8. ________________________ emerged that transformed “Nyan Cat” from a simple joke to a participatory movement.

CASEY NIESTAT

Made a unique video to protest bicycle fines in New York.

Made his point using 9. ________________________ and ________________________.

Video has now been seen 10. ________________________.

Common Spelling Mistakes in IELTS

With 25% of IELTS Writing scores determined by vocabulary, spelling is clearly a real concern for IELTS candidates. While a few spelling errors will be overlooked, too many will bring down the score for Lexical Resource. Spelling mistakes can also seriously affect IELTS Listening scores.

As it’s not possible to memorise the spelling of every English word, it makes more sense to identify the words most likely to be (a) used in IELTS and (b) misspelled.

There are already many lists of common spelling errors online, but here I’ve selected words likely to occur in the Academic modules of IELTS. Rather than simply list the most common mistakes, I’ve attempted to highlight errors by type, so you can pay more attention to the underlying rules.

Single and double consonants

Spelling mistakes are common when single or double consonants occur nearby in a word.

A single consonant is followed by a double consonant:
Across, Process, Harass, Disappoint, Recommend, Tomorrow, Professor, Necessary

A double consonant is followed by a single consonant:
Parallel, Apparent, Exaggerate, Occasion, Occur (but Occurred), Commit (but Committed)

Some common words with two pairs of consonants:
Success, Possess, Access, Assess, Address, Accommodation, Embarrass, Millennium

Weak vowel sounds

Some words are difficult to spell because they contain the schwa or [ə], a weak vowel sound. It is almost impossible to know how to spell such words from their sound alone.

Examples of words containing more than one schwa include:
Separate (adj.), Definite, Desperate, Temperature, Literature, General, Relevant, Category

Other problematic schwa words include:
Describe, Decline, Despite; but Dispute, Discrete, Display
Capable, Achievable, Understandable; but Possible, Visible, Accessible
Performance, Attendance, Ignorance; but Independence, Sentence, Existence

Sometimes the schwa sound conceals a barely-pronounced [r]:
Opportunity, Pursue, Persuade, Surprise

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How to Get a Band 8 Score in Academic IELTS

Some linguistically demanding courses such as literature and law can require IELTS 8.0 or even 8.5. Thankfully, most people never have to aim this high! If you’re one of the unlucky few, this is what you need to do to obtain a Band 8 score in the academic version of IELTS.

IELTS Listening

  • Get 35 out of 40 answers correct

IELTS Reading (Academic Module)

  • Get 35 out of 40 answers correct

IELTS Writing (Academic Module)

  • Answer both questions fully
  • Use paragraphing skillfully to convey several key ideas
  • Use less-common vocabulary naturally with an awareness of collocation
  • Provide an overview and explain key points in Task 1
  • Indicate a clear position and develop it extensively in Task 2
  • Produce mostly error-free complex sentences

IELTS Speaking

  • Speak fluently and at length on any given topic with almost no hesitation
  • Use a range of linking words accurately to develop ideas
  • Use higher-level and idiomatic vocabulary to convey precise meaning
  • Produce mostly error-free simple and complex sentences
  • Use pronunciation and intonation patterns similar to those of a native speaker

Follow the advice above to meet the IELTS criteria for Band 8 in all four modules. A Band 8 score in IELTS is good enough for any university undergraduate or postgraduate programme and should be sufficient to practice medicine or law in an English-speaking country.

How to Get a Band 7 Score in Academic IELTS

The world’s best universities often require IELTS 7.0 or even 7.5 to enter, which is quite a challenge for speakers of English as a second language. This is what you need to do to get a band 7 score in the academic version of IELTS.

IELTS Listening

  • Get 30 out of 40 answers correct

IELTS Reading (Academic Module)

  • Get 30 out of 40 answers correct

IELTS Writing (Academic Module)

  • Answer both questions fully
  • Write in clear paragraphs, each with a main idea and supporting sentences
  • Use higher-level vocabulary with an awareness of collocation
  • Provide an overview with detailed comparisons in Task 1
  • Indicate a clear position and stick to it consistently in Task 2
  • Produce generally error-free sentences

IELTS Speaking

  • Speak fluently and at length on any given topic
  • Use a range of linking words accurately to connect ideas
  • Use less common and idiomatic vocabulary
  • Produce generally error-free sentences
  • Show good control of pronunciation and intonation

Follow the advice above to meet the IELTS criteria for Band 7 in all four modules. A Band 7 score in IELTS is good enough for almost all university undergraduate and postgraduate programmes.

How to Get a Band 6 Score in Academic IELTS

The scoring system of IELTS can be difficult to understand for test-takers, so we’ve simplified it for you. This is what you need to do to get a 6.0 or 6.5 in the academic version of IELTS.

IELTS Listening

  • Get 23 out of 40 answers correct

IELTS Reading (Academic Module)

  • Get 23 out of 40 answers correct

IELTS Writing (Academic Module)

  • Answer both questions adequately
  • Show good ability to organise an answer (e.g. paragraphs, linking words)
  • Attempt to use some higher-level vocabulary (even if not always accurate)
  • Provide an overview with supporting details in Task 1
  • Indicate a position and provide supporting arguments in Task 2
  • Make yourself understood (even if grammatical mistakes are made)

IELTS Speaking

  • Speak at length on certain topics
  • Use a range of linking words to connect ideas
  • Show good ability to paraphrase
  • Use both simple and complex structures
  • Speak with generally good pronunciation

Follow the advice above to meet the IELTS criteria for Band 6 in all four modules. A Band 6 score in IELTS is good enough for some university programmes, while others may require a pre-sessional English course.

How to Get a Band 5 Score in Academic IELTS

Here’s the IELTS scoring system made simple. This is what you need to do to get a 5.0 or 5.5.

IELTS Listening

  • Get 16 out of 40 answers correct

IELTS Reading (Academic Module)

  • Get 15 out of 40 answers correct

IELTS Writing (Academic Module)

  • Use vocabulary that is adequate for both tasks
  • Show some ability to organise an answer (e.g. paragraphs, linking words)
  • Attempt some complex sentence types (even if not accurate)
  • Include some details in Task 1
  • Indicate a clear opinion in Task 2

IELTS Speaking

  • Show ability to talk about both familiar and unfamiliar topics
  • Produce simple speech accurately and fluently
  • Avoid long silences
  • Attempt more complex structures (even if not accurate)
  • Attempt to paraphrase (even if not accurate)

Follow the advice above to meet the IELTS criteria for Band 5 in all four modules. A Band 5 score in IELTS is good enough for some university foundation programmes.

IELTS For Free! 5 Ways to Cost-free Preparation

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Textbooks, lessons, and the test fee itself – getting your IELTS requirement can be an expensive business. If your budget is rather tight, you might be interested in the following hints and tips. All of them are completely free and some don’t even require you to use English!

1. Go online

Do a simple online search for IELTS and you’ll find that there are hundreds of sites offering free IELTS advice and practice. That’s almost certainly how you got here. But why is there so much available for free online? The answer is simple. Most websites make money from advertising, or their authors want to sell their own books online. Of course the quality of such sites varies, so be sure to check the author’s credentials before you invest too much faith in a particular site. If the author has several years of real-world IELTS teaching experience, that’s a good sign that they know the test inside-out. Also look for student testimonials, trackbacks and publications as further evidence of a site you can trust.

2. Find an IELTS study buddy

While it’s possible to prepare for the Listening and Reading modules of IELTS on your own, there really is no substitute for another human being when it comes to preparing for the Speaking (and, to a lesser extent, Writing) module of the test. Some people insist that you practice with a native speaker, preferably one with knowledge of IELTS, but there’s plenty of evidence to suggest that practicing with another English learner can be just as beneficial. One reason for this is that pairs of learners form better strategies for negotiating meaning. Native teachers can be a little too good at guessing what you want to say, while a non-native partner is more likely to tell you when they don’t understand, so you know when you’ve said something unclear. If you can’t find an IELTS study buddy at your school, some IELTS websites have forums in which you can search for a like-minded partner.

3. Take a free IELTS demo test

It’s worth checking your local IELTS schools to see if they offer a free IELTS demo test. Some organisations such as SI-UK offer a sample test for free as a level check and you may even get some study tips from a trained IELTS teacher. This is a great way to get some last-minute practice if you plan to take the real test soon, as well as an effective way to check out what a school is like before you spend any money on lessons.

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