How to prepare for IELTS Listening Test?

This blog post elaborates on different sections of the IELTS Listening test, different types of questions and tips on how to score well.
October 20, 2020 Yuno for Students

The IELTS Listening Test lasts for 30 minutes; you get an extra 10 minutes to transfer your answers from your Question Booklet to your Answer Sheet. The test has the following 4 sections:

 

List of different types of IELTS Listening questions

In each of these sections, different types of questions are asked. First, you will listen to a brief introduction to the Listening section. You will be told about the speakers, what they are talking about and why. You must listen to this information, known as the context, carefully, as it is not written on the question paper and it helps you to understand the topic. Soon after the introduction, you will be given a short time to read the questions. This helps you to understand what the speakers are going to discuss or talk about in that recording.

 

IELTS Listening Test Online

 

IELTS Listening Tips on how to score well

  • You must read the instructions and the questions carefully before you listen.
  • Understand what information you must focus on by going through the questions first.
  • You must try to understand the background of the talk or the conversations – Who are the speakers? What are they talking about?
  • You will have to read, write and listen at the same time, and you will hear the recording only once. So, you must listen carefully.
  • You must pay attention to ‘signpost language’ – however, moreover, on the contrary, etc.
  • You will perform well if you practice regularly by taking many practice tests.
  • Sometimes, the spellings or the digits are the answers. Therefore, you should become familiar with the sounds in Spoken English.
  • Understand that English is not a phonemic language. 5 vowels of the alphabet have 20 different vowel sounds and 21 consonants have 24 different consonant sounds. Also, these sounds may vary according to different accents.
  • Practice your listening skills regularly. Take practice tests and try to know the difference between different vowel sounds.
  • In English speech, vowel sounds give syllables to words 
    Example: Turn – mono-syllable (one vowel sound) Turning – bi-syllable (two vowel sounds) Termination – muti-syllables (three or more vowel sounds) If a word has two or more syllables, one is stressed more than the other/others. By taking more practice tests, you will become familiar with this aspect of English speech. Some weak sounds such as the SCHWA vowel sound as in the section, are never stressed.
  • Listen for meaning – who, what, when, where, why, how

 

IELTS scoring pattern and the 9-Band scale

IELTS Listening content is the same for IELTS Academic and IELTS General. You should be familiar with different accents as audio is played and you hear a pre-recorded conversation or a monologue in different accents – Australian, North American, British, or New Zealand accents.

 

Tips to improve your Listening skills

Understand the different sounds of English

There are 5 vowels but 20 vowel sounds. The same vowel sounds are different when used in different words, therefore, understanding the variations in the 20 types of vowel sounds is crucial to success. For Example: Different A sounds – take, task, tall, machine, tax Different E sounds – ten, teen, deer, dear, team, perfect, pervade Different I sounds – tin, time, tire Different O sounds – no, now, toll, poor, pool, foot Different sounds of U – umpire, universal, put, bus, suppose There are 5 vowels but 20 vowel sounds. There are 5 short vowel sounds, 6 long vowel sounds, 1 schwa vowel sound, and 8 diphthong sounds. Also, there are some sounds that are different in British and American accents. Therefore, while practicing, you must listen to recordings with different accents. Take as many practice tests as possible. While practicing, listen to the vowel sounds of different words.

Short vowel sounds: Short vowel sounds have a short sound as in the following words. There are 6 short vowel sounds.

  • Chin tin ring blink
  • man tan ran bland
  • Men ten lend send
  • Pull should look took
  • Pot hot cot not
  • Hut shut bud ton

Long vowel sounds: Long vowel sounds have a long sound as in the following words. There are 5 long vowel sounds.

  • Charge father task last
  • Tool fool rule bloom
  • All ball call tall
  • Turn curl earn burn
  • Team beam keeps the league

Schwa vowel: This is the weakest sound in English speech and is never stressed. If you have the word – water – the second vowel sound, ie of e in water, is not stressed in speech. More force of breath is put on the other vowel sound. Example: About, father, manner, survive, color

Diphthongs

In diphthongs, we have a combination of two vowel sounds. More stress is put on the first one. These sounds are longer than the other vowel sounds. With practice, you will understand the difference. Remember that some diphthongs sound different in British and American accents. Practice listening to both British and American accents.

  • Boy toy joy
  • Bright light mile
  • Cake bake shake
  • Round sound town
  • Boat coat close
  • Hear near beer
  • Hair bear there
  • Doer poor sure

There are triphthongs also. They have three vowel sounds. Example: Vowel Towel Flower player

Consonant sounds

There are 21 consonants but 24 consonant sounds. The usage of consonant sounds is guided by rules; however, there are also some exceptions to these rules. The 21 consonants and their sounds are as follows:

  • B in English has only the/b/ sound. It remains silent at the end of the world if it is preceded by ‘m’ like climb, thumb, bomb, etc. The combined sound of BH is for non-English words.
  • C has different sounds • /s/ as in – cyber, science, cinema, century (if it is followed by e/i/y) • /k/ as in – coffee, can, correct, cut • /sh/ as in – special, financial • Combination of CH can have the sound of – /k/ as in chemist, chameleon /sh/ as in chivalry, charade /ch/ as in charge, chair, chores• C can have the sound of /s/ or /k/ when it is preceded by s /s/ as in science /k/ as in scorn
  • D has the sound of /d/ and ‘j’ • diamond, dynasty, bold • education, immediate. The combined sound of DH is for non-English words.
  • F has the sound of only /f/
  • G has different sounds
  • ‘j’ if followed by e/i/y such as gems, longevity, gymnastics, regime. In this case, the exceptions are words such as get & give • /g/ as in go, games • nasal sound if preceded by ‘n’ as in sing, interesting • Sometimes the combination of GH has the sound of ‘f’ laugh, rough
  • H can have the sound of /h/ or can remain silent • high, humid, hammer • honest, honor – silent • why what, whopping – silent
  • J has the sound of only ‘j’ jive, jittery, the major combined sound of JH is for non-English words
  • K has the sound of only /k/ • kind, stake, the combination of CK has the sound of /k/ • mock, lock, pickle
  • L has clear and dark sounds • lie – before vowels (clear sound) • eel – before consonants and at the end of a word(dark sound)
  • L has a syllabic sound when it comes at the end of a word and is preceded by a consonant • little, mingles, comfortable
  • M has a nasal sound • mandatory, mall
  • N also has a nasal sound • nine, nose, bang, ringing. N has a syllabic sound when it comes at the end of a word and is preceded by a consonant
  • P has the sound of only /p/ Combined sound of PH is /f/ • pharmacy, claustrophobic
  • Q has the sound of /k/ • quantum, opaque has the sound of /r/ only • respiratory, rubbish In British English, it remains silent if preceded by a vowel but not followed by a vowel (In American English it is not silent) • perfect, water, perspiration
  • S can have different sounds • /s/ solvent, sanctuary • // fusion, vision • /sh/ mission, submission • /z/ fuse, refuse, rose
  • T can have different sounds • /t/ tentative, tall • /ch/ situation, accenture • /sh/ nation 
  • ‘tt’ has the sound of ‘t’ in British English but ‘d’ in American English T has the sound of /ch/ if it is followed by ch – batch
  • V has the sound of ‘v’ only. It’s a friction consonant. You press your lower lip with the upper teeth to produce this sound. • valour, violent, voracious • move, evaluation, evolve
  • W has the sound of ‘w’. It is a gliding consonant. You round your lips to produce this sound. • world, when it remains silent if it is followed by ‘r’ or ‘l’ • wrath, wretched • brawl, sprawl
  • X has the sound of ‘eks’ or ‘z’ • x mas, x-ray • Xerox, xylophone
  • Y has the sound of ’y’ and ‘I’ • Yellow, yield, yesterday • Beauty, derogatory, absolutely
  • Z has the sound of only ‘z’ • Zoom, zeal, zone

  Your familiarity with the sounds in spoken English will help you to understand the native speakers of English. This is important as you can have correct spellings only when you are familiar with the different sounds in English speech.

 

IELTS Listening Test FAQs:

  • How many recordings are there in the listening test?

The IELTS listening test has four recordings – two monologues and two dialogues.

  • Are the recordings dialogues or monologues?

There are two dialogues and two monologues. In part one, you listen to a conversation between two people set in any day-to-day situation (inquiry, etc.). In part two, you listen to a monologue related to social needs. In part three, you listen to a conversation between up to four speakers related to educational or training content. In part four, you listen to a monologue related to educational or training content.

  • Are the recordings in British Accent or American Accent?

The recordings can be in British, American, Australian, or New Zealand accents.

  • On which topics are the recordings?

In part one, the recording is on a day-to-day situation (inquiry, etc.). In part two, it is related to social context, in part three it is related to education and in part four, it is related to educational or training content.

  • How many parts are there in the listening test?

There are four parts to the IELTS listening test.

  • How many questions are there in all?

In all, there are 40 questions. 

  • How many questions are there in each part?

There are 10 questions in each part.

  • How much time will I get for the test?

You will get 30 minutes for the listening test. In addition, you will get 10 minutes to transfer your answers to the answer sheet if you take the pen-and-paper test.

  • Are the marks deducted for spelling mistakes?

Yes, the marks are deducted because a wrong spelling means an incorrect answer.

  • How many times can I listen to the recording?

You can listen to the recording only once.

  • Can I pause the recording in between?

No, you can not pause the recording in between.

  • Will I be allowed to read the questions before listening to the recording?

Yes, you get time to read the questions before you hear a recording.

  • Will I get a sheet to make notes?

No, you can make notes on your question paper. You get an answer sheet to transfer your answers. In the online test, you can ask for a sheet and a pencil. It will be taken from you when the test ends.

  • Should I leave the questions that I don’t understand?

No, you should not. Answer all the questions. There is no negative marking for a wrong answer. So, you must guess the ones you don’t understand.

  • Should I use a pen or pencil to write my answers?

You must use a pencil. Carry an eraser with you to erase wrong answers.

  • Should I write my answers in capital or small letters?

You can write your answers in capital or small letters.

  • Do some questions carry more marks?

No, all questions carry the same marks – one mark for each correct answer.

  • Does grammar matter in the listening test?

Yes, it does matter in questions where you have to complete the sentence. You will need the correct form of the word – noun, verb, adjective, etc.

  • In what order will I get the answers?

There is no fixed order. It will vary according to the type of question. For some questions, you will get your answers in order, but not for all.

  • Are scores recorded in whole bands only?

No, you can get your score in half bands also, for instance, 5.5, 6.5, etc.

 

FAQs regarding the IELTS Comprehensive Course 

  • Are all these group classes or will I get 1-to-1 instruction too?

Our instruction is divided between group classes and one-to-one. For conceptual topics, we generally deliver group classes but we use one-to-one sessions for writing feedback, speaking practice, and mock test feedback analysis. To compare exactly how many group and one-to-one sessions are there in each of our courses, refer to the course comparison page

  • Are these courses specific to IELTS Academic or General?

Both types of test takers can enroll in any of the above courses. Since most of the content is similar to IELTS Academic and IELTS General exams, there will be common group classes. At the same time, trainers will ensure that there are separate classes whenever required. So you can enroll for any of these courses without worry whether you are preparing for the Academic or the General version of the IELTS exam.

  • Can I attend classes from my phone?

Yes, you can. Zoom works on all sorts of devices but we highly recommend that you attend classes from your PC (desktop or laptop) because the instructor would show you different things during the class and the mobile screen is too small to study well. However, we have several students who attend the classes on their mobile phones and are happy about it.

  • Can I get a discount?

We offer our courses at very low prices compared to the rest of the industry. So we don’t usually offer discounts. If you are someone who cannot afford to pay the full amount because you truly have financial constraints, please contact us at [email protected]

  • Do I get a free demo of the live class?

Yes, you will be able to attend up to two demo classes, for free and then decide if you would like to enroll in the course.

  • Do I have to buy any books or course materials?

No, all course material will be provided to you by us. We will be sending you the book called, “The Official Cambridge Guide To IELTS Student’s Book With Answers With DVD ROM” to practice full-length mock tests. This book is part of the course fee. We will deliver the book at your doorstep during the second week of the course.

  • Do I have to use some special software?

We use Zoom software for our live classes. It’s free to use and works just like Skype. It works both on a PC as well as on mobile phones. If you haven’t installed it already, please install it from this link: https://zoom.us/support/download

  • Do you guarantee a particular band score?

Getting your target band score depends on your current level of English and the target you have in mind. We are the experts of IELTS training and what we guarantee is that you will not find a better quality, more rigorous course anywhere else. We cannot guarantee you any specific score but you will make a significant improvement in your score. Please check our student testimonials. Anyone who guarantees you a target score is lying to you.

  • How can I pay?

A payment link will be shared with you. You can pay online and securely by clicking on the payment link and using various modes of payment like credit cards, debit cards, Net Banking, UPI, and various wallets.

  • How do online classes work?

Today’s live video technology allows us to bring the best instructor right to your computer. Live online classes happen virtually, over the internet, with real instructors where you and the instructor are connected via live video. It’s like a video call but with more features required for a great learning experience. You can attend classes for free during the trial period to experience if they will work for you.

  • How many hours of self-study do I need to plan?

You should be able to spend about 1 hour to 90 minutes each day on self-study. All the self-study material will be provided to you by your trainer.

  • How will listening practice happen?

While our trainers will deliver group classes to explain what concepts are important to improve your listening skills, each learner will practice from tens of available listening practice tests. The tests are online and can be accessed at…. You will be asked to attempt several of these tests on a weekly basis.

  • How will you help with the Speaking module?

There will be sub-groups formed, of 3-4 learners each, to practice the speaking skill. There will be weekly speaking practice classes where each learner will be asked to speak on a specific topic and the trainer will give him/her feedback on how he/she can improve.

  • How will you help with the Writing module?

You will get writing assignments from the trainer that you will write in Google docs (Google docs are free to use. All you need is a free Gmail account). Once you write your assignment, the trainer will check your assignment and mark up improvements. The trainer will then schedule a 1-to-1 live class with you to discuss it further with tips and suggestions on how you can improve.

  • I don’t have a broadband connection at home. Will my mobile internet work?

Yes, these days mobile connections are great too, especially if you have a 4G (or an LTE) connection. You can also ‘tether’ (also called hotspot) your phone connection with your PC and attend classes on your PC. Learn about tethering on Android Learn about using iPhone as a hotspot 

  • What are the advantages of live online classes over in-person classes?
  1. You study from the comfort of your home
  2. You study from the best instructor
  3. There’s more interaction in classes
  4. You save time by not having to travel
  5. You meet other students who are from different parts of the world
  • What if I miss a class?

Well, studying from a real instructor means that you should attend all the classes so you don’t miss any concepts. However, if you still miss a class or two because of an unavoidable reason, you can watch the recordings, or request your instructor to re-do the class for you. We are happy to help whenever you need it.

  • What will the homework assignments be like?

There will be different homework assignments for each of the skills required. Example homework assignments will be like taking practice tests, watching videos, reading articles, and writing assignments based on topics given to you by the trainer. In addition to that, get access to our free IELTS Resources.

  • Who do I get in touch with if I want to learn more about your courses?

Feel free to write to us at [email protected] or call us at +91-7827181269. Check out our IELTS Preparation courses now!

  • Will there be one-to-one help available?

Yes, while there will be daily group classes, there will be 1-to-1 classes available depending on your weak areas. For example, feedback about your writing assignments and speaking practice will often be in 1-to-1 classes.

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