I haven't blogged in ages, mainly because nothing note-worthy has happened recently. But that's no excuse, you say? Well, without further ado, here are a few tips I've compiled for the IELTS Listening exam:
1. Listen first, answer later
In the beginning, I wrote down the answers as they were being read. Sure it may seem like the normal thing to do, especially when the questions look so deceptively easy. But trust me, if you're concentrating on writing the answer quickly then you are risking missing out it. Listen and understand. This will help you to commit the facts to memory even if the recording whizzes by. This tip especially useful for lecture-type questions.
2. Look out for synonyms
During the time you're given to read each Section, you must attempt to guess what is going to be read in context for each blank. In doing so, one should be aware of synonyms that could be present. This means that although the speaker may describe something using a particular word, it's synonym could be on the question paper instead. For example:
Speaker: "Participants are advised to arrive 15 minutes at the Main Hall before the competition begins."
Question paper: "Players should be present quarter of an hour ahead at the Main Hall ."
During the time you're given to read each Section, you must attempt to guess what is going to be read in context for each blank. In doing so, one should be aware of synonyms that could be present. This means that although the speaker may describe something using a particular word, it's synonym could be on the question paper instead. For example:
Speaker: "Participants are advised to arrive 15 minutes at the Main Hall before the competition begins."
Question paper: "Players should be present quarter of an hour ahead at the Main Hall ."
3. Listen to radio shows
This will help improve you attention span of your ears. When I was doing practice tests, I noticed how easily distracted I could become. For instance, my pencil never looked more interesting until I started listening to a particularly challenging passage. Therefore, as practice in order to focus all my attention to hearing when needed, I listened to radio shows like Cabin Pressure on my iPod before I went to sleep.
Good luck for your IELTS!
PS - In case you were wondering, I scored 8.5 on my IELTS Listening exam.
