Tips for IELTS Listening

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   ."

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.

[Hoppie's Top 5] Guns N' Roses Songs

So a few millenia back, I tried to get to into metal music, albeit to impress a boy but hey! I was only 14! Smack right in the middle of The Awkward Years.

One band I got interested in was Guns N' Roses. Although I discovered Linkin Park just about the same time (to this day, they remain as my favourite band), Guns N' Roses struck a special chord in me (pardon the cheese) and I've developed a healthy appreciation for them ever since.

Also, it doesn't hurt that their lead, Axl Rose, used to look like this:

                                          

Without further ado, here's a list of my top 5 Guns N' Roses songs:

5) You Could Be Mine

4) Welcome To The Jungle

3) Sweet Child O' Mine

2) Don't Cry

1) November Rain

PS: I was listening to all the songs on my list and by the end of this post, I was feeling rather blue. Oh well, goodnight.