Tips & Strategies
Familiarize yourself with the format of the test: Listening has 4 sections.
Section-1: Conversation: Tasks-Complete a form, complete a table, choose answers from the list.
Section-2: Talk: Tasks- Complete the sentences, label a diagram, map or plan and give short answers.
Section-3: Discussion: Tasks- Choose answers from multiple choices, label a diagram, match words and phrases.
Section-4: Talk or Lecture: Tasks- Classify words or statements, complete notes, complete flowcharts.
Familiarize yourself with different accents: Listen to a variety of accents from different English-speaking countries, such as Australia, Canada, the UK, and the US, to improve your ability to understand different accents.
Read the instructions: Read the instructions carefully and make a note of how many words can be used to write your answer.
Identify the keywords: Listen carefully and identify the keywords that relate to the questions being asked. These keywords could be nouns, verbs, or adjectives, and they could be related to people, places, dates, times, numbers, or any other relevant information.
Listen for answers: Focus on listening for answers rather than trying to understand everything.
Practice active listening: Pay close attention to the questions and instructions given in the listening test. Be prepared to listen for specific information, such as dates, names, and numbers.
Use the provided time to read the questions: Use the time given before each section to read the questions and prepare your mind for what you’ll be listening for.
Predict answers: Try to predict answers to the questions before you hear the audio. This will help you stay focused and identify the answers more quickly.
Don’t leave any questions unanswered: Even if you’re not sure of the answer, make an educated guess. You won’t lose points for incorrect answers, but you could gain points for correct ones.
Practice with past papers: Practice listening to past IELTS listening tests to get a better understanding of the format, types of questions, and level of difficulty.
Understand the question types: There are different types of questions in the IELTS listening test, such as multiple-choice, matching, sentence completion, and note completion. Make sure you understand the requirements of each question type and practice answering them.
Use context clues: Even if you miss a word or two, you can use context clues to fill in the gaps and understand the overall meaning. Pay attention to the tone, intonation, and stress of the speaker to help you understand the context.
Take notes: You will be given some time to read the questions before each section of the test. Use this time to write down any key information or keywords that you think may be relevant to the questions. During the recording, take notes on important details that may help you answer the questions accurately.
Transfer the answers properly and accurately. Utilize the given time to transfer the answers on the sheet. Make sure that the spellings and grammar are correct.
Be confident and open to chat: IELTS speaking is not a formal interview, therefore it is important to be conversational and friendly during the speaking test.
Keep talking: Keep talking till the examiner asks a second question or tries to stop you. Always try and give extended answers, instead of precise ones.
Accents: Both British and American pronunciations can be used, even a mixed pronunciation or accent is okay. The words should be clearly pronounced so that they are easily understood by the examiner.
Cue Card questions: Make notes for the cue cards questions and refer to the notes while speaking but also make sure to maintain eye contact with the examiner while speaking.
Develop your vocabulary: Learn new words and phrases, and practice using them in sentences to improve your fluency and accuracy.
Practice speaking with others: Find a language partner or take part in a conversation club to practice speaking with others in a natural setting.
Use a range of language functions: Use a range of language functions, such as expressing opinions, making comparisons, and giving reasons, to demonstrate your ability to use English in different ways.
Use idioms and phrasal verbs: Use phrasal verbs and idioms to provide more variety to your language. /a few examples of idioms are listed below: To be in hot
- Keep an eye on (to watch something or someone)
- Break the ice (to make people feel more comfortable and relaxed)
- Hold your horses (to wait or be patient)
- Let the cat out of the bag (to reveal a secret)
- Get the hang of (to understand how to do something)
- Cut to the chase (to get to the point)
- On the same page (to have the same understanding)
- Turn a blind eye (to ignore something)
Be clear and concise: Speak clearly and concisely to ensure that your message is understood.
Use intonation and stress effectively: Use intonation and stress to convey meaning, such as emphasizing important points or expressing surprise.
Use linking devices: Use linking devices like however, because, therefore, but etc to develop your sentences.
Read the Instructions: Read the instructions carefully and make note of the number of words and/ or numbers you need to write.
Looking for answers: Do not spend too much time just trying to find one answer. If you cannot find an answer, move on to the next one.
Skim the passage: Read the passage quickly to get a general idea of what it’s about before diving into the questions.
Focus on Synonyms or Paraphrasing: While looking for an answer, do not try to locate the same words as in question, look for synonyms or similar words. IELTS exam focuses a lot on the use of synonyms.
Look for keywords: Look for keywords in the questions and passage to help you identify the relevant information.
Don’t spend too much time on one question: If you’re unsure of an answer, move on and come back to it later.
Practice time management: Make sure you have enough time to answer all the questions in the reading test by managing your time effectively.
Pay attention to the instructions: Follow the instructions carefully and make sure you’re answering the question asked.
Transferring the answers: Write your answer on the sheet provided simultaneously, as you get no extra time to transfer the answers on the answer sheet.
UPPERCASE FOR ANSWERING: It is recommended to write your answers in ALL-CAPS or capital letters.
Planning time: Do not spend more than 20 minutes on Task-1, keep a tab of time so that you can use time efficiently for planning, preparing, and writing. Spend 30-35 minutes on Task-2 and the remaining time to check your answers.
Word Count: Always write over 150 words for Task-1 and more than 250 words for Task-2. There is no upper word limit. If the word count is less, the score will be low inspite of good content.
Plan your writing: Spend a few minutes planning your essay before you start writing to organize your thoughts and ensure that your essay is well-structured. Aim for writing 170-190 words in Task-1 and 270-300 words in Task-2. Do not write too much, as quality is more important than quantity.
Overview for Task-1 (Academic): Always write a clear overview for Task-1. Overview is the introductory paragraph that has all the key features of the chart or graph or any other feature that is presented to you in your academic Task-1. All the key points should be collected and written in the overview paragraph.
Conclusion for Task-2 (Academic and General): For the task-2 you should always write conclusion its an absolute must. If you have only a few minutes remaining, utilize it to write conclusion.
Cover all points: In general writing, cover all the points mentioned in the question for writing the letter. Structure the letter well and maintain the formal, semi formal or formal tone as per the question requirement.
Body Paragraphs: Always organize your both tasks in body paragraphs to provide a good structure for your report, essay, or letter.
Use a range of sentence structures: Use a variety of sentence structures, such as complex and compound sentences, to demonstrate your ability to use English in different ways.
Use cohesive devices: Use cohesive devices, such as linking words and phrases, to connect ideas and make your writing flow.
Check your grammar and spelling: Make sure you’re using correct grammar and spelling and proofread your work for errors.
Use academic vocabulary: Use a range of academic vocabulary to demonstrate your ability to use English in an academic context.