Top 10 IELTS Listening Tips: Improve your IELTS listening score (Exam tested!)

Welcome IELTS test candidates. These helpful tips are here to improve your listening skills and guide you towards success. You'll find useful advice and strategies for the skills needed to do well in the test! 🎧✨

However, let me take a moment to mention 5 basic tips, before we get to the main 5. So here they are:

One, to improve your listening skills for the IELTS listening exam, you must practice listening regularly. This can involve working with recordings that are similar to the IELTS exam format, including speeches and conversations in different accents.

Two, improving your vocabulary is also important, and practice tests can be very helpful. During the test, focus on both the words and pronunciation to understand native English speakers better.

Three, listening exercises often require students to write their answers directly on an answer sheet, and many students find the word limit difficult, especially when the answer is words and or a number.

Four, at the end of the test, you get 10 minutes to transfer your answers; use this time to check your answers and write them carefully. Spelling mistakes can lead to wrong answers, so practice your spelling, and write your answers based on the question for correct spelling. If your handwriting is not clear, use capital letters.

Five, read the questions carefully, paying attention to important information in different contexts, keywords such as a noun in a sentence, can help you avoid simple mistakes.

Note: The listening module is the same for IELTS general training and academic exam.

Now let's move on to the tips that will truly help you improve your score in your IELTS listening practice tests!

Tip 1: Don't Worry About Missed Answers In IELTS Listening Exam

When taking the IELTS Listening Test, it's very common to sometimes miss an answer or two. Here's the thing: don't panic! Remember, worrying can be your biggest problem in this situation. It's like dropping one egg and then breaking the whole dozen trying to save that one egg. Not helpful, right?

So, what should you do? First, take a deep breath. It's not the end of the world. The test has difficult parts, and everyone misses a point here or there. The key is to stay calm and focused on the next question. If you think too much about a missed answer, you might miss more!

Here's a little trick: if you miss an answer, put a small mark or a symbol next to the question and move on. This way, if you have a bit of extra time at the end, you can come back to it and make a guess (remember, there is no negative marking). But remember, your main focus should be on the questions ahead, not the ones you missed.

Lastly, keep practicing listening and train your mind to stay calm under pressure. The more you practice, the better you'll handle these little problems. So, keep your head up, stay positive, and, if you want to score well, don't let a small mistake trip you up on your way to success!

Tip 2: IELTS Listening Is A Test Of Focus

Alright, let's talk about focus - it's like the special skill you need for doing well in the Test! It's all about keeping your mind in the game from start to finish. But hey, don’t worry if you're not there yet. Building focus is like training a muscle; the more you work on it, the stronger it gets.

So, how do you improve this skill? Start by creating a quiet study area. Whether it's a calm corner in your house or a spot in the library, make sure it's a place where you can focus without interruptions. Next, practice active listening. This means really 'paying attention' to what you're hearing, not just 'hearing it'.

Additionally, think about including meditation in your routine. It's like giving your mind a little break! Meditation can greatly improve your focus and reduce stress, which are both important for doing well in the listening part of IELTS. You don't need to be a master; just start with a few minutes each day. Find a quiet place, close your eyes, and focus on your breathing. This practice helps calm your mind and improves your ability to focus during long listening parts. Over time, you'll notice a more focused and relaxed mind, making it easier to understand and remember information during your test. Give it a try – your mind will thank you for these peaceful moments!

Remember, improving focus is a journey, so be patient with yourself. Take short breaks during your study sessions, and don't be too hard on yourself if your mind wanders sometimes. With regular practice and a bit of effort, your focus will improve, and you'll be handling those listening tasks like a pro! Keep at it, and watch your focus power grow! 🚀

Tip 3: Common Tricks and Distractions Hurt Your IELTS Listening score

Going through the IELTS Listening module can sometimes feel like you're a detective looking for clues, especially with those tricky tricks and distractions. But don't worry, I've got your back! Let's uncover some of these common tricks so you can spot them easily.

First up, paraphrasing. This is a classic! The test often uses different words to say the same thing. It's like playing a game of synonyms; you need to be sharp enough to see that they're talking about the same thing, just in a different way. Practice by listening to different texts and finding the main ideas, even when they're said with different words.

Next, watch out for distracting information. Sometimes, the speaker adds extra details just to confuse you. It's like they're adding extra toppings to your pizza when all you wanted was cheese! Stay focused on what the question is asking, and don't get distracted by unimportant details.

Oh, and be careful of contradictions. This is where they say something and then correct themselves. It's a bit like someone giving you directions and then suddenly saying, "Oh wait, not left, turn right!" Stay alert and be ready to change your answer.

Finally, in multiple-choice questions, one of the most difficult question types, they might mention all the options. It's like a buffet where everything looks good, but you can only choose one dish. Listen carefully to understand which option is really correct, not just mentioned.

Remember, these tricks aren't there to make you fail, but to test your listening skills. With practice and awareness, you'll become an IELTS Listening expert, good at cutting through these distractions and focusing on the right answers to get a high score. Keep practicing, and soon these tricks will seem very easy! 🕵️‍♂️💡

Tip 4: IELTS Listening Test at Faster Speed (1.2 to 1.4X) To Improve Your Band Score

This has been a great tip for my students! When preparing for the Listening Test, try practicing at a faster speed - think 1.2 to 1.4 times the normal speed. Sounds a bit strange, right? But trust me, it's like training with weights on. Once you take them off, you'll feel like a listening superhero!

Here's why it works: By listening to English at a faster pace, you're helping your mind to process information more quickly. It's a bit hard at first, but it's all about improving your abilities. Start with something comfortable, like 1.2X, and then slowly increase the speed. Use podcasts, news reports, or IELTS practice recordings for this exercise.

The cool part? When you go back to the regular speed of the IELTS audio, it'll seem slower and much easier. It’s like suddenly everything is moving in slow motion, and you have more time to think and understand.

Don't forget to mix this practice with normal-speed listening too. The goal isn't just speed; it's also about accuracy and understanding. And hey, if you feel overwhelmed, take a step back. It’s okay to go at your own pace.

Keep practicing like this, and you'll be amazed at how your listening skills improve. On the test day, you'll listen to those recordings with more confidence, ready to catch every word. So, increase that speed and let's get those listening skills working! 🎧💪

Tip 5: Listen To Native English Speakers To Improve Your Listening Skills

Here's a fun tip for you: mix in some casual listening with your IELTS prep! Yes, you heard it right – enjoying English can actually help your test performance. It's like adding a bit of sweetness to your workout drink; it makes the hard work a bit nicer.

Casual listening means tuning into English in more relaxed settings. It could be enjoying English songs, watching movies or TV shows in English, or even listening to conversations in English podcasts. The idea is to get your mind used to the rhythm, tone, and different accents of the language in a way that doesn't feel like hard studying.

Why does this work? Well, when you listen to English in different situations, you're training your ears to notice small details and understand different speaking styles. This can be a big help during the IELTS Listening practice, where accents and speeds can change.

Also, casual listening helps you get comfortable with the language. It becomes a part of your daily life, not just something you study. You'll start to understand jokes, learn slang, and get a feel for natural speech patterns. All of this can make the listening test feel more familiar and less scary.

So, go ahead and enjoy some English entertainment! It's a fun, effective way to improve your listening skills without it feeling like a task. Enjoy the process and let your love for the language grow – it's a win-win! 🎧🎬📚

IELTS Listening Tips - Done!

I hope you found these 10 IELTS listening tips and tricks helpful.

As a final note, here are a few more things to keep in mind:

To do well in the IELTS listening test, a mix of practice and awareness of the test format is important. Use practice tests from good sources like Cambridge to get used to the test format and question paper. Learn new words and their correct use by reviewing the transcript after each practice session (listening to the recording while reading the transcript is also fine).

A common tip is to pay special attention when the recording starts and to not waste time; every moment counts. Understanding words and phrases in different accents, as often heard in BBC broadcasts, helps you score higher. Pay attention to plural forms of words to avoid losing marks for simple mistakes.

High scores are possible, especially if you practice hard, understand the need for both verb and adjective recognition, and stay focused throughout all four parts of the test.

Ultimately, the way to get the score you need, possibly even a band 9, lies in mastering these skills and consistently applying the tips and tricks, not just reading them.

Two words: Keep trying!