The IELTS listening module is the same for both Academic and General Training modules. It consists of approximately 40 questions. The questions may of the following type:
• Sentence completion or fill in the blanks in a diagram, description, summary, flow chart or table
• MCQ’s (multiple choice questions)
• Diagram labeling
• Matching
What is expected from you as a candidate?
The Listening module is divided into 4 sections and time is allowed to read the questions before the tape is played for each section. Time will also be given at the end to transfer your answers on a separate answer sheet. (Remember you must transfer your answers on the answer sheet when the time is allowed because only the answer sheet will be checked and marked by the examiner!)
Candidates are expected to listen to the tape and answer the questions as they listen (and later transfer to the answer sheet when time is allowed).
How to attempt:
You will be allowed to read the questions of the specific section before that section’s tape/recording is played, (for example 5 minutes will be allowed to read the questions before section 1 tape is played, then 5 minutes to read section 2 questions before the section 2 recording is played) therefore you should make the most of this time, read the questions thoroughly and try to make an idea of what the situation is about. For example,
Read the following questions: (Source:Cambridge Practice Tests For IELTS Book 5)
 |
The obvious thing which might come into our mind is that someone is buying cots and comparing the different features of each brand in order to make the right choice.
Important:
The simple purpose of reading the questions is to accustom or familiarize yourself to the situation you are just being exposed to (going to listen to in the recording). If our brain feels familiar to a situation it reacts better and absorbs information more quickly, hence answering the questions becomes easier!
USEFUL TIP:
You should not just try to find the words to match answers in the tape and miss out on what is being said, because you need to “listen” to all that is being said in order to answer the questions. If you just keep looking for answers or words to match the answers then you might not listen carefully and even miss out the real answer
So in order to answer the questions, listen to the tape/recording. The questions are in sequence, which means you have to answer as you listen. The answer to the first question will of course be somewhere in the beginning and not at the end of the tape! So be careful as you listen.
Good Listening Strategy: Don’t Panic!
Stay focused and do not think about anything else as you attempt the paper even when you have missed out an answer. Leave it and move on so that your thoughts do not make you lose concentration and miss out on another answer. Remember the tape will be played only once! So forget all the other worries and just listen. The recording is in simple plain English and if you stay focused, success will be yours.
This was an overview of the Listening Module. Individual tips will be fully explained in upcoming posts. Best of luck!
