Familiarise yourself with all the question types.Read through the advice below that uses vocabulary from the glossary. These items are used again in ‘How to get a Seven’ for Test 1 and Test 2.
You need to do all these things to answer IELTS Listening questions correctly. Many of them also apply to the Reading test.
Familiarise yourself with all the question types.
Take notes throughout, but especially in Section 4; if you have to guess, you’ll have words to choose from. By the time the 10-minute transfer comes, you’ll probably have forgotten details from Sections 1-2.
Use the pauses to read ahead rather than back over your answers, as is recommended in the recording.
Think logically. Use your general knowledge.
Predict before you listen. Confirm your prediction.
Notice the titles for the four sections.
Listen for cues in the recording (before, but sometimes after the answer you write).
Don’t rush to answer. Wait for clarification.
Know your numbers. Know your dates. Write numerals not words.
Know your alphabet.
Spell correctly, especially plurals.
Know your grammar.
Listen carefully for any answers that are close together.
Where there are two possible answers, choose the one that’s easier to spell.
Remember, most answers follow in order, but a list of options (five or more) is not usually in the same order as in the recording.
Don’t worry if an answer seems easy – lots of them are.
Answer every question, even if it means guessing.
Listen for the same word (in the question / stem / option as in the recording).
Listen for a different part of speech.
Listen for a synonym, or occasionally an antonym with a negative question.
Listen for a paraphrase.
Match an example in the question / stem / option with a concept in the recording.
Match a concept in the question / stem / option with an example in the recording.
Match a definition in the question / stem / option with a word in the recording.
Put two or more pieces of information together for the answer.
Identify a function: apology, clarification, digression, example, or explanation.
Listen for intonation, pitch, sentence or word stress.
Ignore false or a partial information.
Ignore information that relates to someone else.
Ignore a number that refers to something else.
Ignore an option that isn’t mentioned at all.
Avoid answering from your own beliefs. Ignore anything you think is true, but which a speaker doesn’t say.