How to Upgrade your Listening Abilities for the IELTS Test?

International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is considered one of the most accurate English language tests and is often the choice of language testing standard. It can assess listening, speaking, writing, and reading fluency in English, and the test is usually taken in person at the test center for the further Canadian immigration process. Here, we will specifically look at effective activities that can help you to improve one of the four language abilities in the IELTS Test.

Prediction Theory

In routine life, have you ever anticipated any event or emotion, or activity that you expect to be happening at a later stage? If No, then start anticipating! Because in the IELTS Listening Exam, the idea of anticipating the topics will be useful to you. How? You will get only 30 seconds to see the questions before each section. Now, if you have this developed skill of anticipating topics, questions, or themes, you can get the desired information before the audio in the test starts. To practice, think about, attending a marriage is equal to planning a holiday.

Activity: Start anticipating different words connected to this scenario and prepare the list of things that comes to your mind.

Targeted Listening

Have you ever visited a place where screening of information or announcement is communicated in the form of numbers, times, prices, codes, digits, etc.?  If not, try to make a habit of actively targeting hearing.  Because several questions in sections 1 and 2 of the IELTS Test need details in the form of numerical. It may be in different patterns, rhythms, and languages. Paying attention to the numbers is the best exercise.

To practice, hear as many recorded number audios as possible. Try to memorize them, write them, and continue for like 5 minutes.

Brainstorming

Part 3 of the IELTS test has some thinking and preparation tasks for you. More than 2 people are involved in a discussion. In short, there are multiple speakers in conversation. You need to answer the questions according to their roles in the audio script and the information provided. To practice, take a scenario of a busy classroom where a student and a tutor having a conversation.

Activity: Prepare a list of expected questions between a student and a tutor.

Notice/Information

What comes to your mind, when I say ‘Notice’? Any expressed or implied information coming your way. In a nutshell, a piece of information is a notice. Noticing is again yet an important innate skill that the candidate must know while appearing for IELTS Listening Test. Part 4 of the test involves an educational monologue like a speech. The audio will be rich in information however no subject matter knowledge is required to understand the content.

Activity: Think about any signpost or direction given at the place. Pick and practice some important clues to the direction of the speech as many times as you can. Understand well, if the audio uses these words: on the other side, let’s look at, turn to, now looking at, move on, change the topic, etc.