More tips to improve your IELTS score.

THE IELTS (International English Language Testing System) listening module is considered to be the most difficult. It is the first of a three-module, three-hour exam that starts from 9 a.m. to 12 a.m.

You will be asked to listen to a 30-minute recording of several conversations divided into four sections. The first section is the easiest. The next sections become progressively more difficult until you reach the last one. There is a 30-second preview time for each set of questions and another 30 seconds to review your answer.

You will be given a test booklet where you will find questions that you need to answer by listening to the conversation. There are 40 items, from fill in the blanks to multiple choice questions. At the end of the 30 minutes you will be given 10 minutes to transfer your final answers to a separate answer sheet.

Many candidates find the listening exam difficult for three reasons. First, the accent. The accent generally used in the IELTS is British or Australian although many other accents can be heard such as Canadian, Singaporean (Singlish), New Zealand etc. (Most Filipino candidates are only used to the American accent). Second, conversations in the listening test occur at normal speaking speeds so some candidates may find it difficult to follow the flow of the conversation. A third reason has to do with poor grammar and spelling skills.

Strategize

Given that the four-part exam is designed with increasing difficulty, it is best that you concentrate on getting most of your points from the 1st to the 3rd sections because these are supposed to be the easier sections. If you can perfect the first 3 sections then you only need to get a few points in the 4th section to reach your desired band score.

Study the accents

Immerse yourself in the British and Australian language by listening to CD compilations of the respective language conversations for at least five hours a day for the next two weeks. You can also watch and listen to British or Australian movies, news and TV shows (you can search the Internet for these practice CDs or you can go to Youtube and listen at your convenience).

Go to free practice centers

IDP Australia has a Practice Center where you can use their review materials for free, while the British Council also has a review center where you can also use their materials (free if you are registered to take the exam with them).

Try a practice exam

To address the issue of not being able to follow the conversations, you can answer a practice exam, afterwards correct your answers and with the corrected exam booklet listen to the same CD, this time following the conversations.

Brush up on grammar

To address the grammar issue, it is best that you get a good grammar exercise and vocabulary book and answer all the exercises. No need to get too technical or fixated with the terms and rules of grammar. Remember the IELTS is an English exam. It is not a test to determine whether you can be an English teacher. Do not overcomplicate things. Just stick to the basics and make sure that you can answer the questions in correct grammatical form.

Don’t be a neat freak

You need to write your answers on the test booklet as fast and as accurately as you can. Some students, in their desire to be neat and presentable, will erase their wrong answer. This is a big mistake because it is possible that an answer will be given while you are still erasing. Follow the conversation and write the answer as soon as you hear it. Just write your corrected final answer beside the space provided for and cross out your previous answer.

Use text codes

For the sake of speed, you can jot down what you heard using codes, shorthand, text spelling—whatever works for you (this technique does not apply to digits and names of people and places). You can just write the correct spelling, format and grammatical form either during the 30 seconds you are given to check your answers or within the 10 minute transfer time. For example if you have to write “University ” you can just write uni. This saves time and is still recognizable to you. In the IELTS listening exam, answers may be given in such a rapid sequence that you may not have time to write the whole word.

Don’t lose concentration

The important thing is not to let a mistake ruin your concentration and motivation. Some students who were not able to hear a particular item, specially an easy one, say in item number 4 (usually an address or name of a person) will get mad at themselves for not getting an easy question that their mind will be fixed on blaming themselves rather than on listening to the conversation. They will only go back to the proper state of mind after 3 items in which case they would have lost 4 items instead of just 1.

Write down numbers

Write the numbers or letters of a name or place as they are said. Do not process it in your mind and then write down the three-digit number. That way you have a better chance of getting it right.

Try this technique

Most students will lose their concentration within the 30 minutes that the CD recording is played. You can employ a technique called total immersion listening which calls for you to imagine that you are part of the conversation you are listening to. So instead of listening to the CD recording as an IELTS test-taker, imagine yourself as an active and interested participant in the conversation.

Practice, practice

Finally, getting a high grade in the IELTS listening test is all about practice. The more practice exams you have the higher your chances of getting the band

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EDITOR’S NOTE

On last week’s practice questions, the first five responses with three right answers were those of: Elmer Peramo; J. Sharene Manois; Edele Cabreros, Jane, and Edita Chang. Coach Tony will get in touch with you this week.  (Some early responses on Apl. 24 didn’t make it because they  only answered two (instead of 3)  questions; some gave wrong answers.) For inquiries: email [email protected]

Guys: More GCs may be up for grabs again next week.