The Listening Test is the first thing you have to do when you take an IELTS exam. If your exam is at the Manchester test centre, you should arrive at 9.15am. You will be taken to an exam room and your ID documents will be checked. The Listening Test starts at 10.00am.
The Listening Test has 4 sections. Each section contains 10 questions, so there are 40 questions in total. The test lasts about 30 minutes, then you have an extra 10 minutes to write your answers on an answer sheet.
Here are some of the problems students have with IELTS Listening:
- You only have ONE chance to listen to the recording.
- Correct spelling is important.
- Different English accents are used.
- Some of the questions are designed to trick you.
To solve these problems, we need to do a lot of listening and spelling practice. There are also some exam tips and techniques that I can give you. However, listening practice will help you much more than exam techniques.
If you want to have "a good ear", you need to listen to as much English as possible. We'll start in next week's lesson.
Simon, here is a good link for spelling practice of common words found on the listening test, especially days/ months, professions and education (nearly always good for Part 3). http://www.ugru.uaeu.ac.ae/Spelling/IELTS/IELTS.htm It is aimed at Emirati students, but others may find it useful, but I should mention the radio buttons for American and British English appear to be the wrong way round at the moment
Posted by: Andy | March 11, 2010 at 11:17
Great, I'll give it a try and pass it on. Thanks Andy
Posted by: Simon | March 11, 2010 at 18:22
Hi simon
how much time is given to read the question before the recording starts?
according to http://www.englishonline.org.cn/files/u1/time_ielts.pdf
its only 20-30 seconds for each section
Are the tips provided in this article reliable?
Posted by: Liy | April 23, 2011 at 04:36
Hi Liy,
I couldn't open the file, but I'd say it's usually 30 to 40 seconds.
Posted by: Simon | April 24, 2011 at 21:51
Hi simon,
If I have made mistakes in grammar when answer the gap filled question, is it count as wrong or correct?
For example, out of print written as out of printed.
Thanks a lot!1!
Posted by: ahfangss | July 30, 2011 at 07:32
I'm afraid it is usually marked wrong if the grammar is wrong.
Posted by: Simon | July 30, 2011 at 14:23
Hi Simon,
Can we use CAPITAL LETTERS for gap filling questions in both Listening and Reading?
For instance:
Universal
UNIVERSAL
Can we write the full words and all letters in every word in CAPITAL LETTERS? Please let me know.
Thanks,
Venky
Posted by: Venky | October 22, 2011 at 23:28
Hi Venky,
Yes, you can if you want. They don't care about capital letters in the reading and listening tests, so it's impossible to make a mistake in that.
Posted by: Simon | October 24, 2011 at 19:25
Hello Simon!
I have found this website just a few days ago and I have my IELTS exam tomorrow... You give a lot of really useful information, unfortunately personally I didn't have enough time to read and practice everything. However, thank you for your work!
I have a question about listeting. I have tried to do a listening section and there I should write a date of birth.
It was 23rd April 1989 and I wrote 23.04.89. Answer was wrong (it is Top Tips for IELTS programme) and they supposed it as 23.(0)4 (19)89 Would it really be a mistake?
Posted by: Helen | January 20, 2012 at 17:29
Hi Helen,
No, that's not a mistake. It's fine.
Posted by: Simon | January 21, 2012 at 11:58
hi simon,can you tell me ? how many questions have to correct to get 6 in reading for academic and general ielts test .
Posted by: suresh | June 20, 2012 at 13:10
Hi Suresh:
http://www.ielts.org/researchers/score_processing_and_reporting.aspx
Posted by: Simon | June 21, 2012 at 12:50
Hi simon
I have done all your listening and reading tests which you have given and I found it very useful.I request you to keep some of the practice of both daily.
thanks a lot once again.
Posted by: Rukhsar patel | October 06, 2012 at 14:15
I have done a few listening practice tests, but im unsure how best to write my answers down while listening. Should I be looking at the questions while listening or is it best to to try and remember the main points and write down as much information? I seem to be struggling in listening and writing at the same time despite being a British National! My brain cant seem to keep up....
Posted by: Dave | March 18, 2013 at 09:52
Hi Dave,
Let me try to answer your question. I'd say you should underline key words in the questions in the 30-40 seconds given before each section of the listening test. But please note that these 30-40 secs does not allow test takers to read and underline all 10 questions, so just do your best. You probably can skim through 6-8 questions.
While listening you should follow the questions but perhaps don't need to "stick" your eyes onto the questions. Rather you should try to listen and "catch" the key words in the conversations, but remember that key words in the questions may very likely be paraphrased in the conversations.
My final point is NOT to write as much information as possible because it's difficult to choose the details you need to fill in from a heap of information. And also by doing this you may miss the next questions.
There's a book focusing on Listening and Speaking by Sam McCarter. I very highly recommend this book!!
Hope my comments help!
Posted by: Thang Trinh | April 16, 2013 at 17:59
The most difficult part of listening for me is to finish the gap of map. Because I am not good with directions, I used to get lost when I was listening to the map section regarding the campus road map.Is anyone can give me a good piece of advise to how can i improve this section of my listening?Although my listening is quite good.
Posted by: tian | March 29, 2015 at 14:04
hi, please answer my question.My question is," We all know that there are some time to give instructions before starting section 1 in ielts listening. I wanna know the pin point time which is given before starting.In CAMBRIDGE books there is around 1:30 minutes, but I heard that in real exam time given is too little before starting section 1. Please convey me the exact time figure." Thanks.
Posted by: mahedi | December 20, 2015 at 19:09
@ Thang Trinh
"There's a book focusing on Listening and Speaking by Sam McCarter. I very highly recommend this book!!" Thank you for recommendation but which one is the one you do or just any of them...mmm hopefull someone else still read this topic like I am doing now :-)
Posted by: Oley | September 09, 2019 at 15:47
Hi Simon,
This is Biruk, i would like to prepare for Canada scholarship Visa. which one is recommend (TOEFL or IElTS ).
Posted by: Biruk | December 27, 2019 at 09:51