Listening for Information

Within the IELTS Listening Module the four parts generally increase in difficulty, but many people find the first section hardest, due to its use of slang and their difficulty in understanding words in unfamiliar accents.

The recordings are played just once, so you'd better be pretty good at listening or at least have a way to get all the relavent information.

Instructions are written as well as spoken, so you don't need to worry too much; just make sure you uderstand them and follow them exactly

An announcer will briefly outline the topic, who is talking, and the situation. Then before each recording begins, you will be given 30 seconds to read the questions: the voice tells you how many questions to read in the question booklet. So prepare yourself to listen for the specific information you need by trying to predict what type of answer is required. For example, will it be a date, a name or a number? Underline key words in each question, like "when", "where", "who" and "what" which tell you what to listen for. And then when listening, try to identify key word and phrases that might signal those answers. The answers usually appear in the conversation in the same order as the questions.

The speaker often corrects himself. He might say something and then change what he said. For example, he might say "We will go on Monday" and then "No, let's make that Tuesday." So the the final statement, Tuesday and not Monday, is the one you want.

Write on the question sheet not on the answer sheet and keep listening even while writing down answers.

You will also be given 30 seconds after each section to look over your answers. Make sure that all your answers follow the instructions.

Just guess answers you are not sure about and answer every question. Include only what is necessary in the answer.

At the end of the Listening Module, you are given about 10 minutes to transfer your answers from the question paper onto the answer sheet. Ensure that you have transferred all of them correctly, particularly answers from tables.