) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

This is sahar your English coach

Hello and welcome to my English Class!
 ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) Question Types Listening Skills
) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )
Prediction Contents
Summary Completion
Synonyms and Paraphrasing
Multiple Choice

) ) ) ) ) ) )
Word Limit
Table Completion
Numbers
Sentence Completion
Letters
Matching
Addresses
Labelling a Map or Plan
Dates
Short Answer
Connected Speech
Completing Forms/Notes
Signposting Language
Vocabulary Building
Online Resources
Practice
Filling out the answer sheet
 ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )
) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )
The questions get You will have 10
Four sections The test lasts
more difficult as Each recording is minutes at the end Introduction
10 questions in approximately 30
the test played only once to transfer
each section minutes answers
progresses

A conversation between two A conversation between two or

Section 1 people within a social/everyday Section 3 more people within an
context. education context.

One person speaking in a A lecture, normally on an

Section 2 social/everyday context. Section 4 academic subject.
 ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) Practise listening to both one person If your answers are not grammatically
) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )
01
and multiple people speaking. 05 correct, they will be marked as
incorrect.

Introduction
02 Be careful with your spelling.
06 Read the instructions VERY carefully.

Use the short breaks to move on to the

03 Improve your vocabulary and you'll
next part of the test. 07
improve your listening score.

Try to predict the answer before you hear

04 Get used to listening to things only once.
the recording. 08

How to use these...

These tips are simply to give you an introduction to IELTS listening. They are not intended to be the
only document you look at Many IELTS students think that 'tips' are the only things they need to get
a good score. They are not. Make sure you use these as an introduction
and use the rest of the document to really progress.
 ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )
) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )
Slow Feedback
Learn
practice
Introduction

Fast
Full test
practice
 ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) Mastering
) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )
the
Strategies
Step 1 tart slowly with your notes.

Step 2
Analyse question type and follow Chris' strategy.

Learn from your mistakes.

Step 3
Introduction

Step 4 Reduce dependency on your notes.

Practice under exam conditions.

Step 5
 ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )
LEARNING FROM YOUR MISTAKES.
) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )
wrong keyword chosen in the question
not predicting the answer first
unknown synonym in audio
writing a distractor as your answer
still listening for answer to previous question
following the wrong strategy Introduction
incorrect implementation of a step in the strategy
unfamiliar with speaker's accent
spelling mistakes
failure to follow the instructions/word limit
focused on questions instead of listening to audio
 ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )
LEARN FROM YOUR MISTAKES.
) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Mindset

Have realistic expectations of how fast you'll improve.

Be honest about your weaknesses and the things that
Introduction
are stopping you from improving.
Don't expect your scores to improve until you've
reacted to the mistakes you've discovered while
analysing your incorrect answers.
 ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) Question Type # 1
) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )
Summary Completion
When you get to university or start working, two of the key skills you will have to use are
summarising and paraphrasing. These skills are tested in summary completion questions.

You'll b
e given
a list
of sent
ences t The text will be a
hat ld b e
summa
rise paraphrase of the They
have o u sho u
summ also Y
e ad the Question
the clip recording. arised le t o r
listen the ab
you'll h ing. b e fo re Types
ear. text nd
in g a
listen t yo u 're
w h a
know e a r.
g to h
g o in
 ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) Strategy for Summary Completion
) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )
1. Read the instructions carefully and note the word limit.
2. Read the sentences and understand the general meaning.
3. Predict what you'll hear.
4. Think about how the sentences have been changed through
paraphrasing.
5. Look at the gaps and predict what the answers will be.
6. Listen and fill in the gaps with the correct answers.
Question
Types
 ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) Question Type # 2
Often all of the choices will be
) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )
mentioned, not just the correct answer. Don't
pick the first one
you hear.

Common problems:
There are three different kinds of The answers will normally be
multiple choice listening synonyms or paraphrases.
questions:
1. Short answer The three choices often look similar in
2. Sentence completion meaning
Question
3. Matching picture
Types

You must read a lot of information and

listen at the same time.
 ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) Tips for Multiple Choice
) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )
1. Don't check your answers from the previous section when you have a break. It is
important that you read the next multiple choice questions and try to understand them.
2. Highlight keywords. The keyword in the question will help you answer the question
correctly. The keywords in the different options are those that differentiate meaning
between the choices.
3. Don't write the first answer you hear. Remember that they will try and trick you.
4. Don't spend too much time on one question. If you didn't get the answer or you are
unsure, make an educated guess and move on.
5. Be careful if you hear words like 'but' or 'however'. This often means that the speaker is
going to qualify or alter a previous statement. Question
6. Practice makes perfect. Types
7. Your answer will often be a letter and not a word. Read the instructions to make sure, and
be careful when transferring your answers at the end.
 ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) Strategy for Multiple Choice
) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )
1. Read the instructions carefully.
2. Read the questions and identify what is actually being asked. Highlight the keyword in the
question.
3. Look at the different options and underline any keywords that will help you tell the
difference in meaning.
4. Think of any synonyms or paraphrases you might hear.
5. Predict the answer.
6. When listening, listen for any keywords and synonyms.
7. Don't write the first answer you hear. They will probably talk about more than one of the
options, so wait until they have talked about them all and then answer. Be careful with
Question
answers that are given by the speaker but then taken away.
Types
8. If you think an answer is correct, put a tick beside it and keep listening to make sure.
9. Don't spend more time than is necessary. If you miss an answer, make a guess and
move on.
 ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) Question Type # 3
) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )
Table Completion
In this task, you will be given a table and asked to fill in gaps in that table.
This type of question could appear in any section of the test.
The answers will all come in order. Here are some tips to help you when you
are asked to complete a table:

You may hear all the Always note the word Understand the table Predict the type of
Question
answers in one or two limit. before the listening word required based
sentences, so don't
Types
begins. on the information on
wait for the next the table e.g. date,
answer. Keep listening. name etc.
 ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) Strategy for Table Completion
) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

1. Read the instructions carefully and note the word limit.

2. Look at the table and try to understand it using the information already
provided. Pay particular attention to the headings.
3. Predict what you'll hear. Try to predict the type of word you will hear, based
on the information provided in the table.
4. Listen and fill in the gap with the correct answer.
Question
Types
 ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) Question Type # 4
) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )
Sentence Completion Always read and
Predict the type of
understand the
This is another type of gap fill word(s) that might be
sentences before you
needed to complete
question. listen. This will make
the sentence.
your job much easier.
You will be given a number Of
sentences with gaps in them and
you will be required to fill In these
Try to guess the word Write the answers
gaps.
if you can. The exactly as you hear
Here are some tips to help you listening will then them. Question
when you are asked to complete a confirm your guess. Types

sentence:
 ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) Strategy for Sentence Completion
) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )
1. Read the instructions carefully and note the word limit.
2. Look at the sentences and understand them.
3. Predict the type of word you will hear e.g. noun, verb, adjective,name, phone
number etc.
4. Try to guess the word, if you can, before you hear the recording.
5. Listen and fill in the gaps with the correct answers exactly as you hear them.
6. Check spelling.
7. Make sure each sentence is grammatically correct. Question
Types
 ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) Question Type # 5
) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )
This type of task tests your
Matching ability to listen for detail.
For this type of question, you wil be
required to match a list of options You will often have to follow a
from the listening test to a number of detailed conversation betwee
options on the test paper. two or more people.

There are many variations of this

The list will always be in the
kind of question, including matching:
same order as you hear it in the
Words
recording.
Phrases Question
Sentences The list might be expressed Types
Pictures differently in the recording through
synonyms or paraphrasing.
 ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) Strategy for Matching
) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )
1. Read the instructions carefully and note the word limit.
2. Look at the list of options and questions to understand them.
3. Try to predict which ones match, based on what is on the test paper before
listening.
4. Predict how the list of options could be expressed differently in the recording.
5. Listen and match the options to the correct questions as you hear them.
6. Eliminate options that can't be correct, in order to narrow down the list of
options as you complete the questions. Question
Types
 ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) Question Type # 6
) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )
You have to identify the different parts
Labelling a Map or Plan Of map or plan by listening to and
This type of question could appear in understanding a description, or by

any of the four listening sections, but following directions.

it is most likely to appear in section 2.

You might be asked to select the answers
from a list, or take them from the
In section 2, you will listen to just one recording directly.
person talking about a non-academic
topic. It is often someone giving An awareness Of language for
information to an audience about an directions is essential. Question
event, or showing them around a Types
building, such as a university or hotel. The information you need to answer the
questions is in the same order as it is on
the recording.
 ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) Labelling a Map or Plan
) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )
1. Not being familiar with the vocabulary and functional language used to
describe locations and directions. See our useful language section below.
2. Too much information. This question requires you not only to listen, but also
to follow a description or directions, understand the map or diagram and write
short notes, all at the same time.
3. Spelling. This is a common problem in all IELTS listening questions, but
particularly in this type, because you have to do so many things at the same
time.
4. Visualisation. This refers to your ability to form mental visual images. You will Question
Types
be sitting in an exam room and the person talking will be describing a plan
you have never seen before. Unless you can imagine what it looks like, it is
very difficult to answer these questions.
 ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) Labelling a Map or Plan
) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )
Useful Language
at the top/at the bottom inside/outside

on the left/on the right/on the far side opposite/in front of

North/South/East/West left hand side/right hand side

to the north/to the west clockwise/anticlockwise

slightly west of a little beyond

in the southwest/in the northeast just past

Question
in the middle of/in the centre of before you get to
Types
above/below adjoining
enter via
runs a ongside
 Strategy for Labelling a Map or Plan
) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) 1. Read the question carefully. Understand the map or plan and its features.
) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )
2. Ask yourself where things are in relation to the questions. This should help you predict the
answers and follow the talk.
3. Think about where the person might begin their talk from. What is to their right and left?
What is in front of and behind them?
4. Look at the major parts of the map or plan to help you understand and navigate your way
around.
5. Predict which type of words might be the answer i.e. will it be a place, room, street, building
etc.?
6. Listen to the beginning of the talk carefully, because this will help you understand the context
and help you follow the talk more easily.
7. Visualise the place they are describing whilst the person is talking. Note down any possible Question
answers, but be careful with distractors e.g. 'this was the library but we decided to move it Types
down to the end of the corridor'.
8. Listen for signposting language like 'The next room we are about to see is...', or 'If you now
follow me to....', to help you understand each stage of the talk.
9. Make short notes on the question paper and then transfer your answers at the end, using
correct spelling.
 ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) Question Type # 7
) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )
Short Answer Questions
These questions are similar to the classic listening comprehension questions vou
might have been asked to do in English class, or even in your own language.
They ask you a number of questions about the recording and you must give
short answers In response.

Read the instructions Read the questions in

Try to predict what the Be aware of Question
very carefully, order to fully
answer will be before synonyms Types
especially regarding understand them
you listen. and paraphrasing.
the word count. before you listen.
 ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) Strategy for Short Answer Questions
) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

1. Read the instructions carefully and note the word limit.

2. Look at the list of questions to understand them.

3. Try to predict the type of information required.

4. Be aware of how synonyms and paraphrasing might be used.

5. Listen and write the answers in the form that you hear them. Question
Types
6. Check spelling when you are finished.
 ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) Question Type # 8
) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )
Completing Forms/ Notes
This type of question often appears in the first section of the test. Normally the
answers will be one or two words long and will be factual information, such as phone
numbers, dates and times. These questions may seem relatively simple, but it would
surprise you how many students throw away easy marks in this section.

One common trick is Be aware of synonyms

They will try to trick you Prediction will allow
for the person to give and paraphrasing. Question
by giving you a number you to anticipate the
one piece of Types
of different pieces of type or form of the
information and then
information when only word(s) required.
correct it later in the
one of them is correct.
recording.
 ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) Strategy for Completing Forms/Notes
) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

1. Read the instructions carefully and note the word limit.

2. Look at the form/note and try to understand it, using the

information already provided.

3. Predict what you'll hear. Try to predict the type of word you will
Question
hear, based on the information provided in the table.
Types
4. Listen and fill in the gaps with the correct answers.
 ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) Prediction
) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )
Prediction is the most tested of the listening sub-skills, and crucially important to
getting a high score in the test.
Predicting enables you to not only focus your brain on the part that you will hear, but more
importantly, not focus on any
other areas. Name: Shaun Rodgers
For example: Room no.
Number of occupants: I
Check out time:
In this example, we can accurately predict that we are going to hear a room number and
time. That means we can completely focus on those two items, making it much easier for
us to get the correct answer. Listening Skills
 ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) Prediction
) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )
Grammar: noun, verb, adjective, adverb
etc.. Often it will be obvious which word
form we need to use. If we use a different
form of the word, we will get the question
wrong.
Subject: phone number, address, date,
business name etc.. This will help us
How to Predict
In the IELTS listening test, there will be focus on the correct part of the recording
between 30-45 seconds of silence and find the correct information more
before the section of the recording begins. easily.
Use this time Wisely by
predicting what vou are gaine to hear. Function: list, question, label, instruction Listening Skills
You should think about the following. etc..
 ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) Synonyms and Paraphrasing
) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )
You should always be aware of how synonyms and paraphrasing are used.

In the IELTS listening test, it is normal for you to read one word but hear another word with
the same meaning. For example, you may read 'cost' but hear 'price'. This is called a
synonym and the IELTS listening test has lots Of them.
A common mistake is to read a certain word and try to listen for that word, but then not hear
it. That is because the recording used a synonym. For example, you might hear someone
making a hotel reservation and you have to note down their details.
The form might say 'Arrival Date', but you will hear 'day you arrive'. Similarly, you may read
'Departure Date', but you might hear 'day you leave'.
Make sure you think about the type of information you might hear in the form of synonyms,
Listening Skills
not just what you read.
 ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) Synonyms and Paraphrasing Practice
) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )
Practising this skill allows you to improve your listening and vocabulary at
the same time.
A good listening resource to help you improve your vocabulary whilst listening is FluentlJ. This
website has a huge range Of English videos and bilingual subtitles for most of them. It also has
a 'hover-over' dictionary for any words you don't know. Finally, it has a "learning centre" where
you can study and review the vocabulary that came up in the video.
My suggestion for FluentlJ would be to listen to any videos you like and note down any words
you don't know. Try to guess the meaning from the context of the listening first, because this is
a useful skill to develop for the IELTS test. Then use the ‘hover-over' tool to confirm the
meaning. Even if you just watch one video a day, your vocabulary will expand quickly.
A good way to practise synonyms and paraphrasing is to listen to a short video and think about
Listening Skills
how each sentence or phrase could be paraphrased. If you do this regularly, over time you will
get used to common synonyms and this will really help you in all parts of the IELTS test.
 ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) Word Limit
) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )
'NO MORE THAN uWO WORDS' means
that you may write one OR two words, but
no more.

'NOT MORE THAN ONE WORD

AND/OR
A NUMBER' means that if you write more
than one word your answer will be
What does it mean? incorrect.
This is often one of the most confusing
'NOT MORE THAN ONE WORD AND/OR
aspects of the test.
A NUMBER' means that you can write:
It 's essent'al that vou know the word l.rnit for
each quest'on and you St'Ck to it, One word
Here are some examples. One number Listening Skills
One word and a number
 ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) Numbers
) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )
You should familiarise yourself with how numbers sound in a range of different
accents.
The numbers that often come up are:
13 30
14 40
15 50
1660
17 70
18 80
1990

These numbers are difficult for many non-native speakers, which is why IELTS like to use them.
Practise listening and Listening Skills
saying these numbers.
 ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) Letters
) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )
Some letters are more difficult to distinguish than others. The test
will normally have the difficult letters.

If there is a word, such as a surname or address, that is unfamiliar to most people,

the recording will spell it out.

Make sure you familiarise yourself with how all the letters sound.

You could also categorise them by similar sound.

For example, B, D, E, T, G, P and C all have a similar final sound and may be used to try

and trick you.

Listening Skills
 ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) Addresses
) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )
Each country has a different address format. IELTS will normally
use UK or Australian addresses.
House/Flat Number
It is normally:
Street Name
Town/City Name

Finally, you might have to write down a post code. These always start and end with one or two letters
first (normally the
same as the city) and then a series of numbers in between. Make sure you write down both the
letters and numbers.
Example: MI 4JH
For example:
22 South Street
Listening Skills
Bristol
BSI 5TW
 ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) Dates
) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )
Make sure you know how to spell all the difficult days and
months.

Make sure you are aware of the spelling of all the days of the week, especially difficult ones
like Wednesday. This is also true for months like February. Also, if you don't put a capital
letter at the beginning of these words, you will be incorrect.
Also be aware of some synonyms such as, 'weekend' for Saturday and Sunday or 'fortnight'
for two weeks.
There are also different ways of saying and writing dates, for example:
'The eleventh of September 2002' could be written as '11 September 2002.'
Again, pay attention to the word limit in the question and only write under this limit. Listening Skills
 ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )
Connected Speech
) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )
It is essential that you get used to how 'real' English speakers talk.
Many English teachers speak clearly and slowly to their students, and this can actually harm their
progress.
When you hear how native speakers actually talk, it is often very difficult to hear what is being said.
This is mainly to do
with connected speech.
Connected speech is the linking Of words and sounds together in a sentence. For example, 'l have to
go to the doctor, I
have an ear ache.', might sound more like 'lvtegote the doctor, Ivenearake.'
Other sounds may appear •weak' or change when put into a sentence. For instance 'Do you want to
Listening Skills
go?' might sound
more like 'De ye want te go?'
 ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) Signposting Language
) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )
Signposting allows the speaker to tell you where their talk is going
and allows you to follow them.

In two of the four parts of the IELTS listening test, you will have to listen to someone speaking by
themselves, one in a social context and one in a lecture style.
When someone talks in this way they often use what is referred to as 'sign posting'. For example,
when you give a lecture you might say 'This lecture is divided into three parts' and then you will
say things like 'First of all...', 'Secondly...', 'After
that...' and 'Finally...'.
These phrases tell the listener what stage of the talk they are listening to and what is going to
be said next. If we know how to interpret these signals, we are more likely to understand Listening Skills

and follow the whole thing.

 ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) Signposting Language Practice
) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )
To practise this you can listen to a lecture and simply try to find any signposting language. When
you hear some, pause and think about the meaning Of the language and predict what you are
going to hear next. Continue this until you get to the end Of the recording.
The IELTS listening test is very long and it is impossible, even for native speakers, to concentrate
fully 100% of the time. Recognising sign posting allows you to prioritise and focus on the
important parts of the listening which contain the answers.
There are several great sources that have thousands Of online lectures including:
MIT
University Of Wisconsin- Madison
Ignite Listening Skills
VideoLectures.net
RSA Animates
 ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )
) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )
Vocabulary Building

It's a vocabulary test Read and Listen

The reading and listening tests are
as much vocabulary tests. as they
01 Studies have shown that the
number one way for learners
are skills tests. It iS much easier to
to improve their vocabulary is
get a good score when you have a
through reading and listening
wide-ranging vocabulary.
to genuine sources of English.

Review Record
It is essential that you 03 02 You must record any new
regularly review these new
words and phrases in order
words you hear or read.
to retain them in your There are lots of ways to Listening Skills
memory. do this, so that you will
remember them effectively.
 ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) Online Resources
) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )
It's all free
You do not need to spend any money to improve your listening skills. All of the resources you need are
freely available on the internet.
Here is a list of my favourite sites, but there are millions more that will help you. Simply use Google to find
something that interests you.

5 Podcasts
1 BBC News There are hundreds of thousands of
All of the common IELTS topics are covered
podcasts for you to listen to. Use an app like
On a daily basis They have lots Of videos
Stitcher to listen on your phone.
and padcasts
6 YouTube
2 The Guardian
Millions of hours of video This a great
lhey have a great selection of videos and
way to listen to how native speakers talk,
podcasts.
7 Radio
3 Ted Talks
Manv radio shows, Just feature people
These are great for listening to monologues
Talking with one another News or sports
and very interesting They cover many of
radio a great way to hear real conversations
the common IELTS topics.
Listening Skills
8 TV and Movies
4 Memrise
listen to whatever you enjoy You are more
Nice app for recording and reviewing
likely to improve your skills if you actually
vocabulary Makes reviewing vocab_ fun
like what vou are Itstening to,