The Ultimate IELTS Listening Guide to Boosting Your Band Score

Getting an 8-band score in IELTS needs thorough practice and preparation. We are discussing the tips for boosting your performance in the IELTS test here. This ultimate IELTS listening guide to boosting your band score will help you obtain a great score on the test.

What is the Purpose of the IELTS Listening Test?

The listening test helps the examiners evaluate the exact language proficiency of the individuals. It simply enables them to assess how well the candidate can comprehend an idea presented in English. The IELTS listening test will:

  • Reveal whether you can imbibe the basic concept as well as the in-depth aspects shared
  • Display your attitude and how much you can delve into a specific topic discussed in English
  • State your capability to follow a discussion, debate, or argument

IELTS Listening Test Format

The format of the IELTS listening test will tell you the importance of practice and preparation. Unlike other examinations, you will have to concentrate on the subject discussed in the recording. The most crucial factor is that you can listen to the recordings only once. That is the catch of the IELTS listening test.

The IELTS listening test format is:

  • Recording 1 – In this segment, the candidate will listen to a conversation between two. The subject would be generic.
  • Recording 2 – A monologue is given in this part of the IELTS listening test.  The person might talk about things like a guided tour or activities in a social environment.
  • Recording 3 – This section of the listening test will have two people talking or discussing training or education-related subjects. A third speaker might moderate or guide the discussion.
  • Recording 4 – A university-style lecture or a monologue on a subject is provided in the fourth section of the IELTS listening test.

Tips for IELTS Listening Test Preparation

You can enhance the chances of obtaining the best grade by preparing for the IELTS listening test. A methodical preparation, confident attitude, and concentration are the key to scoring well in IELTS listening.

  • Listen to Audio Clips Repeatedly – Just listen to different audio clips repeatedly without reading. Improve your ability to identify the keywords and memorize them. Subsequently, you will start understanding the crux of the recordings.
  • Practice Listening (without reading) – Make it a habit to understand the concepts without reading. Make yourself comfortable with the listening exercise. The improvement would be evident to you.
  • Read and understand – Read the texts and check how much you can understand. Presuming the meaning of new words from the context is helpful in strengthening the word power.
  • Read and Listen – Now you practice listening and reading the text simultaneously.

These steps would aid you in preparing well and scoring the best in the IELTS listening test.

What is the best way to prepare for the IELTS?

The International English Language Testing System abbreviated as IELTS is an international standardized English language ability test for non-native English language speakers. IELTS which was established in 1989 is jointly managed by the British Council, IDP: IELTS Australia, and Cambridge Assessment English.  The IELT test format includes four sections, speaking, listening, reading, and writing. The listening, reading, and writing sections are taken on the same day and have no breaks in between. The speaking test is normally scheduled on the afternoon of your IELTS test day. Also, it can be conducted seven days before or after the test day.

The IELTS Writing and Reading tests are diverse in the Academic and General Training tests format. The Academic test will include topics that are apt for anyone who is planning to do higher studies and enter into a university or any other professional institution. The General Training test will include topics built on general interest. At the same time, the IELTS listening and speaking tests are the same; nevertheless, you choose to attend the IELTS Academic or IELTS General Training test.

IELTS Listening Test- This test will take around 30 minutes and an extra 10 minutes are provided to transfer the answer sheets. It is the same for both IELTS Academic and General Training. During the test, the candidate will have to listen to four recorded texts, monologues, and conversations by a set of native speakers, and then the answers are written for a series of questions.  The questions will be framed to test the candidate’s capability to comprehend main ideas and comprehensive factual data, aptitude to understand the views and attitudes of speakers, and more.

IELTS Reading Test- This section will take around 60 minutes and includes 40 questions. A wide range of questions is used to test the reading skills of the candidate which includes the candidate’s ability to understand the logical argument, identifying writers’ opinions, attitudes and objectives.

The IELTS Writing – the test will take 60 minutes. IELTS Academic Writing Test- the duration of this test is 60 minutes and includes two sections. In the first task, the candidate will be given a graph, table, chart, or diagram and will be asked to describe and explain the information provided in those in their own words.

In the second section, the candidate will be asked to write an essay elaborating their point of view on a particular problem or argument.

IELTS Speaking Test- test duration is 11 to 14 minutes and is a face-to-face one. The test is designed in such a way that the candidate’s spoken English skills are assessed and the test is recorded.

At the bottom line, anyone who wants to go abroad for any reason like for higher studies, for securing a better job or anything needs to attend a common exam – IELTS.  As one of the most popular and globally accepted language ability tests, IELTS can be your ticket to travel abroad and to climb the ladder in your career or life. Often IELT exams are considered to be a hard nut to crack, but with the right way of preparation and right coaching centers, IELTS will be a cakewalk for the aspiring candidates.

If you are located in Dubai and are in search of IELTS Training in Dubai, the best choice is YourOwn. YourOwn offers IELTS  coaching in Dubai at affordable fees. The IELTS Training in Dubai by YourOwn is offered both online and offline with individual attention to students. As the best IELTS coach in Dubai, YourOwn’s best-certified IELT trainers help the students with lengthy mock tests live spoken tests and other skill-building sessions which will help the students to nurture their hidden skills.