How can I improve on the Listening part of IELTS?
IELTS (International English Language Testing System) is one of the most widely recognized English language tests in the world, and is highly recommended for admission to foreign universities. The test is divided into four parts, including an oral comprehension test, also known as “Listening”.
To give yourself the best chance of passing this test, practice is essential. Your Dream School explains how to improve your IELTS Listening skills to get the best score and gain admission to the university of your choice!
What are the requirements for the Listening section of IELTS?
The Listening section is the first part of the test. It should not be neglected, as passing it will help you feel confident and better prepared for the rest of the IELTS test.
In this test, you will have to answer 40 questions in 40 minutes. The 40 questions are divided into 4 sections: 10 questions per section.
Here are the 4 sections:
– Section 1: dialogue between two interlocutors about everyday life
– Section 2: monologue about daily life
– Section 3: dialogue between two interlocutors dealing with a situation in an academic context
– Section 4: monologue dealing with a situation in an academic context
The audio extracts can therefore be :
– Monologues
– ConversationsAll you have to do is listen to the audio recordings and then record your answers on the answer sheet provided. The recordings will be graded from easiest to most difficult. Each correct answer earns you 1 point. You can have questions in the form of MCQs, or other formats such as fill-in-the-blank texts.
How to pass the Listening section of IELTS?
1. Read the instructions carefully
It may seem obvious, but when you’re stressed, you can quickly miss out on important information. Make sure you read each instruction carefully, because if you don’t follow the instructions given, your answer may be invalidated for non-compliance.
For example, some questions have a limit on the number of words you can use. If you exceed this limit, your answer will not be counted.
2. Answer all questions
Each question earns you 1 point. However, if you answer a question incorrectly, no points will be deducted. So we advise you to answer as many questions as possible! After listening to the audio recording, you’ll have a further 10 minutes to write down all your answers.
3. Take notes
During the Listening part of IELTS, you can only listen to the audio recordings once! We therefore recommend that you take notes and write down key information from the recording.
4. Use all the information at your disposal
The sheet you’ll be given contains instructions for the 40 questions you’ll be asked to answer. You can use this information and anticipate by reading it beforehand to better understand the audio extract and the elements to which you will need to pay particular attention in the recording.
5. Manage your time well
On the Listening part, you shouldn’t have any trouble managing your time, as you’ll have to adapt to the audio recordings. In total, the recordings last 30 minutes. Don’t worry, you’ll have an extra 10 minutes to write your answers.
How do I prepare for the Listening part of IELTS?
1. Train your ear for different English accents
Tip number 1 is to train your ear first! In fact, being able to understand different types of English accents (such as North American, British, Australian…) is a prerequisite. You could watch series from different Anglo-Saxon countries, or listen to music and videos in English to get your ear used to different accents.
For example, to start with, you could go back to series you’ve already seen and play them in VO with English subtitles. This would be a very good way of associating pronunciation with the spelling of a word, and would be a great help!
There are also many podcasts available for learning English. Check out Youtube (and in particular the IELTS Liz channel), or other platforms such as Deezer, Spotify, Podbean or Podcast Addict, and listen to broadcasts from the New York Times or the BBC.
2. Personalized support
Follow a IELTS preparation with Your Dream School will give you access to a wide range of content and help you reach your goal score!
The main aim of our IELTS preparation is to help you achieve the highest possible score on the test. Indeed, a high IELTS score will be required by the admissions departments of all the world’s most selective universities, in the UK, USA, Canada, Ireland and the rest of the world.
To get into the university of your dreams, we help you prepare for IELTS in a clear, methodical and effective way.
Why take a customized IELTS preparation course to improve your Listening skills?
To improve your skills in the Listening section of the IELTS test, you can follow Your Dream School’s individualized IELTS preparation. This formula enables us to target each candidate’s specific weaknesses. By taking an official mock test before the 1st lesson, the teacher can establish a “diagnosis” right from the start of the course.
A work plan is then drawn up jointly by the teacher and the student. It takes into account the candidate’s situation:
– Initial mock test score
– Student availability for lessons and to practice between sessions using our resources
– Target score
– Test date
Courses to help you improve your IELTS Listening skills are held remotely, which means you can benefit from a high degree of flexibility. Course fees depend on the number of hours required.
To prepare for the IELTS exam with Your Dream School, you can choose between several packages. The number of hours required will depend on the number of points the student wishes to gain:
– 10H IELTS preparation pack
– 20H IELTS preparation pack
– 30H IELTS preparation packEach IELTS preparation pack includes the correction of a full official assessment test before the first course and a number of hours of personalized one-to-one distance learning support with an expert teacher.