The IELTS Listening Test

When learning how to eliminate mistakes on your IELTS listening test, make sure you know the types of questions you'll face. As stated on a the first page in this series of IELTS listening test information, there are four parts, or sections, to the listening test.

In section one you will hear a conversation between 2 people... usually in 2 parts. There are ten questions based on what you hear. The following represent the types of questions you'll see on the test.

• sentence completion 
• classification 
• notes/summary/table completion 
• labelling a diagram or flow chart 
• short answer (no more than 3 words) 
• matching lists or phrases 

Many think that just doing practice tests is all anyone needs to prepare for the IELTS listening test. While practicing is obviously very important, learning how to eliminate your mistakes is also important.

Look again (above) at the types of questions you'll face on the Ielts listening test. Notice that some of the exercises may, or may not be, familiar to you. One way to eliminate mistakes is to become familiar with your subject.

For example, you may hear a conversation about travel plans or people planning to spend time together by going to the cinema, or a restaurant, at a certain day or time.

You will need to be able to comprehend descriptions of locations and especially spoken directions about how to reach a certain place. Also, you should know how to recognize and identify other people from their physical descriptions. Often in these dialogues, the speakers change their minds and use slang that may be unfamiliar to you. Don't panic.

Many students find this supposed 'easy' section the most difficult due to the speaker's use of slang and the speed at which people speak. The idea is to have it sound as natural as possible in what could be real-life situations.

For this section of the test. The best practice really is free. Listen to television talk shows or radio programs in English. Also, the internet is full of places where you can listen to people chat or talk.

For more information about the IELTS Listening Test, click on the preceding link. You'll learn more about reducing mistakes and more about the test itself as we look at the next section of the Ielts Listening test.