The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is a standardized international test used in higher education and international migration. It assesses non-native English speakers who wish to study or work in an environment where English is the primary language of communication. Universities and companies in several countries, including Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States, accept IELTS. Professional groups, immigration officials, and other government agencies all recognize it.
Academic and General training are the two IELTS exam modules to choose from. The listening and speaking portions are the same for everyone, however, the reading and writing sections are different. Many people who are taking the IELTS test are unsure which one to take. It’s similar to the never-ending IELTS conundrum.
The difference is nothing but the purpose of doing IELTS. If you are doing it to get into an English-taught university or professional organization, then you will need to do the IELTS Academic. And for migration purposes, you will need to do the IELTS General.
IELTS has four part:
- Listening
- Speaking
- Reading
- Writing
All these sections must complete in one day with no breakers in between them. The total test time is 2 hours and 45 minutes.
We will look into the listening section mostly to comprehend this important part of IELTS.
IELTS Listening
The IELTS listening test has a duration of 30 minutes and a total of 40 questions. You will have four recordings of fluent English speakers and asked to respond to a series of questions depending on them. It may, for example, be a two-person dialogue or a monologue set in a social setting or on a topic of scholarly interest. The examination would assess your ability to comprehend the speaker’s viewpoints and attitudes, as well as generate your own thoughts about the speech. Each portion is only heard once and uses a variety of native-speaker accents, including British, Australian, New Zealand, American, and Canadian.
The paper has four sections, each of which has 10 questions. The first two parts are concerned with scenarios that occur in ordinary social situations. As previously stated, Section 1 has a discussion between two speakers, whereas Section 2 contains a monologue. The last two parts are concerned with scenarios that occur in educational and training settings. There is a dialogue between two primary speakers in Section 3 and a speech on an academic subject in Section 4.
A variety of question types are there:
multiple choice, matching, plan/map/diagram labelling, form/note/table/flow-chart/summary completion, sentence completion and short answer completion.
Question Format:
- A question follows three potential responses in a multiple choice task, or the question may comprise the beginning of a phrase and three possible ways to complete that sentence. This challenge tests your ability to distinguish between similar words or phrases.
- Test takers must match a numbered list of things from the listening text to a set of alternatives on the question paper in the Matching activity. The activity assesses your ability to comprehend information delivered in a discussion about a common topic and to recognise linkages and connections between facts in the hearing text.
- You must fill labels on a plan or a map that are generally chosen from a list on the question paper in the Plan, Map, and Diagram Labelling exercise. The test assesses your ability to comprehend the language used to convey spatial connections and directions, as well as connect the information to a visual depiction.
- Fill in the blanks in an outline of the recording (or a portion of it) in the following challenge. And the outline, in the form of a note, a flow chart, or by finishing the summary, concentrates on particular information and concepts provided in the listening text. You must choose their responses from a list on the question paper or identify the missing words from the audio due to the word limit.
- Sentence completion is a task in which you are given incomplete sentences with gaps that must be filled with information from the listening text. It examines your comprehension of the material and how you interpret it in your own words. And, also functional linkages like cause and effect.
- The task of short answer questions is to access your grasping of facts and the information imbibed into the text and the ability to explain it in a short answer.
Marking scheme
The answer sheets are marked under the supervision of competent, certified markers, and their trustworthiness is routinely checked. Cambridge Assessment English scrutinizes these marked sheets one more. The scores from the 40-point scale are transformed to a nine-band scale. In the 40-item test, one point is given for each right answer.
Tips for improving listening skills:-
- Firstly, you should concentrate on are the questions and the guidelines that accompany them. Because there is a penalty for exceeding the word limit, it is critical to follow the guidelines.
- Secondly, while listening, jot down important facts and parts of the text and establish a comparison between your comprehension and the speaker’s remarks. And if you put down the response on paper in rough form before writing it, it will be easier to construct a great answer.
- However, however, and lastly are examples of’signpost words.’ They assist you in anticipating the speaker’s next words.
- Even if your answer is properly worded, errors in grammar and spelling might lower your score. So, before you turn in your answer sheet, double-check your spelling and punctuation.
- Furthermore, make an effort to become acquainted with foreign dialects and tones.
- Every day, work on your IELTS listening abilities by viewing movies and listening to music. It definitely improves your understanding of english phrases as well accent.
Listening skills are not developed in a matter of days; they demand your commitment and enthusiasm in learning the language. I know it seems exhausting, but keep your cool and work toward your goal day by day.
