How to Score a 9 in IELTS Listening

Navigating the IELTS listening section can be a daunting task, especially for those with short attention spans and a tendency to get easily distracted. As someone who faces these challenges firsthand, I understand the struggle of maintaining focus during the 30-minute audio recordings, knowing that each snippet cannot be replayed. Despite these obstacles, I managed to achieve a score of 9 in the IELTS listening test by implementing a routine that helped me stay attentive and engaged throughout.

Today, I’m excited to share the strategies that proved instrumental in my success, in hopes of aiding others on their journey to mastering the listening section

Know the Test Format

• The total time for the Listening test is 30 minutes. You’ll be given 10 more minutes to transfer your answers to the answer sheet.
• There are 4 sections, and each of them have 4 audio of different conversations, that align with the questions provided to you. You cannot replay them.
• The recordings may have British or Australian accents, so practice while listening to different types of accents.

Practice Active Listening

• It’s easy to lose concentration, so simulate the exam conditions and practice answering questions immediately while listening to the audio recordings.
• Try not to replay the audio before you’re done answering all the questions. You can only replay after you’re done.
• Follow instructions carefully. If the question states ‘No more than three words’ then you can’t write any more than this.

Follow Your Heart

• Don’t try to understand everything. Time is of the essence so take your best guess and write the answer!
• If you get distracted for even a second, you could lose an answer, but don’t dwell on it and instead skip that question and go to the next one.
• Before each audio starts, quickly skim the questions, and only listen for the answers. Don’t let them confuse you with extra information! You know best!

Bonus tips: If you’ve got enough time before the test, learn to multitask and every time you hear an unfamiliar word, note down a few synonyms. Enrich your vocabulary! 💯

Check out this video that helped me out:

Follow for more IELTS tips! Best of luck on your IELTS journey!! Stay tuned by clicking the follow button below and following my Instagram (@mistghost1398) for more insightful content tailored for those on a tight schedule. Your support means the world to me! 💖

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