Listening section of IELTS plays very important role to check your focus as a good listener in international language, it can be seen as in various accents. It is good to explore different speaking styles of speaker as it is very much scoring as well. By focusing on keywords and good paraphrasing skills you can easily score 9/9 bands in listening.

• What is the objective of IELTS listening?
• What are the various strategies to crack listening?
• Tips to ace 9/9 in listening?

What is the objective of IELTS listening?

The primary objective of the IELTS Listening test is to assess your ability to understand spoken English in a variety of contexts, basically to test your concentration level towards various speaking.

• Understanding main ideas and specific factual information:
• Recognize the thoughts, attitudes, and objective of a speaker:
• Follow the development of an argument or discussion:
• Explore a range of accents and speaking styles:
• Social interactions, general conversations
• understanding Academic lectures and discussions
• understanding Workplace scenarios

What can be strategies to do effective listening?

1. Before the Recording Starts (Crucial Preparation)

• Look after the Questions: Use this time, read the questions carefully.
• Identify Keywords: marking or highlighting the keywords can be effective, these words will help you focus on the relevant information when you listen to audio.
• Adding your answer: Try to anticipate the type of information you need to listen for (e.g., a date, a name, a place, a number).
• Understanding the Context: Pay attention to any headings, diagrams, or maps provided. This will help you understand situation.

2. Throughout the Recording (Active Listening)

• Focus on Keywords: Listen for the keywords you identified in the questions, or their synonyms and paraphrases.
• Listen for Signposts: Pay attention to words and phrases that signal important information, such as:
• Time markers (e.g., “first,” “then,” “finally”)
• Contrast words (g., “however,” “but,” “on the other hand”)
• Emphasis words (g., “especially,” “importantly,” “in fact”)
• Use abbreviations, symbols, and keywords to jot down important information.
• Don’t Panic if You Miss something, try to move to the next question.
• Be Aware of similar sounding words and phrases, the recording may include information that is similar to the correct answer but is actually incorrect. Be careful not to be misled by these kind of words and phrases.

3. After the Recording (Review and Transfer)

• Check and revise your Answers: Utilize the time given to check your answers for spelling and grammar.
• Transfer Your Answers Carefully: Make sure transformation of answers should be correct.

4. General Strategies for Improvement

• Practice Regularly: The more you will practice, the more familiar you will become with the format and question types.
• Use Official Materials: Use official IELTS practice tests and resources from Cambridge Assessment English.
• Vary Your Listening Sources: Listen to a variety of English accents and speech styles (e.g., podcasts, news broadcasts, lectures, movies).
• Improve Your Vocabulary: A strong vocabulary will help you understand a wider range of topics and recognize synonyms and paraphrases.
• Focus on Weak Areas: Identify the question types or sections that you find most difficult and focus on improving those areas.

By consistently applying these strategies, you can significantly improve your IELTS Listening skills and achieve your target score. Remember that practice and perseverance are key to success.

Tips to get 9/9 bands in listening-

. Develop Exceptional Listening Skills:

• Active Listening: Train yourself to not just hear, but to actively listen.
• Variety of Accents: make yourself practice to a wide range of English accents (British, American, Australian, Canadian, etc.) through podcasts, movies, TV shows, and online resources.
• Vocabulary Enhancement: Build a strong vocabulary base, including synonyms and paraphrases, to understand a wider range of topics and recognize different ways of expressing the same idea.

Master Test-Taking Strategies:

• Preview Questions Effectively: Use the time before each section to thoroughly read and understand the questions, identify keywords, and find out possible answers.
• Note-Taking Proficiency: Develop a concise and efficient note-taking system using abbreviations, symbols, and keywords to capture essential information without trying to write down everything.
• Time Management: Practice pacing yourself through each section, managing your time effectively, and moving on quickly if you miss an answer.

Consistent and Targeted Practice:

• Official Practice Materials: Utilize official Cambridge IELTS practice tests and resources, as they provide the most accurate representation of the actual test format and difficulty level.
• Regular Practice: Dedicate consistent time to practice listening regularly, gradually increasing the difficulty and complexity of the materials.
• Simulate Test Conditions: Practice in a quiet environment with minimal distractions, adhering to the time limits and format of the actual test.
• Analyze Mistakes: Carefully review your mistakes to understand why you made them and identify areas for improvement. Focus on recurring errors and develop strategies to avoid them.

Specific Tips for a Band 9 Score:

• Aim for Near Perfection: To achieve a band 9, you need to answer almost all questions correctly (39-40 out of 40). This requires meticulous attention to detail and a high level of accuracy.
• Master All Question Types: Become proficient in handling all question types (multiple choice, matching, labeling, completion, etc.) with equal confidence.
• Focus on Subtle Clues: Pay close attention to subtle cues in the recording, such as changes in intonation, emphasis, and tone of voice, which can provide important clues to the answers.

5.  Maintain a Positive Mindset:

• Confidence and Belief: Believe in your abilities and approach the test with a positive and confident attitude.
• Stay Calm and Focused: Manage test anxiety and maintain focus throughout the test.