IELTS Class 1

Welcome

Welcome! to your First Listening Class in IELTS. I am going to be your mentor throughout this journey. It is a pleasure meeting you!

In order to gain the highest bands in Listening, you need to first understand the game, the rules, the type of mindset that you need to have, and also the tips and tricks to beat every circumstance. In this class, we will be going through the details of this Game, then the rules, the mindset & then the tips and tricks.

What is this Game?

There are two types of  IELTS:  Academic and General Training. Listening and Speaking are the same for both of these tests.

The duration of this test is 30 minutes

As per the official sources,

"You will listen to four recordings of native English speakers and then write your answers to a series of questions.

Recording 1 – a conversation between two people set in an everyday social context.

Recording 2 - a monologue set in an everyday social context, e.g. a speech about local facilities.

Recording 3 – a conversation between up to four people set in an educational or training context, e.g. a university tutor and a student discussing an assignment.

Recording 4 - a monologue on an academic subject, e.g. a university lecture.

Please note: The paper-based test will now be divided into Part 1, 2, 3, 4.

The Part 1 example has been removed along with the page numbers references."

Moreover, there are two types of tests: Paper-based and the other is computer-based.

Other than the medium, there are only a few differences. In the paper-based test, you will have 10 minutes to transfer your answers to the answer sheet. In the computer-based, you will be writing the answers as you hear on the screen. Here, you will be given 2 minutes in the end to check your answers. But you don't have to worry. We will be tackling and preparing you for every medium.

What are the rules? 

The listening test contains 40 questions and the approximate band scores are provided below:

Band Score	9	8.5	8	7.5	7	6.5	6	5.5	5	4.5	4	3.5	3	2.5
Score / 40	39-40	37-38	35-36	32-34	30-31	26-29	23-25	18-22	16-17	13-15	10-12	8-10	6-7	4-5

 For General Training: you need to score in either of the two ranges:

8.5 to 9 range or 8.

Therefore, your starting target will be to gain at least 35 in the Listening section.

Here the examiners will be gauging your ability to understand the information that is being relayed, the opinions, nature and attitudes of speakers, etc. You will all be going to live and thrive in a foreign place, so you will be required to demonstrate your listening ability.

What should be your mindset?

Listening is an inherent ability. You need to know that this is entirely a practical notion. In our classes, I will not only be explaining to you the strategies on every type of question but we will be doing a lot of questions.

Please, note that whatever homework I provide you with needs to completed as well.

The key to success is practice.

Tips for Listening

In IELTS we have a few tips:

(1) The recordings will only be played once, so you need to listen actively and write down your answers.

(2) Always use a pencil for the exam. So from now, we will be using pencils only. For the computer-based test, I would request you all to buy a mouse immediately.

(3) Never leave any question blank. It is possible that you may have written the right answer.

(4) Before attempting any question, try to predict the answer. Look at the word before the blank and after the blank. Ex: Ram lives in ----. It implies that you will be searching where Ram lives.

(5) Always write your answers in CAPITALS.

(6) Always read the question properly. If it says No more than 3 words and/or number. The answer can Good, Good Morning, Good Morning, Bella, 2000, Good 2000, Good Morning 2000, Good Morning Bella, 2000.

(7) The year 2000 will be one number.

(8) 1,50,000, 9:30 am, 55%, 12.08.2020 will be one number but 12th July will be one number & one word.

(9) Part-time will be one word

(10) In the MCQ type of questions, you need to write the name of the option and not the answer.

(11) Always focus on "s" plural word sounds.

(12) Remember the speaker can always change the tone and the flow of their conversation. Example: Let's meet at 6 pm. No, I am busy then. Let's make it 6:30pm. Just a minute, I have a meeting that I forgot, so let's make it 7 pm instead.

(13)  If you ever miss an answer, then move ahead. As we say forget the past, focus on the present, and try to make the future better.