What You Should Know About IELTS Listening Mistakes

Are you exerting maximum effort to prepare for the Ielts exam? If you want to reap the benefits of your hard work, you must avoid making a few simple mistakes. Well, students make mistakes in every section, but this article focuses specifically on common errors made in the Listening section. Therefore, be sure to read this article carefully in order to avoid making such errors. 

Before we begin, let’s take a look at the IELTS listening section. The listening section of the IELTS is divided into four sections. IELTS listening requires students to listen to four different recordings and answer 40 questions based on these recordings. 30 minutes are allotted to answer questions, with an additional 10 minutes allotted to transfer answers to the final sheet. Because IELTS listening is the highest scoring section of the IELTS exam, it is critical to improve your listening skills prior to the IELTS exam date.

Here are some common mistakes students make in the IELTS listening section: 

• Losing concentration 

Several students frequently lose concentration while listening to the audio. Remember that it is the most serious blunder that can harm your exam performance and score. When students are unable to find an answer to a question, they begin to focus on that single question and are unable to hear the rest of the recording. So, if you find yourself in such a situation, try to remain calm, maintain proper concentration, and comprehend what is being said in the recording.

If you are planning to take the upcoming IELTS or PTE exam, you can apply for the most recent IELTS or PTE exam date from the exam conducting bodies’ official websites.

• Understanding distractors

There will be numerous distractions while listening to the recordings. These distractions are usually there to put your attention and grasping power to the test. So, avoid these distractions by listening to audio with caution. Your mental presence is crucial in determining which answer is correct and which is a trap. Otherwise, you risk giving incorrect answers, lowering your IELTS listening score.

• No usage of prediction skills

Students usually dive right into answering questions without first predicting some information from the audio. As a result, it is best to predict a little before attempting your answers. Predict the type of audio you’re listening to as well as the answer to the question. Then, while listening to the audio, highlight the keywords, synonyms, and key phrases in the question paper to quickly get the answers.

• Ignoring the instructions

It is critical to carefully read instructions in order to respond appropriately. Some students begin answering questions without first reading the instructions, and the examiner penalises them for not following the instructions correctly. For example, if it is specified that an answer should be written in one word, do not attempt to provide an answer in long sentences. Furthermore, if it is specified that the answer should be in capital letters, simply follow the rule. So, make sure to attempt your answers in accordance with the instructions.

• Don’t leave blank spaces

Make the error of leaving blank spaces on your answer sheet. If you leave a blank space, you may fill it with the correct answer to any other question. As a result, even if you mark the correct answer, you will not receive a score. Let us state unequivocally that the IELTS exam has no negative marking. If you are unsure about a question, you can mark an answer with an educated guess. It is possible that your guess is correct. As a result, your listening skills will improve.

If you want to take the IELTS exam, you can find a suitable IELTS exam date on the official website of the exam conducting bodies.

• Not familiar with different types of questions 

The most common mistake made by students is to take the actual exam without knowing what type of questions will be asked. The IELTS exam does not follow the same pattern as the academic English exam. So, analyse the various types of questions and practise enough of each type to make everything easier for you in the exam hall. Furthermore, learn various skills and techniques for dealing with questions appropriately.

• Transferring answers to the sheet

Students frequently begin transferring answers to the sheet while listening to audio, which disrupts their concentration. Remember that you will have an additional 10 minutes to transfer questions to the sheet. So, try to use that time to transfer your questions and focus on the recording because you will only hear it once. When transferring your answers, make sure to write carefully and correct any grammatical or spelling mistakes. 

If you are eager to apply for an IELTS or PTE exam date, you should select the most recent IELTS/PTE exam date and book your exam.

Summing up: 

To summarise, it is critical to avoid the aforementioned mistakes when taking the IELTS listening section. Otherwise, you will be unable to achieve the desired results. So, practise a lot and improve your preparation and scores by removing these flaws.