IELTS Preparation : Tips, Strategy & Guide

• Concise Answers: You are expected to provide very short answers, usually no more than three words, a number, or a date.

• Specific Information: The questions are designed to extract specific details from the recording.

• Word Limits: There is usually a word limit for your answer. For example, "Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER".

• Variety of Topics: These questions can appear in any section of the listening test, covering different topics and contexts.

• Accuracy is Crucial: Spelling and the accuracy of numbers are important, as even a small error may result in losing the mark.

• No Paraphrasing: Unlike some other question types, you need to write exactly what you hear (within the word limits).

1. Read Ahead: Before the audio starts, read the questions carefully to understand what information you need to listen for.

2. Identify Keywords: Underline or mentally note the keywords in the questions. This will help you focus on the relevant information when listening.

3. Pay Attention to Wording: Note any words that indicate specific information, such as "name", "date", "time", "cost", "place", or "reason."

4. Listen Actively: Focus on listening for specific details, but also understand the overall context.

5. Note the Word Limit: Stick to the word limit provided in the instructions. Exceeding the word limit will cause a loss of marks.

6. Write Accurately: Ensure your answers are spelled correctly. For numbers, ensure the correct numerals are written.

7. Write What You Hear: There is no need to use any paraphrasing, write down exactly what is heard in the audio (within word limits).

8. Be Careful with Numbers: Listen carefully to the pronunciation of numbers, as similar-sounding numbers are a common cause of errors.

9. Follow the Order: The answers usually appear in the audio in the same order as they appear in the questions.

10. Don’t Panic: If you miss an answer, don't panic. Focus on the next question.

• Fast Speech: Speakers may talk quickly. Practice listening to fast speech in English. Focus on understanding the main idea and identifying keywords instead of trying to catch every word.

• Unfamiliar Accents: If you are unfamiliar with some accents, try listening to a variety of English speakers from different regions.

• Distractors: Recordings may include information that seems relevant but isn't the correct answer. Focus on specific keywords to help identify the right answer.

• Spelling: Pay attention to spelling to avoid losing marks, practice writing down the words you hear frequently.

• Numbers/Dates: Be careful to note the correct numbers, dates, and years, practice writing down similar numbers to avoid confusion.

• Word Limit: Adhere to the given word limits. Answers that are too long will not score marks.

The IELTS Short Answer questions come up regularly in the IELTS Listening and can be found in any section of the IELTS Listening test. They are basically encountered in section 2 of the IELTS Listening exam which will be a monologue set in a social context.

Example Short Answer Question in Listening:

Let's say you hear this in a recording:

"The lecture will take place in the main hall on the third floor, at precisely 10:30 am. If you have any questions, feel free to email the tutor directly. Don’t forget to bring your books with you, which you will be using."

Here are a few Short Answer questions you might see based on that information:

1. Where will the lecture be held?

   • Answer: Main hall

2. What time will it start?

   • Answer: 10:30 am

3. What do you need to bring with you?

   • Answer: books

Practice Tips:

• IELTS Practice Tests: Practice short answer questions using official IELTS materials to get used to the format.

• Listen to Podcasts/Audiobooks: Listen to English podcasts or audiobooks, and practice identifying key information.

• Transcribe Short Clips: Practice transcribing short audio clips to improve your listening and note-taking skills.

• Review Your Mistakes: Identify patterns in your errors and focus on improving those specific areas.

Also learn about: IELTS Reading Tips

Below are some important tips for Short Answer Questions to gain a better band in IELTS Listening.

1.Follow the instructions:

Instructions are essential to write a correct response to the question on your answer sheet. Hence, always make it a habit to read them before you attempt any question in IELTS Listening. Instructions are always given above the set of questions.

2.Answer in the order:

The answers to the questions will always be in the order of the paper. It means that once you find the answer for the 1^st question you will gradually move to the other questions like 2^nd , 3^rd and so on.

3.Guess the answer:

You should always predict the answer before you listen to the audio recording. For instance, what kind of word do you need as an answer like: adjective,adverb,noun,dates,numbers and so on. This makes it easy for you to locate the correct answer.

4.Look for paraphrasing synonyms:

The questions may not have the same words and phrases so look out for synonyms and paraphrased words. Do not waste your time in finding the exact word used in the audio because it would just waste your time.

5.Enhance your vocabulary:

It is important to have a good knowledge of the words which you encounter in the IELTS Listening Test. For that you should practice reading journals and magazines as well as listening to podcasts and news in English without the subtitles. This tip is helpful in both IELTS Writing Test as well as IELTS Speaking Test.

6.Look out for distractors:

Words like always, some, although, however, and , but etc. can act like distractors and might change the meaning of the sentence. Hence, be aware of such words which distract you from IELTS listening exam. And try not to lose the flow of the audio otherwise you will not be able to find the correct answer.

Write NO MORE THAN 3 WORDS for each answer.

1. How much does it cost to join the library?
2. When will Louise's card be ready?

Answers:

1. $25/ twenty-five dollars / 25 dollars (refundable)
Explanation: MR MAX tells LOUISE: Oh, and I nearly forgot, the membership fee. $25, refundable if you leave the library for any reason.

2. next week / in a week / in one week / the following week
Explanation: MR MAX tells LOUISE: You can borrow videos now if you like, but your card won't be ready until next week.

This article shows how the Short Answer Questions can be challenging but if above essential Tips are applied in the paper then it becomes less daunting to find the answers.By watching FREE Online IELTS Videos you can learn more about the IELTS Listening in detail.