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Top 5 strategies to ace IELTS Speaking & Listening Section

Akansha Pandey

Akansha Pandey

Nov 25, 2022

8 mins read

Top 5 strategies to ace IELTS Speaking & Listening Section Cover Image

Speaking, listening, reading, and writing: are the 4 components of understanding and communicating in a language. These are the 4 tests that are conducted in the IELTS (International English Language Testing System); a worldwide accepted test to check and score your English language proficiency if you are a non-native speaker of the language seeking to immigrate to Canada, Australia, Ireland, UK, USA, or New Zealand (native English speaking countries). Let’s check out how you can prepare for the speaking and listening sections of IELTS to ensure the best band score.

Speaking Question Types

The IELTS Speaking test is divided into three parts: parts 1, 2, and 3. The first section of the examination consists of 5–6 common questions concerning the candidate’s hometown, family, interests, education, employment, and other topics. The candidate is given a topic to discuss for 1-2 minutes during the second segment of the test. The questions in part three are a little more difficult and in-depth, and they connect to the subject covered in part 2 of the exam. Let’s check out the types of questions you can expect in the IELTS Speaking Test.

Question TypeExplanation
Giving an opinionYou will be asked what you think of something and will have to justify your opinion effectively
Evaluate someone else’s opinion You will be required to say what you think of someone else’s opinion
What you think of the future of somethingYou will usually be asked to predict the future development of a certain subject with justification for the same
Discuss a hypothetical situationYou will be required to discuss improbable, implausible, or impossible circumstances.
Contrasts and ComparisonsDiscuss the differences and/or parallels between the two things.
Discuss things that happened in the pastYou will be asked to discuss your opinion of things that have already happened in the past
cause and effectsYou will be required to discuss the cause and the effects of an incident.

Speaking Tips & Tricks

Even though the IELTS speaking test might appear challenging, with practice, you can easily pass it. This might enhance both your overall IELTS score and your speaking abilities. So let’s check out things you can do to prepare for IELTS speaking effectively.

Avoid using long and unusual words

Avoid attempting to impress the examiner with complex words. Avoid using words you don’t fully grasp. You can wind up using and pronouncing them erroneously. Use straightforward language that is pertinent to the subject instead.

Suggested: Top Universities Without IELTS Requirement

Employ a variety of grammatical constructions

Your speaking abilities are assessed by an IELTS examiner using criteria including fluency, vocabulary, grammatical range, and pronunciation. To express yourself, use a variety of grammatical constructions that combine basic and complex sentences.

Expand on your responses

Give detailed answers to the questions. If necessary, elaborate on your responses; avoid allowing the examiner to interrogate you further. Short responses imply that you are unable to go into great detail about the subject. When the examiner asks “Why?” he or she is seeking a detailed response.

Avoid memorizing answers

The examiners might not be able to accurately assess your English-language proficiency if you remember the answers. If you utter answers that you have learned, examiners can easily catch you. Your final band score will be affected by this.

Suggested: IELTS Guide

Listening Question Types

There are four sections in total for this part of the IELTS exam, and audio recordings are included in each component. The first would concern social requirements, whilst the other two would deal with academic circumstances. The last will be related to academics. The audio clips may be a speech or conversation that lasts three minutes and is only played once. Let’s see the types of questions you will be required to answer for this segment.

Question TypeExplanation
MatchingYou will have to match something to its description based on the information provided in an audio recording
Multiple Choice QuestionsYou have to pick the right response from a list of options when answering multiple-choice questions (usually 3 words or phrases).
Sentence CompletionThe sentences must be completed by listening to the recording and adding the missing words. The sentences might need an ending or additional words to complete them.
Complete The FormBased on the information given in the audio recording, you will be needed to fill out a form correctly
Note CompletionIt will involve some kind of gap-filling exercise where you must add the missing words to a note based on the voice recording.
Table Completion You must fill in the blanks in the table completion questions. Information will be contained in the table’s rows and columns.
Complete the summaryA synopsis of the audio file (typically a monologue on a technical subject, like a lecture on wildlife) will be sent to you. The summary will be lacking some words that you must fill in. 
Short AnswersIn each blank space provided, you must write a brief answer after listening to the tape. There may be occasions when more than one response is needed.
Labeling The Plan / Map / Diagram This type of question requires you to complete the missing labels on a building’s plan, a map of a certain area, or a diagram of something.
Completing A Flowchart Based on the voice recording you hear, you will be needed to fill in an empty space in a flowchart

Suggested: Top 5 Strategies To Ace IELTS Reading & Writing Section

Listening Tips & Tricks 

Now that you have understood what to expect from an IELTS listening test, let’s discuss what you can do to ensure a good score in this segment of the test.

Understand the questions

Prior to listening, read and go through the questions and understand them. While listening to the audio recording, keep going through them.

Suggested: Top 5 Strategies To Ace IELTS Reading & Writing Section

Multitasking

Multitasking is important. You must read the text, identify the solutions, and record them. At home, practice performing each of these activities concurrently.

Don’t worry about missed information

It might happen that you don’t catch something on the audio recording. Don’t concentrate on any information you may have missed. Simply keep listening.

Listen closely for specific words

Pay close attention to specific words that can aid you in figuring out the answers to the

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Akansha Pandey
Akansha Pandey

Akansha Pandey is a journalism graduate who is passionate about helping students achieve their academic, professional, and personal goals. She handles digital marketing and supports the process of guiding students to get admitted into their dream universities.

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