Listening is one of the core skills tested by the IELTS test, and requires a high level of concentration and the ability to quickly pick up information. With the increasing need to achieve good scores in this test, improving your IELTS listening skills is a must for anyone who wants to perform well. The audio clips in the test vary in terms of accents and topics, making it important for the candidate to be able to understand texts and deal with linguistic diversity.

What is the IELTS test ?

IELTS stands for International English Language Testing System, and is a global test of English language proficiency for non-native speakers. The test is accepted in many countries and academic institutions around the world, and is often used as a criterion for admission to universities or for immigration to countries such as the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia.

The IELTS test consists of four main sections:

Listening : Measures listening skills in the IELTS test through a set of audio clips.

Reading : Includes a variety of texts, and the individual's ability to understand basic ideas and details.

Writing : Tests the ability to write expressive and analytical texts on specific topics.

Speaking : Assesses speaking skills and language interaction with an examiner.

IELTS Test Scores:

It ranges from 0 to 9, and is given in the form of full marks or half marks, so that the applicant obtains a certain mark in each of the four sections (listening, reading, writing, and speaking), and then the average is calculated to obtain the final mark. The following is an explanation of the meaning of each mark:

• 9 : Expert User – Very skilled, with a full understanding of the language and accurate and flexible usage.
• 8 : Very good user – uses the language excellently, but may make minor mistakes in some situations.
• 7 : Good User – Has strong skills and uses the language fluently, with occasional errors.
• 6 : Competent user – able to use the language well, but may make some mistakes in complex contexts.
• 5 : Modest User – Has basic language skills and understands general meaning, but makes a lot of mistakes.
• 4 : Limited User – has limited understanding and limited ability to communicate in the language.
• 3 : Very Low Ability User – Can only communicate basic, understands simple meanings.
• 2 : Beginner User – Has extreme difficulty communicating and understanding.
• 1 : Unused - Not able to use English except in a few separate words.
• 0 : Did not attend the exam – did not answer the questions on the test.

Universities and companies typically require scores between 6.0 and 7.5, while some immigration programs require a minimum score of 6.

Listening skills in IELTS test:

Listening skills in the IELTS test are one of the essential skills that the applicant needs to develop to get a good score in the test. The listening section includes four different conversations – a one-on-one conversation, a dialogue between two people, a group conversation, and a lecture or presentation – with the aim of measuring the applicant’s ability to understand English in a variety of contexts. The accents in the audio clips vary, and may include British, American, Australian, or Canadian accents.

The most important listening skills in the IELTS test that can be improved to prepare for this section of the test:

1. Frequent listening to a variety of sources : It is important to accustom the ear to listening to different dialects and pronunciation styles, by following English radio programs, movies, and podcasts.
2. Focus on main ideas and details : During the test, you will find questions that ask you to extract main information and others that ask for details, so you need to learn how to distinguish between them while listening.
3. Quick note taking : The skill of quick note taking while listening helps you recall key points and important details when answering.
4. Practice predicting information : Try training yourself to predict information that might come later in the text, based on context and conversation.
5. Get to know the questions in advance : Before you start recording the audio for the test, quickly look over the questions to know what to focus on while listening.
6. Manage time effectively : You must be quick to follow the audio recording and answer on time, as the recording does not stop for the answer.
7. Pay attention to accents and dialects : The IELTS listening skills include lectures and dialogues from speakers with different accents, such as British, Australian and American. Try listening to content in these accents to improve your ability to distinguish between words and pronunciation.
8. Practice listening with subtitles: At first, you can listen to the content with subtitles to associate the sound with the words. Over time, try listening without subtitles to increase your focus on comprehension.
9. Practice answering strategies : Learn strategies for answering questions such as: identifying main ideas, anticipating what will be said after hearing the first sentences, and looking for exact answers in recordings.

How do you calculate the listening score in IELTS?

The IELTS Listening score is calculated based on the number of correct answers out of 40 questions in this section. The number of correct answers is converted into a score between 0 and 9 according to the IELTS scoring scale.

Here's how to calculate your IELTS Listening score by converting the number of correct answers into approximate scores in the Listening section:

• 39-40 correct answer = 9 points
• 37-38 correct answer = 8.5 mark
• 35-36 correct answer = 8 points
• 32-34 correct answer = 7.5 points
• 30-31 correct answer = 7 points
• 26-29 correct answer = 6.5 points
• 23-25 ​​correct answer = 6 points
• 18-22 correct answers = 5.5 points
• 16-17 correct answer = 5 points
• 13-15 correct answers = 4.5 points
• 11-12 correct answers = 4 points
• 8-10 correct answers = 3.5 mark
• 6-7 correct answers = 3 points
• 4-5 correct answers = 2.5 points
• 3 correct answers = 2 points
• 2 correct answers = 1.5 points
• One correct answer = 1 point
• 0 correct answer = 0 points

After completing all sections, the overall average of the four sections (Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking) is calculated to obtain the final IELTS score.

Tips to improve listening skills in the IELTS test:

1. Regular exposure to English : Try to regularly listen to a variety of sources such as podcasts, news, and talk shows in English. This will help you get used to different accents and speech patterns and thus improve your listening skills in the IELTS test.
2. Listen to conversations carefully : While practicing, listen carefully to audio clips, trying to understand the main ideas and details. In IELTS, you will need to pick up precise information, so try to train your ear to hear information accurately.
3. Quick note taking : Get into the habit of taking notes as you listen. You may not be able to write everything down, but jot down key words and main ideas, as this will help you answer questions later.
4. Predicting content : Before starting the audio clip, quickly look at the available questions and try to predict what kind of information is required, which helps you focus on what to listen for.
5. Practice listening repeatedly : Choose different audio clips and listen to them several times. Try to improve your understanding each time and identify small details, which will increase your understanding accuracy when listening.
6. Dealing with different accents : Test yourself with content that includes different accents such as British, Australian, and American. The test may contain multiple accents, and getting used to this in advance reduces the challenges on exam day.
7. Use real listening tests : Try out past IELTS listening tests available online. These exercises give you a better understanding of the question pattern and time allocation and thus improve your IELTS listening skills.
8. Time management : Learn how to react quickly to audio recordings, and make sure you allocate your time effectively between listening and answering, as the recording does not stop during answering questions.
9. Focus on mistakes and learn from them : After each listening exercise, review your answers and the mistakes you made. Try to understand why you made the mistake and explore ways to avoid them in the future.

Additional tips:

1. Listening in stages : Start by listening to short, easy passages, then gradually move to longer, more complex passages. This method helps you build confidence and develop the ability to understand longer, more challenging content.
2. Interact with audio content : After listening, try summarizing or re-explaining the content you heard aloud. This exercise enhances your understanding and makes it easier to remember key details, thus improving your listening skills in the IELTS test.
3. Practice at a natural speed : When practicing, make sure to listen to the audio clips at a natural speed without slowing down. This will help you develop your listening skills quickly, which will increase your readiness for the actual exam.
4. Identifying Keywords : While practicing, focus on identifying important keywords that may help you find the answers you need. Identifying these words will help you focus on the main information in the audio clip.
5. Practice focusing in the midst of distractions : Try listening in environments with some distractions, as this will help you focus and ignore the external noise that may be present on test day.
6. Repetition and revision : Listen to the same passage several times, focusing on different details each time. Repeat the passage if you can't fully understand it, and focus on sentences or words that were unclear to you at first.
7. Practice note-taking speed : Try to develop your ability to write notes quickly and clearly, as this is important to benefit from them when answering questions effectively.
8. Use transcripts for audio clips : If you have transcripts for audio clips, listen first and then read the transcripts to check your understanding. This exercise helps you notice details that you might miss while listening.
9. Find synonyms : Questions are often asked using words or phrases that are different from those used in the recording. So practice recognizing words or phrases that have synonymous meanings.
10. Comprehension training : The IELTS listening skills tests include real-life conversations and situations, so try to focus on understanding the general meaning when listening and not dwell too much on small details, unless necessary.

Developing listening skills in the IELTS test through elmadrasah.com:

Improving your IELTS listening skills through Madrasa.com can be an important and effective step given the educational resources available on this platform. Madrasa.com offers a variety of tools and programs that help improve listening skills in particular, which contributes to achieving better performance in the IELTS test.

Here are some ways you can develop your IELTS listening skills through this platform:

1. IELTS Training Courses : elmadrasah.com offers training courses that focus on all aspects of the IELTS test, including the listening section. These courses include practical listening exercises to a variety of audio clips, including conversations, reports, and presentations, which helps students get used to the style and format of the IELTS test.
2. IELTS mock tests : The platform offers mock tests that mimic the listening skills pattern in the IELTS test. These tests help students get used to the style of questions and the way to answer in the given time, which increases confidence and readiness.
3. Accent training : Since the IELTS test includes various accents (British, American, Australian, etc.), elmadrasah.com provides listening exercises that include multiple accents. This exercise helps in developing the ability to adapt to different accents and understand what is said easily.
4. Answer analysis and feedback : After taking the IELTS Listening skills tests, students at Madrasa.com can receive detailed feedback on their answers. This includes pointing out mistakes and providing tips for improving performance in the future.
5. Active listening techniques : Learn techniques such as active listening, where the student focuses on the main ideas rather than the small details, which helps in understanding the content faster and more accurately. Students are instructed to use these techniques in the listening exercises.
6. Speed ​​Note Taking Training : During the training, students can learn how to take notes quickly and effectively, an essential skill that helps in answering questions based on notes while listening.
7. Diverse audio resources : The platform contains a library of audio materials aimed at developing listening skills, such as podcasts and radio programs, which cover various academic and life topics, which helps build students’ flexibility in dealing with the various topics in the IELTS test.
8. Teaching Anticipation Strategies : In some listening tests, you may be asked to predict upcoming content based on context. Through Madrasa.com, students can practice this skill by recognizing sound patterns and cues that may indicate upcoming information.

Tips for test day:

1. 1. Advance preparation

• Check the details : Make sure you know where and when your test will be, as well as registration requirements such as ID and necessary documents.
• Prepare materials : Have all the supplies you will need ready, such as a pencil, eraser, ID card, and any other required documents.
• Get enough sleep : Try to get enough sleep the day before the test (7-8 hours), because rest greatly affects your concentration.

2. On the day of the test

• Eat a light and healthy breakfast : Eat a balanced breakfast that contains proteins and carbohydrates, while avoiding heavy food that may affect your concentration.
• Arrive early : Try to arrive at the test center early (15-30 minutes before your scheduled time) to avoid any stress due to being late.
• Make sure you have everything you need, such as your ID. If the tests require special assistance, such as headphones for IELTS listening skills, make sure you have arranged this in advance.

3. During the test

• Stay calm and focused : Try to stay calm throughout the test. If you feel stressed or tense, take a deep breath and focus on the task at hand.
• Listen carefully : In the listening section, focus on the main sentences and most important details. Do not pay attention to possible answers before you have heard the whole section.
• Don't get hung up on difficult questions : If you have difficulty with a particular question, move on to the next question and come back to it later if you have time.
• Use your time wisely : In the reading and writing section, allocate enough time for each part. Do not dwell on difficult questions.
• Answer all questions : Even if you are not sure of the answer, try to answer every question because every correct answer adds to your score.

4. Speaking Section

• Be natural and confident : In the speaking section, try to speak naturally and confidently, and avoid being nervous. Remember that the examiner is not judging your personality here, but your ability to speak English.
• Complete Answer : Try to give comprehensive and varied answers, not just yes or no. Provide examples to support your answers.

5. After the test

• Don't worry about the results : After the test, try not to worry about the results or what you could have done better. Instead, let it go and wait for the results.
• Performance Analysis : After a break, review your performance and analyze the areas you need to improve in preparation for upcoming exams if necessary.

6. Avoid influencing factors

• Don't revise at the last minute : Try to avoid intensive revision at the last minute as it may lead to stress.
• Do not eat heavy foods or drinks that contain excessive amounts of caffeine : Avoid eating fatty foods or drinks that contain large amounts of caffeine, as they may affect your concentration or cause anxiety.

Improving your IELTS listening skills requires a commitment to ongoing practice and the use of effective strategies. Through regular exposure to English, gaining the ability to predict content, and taking notes quickly, candidates can become more capable of understanding audio recordings accurately and effectively. In addition, practicing dealing with different accents and analyzing errors after each practice session contributes to developing deep understanding and quick responses on test day. By following these tips and focusing on continuous improvement, you will be able to raise your listening skills and achieve a high score on the IELTS test.