IELTS Listening Common Mistakes

Do you find the IELTS Listening test complex? Have you ever given a thought to mistakes IELTS test-takers make when taking this test?

Test-takers make several mistakes while taking the IELTS Listening test because you get to hear the recording only once. But you can always learn from them and, with time and practice, avoid them altogether.

Here we are going to list some mistakes that test-takers make while taking the IELTS Listening test. There are certain mistakes that students make, no matter how long they have been preparing for the test.

Whether you are going to appear for IELTS Academic or General, the test format will be the same for Listening. The 40 questions will be divided into 4 sections, and you are required to find answers within 30 minutes. Extra 10 minutes will be provided to transfer your answers.

Section 1: Conversation between two people on day-to-day issues.

Section 2: A monologue

Section 3: Conversation between two or more people.

Section 4: A monologue on an academic subject. Bit lengthier than section 2 monologue.

Common IELTS Listening test mistakes:

1.Not listening to the instructions

One of the common mistakes made by IELTS test takers is not listening to the instructions. For example, if you are asked to mark more than one answer but only mark one, the answer will be incorrect.

2.Blindly listening to the recording.

Another common mistake made by the test takers is not knowing how to listen. You can avoid this mistake by paying attention to details such as - who the speaker is, what he is speaking about, who he is talking about, and where they are. This will make the understanding of the recording easier for you.

3.Losing your focus

Many times test-takers lose their focus because they get distracted by unnecessary information provided in the recording. It is necessary to read the question before you start listening to the recording.

4.Poor time management

The common mistake made by the test takers is that they don't manage their time efficiently. In listening audios, they will intentionally try to confuse you with unnecessary details. You just have to be more attentive. Also, learn signposting techniques, which will help you to predict what the speaker is going to say next.

5.Lack of lexical resource and grammatical knowledge

Lack of understanding of the tenses and parts of speech can lead to grammatical errors. You can avoid any silly mistakes in the exam by practicing IELTS Listening sample papers.

6.No attending the question

Some test-takers don't answer a question unless they are 100% sure. They leave it blank. Instead, you can follow a different approach. You can guess the answer. There is no negative marking on the IELTS test so that you won't lose marks.

7.Multi-tasking

Another common mistake made by the test-takers is writing the answers directly in the answer sheet while listening to the recording. This approach can confuse you. Do not be in a hurry, as you will be given extra 10 minutes to transfer your answers to the answer sheet. You only get to hear the recording once. So you must focus on every detail provided by the speaker.

8.Not paying attention to the topic.

Many students focus on words instead of listening to the topic or discussion. You can avoid this mistake by understanding the context of the recording. When you focus on context instead of words, spotting answers becomes easier.