IELTS: Crack the listening module

Structure of the listening test


The test occurs in four sections and there are generally around 40-42 questions that need to be attempted. The difficulty level increases as the test proceeds.

Section 1: is a conversation between two speakers about a social or semi-official topic. The speed of conversation is quite slow.

Section 2: is a monologue (spoken by one person only) on a non-academic subject. The speakers talk normally about social situations and needs.

Section 3: is a conversation among three to four speakers about an academic topic. As more than two speakers are involved, this section tends to create a lot of confusion. Also, the conversation is fast-paced.

Section 4: is again a monologue, a university style presentation of an academic topic.

The types of questions include:

Multiple choice

Short answers

Matching

Sentence completion

Table completion

Form completion

Completing notes/ summary

Candidates are allowed to write on the question paper. While listening, answers should be written on the question booklet only. The tape generally goes on for 30-35 minutes, after which you have around 10 minutes to write the answers on the transfer sheet.

about IELTS

IELTS is the International English Language Testing System. It measures ability to communicate in English across all four language skills – listening, reading, writing and speaking – for people who intend to study or work where English is the language of communication.
Since 1989, IELTS has been proven and trusted worldwide to provide a secure, global, authentic and customer-focused test which measures true to life ability to communicate in English. Close to 5,000 education institutions, faculties, government agencies and professional organisations around the world recognise IELTS scores as a trusted and valid indicator of ability to communicate in English.
Over 860,000 people a year are now using IELTS to open doors throughout the English-speaking world and beyond. The test is taken every year across 120 countries, and is one of the fastest growing English language tests in the world, and sets the standard in integrity, research and innovation.
When the question is English language ability – IELTS is the answer

INTRODUCTION TO THE IELTS TEST

The IELTS test has two forms: the Academic test (or module) and the General Training test (or module). The module that you take depends on the reason that you are taking it for. Generally speaking, the Academic Module is for those people who are trying to gain entry onto undergraduate or postgraduate education courses or for professional reasons. The General Training Module is for those people who wish to join some kinds of vocational or training courses, secondary schools or for immigration purposes.

Both Academic and General Training modules try and reflect real life situations to test whether a candidate would survive in English speaking social and academic environments. For example, the Part 2 section of the speaking asks candidates to talk, after 1 minute's preparation, for 1 to 2 minutes on a given general topic. This would test General Training candidates to see if they could give a "work related presentation" to fellow work colleagues and would test Academic candidates if they can give a "university style presentation" to fellow students. It tests whether candidates have the English language capability to perform these tasks under some kind of pressure.

The IELTS test (both Academic and General Training modules) is divided into four parts: reading, writing, listening and speaking. The listening and speaking tests are exactly the same for the Academic and General Training modules but the reading and writing tests are different. Thus the test appears like this (in the order that you will take the different parts):

ACADEMIC AND
GENERAL TRAINING

Listening
4 sections; 40 questions. 30 minutes
4 sections; 40 questions. 30 minutes

Reading
3 sections; 40 questions3 long texts 1 hour
3 sections; 40 questions3 long texts 1 hour

Writing
2 tasks1 hour
2 tasks1 hour

Speaking
3 sections11 - 14 minutes
3 sections11 - 14 minutes


I know its harrowing to know about all these in the beginning but trust me if you are comfortable with the common conversational english and of course you are interested in english movies this test is going to be a "CAKE WALK".