IELTS Hacks: Fun Ways to Prepare for the Listening Test

Taking IELTS online preparation courses is one of the best ways to train for the exam especially if you are a busy person. The online classes are readily accessible provided that you have the necessary equipment and you stay within the restrictions of your availed package. Materials are also readily available for your IELTS online preparation needs.

One of the advantages of IELTS online preparation programs is the one-on-one student-teacher ratio that allows instructors to focus on their student’s training progress. They utilize mock IELTS test online to help test takers acclimate to the demands of the high-stakes exam. To ensure the quality of their review materials, they keep everything – from the training modules to the mock IELTS tests online – up-to-date with the latest trends and developments of the test.

The first test you will encounter in the IELTS is the listening skills assessment. The IELTS online preparation instructors can give you pointers about this exam component. Meanwhile, consider the following fun listening practices that you can do in your free time to maximize your training period.

• Listen to English tunes. Not only do English songs teach you lyrical pronunciations and on-point intonation but they also help expand your accent recognition and vocabulary acquisition. Moreover, jamming to your favorite English tunes gives you time to accomplish other tasks. You can do household chores, menial projects, and other undertakings that require minimal mental functions.

• Listen to audio books. Audio books are one of the most entertaining ways to improve your listening abilities. You can secure an audio version of your favorite tome or delve into the recoded pages of a new book. Like sound-tripping to your English-centered playlist, you can also do other tasks that require little-to-no cognitive functions.

• Listen to English radio drama. You might be thinking: why not just listen to movies and television programs without looking at the screen? Isn’t that the same thing? No, they are not. As traditional and outdated a media, radio drama can certainly help you acclimate to spoken discourse better than the usual media in terms of distinguishing emotions and intonations. Voice actors and actresses emphasize diction, emotion, and enunciation in their programs. Listening to podcasts is also recommended.

• Listen to English programs. You can also do the more conventional approach – as mentioned in the previous tip – and watch English movies and programs without looking at the screen. This method is highly recommended for advanced listeners. Since recorded performances depend highly on visual elements, the actors and actresses do not exaggerate their delivery intonations as much as their radio drama counterparts. Inflections are subtle, and articulations are more natural.

Boost your chances of acquiring your desired band score for the listening assessment. Make the most out of your IELTS preparation time and engage in the listening practices mentioned above.