Is IELTS 'Listening' Section Something to Worry About?

IELTS (International English Language Testing System) is the most significant language proficiency test which was established in the year 1989. This test is used to access an individual’s English language abilities especially if they are planning to settle in an English-speaking country. For a non-native English speaker, IELTS serves as proof that he or she can demonstrate a certain level of English language abilities. Moreover, IELTS is one of the components accepted by Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) when migrating to Canada. Therefore, General IELTS is a requirement for obtaining a Permanent Residency as it is trusted and accepted by immigration authorities regarding the application process.

Computer-based test VS Paper-based

There are two modes to take up the IELTS test – Computer-based and Paper-based test. There has always been a dilemma when making the choice. However, a basic understanding will help the test takers make the right decision that is, paper-based test needs a test taker to present the paper with legible and tidy writing whereas good typing speed is necessary for a test taker attempting Computer-based test. The main point of difference between the two modes is the availability of the results, The paper-based test results take up to 14 days while computer-based test results are available within 3-5 days after the test which is the only reason many prefer Computer-based test for  IELTS.

Dealing with the ‘Listening’ section

The IELTS Listening module has 4 sections and each section has 10 questions with topics related to the general interest. Therefore, the test taker needs to answer 40 questions with each question carrying 1 mark. The duration to complete the Listening module is 40 minutes where the audios take up to 30 minutes and a transfer time of 10 minutes will be given to transfer the answers from the question paper to the answer script. Section 1 is a conversation between 2 people in a social context. Section 2 is a monologue or a speech on a social context, Section 3 is again a conversation between 2 and up to 4 people with regards to an educational or training context, and finally, section 4 is a monologue, or a lecture given on an academic subject. The recordings are played one after another with enough time in between to read and review the questions.

Follow these techniques!

• Practice listening – as the recordings are played only once, it’s important to familiarize yourself with different accents which will help to understand the recordings better.
• Be alert in listening to the instructions given in between the recordings as they are meant to prepare you for the next part of the test.
• Prepare thoroughly with mock tests and understand the mistakes being made.
• Pay attention to details like the name of a person, place, days, dates, and time.
• Be careful with spelling and grammar when transferring the answers to the answer script.

Contact us if you need help from our language experts. Check out Owlspriority Immigration’s Canada Settlement Resources to learn about finding employment in Canada, making your initial days stress-free, etc.