IELTS VACCINE

WELCOME
to the listening course
CONGRATULATIONS ON TAKING THIS STEP TOWARDS IMPROVING YOUR IELTS
LISTENING SCORE.
Course Outline

 This course is designed to cover everything you need to know to get the best
possible score in IELTS listening.
 By the end of this course you will…
• Have a clear understanding of what to expect in the listening test.
• Have learned important skills to tackle all of the question types.
• Know what you can do to continue improving your listening skills.
Introduction to the listening
test
How much do you know about the listening
test?
 Is the academic and general listening test the same?
 How many parts are there in the listening test? 
 How many times do you listen to each recording?
 How long does the listening test last?
 Is spelling important?
 Do you get negative points if you get an answer wrong?
 Can you write on the question paper?
 How many words should I write for each answer? 
 How many points do you need for a band 7?
 Can I have an extra piece of paper for making notes?
 Can I write all my answers in capital letters in the answer sheet?
 Should I write in pen or pencil?
 Should I use British or American spelling?
5 VACCINE tips for the
listening test
1. Increase your vocabulary

Students with a high level of vocabulary do much better in the IELTS listening test. Here are
some ways to increase your vocabulary.

 Keep a vocabulary book of new words.

 Watch lots of English-speaking television and Youtube videos with subtitles.
 More ways to increase your vocabulary are outlined in our vocabulary course.
2. Listen to a range of different accents

 The listening test will have recordings of a range of different accents- usually British,
American, or Australian. One of the best ways to do this is to watch lots of different
Youtube videos. Pay attention to accents that you find difficult to understand and spend
more time getting accustomed to those accents.
3. Practice all of the listening question types

 Before your test, you should be familiar with the different listening question types. This
will mean that you don’t have to work out your strategy for each group of questions- you
will already have a clear understanding of what to do. This course will enable you to
practice all of the different speaking parts.
4. Practice listening to the audio just once

 We recommend doing all of the practice activities in exam conditions. This means
listening to all of the audio sections just once. After that, have a look at the solutions and
tips for each practice activity. Then do the activity again to practice your listening skills.
Some students even like to keep a record of the vocabulary that they learn from the
recording.
5. Do full practice tests

 Many candidates struggle with having to concentrate for the full listening test. Doing full
practice tests will help you to develop your concentration skills. There is a link to full
practice tests that you can do at the end of this course.
Listening questions

 Form completion
 Short answer
 Multiple choice
 Labelling questions
 Matching questions
 Sentence completion
Form completion

 In this lesson, we focus on form completion questions. Below, we outline our

strategy as well as give you practice activities to help you prepare for the reading
test.
 Lesson Material
The first part of the listening test is usually a form completion task. 
 Tasks
Complete a form with words you hear in the recording. You will hear two people
speaking- usually a man and a woman. 
Example
Strategy
1. Read the instructions and pay attention to how
many words you have to write

 Often this will say ‘No more than two words and/or a number’. This means that you can
write:

 One word: hospitals

 Two words: local hospitals
 A number: 60
 Two words and a number: 60 local hospitals
 Remember to read these instructions carefully.
2. Make sure to understand the form

 You should underline keywords that will help you to understand the form. You have time
to do this before the recording starts.
3. Predict possible answers

 For example, in the form completion activity above we can predict

 Surname
 Name of College
 Postcode
 measurement (probably in metres or centimetres because the length is in metres)
 measurement
 Item that can fit in a box
 Item that can fit in a box
 Amount of money
4. The answers come in order

 All of the questions appear in the same order as the recording. Make sure to read all of
the questions before the recording starts. This way, if you miss the answer to a question,
you will not be waiting for the answer and, as a result, miss the answers to the following
questions.

 Also, while you listen be aware of the following question because often the answers to
multiple questions can come in a short period of time.
5. Be prepared to hear the answer to two
questions in a short space of time

 The answers are not evenly spaced in the recording. For example, you might be waiting
for one minute, and then the answer to two questions comes in a space of ten seconds. Be
ready to answer more than one question at a time by writing the answer quickly on your
question paper (you can copy this to your answer sheet after the recording).
IELTS pro tips
Practice understanding numbers

 It is important to be comfortable with large numbers. Often in form completion questions

you will have to write telephone numbers or amounts of money.
 Telephone numbers:
 Native speakers often say ‘oh’ instead of ‘zero’*.
 Native speakers often group numbers together: ‘double three’= 33, ‘triple 9’= 999
 *If there are numbers and letters (for example, with a postcode’) then ‘oh’ means the
letter ‘o’ not the number ‘zero’.
Practice understanding letters

 It is very common in form completion questions to have to listen to the spelling of

difficult surnames or places. Make sure you are familiar with the sound of all of the
letters.
Writing an address

 It is common to have to write down a part of an address. Addresses in English speaking

countries usually have this format:

 House/Flat number
 Street name
 Town/City name
 Postcode*

 *Postcodes are usually written like this ‘SW9 9SZ’

Here are some ways to prepare for this

1. Make sure you have read and understood all the questions before the recording
starts. 
2. Practice writing the answer to questions while still paying attention to the audio.
3. Quickly write down the answer on your question paper. You can copy the answer
more neatly onto your answer sheet after the recording.
4. Remember to pay attention to both speakers.
Short answer
Short answer

 In this lesson, we focus on short answer questions. 

 Lesson Material
 Short answer questions are very similar to form completion questions. However, instead
of completing a form, you will have to complete notes or answer questions (example
below).
 Tasks
 Short answer questions require you to write a word/words that you hear in the recording
to complete notes or answer questions. Often, your answers will be more than one word-
remember to read the instructions.
Example
Strategy
1. Read the instructions and pay attention to how
many words you have to write

Often this will say ‘No more than two words and/or a number’. This means that you can
write:

 One word: hospitals

 Two words: local hospitals
 A number: 60
 Two words and a number: 60 local hospitals
 Remember to read these instructions carefully.
2. Make sure to understand the questions

 You should underline keywords that will help you to answer the questions.
 When you are underlining keywords in the question paper, you should underline ‘proper
nouns’. ‘Proper nouns’ are names of people, places, or objects (spelled with a capital
letter).
 For example, James Diamond, Jane Goodall, and Bonobos. This will help you to know
where you are in the recording and encourage you to pay special attention to the
recording when you hear these words.
 In general, it is better to write the full phrase: local history, public libraries. This way
you are less likely to lose points.
3. Predict possible answers

 While you’re reading the questions, think of possible answers. E.g.

 11 and 12: language, no family or friends in common, different cultural values, different
behavior, etc.

 13 and 14: music, film, history, art, yoga, etc.

4. The answers come in order

 All of the questions appear in the same order as the recording. Read all of the questions
before the recording starts. This way if you miss the answer to a question you will not be
waiting for the answer and miss the answers to the following questions.
Multiple choice
Multiple choice

 In this lesson, we focus on multiple-choice questions.

 Lesson Material
 Tasks
 Multiple choice questions require you to choose an answer from a number of different
choices.
Example
Strategy
1. Read all of the options and underline
keywords

 Underlining the keywords will help you to understand the differences between options.
Pay attention to the details that differentiate the options.
2. The answers come in order

 All of the questions appear in the same order as the recording.

 Read all of the questions before the recording starts. This way if you miss the answer to a
question you will not be waiting for the answer and miss the answers to the following
questions.
 Remember that the answers are not spaced out in the recording. You may be listening for
a long time before the first answer. Then, all of a sudden, 3 answers might come in a
short space of time.
IELTS VACCINE Tip

 Examiners will try to trick you.

 It is likely that you will hear all of the options.
 However, you have to select the correct option, not simply the first option you hear.
 Be ready for multiple questions to be answered in a short period of time.
 Be ready to answer all of these questions quickly by writing down your answer on the
question paper or extra paper. You can copy this to your answer sheet after.
Labelling questions
Labelling questions

 In this lesson, we focus on labeling questions.

 Lesson Material
 Tasks
 Labelling questions require you to label a diagram, plan, or map. The recording is from
the point of view of someone describing the graphic and you need to fill in the missing
information.
Example
Strategy
1. Take time to understand the graphic

Pay attention to where different features of the map are.

For example:
 – where the entrance is
 – where the doors are
 – where different types of books are (fiction and non-fiction)
2. The answers come in order

 All of the questions appear in the same order as the recording.

 Make sure to examine the diagram carefully before the recording starts.
 This way, if you miss the answer to a question you will not be waiting for the answer and
miss the answers to the following questions.
 Also, remember that the answers are not spaced out in the recording. You may be
listening for a long time before the first answer. Then, all of a sudden, 3 answers might
come in a short space of time.
3. There will be extra options

 Often you will have to label 5 items (for example, 5 rooms), but you will have more than
5 options. When you hear one of the options mentioned or a description of the map put
your pencil or finger on it. This type of active listening will help you to pay attention to
it.
IELTS VACCINE Tips

 Labelling activities test your ability to understand directions and instructions. Revise
‘prepositions of place’ (between, next to, at the end) to get better at these types of
questions.
 As you listen to the recording, you can use your finger or pencil to follow the directions
on the map.
Matching questions
Matching questions

In this lesson, we focus on matching questions.

 Lesson Material
 Tasks
 Matching questions require you to match information with a category. For example,
matching opinions with a speaker, or descriptions with a hotel (like the example below).
Example
Strategy
1. Read all the questions

Make sure you understand what each category means.

 ‘is in a rural area’ = in the countryside; not the city

 ‘only opened recently’ = the hotel is new
 ‘offers facilities for business functions’ = e.g. conference rooms, large meeting rooms,
etc.
 ‘has an indoor swimming pool’ = not an outdoor swimming pool
2. The answers come in order

 All of the questions appear in the same order as the recording. Use your finger/pencil to
point to the hotel/description as you listen. Active listening will help your concentration.
3. There will be extra options

 Remember, there are likely to be extra options. For example, in the activity above there
are 4 questions but 5 hotels.
 While you listen, put your finger or pen on the hotel or description that is being
mentioned. Being active while you listen will help you to concentrate.
IELTS VACCINE Tips

 You won’t hear the exact phrase in matching questions. Instead, you will hear synonyms and paraphrases.
For example,

 turn of lights = lighting restrictions

 replace the existing lights with more environmentally friendly bulbs = alternative lighting
 insect-eating animals tend to be smaller in size = which impacts the growth of animal
 the surface of the water becomes more translucent, therefore it affects the amount of sunlight that aquatic
insects can absorb = the impact on water quality
 declined insect population adversely affects the frog population = a decline in the number of species
 The best way to improve these types of tasks is to know a lot of vocabulary. This can be achieved
effectively by watching a lot of English-speaking television with subtitles.
Sentence completion
Sentence completion

In this lesson, we focus on sentence completion questions. 

Lesson Material
 Sentence completion questions are similar to form completion and short answer
questions. However, they require you to complete a grammatically correct sentence (see
the example below). 
Tasks
 Complete sentences with a word/words that you hear in the recording. 
Example
Strategy
1. Read the instructions and pay attention to how
many words you have to write

Often, this will say ‘No more than two words and/or a number’. This means you can write:

 One word: hospitals

 Two words: Local hospitals
 A number: 60
 Two words and a number: 60 local hospital hospitals
 Remember to read these instructions carefully.
2. Make sure to understand the sentence

 You should underline keywords that will help you to understand the sentence.
3. Predict possible answers for each
question

Think about the kind of word/ words that will appear in each question. In the above example, we can
make these predictions:

 27. noun (predictions: time, patience, money, etc.)

 28. noun (predictions: listening, communication, speaking, etc.)
 29. noun (predictions: years, terms, semesters, modules, chunks, etc.)
 30. place (predictions: social clubs, social activities, bars, cafes, etc.)

 This is a skill that you should practice when you do your exam preparation so that you do it
automatically in the exam.
4. The answers come in order

 All of the questions appear in the same order as the recording. Make sure to read all of
the questions before the recording starts. This way, if you miss the answer to a question,
you will not be waiting for the answer and, as a result, miss the answers to the following
questions.
5. Be prepared to hear the answer for two
questions in a short period of time

 The answers are not evenly spaced in the recording.

 For example, you might be waiting for one minute, and then the answers to two questions
come in a space of 10 seconds.
 Be ready to answer more than one question at a time by writing the answer quickly on
your question paper. You can copy this to your answer sheet at the end of the recording.
IELTS VACCINE Tips

 It is very difficult to write a word if you don’t know what it means. For example, many students
struggle with question 2 (versions) and question 6 (funding) because they don’t know what these
words mean.
 One of the most effective ways of increasing your listening score is to increase your ‘passive
vocabulary. ‘Passive vocabulary’ is the vocabulary that you know and understand, but don’t use.
(‘Active vocabulary’ is the vocabulary that you use in your speaking and writing).
 Increasing passive vocabulary comes from being exposed to lots of English over time. Some
effective ways to increase it are by watching English television and YouTube videos, reading for fun,
and listening to podcasts and the radio. You don’t need to write down all of the words you don’t
understand: you will increase your passive vocabulary through exposure. Just find content that you
find entertaining and your vocabulary will increase naturally.
 It is important that you follow the recording. If you focus too much on hearing particular words, you
will miss answers. For example, the answer to question 4 (summer schools) comes before the voice
talks about ‘meeting other students.’ Remember, you only get to listen to each recording once.
End of the course, what’s next…
Final tips- staying focused in
the listening test
Final tips- staying focused in the listening
test

 One of the biggest challenges in the listening test is staying focused for the full duration
of the test. Here are some tips for staying focused.
1. Understand the test

 It is important that you are familiar with all of the question types that can appear in the
listening test- we have covered all of these in the course. Feel free to go back through
these lessons to ensure that you understand all of the question types.
2. Reduce your stress level

Here are some tips for reducing your stress level.

 1. Improve your health: eat healthily and sleep more in the run-up to the test.
 2. Slow your breathing down if you get overwhelmed.
 3. Remember that you can repeat the IELTS test. Many students do the test multiple
times before they get the score that they need.
3. Be exposed to a lot of English language

 The more exposure to English you have, the more confident you will feel. One of the best
ways to increase your exposure to English is to watch lots of series, films, and YouTube
videos. We recommend that you do this with subtitles. Watching full films and series will
get you accustomed to focusing on English for a long period of time.
Good luck