tarunchetwani76The skill-based IELTS listening part requires expert understanding and answer strategies. However, with IELTS online practice tests, you can improve your listening skills. It will help you mimic the actual exam settings and familiarize you with the question types.
Further, if you want to correctly answer questions in the given time, this section calls for fast thinking and attentive listening. In this guide, you will learn how, with IELTS online tests, you may focus on practice strategies to improve your skills. Thus, it helps you face each question type with ease. Let’s dive into this!
How to use practice test effectively?
In this section of the write-up, you will be exploring the strategies to utilize practice tests to score your desired band.
1. Start with Basics: Familiarize Test Format
You must understand the format of the IELTS listening test before starting any online practice. There are ten questions on each of the four recordings in this section. However, each recording mimics real-life discussions or speeches from various English-speaking settings by varying in accent, speed, and context.
Moreover, taking IELTS online practice tests helps you examine the format of these recordings. You may also take notes of the types of questions that are asked. By finding these details, you may better learn how various sections flow and focus on specific parts, like tone or language. Without giving too much focus on timing, spend your first practice session just exploring recording and question types.
2. Section Wise Practice
Before taking the entire listening test, practice each section separately to prevent feeling pressured. However, divide your practice session by focusing on a single section at a time. For example, you may practice just the first recording, which consists of social discussions. You must understand common patterns, such as the usage of filler words and different speaking tempos.
Further, use online scoring and feedback after finishing the first part. It will help you assess your strengths and weaknesses. In later IELTS online tests practice sessions, proceed step-by-step and try to master each one separately before combining them.
3. Practice Active Listening
One of the most crucial parts of the IELTS listening test is active listening. Yet, transcripts of recordings are present on many online platforms. After listening to a recording once without transcripts, focus on keywords and phrases to learn as much as you can. Moreover, use the transcript to find the topics you missed that will show specific areas you need to work on your listening skills.
Further, continue doing this until you can easily follow the primary points and supporting details. You may note instances where you miss details due to discussion tempo or accent change. With active listening, you will make your brain recall details quickly. Thus, it is a vital skill for your listening test practice.
4. Prepare Diverse Questions Types
There are many types of questions in the IELTS listening section. It involves such as matching, multiple choice, note completion, and sentence completion. However, using IELTS online practice tests to focus on specific question types is helpful. It will help you become an expert at answering questions correctly, as each type has its own strategies.
For instance, when answering MCQ, try to find keywords in both the questions and options that match the audio. In contrast, practice quickly finding similar points while ignoring filler details in note-completion questions. You can focus on your weaker question types by using the groupings that online practice tests offer. In short, you will get less confused by various formats if you know each type.
5. Review & Check Your Errors
The primary benefit of online practice tests is the instant feedback they provide. Yet, it helps improve your skills and performance. After every practice session, examine your answer in-depth and check your errors. To see where you went wrong, review the incorrect questions and refer to the transcript.
Further, you can improve your skills by finding patterns in your errors. It may be like regularly missing specific phrases and failing to notice particular details. Some online platforms offer links and descriptions of similar tasks to support you in solving specific issues. So, make the most of these tools for your practice.
6. Use Headphones for Real Practice
It is better to practice in a similar setting because the IELTS listening section is given under specific audio settings. For good audio quality, many IELTS online tests suggest specific headphones or settings. Moreover, practice sessions in a calm setting help you minimize hurdles and follow these suggestions. Also, it helps you in your skills to adapt to audio issues that may come in the actual IELTS listening test. These are changes in accents, background noise, tone differences, and loudness.
7. Take a Full Practice Test
To replicate the actual exam settings, take a full-length IELTS listening online practice test in a given time. Also, sit in a quiet area and use headphones. You must avoid distractions and check your score. Thus, it will increase your self-assurance and readiness for exam day.
Conclusion
To sum up, you need constant and focused practice to become an expert in the listening section. With IELTS online practice tests, you can develop the skills to attempt each question type. It helps you to learn time management, active listening, and focused section practice.
Moreover, the listening practice test offered by gradding.com will show test settings as nearly as possible. They help you to adjust to the actual exam settings with ease. In short, if you regularly practice online, you are ready to score high in the IELTS listening part.
