Watch our video from some people who have taken the IELTS Listening test and follow our guidance below:
The power of music
- Music is a great aid to memory. Rhyme, rhythm, and melody help the brain to focus on what is being said and to remember stressed words, which are generally the most important in any passage of speech.
- Listen to as many songs as you can, without looking at subtitles or text, and write down what you hear. Then, check with the original lyrics.
- We all love stories, and songs tell them in interesting ways. Whether about romance, happiness or sadness, songs provide memorable stories about different human emotions.
The excitement of film
- Films (or ‘movies’) help us predict what will be said by providing visual cues. The body language of an actor – as well as their tone of voice – give signs of what is about to be said, so it is a good idea to watch as many entertaining films or TV shows as you can.
- If you record what you are watching, you can practice by turning the sound off in a clip, imagining what has been said, and then replaying the recording to check if you were correct.
- Film also exposes us to different English accents. This helps us become more skilled in understanding a wide variety of accents throughout different regions in the UK. This is important because the IELTS Listening test uses a range of English accents, not just British and American.