Reading the question before the audio
The time before the audio is the marks
- Use the time provided to read the questions. A little preparation helps you listen for the information each task asks for.
- Read the instructions and surrounding sentence, then focus on what each gap needs.
- In a completion task you can often predict the answer type before hearing anything; other task types need a different plan.
The audio will not pause while you negotiate with a blank.
Predict the word class
- The tour leaves at ______ → a time.
- Bring a ______ → a singular noun.
- The museum is ______ on Mondays → an adjective.
- The fee is £______ → a number.
- Ask for ______ at reception → perhaps a name or service; listen for the context and for any spelling offered.
- Prediction narrows your attention, but you still need to hear the detail. Quarter past four can fill a time gap even if the question uses different wording.
'The workshop costs £______ for members.' What kind of word are you waiting for?
The £ sign points to an amount. Predicting the answer type helps, but you still need to hear the amount accurately.
Underline the word limit, every time
- NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER means a three-word answer is wrong, even when it is true.
- A correct fact that breaks the stated word limit still loses the mark.
- A correctly hyphenated word such as check-in counts as one. Do not invent a hyphen to fit a limit; follow the spelling and the question instructions.
- Write the limit at the top of the section and check your answers against it in the transfer time.
The instruction says TWO WORDS. Your answer 'the main entrance hall' is correct in meaning, so it earns the mark.
It is four words and exceeds the two-word limit, so it loses the mark even if the meaning is correct.
How many words does IELTS count the correctly hyphenated word 'check-in' as?
One. A correctly hyphenated word counts as one; never add a hyphen merely to evade the word limit.
What will and will not be paraphrased
- Useful landmarks: names, numbers, dates, times and prices. Listen for their meaning; a time or price may be spoken in a different form from the question.
- Often paraphrased: descriptions and reasons. The recording may use the question's words or different ones, so do not wait for an exact echo.
- Question: the club meets ______ a month. Recording: we get together twice every month → twice.
- Underline useful landmarks, then listen for both exact matches and paraphrases. The answer must still fit the gap and its word limit.
Which details make useful landmarks while listening, even if the recording words them differently? Choose all that apply.
A surname, price or date can help locate a detail, but none is guaranteed to be spoken in exactly the same form as the question. Listen for meaning and paraphrase too.
Keep up, whatever happens
- Within a task, answers generally follow the recording's order. Use the next question as a guide, but check the task instructions instead of assuming every item works identically.
- If one answer escapes, move your eye to the next question rather than replaying the missed moment in your head while the recording continues.
- There is no penalty for a wrong answer, so use any remaining time to make a reasoned guess rather than leaving a blank. Read multiple-choice instructions: some questions require more than one option.
- If your test is on paper, use the extra 10 minutes to transfer and check your answers. On computer, enter answers as you go and follow the on-screen checking instructions.
You miss the answer to question 14. What should you do?
Follow the next question while the recording continues. Use available checking time later to make a reasoned guess if the answer is still missing.