IELTS Listening – General and Academic

The Skill by itself

If you have asked me 5 years before, I would have said I like to talk a lot. But, its a reverse now – I like to listen a lot. It is only in the last few years that I learnt this - when you hear an experienced talking, you become half experienced, just by listening to the hard earned learnings. Otherwise, you may end up spending ages doing it ourselves and learn – trial and error.

Leaving apart, Tips for Listening - while preparing

Please note that IELTS Listening and Reading are common for both General and Academic.

• Cambridge University IELTS series books 1-9, now also 10, are the ones I have used
• Doing one test in a day proved the best to me. At times one in the morning and one in the evening. But, not more than that.
• Doing 2 at a stretch proved wrong, either as overdoing or devaluing the test.
• I need to hold my excitement most of times, and checked the answers only after all the 40 questions are answered. This teaches patience.
• But I never hesitated from redoing the test again or rewinding the audio for the first few days, until I felt I am comfortable with the way words and numbers are spelt.
• But also made sure that I had at least 5 tests never heard, for a full mock test, before 3 days of the actual test date.
• Each question carries the same mark, and it starts with a slow pace and fast towards the end. So I tried to make most of the first 10 to set the confidence, 20/20 to reinstate confidence, and tried 30/30 and most out of 40.
  Tip: Sometimes answers for questions are available in the starting of the conversation itself. And sometimes there may be long conversations before answers.

Tip for the last 5 tests

• In contrast to the begining stages, I never rewinded conversations when the test is on to check answers, just as to feel like I am taking the actual test.
• But I did so, after the test is done.
• I moved on to the next question, even if one is missed, assuming 'what if a similar situation happens on the test day'.
• Neither, never fast forwarded, because I had time. Always used the time given, it to read the next section.

Choice questions

• When I am given time to read the questions, I used to underline the main words, and the 'not's'
• These are the gateways to trace the answers in the conversation
• Answering the first 3-4 questions correctly always gave me the needed confidence. It is actually a trick - my mind picked up speed automatically for the rest of the questions.
• Nevertheless and importantly, I spent more time on the questions where the answer choices are of long sentences, and less time on less than 3 words choice answers.
  Tip: It is said that answers are stressed in the conversation. It is true to an extent, but not always.
  Tip: BE CAREFUL, I have heard non-matching answers spelt first.
  Tip: BE CAREFUL of the words 'may be', 'must', and 'not' in the choice answers

Seems tough is it? but is actually easy when this is practiced for a couple of tests

Fill up the blanks

• I used to hear the address and phone numbers questions repeatedly, did not hesitate hearing them again and again, until I felt comfortable.
  
• These are the easiest ones to score, but I failed on some in the begining.
• This worked very well for me - while reading through the questions, I have underlined the verbs and or the main words before and next to the blanks.
• Even if I am not understanding the general meaning of the paragraph, waiting for these words in the conversation gave me the answer. Tried this as a sole technique and succeded in some tests.

It somehow was my easist section, and hope for you so.
Maps

• I used to draw the directions, North, South, East and West, soon as I see the Map questions. Yes I know them, but seeing it up front helped me.
  Tip: The conversation most often started from the direction of the entrance. So I used to spot-on the entrance point, and its direction.
  Tip: I used to grasp through the map quickly, and identify the locations by the names given. For example Library, Car park, Kitchen , North Road etc.
  Example 1: In a room map spot-on the rectangle, square, circles, big rooms, small rooms, rooms in the right, rooms in the left, rooms in the far left, next to __________ etc.
  Example 2: For route maps, I used to spot-on the junctions, curves, streets etc.
  Tip: Since it is already scanned for a time in my mind, I could easily spot-on the locations while listening.

Lastly, some Generic points (this time passive)

• 'Read the Heading' for a second

Tip: I have not on occassions where I started filling up the blanks myself, and found answers lying at the end of the paragraph later.

• When it says "answer in not more than two to three words", that is a rule. A word more is even wrong.
• Alternate answers, using“/”, cannot be used at all times
• Move on to the next section when time is given to check the answers. Again, conversations cannot be heard again, and so contemplating on the doubtful answers is not a wise choice. But spending this time to prepare for the next section works.
• Also, the logical answers and Intuitions proved wrong. Attention to the audio is the best choice.
• Last but not least, stay alert, and do no panic.

IELTS tips and techniques - Listening and Reading specially

This time, the inspiration is me, just 'ME'. Targetted a 9 out of 9 in both Listening and Reading in the IELTS General Tests, I got a 8.5 for 9 in Listening and 8 for 9 in Reading, that is 38 right answers on 40, on both. Thanks to all the books I read, and the practice tests I took.

The Writing and Speaking were average scores at 7 and 6.5. Though a good amount of time is spent on Writing, it was only in the last 10 days. Speaking, la! I was over confident, that proved wrong. So no tips here. I need to learn, learn a lot from experts.

So am I qualifed to write a post here. Yes, I guess since this is only my first attempt and I was not trained by professional institutes. Books, listening to experiences from online Videos and the more importantly dedication had brought me the success.

Lastly the aggregate is 7.5 for 9, 0.5 less than my anticipated target. But, its fine, solved my purpose. So, if this excites you, you can read further!

I tried consolidating the learnings and experiences in different posts, for each module is different and has a different tactic. These are my very own experiences which helped me, and it may or may not suite you. So take this with a pinch of salt.

I guess this should help the aspirants to score the needed, if not the highest, in IELTS.

Listening – Read it here.

Reading – Writing one.

For a fit Mind and to get into The Source - A Gem of the Book

It wasn't that clear why Arnold Schwarzenegger was telling to focus on the part of the body while working out at Gym. In a Video he says, 'you need this Bicep you need to focus on that, and think you are getting it.'

I tried it myself while working out for my abs, miracles do not happen immediately. But I started feeling the difference.

But the audio book, I heard recently has the proof of it. It is 'The Source' by the Author SirShree. Truly, I have not heard about him in the past, but after hearing this audio book once, I thought it is a much needed book for every single person in this world who is in search of inner peace and importantly happiness.

The whole book is about drawing happiness. There are few books I tried in the past, not a great idea to mention them, but this one is different. While the books I tried focused on the aftermaths of the techniques, this book teaches the techniques.

The 7 Sutras and the 7 Mantras are the content of this book. Questions and Answers chapters have actually answered some of my inquiries on the techniques.

Every single Sutra and Mantra is a technique, and you can experience the effectiveness of it when put into practice. You don't need a posture, or a steadfast time to follow or practice. It needs to be understood, and when kept in the conscious mind, it happens automatically.

The Sutra and the Mantra you liked, will start giving you the bliss automatically, I mean subconsciously. And that is what the Book has been designed for.

I bought this book from Amazon and sharing the link, if you would like to experience it. This is my own experience and no one solicited.

And this is a Gem of the book for my Treasure 'Gemspirations'.

Thanks to Areesz Gandhi who has narrated the book with the needed pause, and not the least The Author SirShree.

With due respect, SirShree Sir, if you happened to read this 'Thanks for the Treasure, the book - The Source. You have simplified the technique to reach Happiness - The inner peace, the source of success and failure.'