Many students find that their IELTS Reading score is higher than their Listening score. This is common, and it makes sense: in Reading you can go back and check the text, but in Listening the audio plays once and you cannot pause it. The good news is that Listening can be trained with the right habits.
Why Listening feels harder than Reading
- You must read the questions, listen and write at the same time.
- Speakers talk at natural speed, with different accents.
- The answer is often mentioned, then changed or corrected, so the first thing you hear may not be the answer.
- One missed answer can make you lose focus on the next one.
1. Use the preparation time well
Before each section you get a short time to read the questions. Use it. Underline the key words, such as names, numbers or places, and decide what type of word you need: a number, a name, a noun or an adjective. This helps your ear find the answer.
2. Listen for the change of mind
IELTS often has speakers who correct themselves: It starts at 9... no, sorry, at 9:30. Do not write the first answer immediately. Wait until the speaker is finished with that point, and write the final one.
3. Follow the order
The questions follow the order of the recording. If you lose an answer, leave it and move to the next question at once. You can guess at the end, since there is no penalty for wrong answers.
4. Check your spelling and grammar
A correct word with the wrong spelling is marked wrong. Practise common words such as accommodation, environment and Wednesday, and check singular and plural forms.
5. Train your ear every day
Short, daily listening beats one long session. Here is a simple routine for 20 minutes:
- Listen to a short clip (2 to 3 minutes), such as a podcast or a talk, and write down the main idea.
- Listen again and write down specific details: numbers, names and reasons.
- Read the transcript if there is one, and mark the words you missed.
- Listen a third time while reading the transcript, and repeat the sentences you found difficult.
This process, listening, checking and listening again, is called intensive listening. It shows you which sounds and phrases you do not recognise yet.
6. Learn the vocabulary of common topics
Listening recordings often cover travel, housing, education, work and the environment. Learning useful words and phrases for these topics makes it easier to follow the speaker. Our IELTS Listening Word Bank collects this vocabulary, and you can read a free sample first.
Practise under test conditions
Try one of our timed IELTS practice tests to see how you do when the audio plays once. These are independent practice tests by Apex Language Academy, not official ones, so treat your results as raw marks. If you would like help with a plan, contact us.