Though every module in IELTS exam has the same value and carries equal weightage, there are times people find it harder to master the IELTS listening section. It is not at all difficult to win the listening section if you pay close attention to details. These details are mostly very minute in nature and require great skill and attention to be grabbed.

In general, the IELTS listening section contains conversation between two people from a general day-to-day setting. The candidate taking test is required to fill in the blanks with information in the dialogue, with goal to fill in the correct answers. Here are some tips and tricks you can follow to master the IELTS listening section.

How to Score in IELTS Listening Like a Boss

1 Read the Instructions and Questions Carefully

It is the first and the foremost requirement when it comes to any test – read the instructions and the question extremely carefully. Reading and understanding the instructions is extremely important at it tells you what is to be done. There are times when candidates miss the instructions and attempt the questions wrongly, thereby losing valuable points. The instructions are to be followed at all the times without any violation.

Questions, on the other hand, will tell you what kind of information is required. It is suggested that candidate should avoid reading questions aloud as it may cause distraction. One should read the questions while the speaker is reading the example question.

2 Use Your Prior Knowledge

Using your prior knowledge always helps, irrespective of the field. When we talk about prior knowledge, we are referring to knowledge you have gained over a period of your lifetime. In the context of the IELTS examination, you can always use your prior knowledge to predict the words that you come across and at many other places.

IELTS takers are generally familiar with situations they may come across during the listening section of the test. Therefore, it is suggested to keep your eyes, ears and brain open in order to be agile and responsive.

3 Write Answers on the Paper First

While you are going through the listening test, it is always suggested to write down the answers on test paper initially and then copying the same to answer sheet finally, as writing answers directly on the answer sheet may cause distraction. Also, one has to take care of spellings and handwriting while writing on answer sheet finally. Once you are done writing on the test paper, you have ample time to transfer your answers to the answer sheet.

4 Check Spelling and Grammar Thoroughly

This is one of the most important steps that test-takers should not take lightly. Most of the students do not pay attention and tend to ignore checking grammar and spellings once done, for which they may need to pay heavily. One should always double-check the spellings and grammar before submitting the final sheet to the invigilator. Make sure that all the parts of the speech are taken care of. You may come across several careless mistakes upon thoroughly proofreading your test once.

Though these tips can specifically prove beneficial to master IELTS listening section, these can be used in other sections too. An overall thorough and careful approach will help you score great overall marks in your IELTS examination.