1. Numbers addresses and dates:
The main focus of this article is to avoid simple mistake in listening part 1. If you want to do better in IELTS listening test, I mean at least if you want to get over 7, you need to do better in the section 1 and 2 as the questions will be gradually harder. If you are not prepared, you might easily make mistake. some problems, which you may encounter during the time of listening test, will be addressed here.
While listening telephone number, you need to consider two points: Zero‘(0)’ is pronounced as ‘oh’. We don’t count number one by one rather we make group and if there are similar group, we call that double like double 2 or double 5. For example, 1355678662344. We will read this example as 13 double 5 -678- double 6-23 double 4.
3. Addresses(House numbers)
You should expect street number and numbers while listening for an address. Normally, the number comes before the street name, for instance 1 St Andrews Road.
Road Types:
You will be asked to write different road names. Normally that will be spelled, but sometimes the roads name will be similar to the common English words. In that case, you are to write correct spelling, like-33, Leham Street (You need to write yourself, no spelling will be provided)
or
48, Plaistow (It will be spelt like P-L-A-I-S-T-O-W)
Sometimes, you need to write different kinds of streets name in the blank like-
- Avenue
- street
- Lane
- Road
4. Problem with the name’s Spelling:
Sometimes, it is found that the candidates find difficulty to write some names of street, place or persons name since they are not accustomed to the pronunciations of those particular words. In that case, you need to know some rules of pronunciation and you should be habituated to the pronunciation of those particular letters. Examples are given below:
HELENDALE: I found that most of the students have written HALENDILE . Instead of ‘A’ they have written ‘I’ why?? Because ‘dale’ has been pronounced like ‘deil’. Day will be pronounced like ‘dei’. If you can understand such pronunciation, you can easily write those particular words.
5. Rules of writing Dates:
There are different ways by which you can write date in your answer script. You might listen ‘October 25th’ or ‘25th October’. You can write both ways. But the speaker pronounce’ the 25th of October’ and you are instructed to write one word only, you should omit ‘the’ and ‘off’ instead you must write ‘25th October’. Remember, it does not matter if you write the month before the date.
6. Common trap:
It is common in IELTS listening that you will listen more than one number/ date or time and you might not get the answer at the beginning. To make it more complex, the speaker might go back and make that correct. In that case, you need to write the correct words. However, my suggestion to you is that you will write both right and wrong words if you are smart enough. Then after listening, you can pen through (cut) the wrong answer.
7. Before answering guess the type of answer:
The most important strategies in ielts listening test are prediction and understanding the particular types of questions. You will find below that number 1 requires date; number 2 requires spelling of a name, number 3 requires telephone number and number 4 requires credit card number.
- Date of admission ________________
- Name of the person: Justin ________________
- Mobile number: _________________
- Credit Card number: ______________________