IELTS Listening MCQ
The IELTS listening test requires you to answer many different types of questions, but what often proves most problematic for students are the multiple-choice questions. Although multiple-choice questions may seem daunting at first, there are some helpful strategies you can apply to ensure you get the highest grade possible. Here in this blog, you will learn tips from IELTS coaching in Agra for attending IELTS listening MCQ questions while the real exam.
How to Attend IELTS Listening MCQ?
PROBLEM: Expecting To Hear the Same Words
A key thing to remember in IELTS Listening and Reading is that the tasks will often test your ability to recognize synonyms. This means that the words given in the multiple choice options are unlikely to match the exact words the speaker is mentioning/using.
For example:
QUESTION:
The idea came from two new urban developments
- Local People.
- The City Council.
- The SWRDC.
RECORDING TRACK EXCERPT:
As many of you know, the ideas for these topics came from you, the general public.
In this example, the truthful answer is: local people. Certainly, when the speaker uses the phrase “you, the public”, it has the same connotation as answer A: local people.
TIP: Knowing the synonyms will help you find the right answer more easily. When practicing, try to give yourself a little extra time to plan for possible synonyms or paraphrases. To do this, you will need to ensure that you have an extensive vocabulary.
PROBLEM: Distracters
Another important point to remember is that IELTS Listening multiple choice questions contain many distracters. Distracters are words that are defined to “distract” you from the real answer.
Let’s take the example below:
QUESTION:
The idea came from two new urban developments
- Local People.
- The City Council.
- The SWRDC.
RECORDING TRACK EXCERPT:
The City Council carried out an extensive consultation exercise last year, to determine how to develop the local area, but as many of you know, the ideas for these topics came from you, the general public. And listening recordings were made with money from the SWRDC.
The recording mentions both the city council and the SWRDC. However, if we look more closely, we can see that the correct answer is actually A, the local people (the public).
TIP: You should be very aware that these distracting words, or distracters, are likely to appear in most IELTS multiple choice questions on listening. Don’t just assume that the first option Guest posting sites you hear is the correct answer. Think carefully about what the speaker is saying and be prepared for them to change their minds. Listen for words like “but” and “however”; these types of linking words indicate that the answer may not be so simple.
PROBLEM: No Time to Read the Questions!
The IELTS listening test will give you time to read after each session. However, a common complaint from IELTS students is the lack of time to read the questions correctly before the sound starts. Some of the choices given are very long and wordy, and students may not be able to understand the full meaning of each choice at the moment.
POINT
IELTS gives you time to check your answers after each section. If you feel comfortable with your answers, you can skip ahead to the next section, to give yourself more time to read the following questions.
If you find you’re still running out of time, you might want to focus on just the question. Take notes on your test paper about what you hear. Later, during transfer time, you can check these notes and then locate the correct answer.
IELTS Listening Multiple Choice Samples
PROBLEM: Lost track
Another common issue that students face in IELTS Listening Multiple Choice is loss of rhythm and inability to keep up with the recording, consult your study overseas education consultants before the test for some instant tips for appearing in your test. This often happens when you miss a response. For example, if you miss the answer to question number 2, you might not realize that the speaker actually started answering question number 3.
POINT
Remember to underline keywords in all questions before you start listening and be ready to move on when you hear words related to the next question. Considering not only the current question but also the next one, you won’t be left behind with recording.
PROBLEM: Low Level of Understanding
For some students, the problem lies in comprehension. Maybe you feel like the speaker is very fast in their speech, or maybe you’re just not used to listening during such an intense time period of time.
POINT
Try listening to the recording without watching the questions. If you feel that you are unable to follow the ideas of the speakers, you will probably need to spend a little more time developing your general comprehension skills. Try downloading podcasts from i-tunes or Google play, and focus on topics that interest you, to keep you motivated. Watching TV shows and movies in English can be helpful, but remember that in the real test you won’t have visual aid, so it’s important that you also get recording-only practice.
