Revealing how to practice IELTS listening to increase band score effectively

You are trying to study to get the desired high IELTS score for the purpose of studying abroad, going abroad to live and work,... However, during the review process, you realize carefully My Listening skill is still weak and because of that, it drags my total IELTS score down. Don't worry, come here to listen to DOL's tips for IELTS Listening Tips !

1. Effective IELTS Listening practice experience

In this first part of the content, DOL will share with readers effective   ways to practice IELTS listening . Let's read together now!

1.1 Practice pronunciation

To practice pronunciation, you do not need to have too many tools besides the following:

• Recording App: Obviously right? When practicing, you need to record your pronunciation and compare it with the way native speakers read to improve gradually.
• Mirror: Mouthpiece is one of the factors that make up the success or failure of our professional pronunciation. Sometimes just adjusting the mouth or the way to put the tongue a little bit, but the results are amazing. To do this, a bright mirror is a great tool.
• Dictionary: A note of DOL is that when learning new words, with any word, you need to make sure you pronounce it correctly before learning another word. You can learn 5 words at a time and make sure to read all 5 correctly. Because if you correct it from the beginning, word by word, it is better than not knowing what to correct, how to do it. Or do not know where I am wrong to correct?
• IPA Table: Even with a dictionary, you will still have a hard time learning how to pronounce some special words. Or you are simply just starting to practice IELTS Speaking. Then the English transcription table will help you practice pronunciation faster, more accurately and easily.

1.2 Choose the right way to learn vocabulary

As noted in the dictionary tools section, you should make a habit of correcting your pronunciation from the very beginning when learning new words. This will save you time in the long run.

As for how to learn vocabulary, you can find many ways to learn online. But with DOL, here are 3 best ways to learn IELTS vocabulary for listening:

• Listen to Spelling : On the practice page of DOL, you can improve your IELTS Listening through dictation. Here, DOL will divide the listening lesson into many small sentences for you to listen and copy to see if it is correct. Not to mention you will be familiar with the vocabulary commonly used in Listening.
• Doing Listening Test Practice : There is nothing better and clearer than learning Listening vocabulary through listening tests. This can be said to be the best way because when you do a test and make a mistake, you can take note of the words and learn them.
• Listen to Podcast: IELTS Speaking For Sucess by Host Maria and Rory is the resource DOL would like to recommend to you. With this Podcast, you can both improve your IELTS Listening and improve your Speaking skills by listening to native speakers answer IELTS questions. Not to mention there is also a transcript and compilation of the vocabulary used in each Podcast.

1.3 Practice listening skills

Normally in the IELTS Listening test, when the speaker emphasizes a certain keyword, that keyword will usually be related to the answer you need to find. However, do not forget to listen to more context around that keyword to avoid being scammed.

Listening to English according to interests makes it easier for learners to absorb

1.4 Don't learn tricks, understand the exam questions

IELTS students in general and IELTS Listening in particular often have a misconception that tips or tricks can help achieve a high score. However, these tips or tricks will actually just waste valuable time that should be spent learning.

These tips are mainly for psychological effects and not bring clear results for you. Because IELTS is a professional English assessment with experienced experts to set and mark the test. So little tips will not be able to pass their eyes.

When you enter the exam room, instead of trying to do time-consuming tricks, focus on the test. Pay attention to read and understand the topic and do the test with your own ability. Here are some questions that will help you study the topic better:

• What is the topic structure?
• What kind of topic is this?
• What type of question is in the question? What strategy should be applied to that question?
• What listening skills are needed to complete this section well?

1.5 Practice every day to improve skills

The purpose of the Listening test is to assess your English listening comprehension. Therefore, one of the most effective ways to learn IELTS Listening is to listen to a lot of English and let it gradually become your natural skill.

If you practice listening to English for 10 to 15 minutes daily, you will definitely gradually improve your Listening score.

• Do you take the bus to school? Whether it's a short 20-minute ride or an hour-long bus ride, you can take advantage of listening to English audiobooks or podcasts. This will be beneficial both in terms of knowledge and entertainment.
• Do you cook for the whole family every evening? You can get into the habit of cooking while listening to the radio in English!
• Are you "bored" of surfing Facebook during your lunch break? Try watching a TED Talk video on your favorite topic instead!

1.6 Practice IELTS listening skills according to your interests

You should enjoy your IELTS listening practice. Because if you like what you're doing, you'll do it more often and more consistently.

Learning doesn't always have to be boring or laborious. You can always go online and find Podcasts, YouTube videos or Ted Talks on whatever topic interests you any time you want.

The content you listen to does not have to be related to academic IELTS. Because in addition to academics, IELTS Listening will also test your ability to understand the English language in a real context. Therefore, listening to IELTS with daily topics is also a good way to practice IELTS listening .

1.7 Actively listen to English

One way to practice listening skills in the IELTS Listening test is to listen actively to a variety of conversations from many sources. You will get acquainted with new vocabulary and be exposed to different English accents.

Active IELTS listening can help improve your spelling, grammar and vocabulary. All of these skills are very important for getting high scores in the IELTS Listening test types.

Another good IELTS listening practice method is to prepare a notebook. While listening, write down any words you are unsure of. Then, look up the meaning in a dictionary and study how it is used in a sentence. Same synonyms, antonyms, pronunciation, which context should be applied in practice,...

Active listening will help you get a high score in the IELTS Listening test

Please refer to the following video on how to improve IELTS Listening effectively:

1.8 Use the right tactics

The listening section of the IELTS test consists of several different question types. Each question type will require specific listening skills and test strategies.

The strategies will definitely help you determine each step to take when entering the exam room. Thereby helping to increase the efficiency of the test and improve your score. Here are some strategies for each type of test in IELTS Listening:

• Strategies for making Short Answers
• Sentence Completion Card Strategy
• Pick From A List strategy
• Multiple Choice Card Strategy

See also : Sample questions with answers in the form of IELTS Listening Numbers And Letters Practice

1.9 Practice thinking in English

Another effective IELTS listening practice that many DOL students apply is to practice thinking and thinking in English. Because the Listening test requires you to be able to process information quickly and respond immediately.

If you try to translate the entire text, it will waste your time. Slows you down, preventing you from completing the test quickly and optimally. Sometimes, you will miss the next listening or dialogue because you are still trying to translate the past dialogue.

Moreover, each language has a different way of thinking. There are words, slang or idioms in English that you can hardly find the equivalent translation in your mother tongue. The grammar rules of English are also unique. The order of words, structures, etc. is not the same in every language.

Therefore, in a short time, it will be difficult for you to translate and completely convey the message of the speech in your mother tongue. In addition to wasting time, sometimes translating into your native language also makes you misinterpret the information of the speech. So, to improve IELTS Listening, you should stop translating and learn to deduce gradually in English.

Learners should learn to think in English to improve their IELTS Listening skills

1.10 Make a scientific plan to improve IELTS Listening

Make sure you are using reputable practice resources created by the IELTS test makers themselves. If the study material has too many differences in form, you will be confused when you receive the real test. And of course the end result will not be as expected.

Also, you should make sure to complete the practice tests within the same time pressure that you would experience in the real exam. This will help you improve your time management skills. Practice how to eliminate the great stress of entering the exam room.

Perfecting and correcting the IELTS Listening practice is a very important process. You shouldn't be constantly taking the test from one listening to another.

After each review, look back at the mistakes you made. Make a note of words you often misspelled, mispronounced, or misheard. From there, you will understand your weakness and focus on improving it.

Please avoid the following mistakes in IELTS Listening to not lose points unjustly

1.11 Diversity of resources for IELTS Listening test

In the process of improving IELTS Listening , you should access a variety of resources with a wider range of topics. In addition to avoiding boredom, it also helps you accumulate a broader knowledge of vocabulary, grammar, and how to use sentences in many contexts.

News channels like BBC News are a good choice for you. Because these programs have a flexible combination of reporting and conversation. Similar to the format in the IELTS listening sections.

You should also listen to news from various English-speaking countries. Typically England, Ireland, USA, Canada, New Zealand, Australia and South Africa,... to get acquainted and understand accents in different regions.

BBC News, Spotify, Stitcher, TED Talks are very useful English listening practice channels

Also, Podcasts with software like Spotify or Stitcher are also a great resource. Podcasts are quite diverse in length, often lasting 2 minutes or more than 1 hour. They cover a wide range of different topics. Therefore, you will easily find interesting content to improve your IELTS Listening in your spare time.

TED Talks are also an effective source of IELTS listening practice. TED Talks include online lectures on thousands of different topics. They are great for helping you practice your monologue listening.

Diverse listening sources to accumulate knowledge to improve Listening skills

1.12 Practice the method of listening to dictation

Another effective way to learn IELTS Listening is to practice with the dictation method. Sometimes you have tried to expose many different listening sources but your listening skills are still not good and there is not much improvement.

Maybe the reason is because you have not well recognized the sounds, words, accents, and word connections of native speakers. The solution to this problem is to try dictation.

Focus on listening to a short passage, transcribe 100% of what you hear, and check against the accompanying subtitles. Listen carefully and analyze every little detail about pronunciation, how to stress,... Thereby you will gradually become familiar with and better understand how to use English. In the long run, it will help you improve your IELTS Listening as expected.

Practicing English spelling and listening skills regularly helps to improve IELTS Listening skills very well

Please see more notes in the process of preparing for IELTS Listening in the following documents:

2. How to practice Listening test correctly and effectively

In this content, DOL will share with you how to do IELTS Listening effectively . First, you need to understand the common structure of the IELTS Listening test. As follows:

2.1 IELTS Listening test structure

Understanding the exam structure is the first step to conquering it. Within 30 minutes, you need to solve 40 questions in 4 different recordings. The details of the recordings are as follows:

• Part 1: Dialogue on everyday topics. Usually a call asking for bookings, trips, classes, etc.
• Part 2: Monologue on a specific topic. Be it about a schedule, monuments, history, directions, etc.
• Part 3: Dialogue about a topic in a school context. It could be between two students discussing a presentation topic or between a professor and a student.
• Part 4: Monologue on an academic topic. It can be about history, the change or birth of an invention, knowledge of a thing, etc.

2.2 Methods of practicing questions from DOL English

The secret of DOL's IELTS listening practice includes the following criteria:

• For those who are just starting out, practicing dictation is the best choice. When you experience the increasing difficulty of DOL's IELTS listening practice, you can both practice IELTS Listening and learn vocabulary and pronunciation. That's not to mention the inventory also has a variety of topics, so don't be afraid to get bored while practicing.
• For those of you who have a certain ability to listen but lack vocabulary, what you need to do is apply Linearthinking to the listening lesson. This is intended to help you take notes quickly, hear the main ideas easily, and reduce dependence on vocabulary.
• For you, you can hear the main keyword of the article but do not understand anything. Even if you can't get the idea to summarize the answer, practicing paraphrasing the listening passage will be a good solution. This helps you reduce your dependence on keywords when trying to listen to fully understand the topic.

2.3 Notes when self-training

When practicing, don't just focus on solving one problem after another. Don't stop thinking about where you went wrong, where you need to improve. Here are some notes from the DOL house for you with Listening skills:

• Be persistent: Always note your mistakes and make sure that if you encounter the same situation, you will not make the same mistake again.
• Don't rush: Try to start with something as simple as listening to the dictation first. Then start practice tests to get up to speed.
• Be careful and focused: Each lesson will have different requirements for the number of words to fill or a different limit for the number of words to be filled in. If you carelessly overwrite words, you will lose a sentence even though you have heard it. In addition, the "s" ending is also a real "trap" if you don't pay attention.
• Be proactive: Before entering the Listening Part 1, 2, 3 & 4 test, take the time to read the questions in advance. This will help you understand the main ideas you need to hear and avoid distracting information in the test.
• Focus on improving Listening in the present: DOL understands very well the feeling of knowing that he or she is wrong or missing a sentence and sits tormented so he misses the next sentence and "goes away" a listening lesson. So, if you make a mistake, then leave it for now. Because you still have other sentences to score, don't you?

3. General source for IELTS Listening practice questions

The recommended DOL books below are suitable for IELTS Listening band scores ranging from 4.0 - 7.0. Please review the content of each book to choose the right book for you.

3.1 Basic IELTS Listening

Main content: 5 common topics in IELTS Listening with effective test strategies. In addition, the book also provides related vocabulary in each topic.

Real pictures of Basic IELTS Listening book

3.2 Intensive IELTS Listening

Main content : Provide exercises in the form of common problems in IELTS Listening such as Short Answer, Multiple Choice, Map Labeling. And of course, strategies for each type of test will also be provided.

Real pictures of Intensive IELTS Listening book

3.3 Listening Strategies for IELTS

Main content : Provide 7 common types of questions in IELTS Listening with practice exercises with increasing difficulty.

Real pictures of Listening Strategies for IELTS book

3.4 IELTS Cambridge book series 7 - 17

Main content : Bedside pillow set for IELTS students. The book provides 4 Practice Tests of all 4 skills with close updates to the real exam each year. If you are looking for Practice Tests, do not miss this book.

Image of IELTS Cambrigde book series 7-17

3.5 IELTS Recent Actual Listening

Main content : True to the title, the book provides 6 real Listening tests of previous years with answers and key vocabulary synthesis.

Real pictures of IELTS Listening Recent Actual Tests book

3.6 Collins – Listening for IELTS

Main content : Similar to Intensive IELTS Listening, the book also provides common test types, test strategies, and practice exercises. The number of tests is 12.

Real pictures of the book Collins - Listening for IELTS

3.7 15 Days Practice for IELTS Listening

Main content : The book divides the content into 15 days with a different practice topic each day. With a clear layout and learning goals for each day, you will easily see your IELTS Listening practice progress.

Note that after the first time practicing the types of exercises, you will need to do the Practice Test in the book to see how much you progress.

Picture book 15 Days Practice for IELTS Listening

4. Website to practice IELTS Listening

4.1 DOL IELTS Listening Practice Tests

• Website link : https://tuhocielts.dolenglish.vn/

This is the aggregator site (

IELTS Listening Practice Tests) to practice Listening skills as well as other IELTS skills of DOL. On the web, there are many quality listening lessons with detailed explanations for you to practice and improve IELTS Listening at home.

Website interface of DOL

4.2 IELTS Online Test

• Website link : https://ieltsonlinetests.com/

The IELTS Online Test website offers an extremely large Listening Test store with a continuous update of new articles. However, double check your answers after the website marks them. Because according to the personal experience of the writer, sometimes there are errors in the answers from this page.

Website interface of IELTS Online Test

4.3 TED Talks

• Link website: https://www.ted.com/

After practicing listening skills, what do you do to have fun while performing? TED Talks is a very good choice for you because it not only increases your listening ability. But also to be exposed to many new ideas and inspirational talks.

TED's website interface

4.4 IELTS Speaking for Success

• Link website: https://successwithielts.com/

Another great way to practice IELTS listening effectively is to listen to Podcasts. IELTS Speaking for Success is a Podcast built by Host Maria and Rory. The goal is to help listeners improve their ability to speak and listen at the same time. What's better than listening to 2 native speakers ask and talk about IELTS at the same time?

Website interface of IELTS Speaking for Success

5. Frequently Asked Questions

Are there any apps that help improve English listening skills?

• Learn English Kids
• VoiceTube
• Talk English
• Hello English
• Spotlight
• MyWordBook 2
• TED Edu
• BBC Learning English
• ABA English With Films
• Two min English

What are the common types in IELTS Listening?

• Multiple Choice Card Format
• Matching Card Format
• Labeling A Map/ Diagram
• Dạng bài Form, Note, Table, Flow - Chart, Summary Completion
• Short Answer Question format
• Sentence Completion song format

Above are all the useful IELTS Listening practice that DOL has helped you to synthesize. Hopefully, you can choose the most effective and suitable way to do your homework. Try hard to practice to improve IELTS Listening and get the final score you want!