– English Lyrics

Lyrics & Translation

[English]

Many IELTS general training candidates struggle to achieve

band 7 plus in the listening test because

they don't use the right strategies during the

exam.

But why do some IELTS candidates get band

7 plus while others don't?

The answer is smart listening strategies and this

is what you'll learn in this video.

I'll give you 10 essential tips you must

know to score band 7 plus.

If you are going to take your IELTS

general training exam soon, check out my IELTS

general materials.

There I teach you everything you need to

score high.

I show you step by step how to

give high scoring answers and of course we

do many practice tests together so you will

feel confident for your test.

You can find the link in the description

box.

And now let's dive in.

Tip number one is essential for scoring band

7 plus.

Pay attention to distractors.

IELTS general listening includes distractors, that is incorrect

information mentioned before or after the correct answer.

Speakers might mention multiple options, change their minds

or correct themselves and you need to identify

the final correct information.

Recognizing distractors is crucial for band 7 plus

because it tests your ability to follow the

complete conversation and identify the most accurate information,

not just the first thing you hear.

In the following you will listen to a

recording and see a multiple choice question.

When the recording ends you have five seconds

to think about which answer is correct, A,

B or C.

Then you have five seconds to write the

correct answer in the comments.

Here's the question.

Now listen to the audio.

Well I used to think swimming was best

for beginners and cycling is definitely popular these

days.

But honestly I'd say running is probably the

most accessible option for people just starting out.

Notice that here all three options are mentioned

in the audio.

When this occurs the first option is often

wrong.

Make sure you wait until you hear the

speaker's final decision or conclusion.

Another common distractor is when a speaker gives

his answer then changes it.

This is also referred to as self-correction.

Listen to the following recording and answer the

question.

Again after the recording you have five seconds

to think about the correct answer.

Then write the correct answer in the comments.

The library closes at 6 pm on Saturdays.

Oh wait, actually I'm wrong about that.

It's 5 30 pm.

As you can hear the speaker mentions two

different times.

The incorrect time comes first, then the speaker

corrects himself and mentions the correct time.

The correct answer is 5 30 pm not

6 pm.

Tip number two is super important.

Read the questions before the audio starts.

You get time before each section to read

the questions so use it wisely.

This preparation time allows you to predict what

information you'll need to listen for and helps

you stay focused during the recording.

Reading ahead helps you understand the context and

identify key information you need to catch.

This is crucial for achieving band 7 plus

because it prevents you from missing important details

while you're still processing previous questions.

For example in part one you might see

a question like this.

What time does the swimming pool close on

weekdays?

If you read this question before the listening

starts you know to listen specifically for days

of the week and closing times.

You can even predict that the answer might

be in 24 hour format or use words

like evening or specific times.

Next listen for linking words.

The speakers in the listening test often use

linking words to connect ideas, show contrast, add

information or indicate sequence.

Words like however, furthermore, on the other hand

or as a result signal important transitions and

often introduce key information.

Recognizing linking words is essential for higher bands

because they help you follow the speaker's logic

and predict when crucial information is about to

be presented.

For instance when you hear however or but

you know that the speaker is about to

contradict or modify previous information.

Understanding linking words is crucial for answering the

questions correctly.

Next listen to the recording and answer the

question.

As usual after listening to the recording you

have five seconds to think about the correct

answer.

Then you have five seconds to write the

correct answer in the comments.

We were thinking about having the meeting at

1 pm initially but that seemed too early.

We then decided to meet at 2 pm

however we've changed it to 3 pm.

Here all three times are mentioned but the

linking word however signals that the speaker is

changing the previous information.

The correct answer is C.

Let's move on to tip number four.

Focus on keywords and synonyms.

The IELTS general listening test often uses paraphrasing,

meaning the exact words in the questions won't

always match what you hear in the audio.

Instead you'll hear synonyms or different ways of

expressing the same idea.

Understanding this concept is essential for band 7

plus performance because it tests your ability to

recognize meaning rather than just match words.

You need to listen for the meaning behind

the words not just the exact vocabulary from

the question.

For instance if the question asks about accommodation

you might hear place to stay, housing or

somewhere to live in the recording.

Similarly the word inexpensive in the question could

be cheap, affordable or budget-friendly in the

audio.

By the way if you want more videos

for IELTS general writing click the like button

and write yes in the comments.

If you want something else tell me your

video wish in the comments so I know

what you would like to see on this

channel.

Now let's have a look at six more

tips that help you score high in IELTS

general writing.

The next tip is check for spelling.

Correct spelling is super important in the IELTS

general listening test because even a small mistake

means a wrong answer.

Therefore you must ensure you spell the answers

correctly.

Paying attention to spelling can boost your band

score significantly.

Make sure you check common spelling errors like

double letters in words such as accommodation or

beginning and make sure you've used the correct

form of the word.

In particular there are three words that IELTS

general candidates often don't spell correctly.

In the following I will say these three

words and you have to tell me how

they are written.

I will say each word twice.

After that you have five seconds to think

about how the word is written.

Then you have five seconds to write the

word in the comments.

Let's get started.

How do you write this word?

Wednesday.

Wednesday.

Let's continue with the next word.

February.

February.

The third word is definitely.

Definitely.

Now let's take a look at the correct

answers.

Wednesday is written with a d in the

middle that's often silent when we speak.

A common mistake is leaving out this d.

February is spelled with an r before the

u.

Many people miss this r when writing.

Definitely is written with an i before the

n.

Don't spell it like defiantly which is a

completely different word.

Also remember that capitalization is important in English

spelling too.

Proper nouns such as names of people, cities,

countries and so on must start with a

capital letter.

If you don't capitalize correctly the answer is

wrong.

Tip number six is predict answers.

When reading the question try to predict what

type of answer you need.

Is it a number, a name, a place

or a specific category?

This prediction helps you focus your listening and

catch the right information quickly.

Take a look at this question.

How much does the gym membership cost per

month?

When you read this question you can predict

your listening for a So you know that

you have to focus on prices mentioned in

the audio.

Tip number seven is pay attention to the

instructions.

Each question specifies the maximum number of words

allowed such as no more than two words

or one word only.

If you exceed this limit you get zero

marks regardless of whether your information is correct.

Strict adherence to word limits is crucial for

plus because it shows you can follow instructions

precisely while extracting the most relevant information.

For example if a question asks for no

more than three words and you hear the

new swimming pool facility you should write swimming

pool facility.

If you write more words the answer is

wrong.

Tip number eight is understand the question types.

The IELTS general listening test uses specific question

formats.

Multiple choice, matching questions, map labeling and so

on.

Each type requires a different listening approach and

answering strategy.

Mastering question types is crucial for getting band

seven plus because it allows you to quickly

adapt your listening focus and know exactly what

format your answer should take.

For example in matching exercises you need to

listen for relationships between items.

In diagram labeling you focus on spatial descriptions

and directional language like to the left of

opposite or next to the entrance.

Let's check out tip number nine.

Stay calm when you miss an answer.

If you miss an answer don't panic or

spend time worrying about it.

The audio continues so if you focus on

missed questions you may miss subsequent answers too.

When you realize you've missed something quickly move

your attention to the next question.

You can make an educated guess during the

transfer time if needed.

Finally tip number 10 is don't leave any

answers blank.

There's no penalty for wrong answers in IELTS

general listening so you should always write something

even if you're not completely sure.

An educated guess gives you a chance to

score marks while a blank answer guarantees zero

points.

This strategy is vital if you want to

score band seven or higher.

It ensures that you attempt every question and

thus maximizes your potential score.

If you missed an answer completely look at

surrounding questions for context clues or make a

logical guess based on the question type.

That's it.

These are 10 top tips for achieving band

seven plus in the IELTS general training listening

test.

I hope you liked this video.

Don't forget to like, subscribe and click the

bell icon so you are notified when the

next video comes out.

Also share this video with your friends so

they can improve their IELTS general writing score

too.

See you in the next video.

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
strategy /ˈstræt.ə.dʒi/ B1	noun - a plan of action designed to achieve a goal
distractor /dɪˈstræk.tər/ C1	noun - an option or piece of information that misleads or diverts attention
listen /ˈlɪs.ən/ A1	verb - to give attention to sounds or spoken words
identify /aɪˈden.tɪ.faɪ/ B1	verb - to recognise and name someone or something
accurate /ˈæk.jʊ.rət/ B2	adjective - correct in all details; exact
predict /prɪˈdɪkt/ B2	verb - to say what will happen before it occurs
focus /ˈfoʊ.kəs/ B1	verb - to direct attention to something noun - the center of interest or activity
keyword /ˈkiː.wɜːrd/ B2	noun - an important word that conveys the main idea
synonym /ˈsɪn.ə.nɪm/ B1	noun - a word that has the same or nearly the same meaning as another word
paraphrase /ˈpær.ə.freɪz/ C1	verb - to restate something using different words, especially to achieve greater clarity noun - a restatement of a text or passage giving the meaning in another form
spelling /ˈspɛl.ɪŋ/ B1	noun - the way in which a word is written, i.e., the order of its letters
capitalization /ˌkæp.ɪ.təl.aɪˈzeɪ.ʃən/ C1	noun - the use of capital letters at the beginning of words or names
confidence /ˈkɒn.fɪ.dəns/ B2	noun - a feeling of self‑assurance arising from one's abilities
essential /ɪˈsen.ʃəl/ B2	adjective - absolutely necessary; extremely important
band /bænd/ B2	noun - a score range in IELTS indicating a level of proficiency
recording /rɪˈkɔːr.dɪŋ/ B1	noun - the act of capturing sound or music for later playback
practice /ˈpræk.tɪs/ A2	verb - to repeat an activity or skill so as to improve performance noun - repeated exercise in or performance of an activity or skill
answer /ˈæn.sər/ A1	noun - a response to a question or problem verb - to reply to a question or problem
question /ˈkwes.tʃən/ A1	noun - a sentence or phrase used to find out information
information /ˌɪn.fəˈmeɪ.ʃən/ B1	noun - facts or details that are communicated or learned about something