{"id":709048,"date":"2018-10-23T10:09:29","date_gmt":"2018-10-23T09:09:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/humorous-knowledge.flywheelsites.com\/?p=709048"},"modified":"2021-04-26T21:58:42","modified_gmt":"2021-04-26T20:58:42","slug":"ielts-listening-10-steps-towards-a-band-8","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ieltsadvantage.com\/2018\/10\/23\/ielts-listening-10-steps-towards-a-band-8\/","title":{"rendered":"IELTS Listening: 10 Steps Towards a Band 8"},"content":{"rendered":"

Our mission here at IELTS Advantage is to help pupils get the score they need on their IELTS exam. Recently, we have received an influx of requests for help with IELTS\u00a0Listening. You spoke and we heard you – this blog post will detail the 10 actions you must take if you need to score a Band 8 in IELTS Listening<\/a>.<\/p>\n

1. Stop looking for tips<\/h2>\n

A common misconception amongst IELTS pupils is that tips or tricks can help you secure the band you need.<\/p>\n

Unfortunately, this mentality will only waste precious time that you should spend studying.<\/p>\n

Tips don\u2019t bring results.<\/p>\n

Believing that you can trick your way into a good IELTS band will give you a false sense of security which will ultimately damage your overall score.<\/p>\n

The IELTS exam is monitored and regulated by seasoned professionals. It cannot be tricked and neither can the examiners. The only way to guarantee an excellent score is working for it.<\/p>\n

2. Listen to English every day<\/h2>\n

We all know that this is the most important step needed to develop your listening skills. Listening to the English language being used will allow you to gain a better understanding of its natural usage.<\/p>\n

If you are reading this article, then you have access to the internet.\u00a0Therefore, you have access to thousands of free resources that can help build your listening ability.<\/p>\n

Do you take a bus to work? Whether it\u2019s a twenty-minute journey or an hour-long journey, listening to podcasts<\/a> during your commute can be both beneficial and enjoyable.<\/p>\n

Do you cook your family dinner in the evenings? Make it a habit to listen to an English radio show while you do.<\/p>\n

Do you find yourself browsing Facebook aimlessly on your lunch break? Why not watch a TED Talk<\/a> on a topic that interests you?<\/p>\n

Your phone doesn\u2019t always have to be a distraction. When used wisely, it can become one of your best assets for IELTS preparation.<\/p>\n

If you would like recommendations for IELTS Listening<\/a> digital resources, please see the list of links below:<\/p>\n

TED Talks<\/a><\/h4>\n

Podcasts<\/a><\/h4>\n

YouTube Videos<\/a><\/h4>\n

3. Listen actively<\/h2>\n

A key method of improving your English skills through active listening is by listening to a range of conversation points from a variety of sources. This will subsequently introduce you to unfamiliar vocabulary and a broader range of accents.<\/p>\n

Listening actively can help improve your spelling, grammar and vocabulary \u2013 all of which are crucial in passing the IELTS Listening exam.<\/p>\n

One method that we recommend to our VIP Academy students is buying a notebook. Make sure to record any word you hear that you are unsure of. You should then review it – look it up in a dictionary, finding out for yourself how it is used in a sentence.<\/p>\n

Depending on your specific areas of weakness, you can then add in antonyms, synonyms, collocations and pronunciation.<\/p>\n

Your vocabulary range, spelling ability and grammar cannot<\/strong> be improved by memorising long, tedious lists of words. Furthermore, this is not an organic way of learning the English language and will result in your eventually forgetting the information that you forced your brain to remember under.<\/p>\n

4. Have a strategy<\/h2>\n

It\u2019s important that you remember that the Listening section of the IELTS test consists of a number of different questions.<\/p>\n

Each type of question requires a different type of skill and a separate strategy.<\/h4>\n

Whether you use our strategies<\/a> or come up with your own, it is important that you have a system that you can follow step-by-step.<\/p>\n

Having a strategy means you will know exactly what to do on the day of your exam, boosting both your grade and your confidence massively.<\/p>\n

To learn more about the listening strategies we recommend, see the free articles and video lessons below:<\/p>\n

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