IELTS Listening Matching Information | TIPS, STRATEGY, PRACTICE

Summary

This video script offers strategies for tackling IELTS listening matching information questions, a common challenge for test takers. It explains the format, where these questions appear, and emphasizes the importance of following the order of questions and recognizing exact words or synonyms. The speaker suggests memorizing options before the recording, provides an exercise to identify paraphrasing, and demonstrates how to select answers in both paper-based and computer-based tests. The script concludes with a practice task involving a dialogue about hotels, highlighting the need for careful listening and option management.

Takeaways

• 📘 The speaker, Asiya, discusses strategies for tackling matching information questions in the IELTS listening section.
• 🔍 Matching information questions typically appear in Part 2 (monologue) or Part 3 (dialogue) of the IELTS listening test.
• 📝 Cambridge IELTS books, prepared by Cambridge English, are highly recommended for practice as they closely resemble the actual test.
• ⚖️ In matching information tasks, there are always more options than questions, and each option can be used only once.
• 👂 The order of questions corresponds to the order of information presented in the listening material.
• 🗣️ Questions in the listening test are not paraphrased, but the options often are, requiring test-takers to identify synonyms and paraphrasing.
• 🧐 Asiya suggests memorizing the options before the recording starts to quickly locate the correct answer during the test.
• 📑 For paper-based tests, answers must be letters, not words, and used options should be crossed out to avoid repetition.
• 🖥️ In computer-based tests, options can be dragged to questions, automatically disappearing from the list and allowing for easy replacement.
• 🏨 Asiya provides a practice task involving a dialogue about hotels, demonstrating how to apply the strategies discussed.
• 📝 She emphasizes the importance of focusing on the meaning rather than just keywords when answering matching information questions.
• 📈 Asiya encourages viewers to practice and comment on their performance, and to share other question types they find difficult for future video topics.

Q & A

What is the main topic of the video script?

The main topic of the video script is discussing strategies for tackling matching information questions in the IELTS listening test.

Where do matching information questions typically appear in the IELTS listening test?

Matching information questions typically appear in Part 2, which is a monologue by one speaker, or Part 3, which is a dialogue between two people.

What is the source of the practice task mentioned in the script?

The practice task comes from the Cambridge IELTS books, which are prepared by Cambridge English, the organization that prepares IELTS papers.

How many options and questions are there in the example task provided?

In the example task, there are eight options (from A to H) and six questions (from 15 to 20).

What is the first tip provided for answering matching information questions?

The first tip is to follow the questions in order, as they come in the same sequence as the information presented in the listening material.

Why is it important to read all the options before the recording starts?

Reading all the options before the recording starts helps to memorize them, making it easier to locate the correct option quickly during the listening test.

What is the difficulty with matching information questions in terms of options?

The difficulty with matching information questions is that the options are fully paraphrased, with no single keyword repeated, requiring test-takers to look for synonyms and paraphrasing.

What is the purpose of the exercise with phrases or sentences from the recording?

The purpose of the exercise is to check how well the viewer can recognize paraphrasing and match the phrases or sentences to the correct options.

What is the advice for selecting answers in a paper-based test?

In a paper-based test, the answer must be a letter, not a word, and used options should be crossed out to reduce the number of remaining options and make it easier to answer the remaining questions.

How does the computer-based test handle the selection and replacement of options?

In a computer-based test, options are dragged to the questions, automatically disappearing from the list. If a replacement is needed, an option can be dragged back or another option can be dropped on top of the previous one, causing it to jump back.

What is the speaker's favorite IELTS listening question type and why?

The speaker's favorite IELTS listening question type is multiple-choice questions, although the reason is not provided in the script.

What resource does the speaker offer for IELTS preparation?

The speaker offers an IELTS study plan with essential steps for preparation and links to resources.

Outlines

00:00

🎯 IELTS Listening Matching Information Strategies

This paragraph introduces strategies for tackling matching information questions in the IELTS listening test, focusing on parts two and three. The speaker, Asiya, shares insights gained from solving numerous questions and offers a practice task from Cambridge IELTS books. She explains the format, where there are more options than questions and each option can be used only once. Asiya emphasizes the importance of following the order of questions, recognizing exact words for the questions, and understanding that options are heavily paraphrased, requiring attention to synonyms. She also provides an exercise to practice recognizing paraphrased options and suggests memorizing options before the recording for quicker identification during the test.

05:04

🏢 Understanding Paraphrasing in IELTS Listening

In this paragraph, Asiya continues the discussion on matching information questions, focusing on the challenge of recognizing paraphrased options. She uses examples to illustrate how options are paraphrased in the test, such as 'not a permanent job' for a maternity cover position and 'chance for rapid promotion' for quick career advancement opportunities. Asiya advises test takers to concentrate on the meaning rather than keywords, memorize options before the recording, and cross out used options to simplify the selection process. She also explains the differences in answering between paper-based and computer-based tests, highlighting the drag-and-drop feature of the latter.

10:04

📝 Practicing IELTS Listening with Hotel Scenarios

The final paragraph presents a practical exercise where the listener hears a conversation between a man and an official at a tourist information office. The man is looking for accommodation, and the official describes various hotel options based on location and facilities. Asiya uses this scenario to demonstrate how to apply the strategies discussed earlier, such as identifying key details and distinguishing between options that have been paraphrased. She points out the importance of listening for specific features like 'recently opened' for a new hotel or 'indoor swimming pool' for a particular facility. The exercise aims to improve the listener's ability to match information accurately based on the conversation's content.

Keywords

💡IELTS Listening

IELTS Listening is a section of the International English Language Testing System, which assesses the listening skills of non-native English speakers. In the video, it is the main focus as the speaker discusses strategies for tackling one of the trickiest parts of this section, specifically matching information questions.

💡Matching Information Questions

Matching Information Questions are a type of question in IELTS Listening that requires test-takers to connect statements or pieces of information with the correct options. The video provides strategies for solving these questions, emphasizing the importance of understanding the context rather than just looking for keywords.

💡Cambridge IELTS

Cambridge IELTS refers to the official practice materials for the IELTS exam, prepared by Cambridge English. The video mentions these books as a reliable source for practicing matching information questions, indicating their closeness to the actual exam format.

💡Paraphrasing

Paraphrasing in the context of the video refers to the restatement of information in different words, which is a common technique in IELTS Listening to test a candidate's comprehension. The speaker explains that while questions may be paraphrased, options in matching information questions are fully paraphrased, requiring test-takers to recognize synonyms.

💡Synonyms

Synonyms are words that have the same or similar meanings. The video emphasizes the importance of recognizing synonyms when dealing with matching information questions, as options are often paraphrased without repeating keywords.

💡Maternity Cover

Maternity Cover refers to a temporary job position filled while an employee is on maternity leave. In the script, it is used as an example of a non-permanent job, illustrating how the concept is paraphrased in the listening exercise.

💡Rapid Promotion

Rapid Promotion indicates quick career advancement opportunities. The video uses it as an example of a concept that must be identified through paraphrasing, as the script describes making one's way up the career ladder quickly.

💡Intensive Work

Intensive Work describes work that requires a lot of effort or concentration. The video contrasts it with 'fun' to illustrate the concept of work-life balance, using the phrase 'work hard, play hard' to demonstrate paraphrasing.

💡Accommodation

Accommodation refers to a place to live or stay, often provided as part of a job offer. In the script, the possibility of renting a small cottage on the estate is given as an example of accommodation being available as part of a job offer.

💡Experience Not Essential

This phrase indicates that prior work experience is not a requirement for a job. The video uses it to show how the concept of lacking experience is conveyed without repeating the exact words, by mentioning that someone has just completed a training course.

💡Local Travel

Local Travel refers to traveling within a nearby or local area. The video script uses it in the context of a job that requires visiting centers in the region, demonstrating how the concept is paraphrased in the listening exercise.

Highlights

Introduction to strategies for tackling IELTS listening matching information questions.

Matching information questions typically appear in part two (monologue) or part three (dialogue) of the IELTS listening test.

Cambridge IELTS books are recommended for practice as they are prepared by the organization that administers the IELTS.

In matching information tasks, there are always more options than questions, and each option is used only once.

Computer-based tests allow for dragging options to questions, which automatically removes them from the list.

The order of questions corresponds to the order of information in the listening passage.

Exact words from the questions may be heard in the listening passage, unlike the options which are paraphrased.

Identifying synonyms and paraphrasing is key to matching information questions as options are fully paraphrased.

An exercise is provided to practice recognizing paraphrased options in the listening passage.

Memorizing options before the recording starts can help quickly locate the correct answer.

For paper-based tests, answers must be a letter, and used options should be crossed out to simplify the process.

Computer-based tests simplify the process by automatically removing selected options and allowing for easy replacement.

Practice tasks involve listening to a dialogue at a tourist information office about hotel options.

Key words and phrases in the dialogue help match the correct hotel to the question asked.

The importance of distinguishing between similar options, such as different types of hotel pools.

Crossing out used options is crucial to avoid repeating them in paper-based tests.

Encouragement for viewers to share their performance and difficulties in other IELTS question types for future video content.

Promotion of an IELTS study plan and resources for comprehensive exam preparation.

Transcripts

hi there it's asiya let's talk about one of the  trickiest questions in ielts listening matching  

information while preparing for this lesson i  solved a number of questions of this type and i  

found some strategies that can help you answer  these questions let's talk about them first  

and then we try to solve several practice  questions together okay let's get started

okay matching information questions appear  either in part two which is a monologue  

by one speaker or part three which is a dialogue  between two people here is a task so it comes  

from cambridge ielts books and cambridge english  is the organization that prepares ielts papers  

so their practice tests are the closest  to the real thing so here is a task  

at the top you have a box with options from  a to age and at the bottom you have questions  

from 15 to 20. you always have more options  than questions in this case eight options and  

six questions and you use each option only once  there are two proofs of that so first of all look  

at the task choose six answers from the box and  we have six questions so you use each only once  

but also when you take a computer-based test  to answer this type of question you simply take  

an option and you drag it to the question and it  automatically disappears from the list of options  

okay the first tip is follow the questions imagine  information questions questions come in order so  

questions are those at the bottom with numbers and  you will hear about fresh food commercial manager  

first then agronomist than fresh produce buyer and  so on another good tip is that questions are not  

paraphrased so you will actually hear the exact  words fresh food commercial manager and so on  

the only paraphrasing is in question number 18.  the garden center sales manager is the sales  

manager for a chain of garden centers i'm sure you  will agree that it's a very easy paraphrasing the  

difficulty of matching information is that options  are paraphrased and they are fully paraphrased not  

a single keyword will be repeated so you need to  look for synonyms and paraphrasing i've prepared  

a little exercise for you to check how well you  can recognize paraphrasing i've selected the  

phrases or sentences from the recording and you  need to find which option they're talking about  

first let's read all the options you  should do that before the recording starts  

a not a permanent job b involves leading a team  experience not essential intensive work but also  

fun chance to earn more through overtime chance  for rapid promotion accommodation available local  

travel involved okay these are our options  now find which option they're talking about  

available for a 12 month maternity cover  i'm going to give you a few seconds

okay which answer is this a not a permanent job  so you will cover for someone who's on maternity  

someone who's having a baby so this means  that this job is not permanent next there  

are good opportunities for the right person  to quickly make their way up the career ladder

a few seconds look through all the options  which one is this the answer is f chance for  

rapid promotion if you make your way up the career  ladder quickly it means you get promoted quickly  

next the staff work hard  but they play hard as well

which option is this

the answer is d intensive work but also fun  when you're talking about someone and you hear  

work hard play hard it means that someone works  very hard but then they have a lot of fun as well  

next the possibility of renting  a small cottage on the estate

which option is this we have just a few  left that's accommodation available if  

you rent a cottage it means you live there so  that's your accommodation the company may be  

prepared to consider someone who has just  completed an appropriate training course

so which option is this

experience not essential if someone  just completed a training course  

it means they haven't worked yet  they don't have any experience

you will be visiting centers in  the region this is the last one

and the answer is h local travel involved if  you'll be visiting centers in the region you  

will travel there and as you can see not a single  keyword has been repeated when they're talking  

about a maternity cover it's not a permanent  job or completed a training course experience  

not essential work hard play hard intensive work  but fun so to answer these type of questions you  

really need to concentrate on the meaning  not just look for some keywords my tip is  

try to memorize the options read all of them  before the recording begins and try to memorize  

as many as you can then it will be easier  for you to locate the correct option quickly  

now let's talk about selecting your  answers if you take a paper-based test  

then your answer must be a letter  not a word so be careful about it  

you should also cross out all the used options  then you will have fewer and fewer options left  

and it will be easier and easier for  you to answer the remaining questions  

if you take a computer-based test then you will  see your questions on the left and options on the  

right and you take an option and you drag it to  the question and then it just stays there so it  

automatically disappears from the list of options  and if you want to replace it you can either drag  

it back or you can just take another option and  drop it on top of it and the previous option will  

automatically jump back okay now let's  try to solve several practice tasks  

ready here they are you will hear a man talking  to an official at a tourist information office

can i help you yes i was wanting somewhere to stay  for a few days a four or five star hotel can you  

tell me something about the possibilities  okay right well there are five hotels that  

might interest you were you wanting a city center  location or would you be interested in something a  

bit further out well i do have a car so i could  go for either you've heard 30 seconds but there  

was no answer quite often the first few phrases  don't contain any answers to help you settle  

keep on looking for the answer to question number  one a hotel in a rural area well there are two  

central hotels in the range you're looking  for there's carlton house and the imperial  

they're both near the main square but if you've  got your own transport you might be interested  

in the royal oak that's out in the country about  10 kilometers away very peaceful then there's the  

bridge hotel and the majestic they're both in town  but not in the center they're out on the airport  

road here is a transcript the key words are  you might be interested in the royal oak that's  

out in the country about 10 kilometers away very  peaceful out in the country means in a rural area  

now you should look for the second answer only  opened recently um that might be a bit far out  

actually okay now the other two you mentioned in  the city center can you tell me a bit about them  

well they're both excellent hotels if you want  something with a bit of character carlton house  

is quite unusual it's a very old building that  was originally a large private house it was bought  

by the vani's chain and they completely  refurbished it they took their first guests  

just a few months ago but it's already got an  excellent reputation that's a five-star hotel  

the key words are they completely refurbished it  they took their first guests just a few months ago  

it means that this hotel opened recently  previously in the paragraph they talked about a  

very old building but this is just a distraction  the question is not about a new building we're  

looking for a hotel that opened recently now  let's continue question number three office  

facilities for business functions or there's the  imperial which is a much more modern building  

that also has its own gym and it also has  internet connection and meeting rooms it's  

used for conferences and corporate events as  well as private guests that's five star as well  

here we can hear that the imperial has  internet connection and meetings rooms it's  

used for conferences and corporate events business  functions are business events such as conferences  

you see not a single word is repeated but the  meaning is the same and the last question a  

hotel with an indoor swimming pool does it have  a swimming pool as well as a gym no the royal  

oak has an outdoor pool which is lovely in the  summer but the only hotel with an indoor pool  

is the bridge hotel it doesn't have a gym though  the majestic is planning to build a swimming pool  

in a fitness center but it's not finished yet i  see well i think i'll probably go for one of the  

city center hotels here is our answer have a look  at the question first you see it's not just about  

a swimming pool it's about an indoor swimming  pool just from this detail you can already guess  

that there may be a hotter with an outdoor  swimming pool too indeed that's royal oak  

that's an incorrect answer and also we've already  used this option to answer another question that's  

why you should cross out options as you use  them okay that's the end of the practice so  

how many questions out of four could you answer  correctly please tell me in the comments also tell  

me what other question types do you find difficult  in ielts listening i'll make videos about them  

my personal favorite is multiple choice  questions so i'll link this video right here  

and if you don't have our ielts study plan yet  

with all the essential steps for your  preparation and links to resources here it is  

thank you so much for watching me today good  luck with your preparation and your exam bye