IELTS Listening MAPS: New Strategy + Practice

Summary

In this IELTS Listening tutorial, Asiya provides strategies to effectively tackle challenging map-related tasks, highlighting common traps and tips for success. She explains how to approach the map, read the cardinal directions, and follow the order of questions to avoid confusion. By offering real examples from a proposed traffic change map, Asiya demonstrates how to identify key landmarks and anticipate possible misdirections, emphasizing the importance of listening carefully for correct answers. This guide is an invaluable resource for IELTS candidates aiming to improve their map-reading skills and ace related listening tasks.

Takeaways

• 😀 Always start by studying the map carefully before listening to the recording. Familiarize yourself with roads, buildings, and key landmarks.
• 😀 🚫 Be mindful of common mistakes, such as writing words instead of letters when filling out the answer sheet. This can cost you valuable points.
• 😀 🗺️ The map title and key elements (roads, cardinal directions, etc.) give important clues about the location of the items you’ll be asked about.
• 😀 ⏱️ Questions come in order during the recording, so focus on the current question and don’t try to scan the entire map at once.
• 😀 🔄 If you miss an answer or make a mistake, listen to the recording again to find the correct answer. Don’t be afraid to replay it as needed.
• 😀 🏫 The entrance is often at the bottom of the map and can help guide your understanding of the layout. Use it to establish your starting point.
• 😀 📍 Pay attention to specific wording in the questions. Phrases like 'we decided' or 'we considered' indicate changes that can be crucial for identifying the right answers.
• 😀 ❌ Avoid getting confused by incorrect options that might be mentioned first in the recording. The correct answer often comes after a false statement.
• 😀 🎯 Focus on specific elements, such as traffic lights, pedestrian crossings, and parking changes, as they tend to be the focus of the questions in the map task.
• 😀 🏘️ Don’t overlook unique objects or landmarks on the map (e.g., supermarkets, community centers, playgrounds). They are often key to solving the task.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the IELTS Listening Maps task?

The main focus is to understand and navigate a map while listening to specific instructions, identifying locations, and labeling them accurately according to the audio recording.

What is the first strategy suggested to tackle map questions?

The first strategy is to study the map thoroughly before listening to the recording. This includes familiarizing oneself with the locations, cardinal directions, and key landmarks.

Why is it important to read the map title and question numbers first?

Reading the map title and question numbers first helps orient the listener and prepares them to follow the audio recording in the correct order, making it easier to locate answers.

What advice is given regarding when to look at the questions?

It is advised to wait until after studying the map before looking at the questions, as focusing on the map first helps prevent confusion when the recording begins.

What are common traps that listeners should avoid in the task?

Listeners should avoid traps such as answers that are mentioned first but later dismissed, incorrect options that sound similar, or details that apply to a different location or context.

How does the speaker suggest handling questions that are difficult to answer on the first attempt?

The speaker suggests listening to the recording a second time if the answer is not clear on the first attempt. If the listener still cannot find the answer, they should check it again after the correct answer is provided.

What is the significance of identifying a starting point on the map?

Identifying a starting point, usually at the entrance at the bottom of the map, helps listeners understand where the tour begins and makes it easier to follow the directions given in the recording.

What is an example of an incorrect answer trap mentioned in the video?

An example of an incorrect answer trap is when a listener hears an option like 'at present' but then hears 'we're going to change that,' indicating that the initial option is no longer valid.

Why is it important to cross out used options during the task?

Crossing out used options helps listeners keep track of which areas have been answered and clarifies what options remain, reducing the risk of making mistakes.

What is one specific detail about the proposed development in the second map?

One specific detail is that there will be a large sports center planned on the western side of the development, just below the road that branches off from London Road.