New Strategy For IELTS Listening Multiple Choice

Summary

This video offers a strategic approach to tackling multiple choice questions in the IELTS listening test, a common stumbling block for students. It highlights the importance of understanding the unique challenges these questions present and proposes a step-by-step strategy that top-scoring students use to achieve Band 9. The script emphasizes reading the questions carefully, identifying key differences between options, and not getting fixated on a single question. It also advises on the significance of listening for the whole section to avoid being misled by distractors and suggests making educated guesses when unsure. The video concludes with a resource for finding reliable, free practice tests online.

Takeaways

• 📝 Multiple choice questions are a common reason why students fail the IELTS listening test, but they can be made easier with the right strategies.
• 🔍 It's crucial to read and understand the multiple choice questions before the test to recognize the differences between options and anticipate the questions.
• 👀 Students often make the mistake of focusing too much on previous questions and not moving on to read the multiple choice options, which can lead to missing out on important information.
• 📍 Underlining or identifying keywords in the questions and options is a helpful technique to distinguish between similar choices and understand the question requirements.
• 💡 The script emphasizes the importance of not just hearing the first answer but considering the entire context and the specific question being asked in the multiple choice format.
• 🧐 Listening tests are not just about hearing but also about thinking critically and making connections between the recording and the questions.
• 🚫 Avoid getting stuck on one question; if you lose focus, make an educated guess and move on to ensure you don't miss subsequent questions.
• ⚠️ Be cautious of qualification statements like 'but' or 'however', as they can change the meaning of an answer within the recording.
• 📑 Develop a step-by-step strategy for tackling multiple choice questions, including reading instructions, understanding questions, identifying keywords, and being aware of synonyms.
• 🎯 Listen for the whole section related to a question, not just the first relevant information you hear, to avoid being misled by distractors or changes in the speaker's mind.
• ✅ If confident in an answer, mark it with a tick, but continue to listen as the correct answer may change; make an educated guess if unsure and move on.

Q & A

Why are multiple choice questions considered challenging in the IELTS listening test?

Multiple choice questions are challenging because they require not only listening skills but also the ability to understand the nuances of the language and differentiate between similar options.

What is the first step recommended when encountering multiple choice questions in the IELTS listening test?

The first step is to read the multiple choice questions as soon as you finish the previous section, ensuring you understand the differences between the options and what the upcoming questions are about.

Why is it not advisable to focus too much on one question in the IELTS listening test?

Focusing too much on one question can lead to losing focus on the rest of the questions, which may result in missing out on answering subsequent questions correctly.

What is the significance of underlining or identifying keywords in multiple choice questions?

Identifying keywords helps in focusing on the main aspects of the question and the options, making it easier to differentiate between similar choices and understand the requirements of the question.

What should a test taker avoid doing when listening to the recording in the IELTS listening test?

A test taker should avoid focusing on just the first answer they hear and write it down without considering the specific question, as the IELTS listening test is a thinking test that requires understanding the context of the question.

Why is it important to listen to the whole section of the recording in the IELTS listening test?

Listening to the whole section helps in understanding the context and any changes in the speaker's mind or distractors that might affect the choice of the correct answer.

What should a test taker do if they lose focus on a particular question in the IELTS listening test?

If a test taker loses focus on a question, they should make an educated guess and move on to the next question to avoid missing out on the rest of the questions.

How should a test taker approach qualification statements like 'but' or 'however' in the IELTS listening test?

Test takers should be cautious of qualification statements as they can change the meaning of a sentence. It's important to consider the whole sentence, not just the first part.

What is the recommended strategy for answering multiple choice questions in the IELTS listening test?

The recommended strategy includes reading the instructions carefully, understanding the question, highlighting keywords, considering synonyms or paraphrasing, listening for the whole section, and making an educated guess if unsure.

Where can one find reliable practice tests for the IELTS listening test?

The video script mentions another video that guides viewers to where they can find real, reliable practice tests for free on the internet.

Outlines

00:00

🎯 Tackling IELTS Listening Multiple Choice Questions

This paragraph introduces the video's focus on overcoming the challenges of multiple choice questions in the IELTS listening test. It emphasizes the common pitfalls students face and offers a structured approach to tackle these questions effectively. The speaker promises to reveal unique problems associated with this question type, provide tips from high-scoring students, and share a VIP strategy for success. The importance of understanding the question and options before the test, moving on from difficult questions, and focusing on keywords is highlighted.

05:02

📝 Strategies for Navigating IELTS Listening Multiple Choice

The second paragraph delves into specific strategies for approaching multiple choice questions in the IELTS listening test. It advises against getting fixated on a single question and the importance of moving on to avoid missing subsequent questions. The speaker outlines a step-by-step strategy that includes reading instructions carefully, identifying keywords, understanding option differences, and being aware of synonyms and paraphrasing. The paragraph also cautions against prematurely choosing an answer based on the first thing heard and emphasizes the need to listen for the entire section to avoid being misled by distractors.

10:03

🚀 Implementing a Step-by-Step Approach to Multiple Choice

The final paragraph provides a detailed step-by-step strategy for answering multiple choice questions in the IELTS listening test. It begins with the fundamental advice of reading instructions and questions carefully, followed by highlighting keywords and considering synonyms. The speaker suggests listening to the entire section to catch all relevant information, including potential changes in the speaker's mind or distractors. The strategy concludes with making an educated guess if unsure, ensuring that the listener has a systematic approach to maximize their score on test day.

Keywords

💡IELTS

IELTS stands for International English Language Testing System, which is a globally recognized test for non-native English speakers to demonstrate their English language proficiency. In the context of the video, IELTS is the main subject as the script discusses strategies for tackling multiple choice questions in the listening test, which is a critical part of the IELTS exam.

💡Multiple Choice Questions

Multiple choice questions are a type of question where respondents are given a question and several possible answers, out of which they must select the correct one. In the video, these questions are identified as a common challenge in the IELTS listening test, and the script provides strategies to address these difficulties.

💡Band 9

Band 9 in IELTS refers to the highest possible score a candidate can achieve in each module of the test. The script mentions tips used by 'Band 9 students' to excel in the multiple choice section of the IELTS listening test, indicating the effectiveness of the strategies discussed.

💡Strategy

A strategy in the context of this video refers to a systematic approach or method designed to achieve a particular goal, in this case, excelling in multiple choice questions on the IELTS listening test. The script outlines a step-by-step strategy that is taught to VIP students and shared with the viewers.

💡Keywords

Keywords are significant words or phrases that encapsulate the main ideas or topics within a text. The script emphasizes the importance of identifying keywords in the questions and options to facilitate understanding and comparison, which is crucial for answering multiple choice questions correctly.

💡Synonyms

Synonyms are words that have the same or similar meanings. The video script advises students to be aware of synonyms or paraphrasing in the listening test, as these can indicate the correct answer when the exact keyword is not used in the audio.

💡Distractors

Distractors are incorrect options in multiple choice questions designed to mislead the test-taker. The script warns about the presence of distractors in the IELTS listening test and advises students to listen to the entire section before choosing an answer to avoid being misled.

💡Qualification Statements

Qualification statements are phrases that modify or limit the meaning of a previous statement, often introduced by words like 'but' or 'however'. The script cautions students to be attentive to such statements as they can change the intended meaning of an answer in the context of the listening test.

💡Educational Guess

An educational guess refers to making an informed choice when faced with uncertainty, based on available information or educated intuition. The video script suggests using an educated guess for questions that a student finds difficult, moving on quickly to maintain momentum in the test.

💡Practice Tests

Practice tests are mock examinations that help prepare for an actual test by simulating its format and content. The script concludes by encouraging students to apply the learned strategies through practice tests, and mentions a resource where free, reliable practice tests can be found.

Highlights

Multiple choice questions are a key reason why students fail the IELTS listening test.

The video aims to simplify the complexity of multiple choice questions in the IELTS listening test.

Students are advised to read multiple choice questions immediately after finishing the preceding questions.

Understanding the difference between options is crucial for answering multiple choice questions correctly.

Students often make the mistake of focusing too much on one question, risking subsequent errors.

Underlining or identifying keywords in each question can aid in comprehension and differentiation.

The importance of distinguishing between similar options is emphasized for successful answering.

Avoiding the trap of choosing the first answer heard is crucial for multiple choice success.

The IELTS listening test is as much a thinking test as it is a listening test, requiring analysis and judgment.

Staying focused and not getting lost on one question is essential to answer multiple choice questions effectively.

Being decisive in choosing an answer is important, even if it requires making an educated guess.

Qualification statements like 'but' or 'however' can change the meaning of an answer and should be heeded.

A step-by-step strategy is provided for tackling multiple choice questions effectively.

Reading the instructions carefully is the first step in the strategy for multiple choice questions.

Highlighting keywords and understanding the differences between options are part of the strategy.

Being aware of synonyms and paraphrasing in the listening test can help identify the correct answer.

Listening to the whole section rather than just the first relevant information is advised.

Making an educated guess is the final step if unsure of the correct answer.

The video concludes with a resource for finding free, reliable IELTS practice tests online.

Transcripts

multiple choice questions are one of the

key Reasons Why students fail the IELTS

listening test these are one of the most

challenging questions but they are

actually much much easier than you think

and that's what this video is going to

do first of all we're going to show you

the unique problems that multiple choice

questions bring up and how to solve

those problems we're also going to give

you tips at our band 9 students have

used to get about nine in IELTS listing

for multiple choice questions and then

finally we're going to give you the same

strategy that we give our VIP students

for multiple choice questions all you

have to do is learn that strategy step

by step apply it to practice test and

then you can sit the test on test day

and if you get multiple choice questions

you're going to be very happy you're

going to get full marks so let's have a

look at multiple choice questions

multiple choice questions are going to

look like this will normally be a series

of questions there will be a question

and then there will be three or four

options your goal is to pick the correct

answer so let's think about unique

problems and give you some unique tips

for IELTS listening multiple choice

questions the first thing you should do

is when you see multiple choice

questions as soon as you finish the

questions before move on and read the

multiple choice questions it's crucial

that you understand the difference

between each of the different options

and you understand the questions that

are coming up what a lot of students do

is they might be you know focusing on

this they finish this section and

they're so worried about did I get the

correct answer here that they don't move

on and read these questions let's say

for example you have completely messed

up this question

it is a much better strategy just to

give an educated guess for these

questions and move on and understand

these because if you think oh my god

I've messed up these I'm going to fail

I'm going to mess up my whole life and

then you focus on these and you don't

move forward then you've probably got

these wrong and you're probably going to

get all of these wrong all right

if you mess these ones up go and give an

educated guess give your best answer and

then move on quickly because you really

do need to read all of these and

understand all of these next is a good

idea to underline or think of the

keywords in each question so what I like

to do is focus on keywords within the

question so 21 22 23 24 so that will be

here

here here and here within each question

what are the key words so discover

and reading then we need to look at the

three options and think about the

keywords within each of the three

options so why were they first created

high was the ice cap Frozen and where

the next step is to think about the

difference between each of the three

options so for this one it's quite

obvious let's have a look at the last

one good value for money useful

variations more useful than domestic

appliances so as you can see these two

are quite similar this one's talking

about money and it being good value for

money these two are both talking about

usefulness so they're very very similar

so you need to think okay both of these

are talking about usefulness but what's

the difference between the usefulness of

each of these this one's talking about

there being lots of variations useful

variations whereas this one is a

comparison it is comparing that there

are more they're more useful than other

domestic appliances so it's comparing

refrigerators fridges to other

appliances such as a vacuum cleaner a

Hoover a toaster a kettle all of those

things whereas B is talking about just

domestic fridges there being lots of

different types of fridges so by

underlining the keywords and thinking

about the differences that makes it much

easier to think about what they're

saying the next thing to remember is

that you should not think about what is

the first answer that I hear and write

down the first answer that I hear so

let's take the first question for

example what did Ami discover from

reading about ice houses why they were

first created so in the recording they

might talk about why they were first

created or how they were first created

but that might not be one of the options

that relates to what did Ali discover

from reading about ice houses

she might have listened to something or

her dad or her mother told her why they

were first created and then later she

talks about she was reading about where

they were located if you just note down

the first one that you hear and you

don't think about the specific question

then you're going to be in trouble so it

is not a listening test write down the

first thing that you hear that is not

what a listening test is for multiple

choice it is not just a listening test

it is a thinking test so you need to

read the question understand the

question and then think about related to

the recording what is the correct answer

it's not a listening test it is a

listening and thinking test the next

thing is what you should not do do not

focus in on one question get lost panic

and then miss the rest of the questions

so for example if you are doing 21

wanted Annie discover from reading about

ice houses and you lose focus or you get

confused or you don't understand what's

going on then it is very very important

that you just leave that question make

an educated guess and move on to the

next ones because what happens is you

miss that you lose focus and you focus

in on that and you're like oh my God I

just missed that and then you're like

okay which one should I choose and then

the recording keeps going keeps going

and you just messed up 22 23 and 24.

they will be in order so you need to

decide what the correct answer is be

decisive I know that's difficult for

many people in the world to be decisive

and choose the correct answer but if you

don't choose an answer you're

sacrificing the rest of the questions

the next thing is be very careful about

qualification statements these are words

like but or however so if we go down to

24 she might say something like yeah

generally they're good value for money

however in recent years or but recently

they've become very very expensive so

you might hear the first part of that

sentence and think oh good value for

money and you mark that as the correct

answer but then she says but but however

changes her mind qualifies what she's

about to say and you've just messed the

whole thing up so listen out for those

words but or however and if you hear

them think about what the whole sentence

means not just the first part of the

sentence okay now that we know what's

going to come up let's think about our

step-by-step strategy for multiple

choice questions number one always never

changes whatever the question is read

the instructions carefully choose the

correct letter a b or c I know that's

very obvious and you're a very

intelligent person but make sure that

you read the instructions the next step

is read each question and think about

what is actually being asked so let's

say 24 for example what do Jack and

Annie agree regarding domestic fridges

not what do they think separately what

do they agree on if you don't read the

question it's going to be very difficult

for you to find the answer to number 24

because the key word there is agree and

that's the next step highlight keywords

the next step is to look at each option

and understand the difference between

each option next is to think about any

synonyms or paraphrasing that you might

hear so for example it took a long time

to become popular a long time could be

50 years 100 years they might say it

took forever popular they might say

famous or widely used or used by the

masses there are many many things that

might come up now you're not going to be

able to sit there and think about

synonyms and paraphrasing forever but

just try and be aware of them and think

of the obvious ones don't start off with

21A and try and think of 20 different

synonyms for the word created just think

of the obvious one created made and keep

moving keep going through that then the

next one if you can predict the correct

answer this is a little bit difficult

for multiple choice questions so I

wouldn't try and do this too much

because often the three answers are very

very possible but if you have time try

and make predictions but if you can't

predict anything don't worry too much

about it neither listening is going to

start what you're listening out for are

keywords synonyms part of phrasing so

don't just listen for the key word

listen for the synonym of that keyword

then there you will know when they're

talking about that so for example what

did Annie discover from reading about

ice houses so she might literally say

when I was reading about ice houses or

she might say I read a book or I was

studying when you hear that you know

okay she's going to start talking about

the different options then listen for

the different keywords within the

different options and pick the correct

answer that brings us on to the next

step listen to the whole section so the

section where she's talking about

reading about ice houses do not listen

for the first thing that she says listen

to the whole section and then decide

your correct answer because there will

be distractors she might change her mind

she might talk about other things you're

trying to break the recording down into

four parts so there's four parts here

there's four questions you need to break

the recording down into four parts okay

she's going to talk about this listen to

that whole part choose the correct

answer then 22 listen to that whole part

choose the correct answer and continue

in that fashion if you think that you'll

find the correct answer put a tick

beside it so you think

probably is this one but keep listening

because she might change your mind or

the answer might change but if you are

100 sure at the end

choose that as your correct answer and

finally the final step make an educated

guess if you're not sure if you're not

sure pick the one that you think is the

highest chance of being correct move on

to the next one and that's you done so I

hope you enjoyed that video now you need

some practice tests and the good news is

I've put together another video for you

that shows you where you can find real

reliable practice tests for free click

on this video and it will show you

exactly where to find these for free on

the internet enjoy